Illness Management & Recovery (IMR)

The Illness Management and Recovery (IMR) program is an evidence-based practice that consists of a series of weekly sessions in which practitioners assist people who have lived experience of psychiatric symptoms develop personal strategies for coping with situations that may arise during the recovery process.  In addition to learning information and strategies, all participants in the IMR practice develop and work on a personally meaningful recovery goal.

IMR practitioners are trained in and utilize intervention strategies that enhance learning and facilitate application of skills outside the actual sessions.  Strategies include: stage wise interventions, motivational enhancement, CBT, and a number of creative educational strategies. The program can be provided in individual or group formats, most often in a group setting to encourage interpersonal learning, create an environment that fosters growth and empowerment, and promote social connections.  It generally takes anywhere from 6-18 months to complete all the materials when practicing in an IMR group.

As the first agency of its kind to implement IMR in residential programs, our experience now extends to multiple programs, and hundreds of staff who are trained in IMR techniques.  We have adapted the IMR practice for use with Adolescents.  Our menu of IMR training and consultation services ranges from one-time consultation to extensive staff training, program development and monitoring.

CONSULTATION SERVICES AVAILABLE

Program Development 

Our consultants have extensive experience planning and implementing successful new programming and can help you avoid many common problems.  Examples of consultation related to program development include:

• Supervision/consultation on group leadership and the IMR practice
• Plan for program transition to the IMR treatment model
• Create customized IMR systems that suit your clientele and program goals
• Integrate IMR practice into CBFS programming

Program Assessment

Tracking treatment effectiveness and outcomes is an important component of providing IMR. The challenge is developing a data collection process that is simple and useful. Our consultants are experienced in identifying, tracking and analyzing empirical data, and can help you select specific assessment instruments to measure treatment outcomes.

Training

All of our IMR trainings are highly interactive, hands-on learning experiences that include small group discussions, activities and role play. Each participant will have the opportunity to practice the IMR skills and will co-lead a mock IMR group.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAININGS

Introduction to IMR
This training gives you an overview regarding IMR methods, applications and benefits to agency leaders and funders who may be considering investing in this method.

Intensive Training Series
This intensive training is designed for mental health professionals and program staff to learn in-depth the skills and strategies essential for providing IMR individually and in groups. 

Customized Trainings
Customized trainings target the unique needs of residential, clinical, educational, or other staff to optimize effective delivery of services and treatment.

CONSULTATION & TRAINING IMR STAFF

Kerrin Westerlind, MSW, LICSW, is the Director of Evidence Based Practices at Open Sky Community Services.  For more than a decade, Kerrin has assisted interdisciplinary teams in the implementation of Evidence Based and Best Practices.  

Kerrin is an expert in Illness Management and Recovery (IMR) and has been involved in this practice since 2005.  She has overseen the implementation of IMR services in residential and supported housing programs with diverse populations, adapted materials for various populations and has provided consultation on using adaptations of IMR with adolescents, those who are justice-involved and individuals who are dually diagnosed with a mental health and a substance use disorder.   She has provided training and consultation on IMR and its adaptations to specific populations to various agencies in Massachusetts, throughout the United States and at National Conferences.

Additionally, Ms. Westerlind has training and leadership experience in implementing multiple modalities for working with people who experience psychosis, including CBT for Psychosis and Recovery Oriented Cognitive Therapy (CT-R).  

Kerrin’s interests extend to using trauma informed care principles in culture transformation, to promote healing, growth, and resilience for those using and providing services.   She is currently working with others from all around the Open Sky community to advance the agency’s efforts in becoming a fully trauma informed and responsive organization. 

Kerrin is passionate about providing person-centered, recovery-oriented practices, and training others in the provision of these treatment models.  Her experience in the mental health field includes over 20 years of work in a range of settings from residential, supported housing, day treatment, outpatient, community-based services for adults and adolescents and clubhouse model. Her interests have led her to serve on the MassPRC (Massachusetts Psychiatric Rehabilitation Collaborative) Board of Directors, since 2018. 

For more information, please contact:

traininginstitute@openskycs.org

508-755-0333