Description
Brighter Beginnings is an eight-bed, all female Residential Treatment Facility located in a peaceful, rural setting in Edinboro, Pennsylvania committed to creating an environment that fosters healing from the inside out. Brighter Beginnings offers a variety of therapeutic interventions under the direction of Christine Brotherson, MTS, MSSA, LSW, Chief Executive Officer. Formal clinical interventions include diagnostic evaluations, psychiatric and medication evaluation and monitoring services, psychological evaluations, individual and family therapy. Individual therapy is provided for each client a minimum of two hours per week. Family therapy services are offered weekly as well. Both individual and family therapy are provided by a licensed therapist with post-masters training in family systems therapy. Brighter Beginnings has adopted the Pennsylvania Child and Adolescent Service System Principles (CASSP) which include each child and family in the development of individual treatment planning. In our small, home-like atmosphere, our clients are encouraged to seek personal development in their areas of interest as well as to follow well-rounded formal programming. Group therapy has been proven an effective means of therapeutic intervention for children and adolescents, therefore we conduct four therapeutic groups a day. Each of these groups is facilitated by qualified, experienced bachelor-level counselors and/or a masters level licensed professional. Our small size as well as our rural setting provides a healing, familial environment. We have a high counselor-to-client ratio, with a minimum of three counselors for eight clients during waking hours. Brighter Beginnings has specialized staff in such areas as Spiritual Life (Non-Denominational), Art Therapy, Crisis Intervention, Individual Treatment of Depression, Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Prevention, Grief and Loss, Skillstreaming/Aggression Replacement Training (A.R.T.), Therapeutic Recreation, Psychiatric Nursing, Eating Disorders, Sexual Abuse Counseling, Borderline Personality Disorder, Bi-Polar Disorder, and Independent Living Skills. Brighter Beginnings also has a professional affiliation with Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania for provision of specialized psychological treatment with doctoral students in supervised clinical practicum. Brighter Beginnings offers an on-grounds, emotional support classroom with a certified Special Education Teacher through the Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit #5. Part of the educational curriculum includes a summer school interactive learning program centered around an outdoor organic garden. I would also like to bring to your attention additional community activities. Brighter Beginnings' clients attend the community YMCA each week and also participate in the Brighter Beginnings Girl Scout Troop #220 on a weekly basis. Our staff and clients are involved in the Ophelia Project in the community. Our residents have also become a 4-HGroup. Last summer saw Brighter Beginnings' clients receive multiple ribbons at the Crawford County Fair, including first place ribbons for posters, baked goods, flowers, and vegetables. They are currently working on projects that include, but are not limited to: Organic Gardening; Crafts/Hobbies; Food Preservation; Horses and Horse Care; and Independent Life Programming. We are also in the early stages of implementing anAnimal Assisted Therapy Program and hope to have this completed in the near future.
