Inpatient Mental Health Facility in Vermont

Medically Reviewed by Bill Brown, LCMHC

Confluence Residential Treatment

Confluence is a state-licensed, nationally-accredited. short-term, residential treatment program collaborating with young adults and their families to overcome mental health challenges and more successfully navigate the transition to adulthood. Confluence clinical programming confronts the psychological, emotional, relational and personal hurdles getting in the way of young adults leading rich and fulfilling lives. Confluence provides transformational experiences by addressing the whole person with an emphasis on mental health and well being.

Stabilization

Confluence provides an opportunity where participants can wholly focus on their well-being and mental health. The setting and program create a space where the entire purpose of the day-to-day experience is designed to support patterns of improved health. Free from the stressors of everyday life — from work and school responsibilities, to technology use and strained relationships — participants have the ability to cut out the noise that so often is pulling them away from center and contributing to their distress. This quiet helps participants better view and understand their patterns, examine their actions and make shifts towards lasting health.

Assessment

One of the primary clinical objectives at Confluence is to provide Participants with comprehensive clinical assessments. Assessments at Confluence include psychiatric evaluation, biopsychosocial assessment, nursing assessment and neuropsychological testing. The depth and scope of these services help Participants and their family better understand the strengths and challenges facing a Participant. Assessments inform treatment planning and primary objectives of the clinical work, while providing valuable insight into a Participant’s path forward and potential future needs. Comprehensive assessment services and Confluence’s team of professionals collaborating on an individual’s care lead to better conceptualization, accurate diagnoses, effective treatment planning, sound interventions and positive outcomes for participants and families.

Treatment

Participants at Confluence engage with their clinical team from start to finish of the program. Treatment is designed to alleviate symptoms associates with mental health diagnoses. Reducing the intensity and frequency of negative symptoms allows for participants to be less in the grip of symptoms and more engaged with their world – from school and work experience, to family and social relationships. Treatment helps develop new tools, strategies and mindsets for managing one’s experience and supports lasting shifts in how a participants views themselves and their relationships to the world around them. Lastly, Confluence window of care offers participants the time it takes to learn, practice and cement skills need to make durable shifts in their health.

Our Focuses on Effective Treatment

At Confluence, every aspect of the experience is designed to provide effective, evidence-based interventions to treat young adults experiencing mental health, relational and life development challenges. Our program focuses on stabilization, assessment and treatment. The structure and schedule is designed to provide an optimal environment in which to provide these services.

Practices

Find Balance
Stay Steady, Calm and Focused
Act with Courage
Embrace Change
Extend and Receive Empathy
Practice Vulnerability and Interpersonal Closeness
Connect With Others
Open Your Mind and Heart
Find Peace

Skill Development

Assertion of Needs
Build Awareness/Insight
Understand Patterns of Thought and Behaviors
Develop Resilience
Distress Tolerance
Response Flexibility
Executive Functioning
Effective Communication
Resolve Conflicts

Nursing Care and Assessment

Participants see medical staff upon admissions for a medical assessment in which an overall health questionnaire and review is conducted with participants. Assessments are designed to help staff and participants better understand and manage any physical health challenges they may be having. From managing sleep and dietary issues to everyday health issues concerns, from headaches to nausea, medical staff help participants manage these symptoms as part of improving overall health.

Psychiatry and Medication Management

As a state-licensed residential treatment program, Confluence is required to manage all medications and supplements for all participants. Whether for over-the-counter medications, prescriptions and for psychotropic medication, Confluence medical team and staff, safely store and manage medication and collaborate with participants in taking any medications as prescribed. This allows to work with Participants to monitor the effect and course of their medications treatment plan.

Coaching and Non-Clinical Services

At Confluence Behavioral Health, we understand that many individuals benefit from support that extends beyond traditional therapy. In addition to our clinical services, we provide non-clinical services designed to help individuals develop practical skills, navigate life transitions, and create more structure and balance in their daily lives.

These services resemble coaching and care management, with a focus on goal-setting, accountability, and real-world problem-solving. Although they are not psychotherapy, they can be very effective in promoting personal growth, enhancing functioning, and helping individuals move forward with clarity and confidence. Non-clinical services can be utilized independently or alongside therapy, depending on each individual’s needs.

Participants at Confluence work with our medical staff to maintain physical and mental health throughout their time at the program. Being attuned and actively managing one’s physical health supports the broader work participants are engaging with at Confluence, as feeling good in our bodies contributes to our overall mental health. The medical staff at Confluence work individually with each participant to monitor any ongoing health concerns, address and manage symptoms, or to assess and treat any immediate medical concern.

Participant’s health, both physical and mental, is the primary work of our care teams.

The River Model

Confluence developed a personal growth model to help participants begin, navigate and emerge from the program. The process acknowledges the effort and growth participants make while enrolled. Each structured stage is marked by ceremony to recognize the hard work the participant has done to get there. Confluence uses a river as metaphor for the four stages, which are built successively on each other. With each new stage, there are new opportunities, responsibilities and challenges. Participants move from one stage to the next as they work with their individualized treatment plans and complete assignments helping them heal and change while gaining new skills, insights and awareness. This type of structured, stage-based approach aligns with evidence-based practices supported by organizations like the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration that emphasize skill-building, progression, and long-term recovery.

The Headwaters

Settling In: Orientation and Rest

In the Headwaters participants settle in and orient themselves to the new environment. Initial introductions to clinicians, staff and participants are made. At the start of the program participants have space to rest and relax before beginning the journey down river. It is an opportunity to reorganize and recuperate from the busy, hectic world while collecting the energy to start moving. At this stage the participants receive the handbook and review it with mentors.

The Stream

Starting Out: Introspection and Engagement

The Stream is the introduction to the participant group and activities. It marks the real beginning of the journey at Confluence. During this stage participants begin to examine their experiences at home, school, work and in relationships. Starting slowly, as a small stream does, the young adults begin to reflect on how things have gone in their past while beginning to make some headway toward fully engaging. Here they look downstream and start to formulate what they want for their future.

The River

Searching Around: Insight and Exploration

Entering the River marks the move into deeper, swifter waters. Participants work to recognize and develop their individual motivations and aspirations. At the same time, participants seek to identify the obstacles, hesitations and elements getting in the way of them reaching their fullest potential. Here participants set goals for themselves and develop strategies to successfully navigate around obstacles. The River stage includes the challenge to look beyond the obvious and superficial into more meaningful and illustrative truths.

The Estuary

Seeing Beyond: Awareness and Foresight

The Estuary is the confluence of the whole experience It is where the river meets the sea or where participants prepare to reengage with their lives away from Confluence. This stage is about integrating the therapy, experiences and skills into a cohesive new mindset and modality for living. At the Estuary, the work is to apply the treatment gains to support the next step of each participant's journey. Participants wrap up their work with Confluence and plan their transition, each leaving with a new awareness and skills.

Community Engagement

While at Confluence participants live within a community of peers. Together they co-create an experience where each contributes to the daily functioning of the program. From daily tasks including preparing meals together and managing the tidiness of the living spaces, to more creative pursuits such as making music and art together, participants shape a positive peer community where each person and their contributions are valued and respected. The results are positive connection, trusted relationships and an environment supportive of healing and growth.

Family Program Visits

Confluence supports families being engaged in the treatment process from before admission through graduation. Parents are invited to visit the program during the young adult’s tenure at Confluence. Led by our parent coach, our visits seek to provide parents and participants structured time together. Parents use the visit as an opportunity to further work with the parent coach and to experience a day in the life at Confluence.

Residential Life

Participants engage with a cohort of young adults experiencing similar challenges. The group living experience mimics school or family environments and helps young adults develop skills to manage relationships with those around them. Mentor staff live alongside participants and manage interactions, the daily schedule and activities. Mentor staff and participants move through the daily schedule together participating in activities and groups together, managing daily assignments and to-dos, and helping participants address challenges and any difficulties. The residential program at Confluence Behavioral Health is a short term treatment program with an average length of stay of around 75-90 days.

Confluence is a state-licensed mental health treatment provider, that also offers an intensive outpatient program as well as transitional living, and receives regular oversight from the Vermont Agency of Human Services. Everything from the temperature of tap water, to medical records, to staff background checks is monitored by our licensing agency. Confluence intentionally sought licensure when opening to meet and exceed standards of care. Additionally, licensure provides important outside oversight, recognition of the healthcare we are providing and for health insurance coverage purposes

Living Arrangements

The program feels, looks and functions as a home-like environment. The residence includes a spacious living room, a library, exercise/yoga space a dining room and kitchen. On-site participants sleep on the second floor in shared rooms with en-suite bathrooms. Confluence’s group living arrangements are similar to shared living arrangements at summer camps or school dormitories.

Strength in the Outdoors

Outdoor recreation is an avenue for positive, engaging and fun experiences that support and encourage growth. Confluence excursions are available to participants of any skill, experience and fitness level. The outdoor experience is sought to not only disconnect and rejuvenate, but to provide a venue where physical and emotional awareness can take hold. Through the inherent challenges in these activities self-esteem and self-efficacy emerge while participants gain valuable confidence.

Admission & Tuition

Our enrollment process includes a pre-screen assessment, application and comprehensive family support to help participants and their families best understand the program and what they can expect from Confluence. In addition, our admissions team will assess and screen each applicant to determine if the level of care at Confluence is appropriate for the applicant’s needs and treatment objectives.

The team at Confluence helped our son immensely. We couldn't be happier with the results and would highly recommend the program for young adults that are ready and willing to actively engage in making significant progress toward a healthier life.

Quite frankly, our daughter’s transformation at Confluence saved her life. The experience was the most challenging of her life but it has changed her profoundly - she is learning to communicate, know herself and deal with her inner mental self.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average length of stay?

The residential program at Confluence Behavioral Health is a short term treatment program with an average length of stay of around 75-90 days.

What are the living arangements?

The residence includes a spacious living room, a library, exercise/yoga space a dining room and kitchen. Participants sleep in shared rooms with en-suite bathrooms. Confluence’s group living arrangements are similar to shared living arrangements at summer camps or school dormitories.

Can parents visit during their child's stay?

Parents are invited to visit the program during the young adult’s tenure at Confluence. Parents use the visit as an opportunity to further work with the parent coach and to experience a day in the life at Confluence.

Do participants receive treatment their entire stay?

Participants at Confluence engage with their clinical team from start to finish of the program. Treatment is designed to alleviate symptoms associates with mental health diagnoses.

What evidence-based therapies do you use?

Clinicians at Confluence employ a number of treatment interventions to create the space needed for change. Modalities include:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Family Systems Theory
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Developmental Psychology
Positive Psychology

Attachment Theory
Relational-Cultural Therapy
Trauma-Informed Care
Contemplative and Meditative Practice
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
Adventure-Based Counseling

How are food and meals served?

Nutrition and Food

Eating well is feeling well. Nutrition plays an important role at Confluence and meals are made of healthy whole foods with nutrition as a primary focus. Participants engage with staff to prepare and bring meals to the table. Staff and participants eat three family-style meals together each day. Confluence can accommodate nearly all dietary and nutritional needs.

How are the individual therapy sessions structured?

How are the group therapy sessions structured?

Explore Your Health Insurance Benefits

Confluence admissions staff are available to help families navigate and better understand the insurance landscape as it relates to mental healthcare services. Our Residential and Outpatient programs work with insurances, however our coaching and transitional housing services do not accept insurance at this time. Confluence can bill insurance directly and private pay options are available as well.