Dorene Fick at Lewis Gale Behavioral Health

The Mental Health professionals at Lewis Gale Behavioral Health Pavilion are a dedicated work group, challenged by the rapid turnover of patients and the fast pace of their day-to-day clinical environment. Dorene Fick, LCSW, has been guiding the staff in the development of a Peer Supervision Group which focuses on both professional development and clinical service. Meeting monthly, the group engages in dynamic case management through collaborative feedback and critique, and builds expertise via topical presentations and article reviews.

For more about Lewis Gale Medical Center Behavioral Health: http://www.lewis-gale.com/CustomPage.asp?guidCustomContentID=59AC5D6C-0C89-11D4-A2CB-00508B1245EF

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

Barbara Horton, LCSW, spoke on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for Borderline Personality Disorders in February to the Lewis Gale Pavilion Peer Supervision Group, lead by Dorene Fick.

DBT was developed by Marsha Linehan at the University of Washington in 1993. This two year program teaches daily use of personal coping skills that are typically lacking in Borderline Personality Disorder. These include: mindfulness, dealing with personal crises, managing emotional swings, and interacting with others in a less volatile and more constructive manner. This program has shown favorable results where conventional approaches to psychotherapy have failed.

For more information:
http://behavioraltech.org/index.cfm?CFID=25880723&CFTOKEN=46361464

Parenting Group Therapy

“Children don’t come with a manual.” The first time I heard this, it went right over my head – having not yet become a parent. Upon having children of my own, I quickly came to appreciate the poignancy of this comment. No doubt, parenting is a challenge, and some children are clearly more difficult than others.
The Parenting Group Therapy sessions offered by Dorene Fick, LCSW are a great opportunity to take on some of the tough questions, with the guidance of a mental health professional and the support of other parents. Focused on those with children aged 2-12 years, the group sessions will begin in July and run for about 6-8 weeks. There will be separate groups for Mothers & Fathers (Step Mothers & Fathers are welcome, too).
For more information call 540-772-5140. Or, you may contact Dorene Fick directly at DFick@PsychHealthRoanoke.com

Dorene Fick

After 10 years in suburban NYC as a clinical social worker in a Psychiatric Hospital, Dorene has relocated to the Roanoke Valley and joined Psychological Health Roanoke. Her practice focuses on adult, adolescents, women's and family issues. As part of her work, she serves as an on-site counselor at William Fleming High School, through a program developed by the Roanoke Adolescent Health Partnership. This position brings Dorene full circle to the beginnings of her interest in Social Work. As she notes: I had been an inner city teacher for 3 years (1 in Pittsburgh and 2 in Manhattan). I realized that I needed more skills to help these kids with the many struggles that went above and beyond classroom learning. This prompted me to enroll in Social Work School.
After a whirlwind indoctrination into contemporary urban youth culture and some adjustments in her treatment style, Dorene feels at home and fully a part of things at Fleming HS.

At the encouragement of her students this spring she attended the school production, Urinetown. Dorene describes this as a satirical musical comedy in which the minority poor attempt to overthrow the rich overlords. Urinetown challenges the authority of bureaucracy, corporations and small town politics. The poignancy of a not so happy ending is an unfortunate reflection of the reality of everyday life for many of these students, however, many of them rise to accept real life challenges with maturity and perseverance beyond their years.

For more about the Roanoke Adolescent Health Partnership check out their website at http://www.rahpteens.org/