New program offered for parents in distress

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island Hospital’s Department of Psychiatry has launched a Parent Wellness Program to address the needs of parents struggling with children’s physical or mental health.
The program, which will function as an adult partial hospitalization, is one of the first in the country geared toward parents in distress.
The adult partial hospitalization program provides short-term treatment designed to help individuals with acute psychiatric problems. The program is open Monday through Friday, patients attend six hours per day, and the duration of treatment is determined by a patient’s specific needs. The program offers group, individual and couples/family psychotherapy, as well as medication treatment.
“Parents are facing myriad challenges today,” said Dr. Rendueles Villalba, medical director for the adult partial hospitalization program. “Even when children are physically and mentally healthy, parents face the daily challenges of juggling children’s schedules, work responsibilities and family obligations. Add an illness or behavioral issue into the mix, and it can be overwhelming for a parent.”
When the stress becomes overwhelming, Villalba continued, “it’s important to take care of the parent.”
Through the program, parents learn to manage their stress and develop coping techniques, working with individualized treatment plans. “At the end of the day, patients return home to their families,” said Dr. Jose Arvizu, minimizing disruption to their daily routines, and facilitating learning by encouraging immediate practice of newly acquired coping skills.
For more information on the Parent Wellness Program, call (401) 444-2128.