Olalla Center

TO HELP STRENGTHEN AND HEAL CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, AND THE COMMUNITY. OLALLA CENTER'S STAFF BELIEVES ALL CHILDREN AND FAMILIES CAN HEAL AND THIS PREMISE IS THE FOUNDATION OF OLALLA CENTER'S TREATMENT PHILOSOPHY AND THE BASIS FOR THEIR WORK.

THE DAY TREATMENT PROGRAM BEGINS WITH CENTER STAFF ASSESSING HOW CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ARE CURRENTLY FUNCTIONING ALONG WITH THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND STRENGTHS. THEN A TREATMENT PLAN IS DESIGNED WITH THE FAMILY TO UTILIZE THEIR STRENGTHS WHILE MEETING THEIR NEEDS AND REMAINING FOCUSED ON THEIR GOALS. BY USING A VARIETY OF TRADITIONAL AND INNOVATIVE EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENT MODELS, OCCF'S STAFF HELP FAMILIES ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS, FIND CONNECTION TO COMMUNITY AND MOVE BEYOND THE NEED FOR PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT. THE DAY TREATMENT PROGRAM IS A THERAPEUTIC SCHOOL ALTERNATIVE FOR CHILDREN REQUIRING A MORE RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT THAN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM CAN OFFER. OVERSEEN BY A LICENSED CHILD PSYCHIATRIST, THE DAY TREATMENT PROGRAM OFFERS CHILDREN OF 6-13 YEARS OLD A STRUCTURED SETTING THAT COMBINES EDUCATION AND THERAPY AND TEACHES SUCH SKILLS AS MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION TO REDUCE STRESS. THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF THESE SKILLS, PARTICIPANTS EXPLORE NEW WAYS OF SLOWING DOWN THEIR BODIES AND MINDS TO DECREASE STRESS, BROADEN AWARENESS AND INCREASE FOCUS.

THE OUTPATIENT PROGRAM PROVIDES SUCH SERVICES AS INDIVIDUAL THERAPY, FAMILY THERAPY, GROUP THERAPY AND SKILLS TRAINING. SOME OUTPATIENT GROUPS ARE TRUE STRENGTH; A COMPASSION FOCUSED THERAPY GROUP FOR ADOLESCENTS WHICH INCLUDES ART-MAKING AND DEALS WITH DIFFICULT EMOTIONS SUCH AS ANGER THROUGH THE USE OF COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY, AFFECTIVE NEUROSCIENCE, AND BUDDHIST PSYCHOLOGY. CLIENTS ARE GUIDED THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-COMPASSION AND COMPASSION FOR OTHERS USING PSYCHOEDUCATION, MINDFULNESS, COMPASSIONATE IMAGERY EXERCISES, GROUP PROCESSING, AND HOMEWORK TO PRACTICE SKILLS LEARNED. BORN BRAVE; AN LGBTQ+PROCESS GROUP INTENDED TO BE A SAFE, WELCOMING, COMPASSIONATE SPACE FOR PARTICIPANTS TO EXPLORE FEELINGS, TOPICS, AND QUESTIONS ABOUT SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY. IMPROV FOR PARENTS; USES THE PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES OF IMPROV COMEDY AND THEATER TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION, INCREASE PARENT FLEXIBILITY IN RESPONDING TO YOUTH BEHAVIOR, IMPROVE COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS, IMPROVE PARENT'S/FAMILY'S ABILITY TO RESPOND TO BOTH CHANGING CHILD DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES AND RELATED CHANGES IN FAMILY LIFE.

WALDEN PROJECT PROGRAM IS AN INNOVATIVE NEW PROGRAM THAT COMBINES TRADITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES LIKE INDIVIDUAL, GROUP AND FAMILY THERAPY WITH A MENTORING PROGRAM, ALL OF WHICH IS BASED IN AN OUTDOOR SETTING ON THE BEAUTIFUL OREGON COAST. THE VASTNESS OF THE OUTDOORS PROVIDES DEEP, MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WHILE CREATING AWARENESS AND FAMILIARITY OF THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH THEY LIVE. THE PROGRAM IS EXPECTED TO HAVE A CUMULATIVE EFFECT ON CHILDREN, TEENS, THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, AND THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. THERAPY PROGRAMS INCLUDED IN THE WALDEN PROJECT ARE THE PEGASUS PROGRAM; AN EQUINE-ASSISTED THERAPY WHICH TEAMS A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL AND AN EQUINE SPECIALIST FOR INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY OR GROUP SESSIONS. THE SESSIONS FOCUS ON GROUND WORK WITH HORSES, NO RIDING, WITH THE HORSE SUPPORTING CLIENTS THROUGH THE USE OF METAPHOR AND SKILLS. THE PROGRAM USES THE EGALA MODEL OF EQUINE-ASSISTED THERAPY. LEARNING TO FLY; PEGASUS PROGRAM GIRLS GROUP PROVIDES PARTICIPANTS WITH THE CONFIDENCE AND ABILITY TO WORK THROUGH A VARIETY OF LIFE SITUATIONS BY BUILDING SKILLS SUCH AS MINDFULNESS, DISTRESS TOLERANCE, EMOTION REGULATION AND INTERPERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS. GROUP SESSIONS INCLUDE HANDS ON WORK WITH HORSES AND AN OPEN DISCUSSION FORMAT WHERE SKILLS ARE INTRODUCED AND PRACTICED. A SAFE PLACE; FLEXIBLE 12 SESSION GROUP FORMAT THAT PAIRS NATURE BASED ACTIVITIES WITH STORYTELLING AND EXPRESSIVE ARTS APPROACHES FOR CHILDREN ELEMENTARY TO EARLY MIDDLE SCHOOL AGED. THE PROGRAM STRENGTHENS COPING SKILLS AND RESILIENCE IN CHILDREN WHO HAVE ENDURED STRESSORS SUCH AS DIVORCE, MOVING, ILLNESS, LOSS OF FAMILY MEMBER, BULLYING, NATURAL DISASTERS AND LOSS OF HOME.

THE RELIEF NURSERY PROGRAM WORKS TO PREVENT THE CYCLE OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT THROUGH EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAMS THAT FOCUS ON BUILDING SUCCESSFUL AND RESILIENT CHILDREN, STRENGTHENING PARENTING SKILLS OF FAMILIES, AND PRESERVING FAMILIES BY OFFERING COMPREHENSIVE, INTEGRATED EARLY CHILDHOOD THERAPEUTIC AND FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES WHICH ARE TRAUMA- INFORMED, NON-STIGMATIZING, VOLUNTARY, STRENGTH-BASED, CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE, AND DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE APPROPRIATE EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTHY ATTACHED FAMILIES. THE PROGRAM IS REPLCATED THROUGH AND CERTIFIED BY THE OREGON ASSOCIATION OF RELIEF NURSERIES (OARN). THE RELIEF NURSERY PROGRAM INCLUDES RESPITE; A SOCIALIZATION PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AGED 3-13 THAT IS OPERATED MOST WEEKENDS OF THE YEAR, TO GIVE PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS TIME WITHOUT WORK AND CHILDREN TO REJUVENATE.