From Rethinking Psychiatry: SUNDAY, Nov. 1st, 2020, 2-4 pm, PST on Zoom
DONâT FORGET TO SET YOUR CLOCK BACK 1 HOUR!
Voyce Hendrix, Clinical Director of the original Soteria House in San Jose, CA, explains:
- Being with, not doing to.
- The importance of community.
- Complementary and symmetrical relationships.
“Soteria House: Alternative care to mainstream mental health model of involuntary hospitalization.
Soteria House was an experiment to allow people dealing with a first break, acutely psychotic experience to avoid hospitalization and instead live in a 6-bed, supportive home-like residential setting to recover.
Recovery for residents was supported through innovative, no or low-dose drug therapy, while being supported in exploring the meaning of their experience. Residents’ stays were from 6 months to two years. The experiment lasted 12 years and was very successful. It was very cost-effective and considerably less than the cost of hospitalization treatment.Â
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The founder and research director of Soteria House (1972-1990) was Dr. Loren Mosher. Dr. Mosher was a highly esteemed psychiatrist and the first chief of NIMH’s (National Institute of Mental Health) Center for Studies of Schizophrenia for 12 years. He also served as first editor-in-chief of Schizophrenia Bulletin. Dr. Mosher died on July 10, 2004.
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Voyce Hendrix worked at Soteria the entire time, becoming the clinical director and executive director. His knowledge is vast and his wisdom is deep.”
