Dear Friends and Colleagues,
I am thrilled to share the first newsletter from Now I See a Person Institute (NISAPI), which we hope will provide you with valuable insight about our unique approach to mental health treatment, Community Engagement: Collaborative Recovery Model. This model is an evidenced-based approach that reflects the works of the Houston Galveston Institute, Kanankil Institute, Taos Institute, Jaakko Seikula, and the Rhizome Way of Christopher Kinman and Lynn Hoffman.
Our team operates from a position of one community embracing another. Our clients range from what some would label with parity diagnoses to those with non-parity diagnoses. At NISAPI, we see people as people and not as a diagnosis to cure. Our clients have ownership of their therapy and direct the course of their treatment in collaboration with the therapist to instill thoughts of freedom, hope and the possibility of change. As part of our service offerings, our clients are welcome to stay as long as desired to maintain ownership and ensure success in our program. Clients often stay for hours in “outdoor” offices and collaborating with our animal co-therapists, including horses, goats, pigs, chickens, raccoons, ferrets, ducks, cats, and dogs. Most of the foster children we work with return to their biological parents; however, those that remain in care find relational collaboration within their foster families helpful in their continued growth. Private clients are able to stay drug free, reunified within their families, and find new possibilities in life challenges. Hence our “turn over” rate is high.
This last year was filled with opportunities and possibilities beyond our predictions. Our model showed great success working with children and families in the foster care system, as well as with the private clients we served. Last year, approximately 30 trainees and three interns came to NISAPI for training in our model. In 2011, we will sponsor four fundraising events to ensure our growth and continued ability to offer services at low- to no-cost to our clients. We will also be holding an open house in March for members of the community to come get to know us and tour our facility.
If you are interested in more information about NISAPI, or would like to schedule a visit, please contact me at (626) 487-9305 or via email at SwimInc@aol.com. We hope to hear from you soon!
Warm regards,
Susan E. Swim, PhD
Executive Director, Now I See a Person Institute
Faculty, Houston Galveston Institute
Associate, Taos Institute
Adjunct Faculty, Loma Linda University
Adjunct Faculty, Alliant International University