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Beth Finnerty

Skyland Trail

A recent guest of mine on the Top Docs Radio show told me I needed to get to know about Skyland Trail, an Atlanta area inpatient/outpatient behavioral medicine center, well-known for its outcomes such that patients travel from across the US and abroad to receive care there.

I had the opportunity to sit down with President of Skyland Trail, Beth Finnerty, to learn about how their care professionals both rely upon evidence, as well as contributing to science, to guide their care.  I was pleased to receive an invitation to tour the beautiful facilities, which includes a newly-opened 30 bed residence and care center for young adults.

The Skyland trail website describes the facility this way, “Few things can be as overwhelming and frustrating as mental illness – or finding effective treatments. At Skyland Trail, we get it. Which is why we take a different approach to helping adults with mental health issues.

Located in Atlanta, Skyland Trail is a nationally recognized nonprofit mental health treatment organization serving adults ages 18 and older. 

We’re not a hospital or lock-down institution, we’re one of the nation’s top mental health treatment centers – a voluntary treatment community of clients finding new ways to overcome the limitations of their illness and reclaim their lives.

But success is built on a two-way commitment – we’re committed to our patients and we ask our patients to commit to our approach. Each client has to put in the time and effort needed to make real and sustainable progress.

As a long-term residential treatment facility, we’re serious about healing and we’re passionate about the community we serve.

As one of the best mental health treatment centers in the country, we’re focused on people with complex mental health issues, helping them understand that they are more than their diagnoses dictate – helping them grow, recover and reclaim their lives.

We treat adults ages 18 and older with a primary psychiatric diagnosis – a mood or thought disorder like bipolar illness, major depression, or schizophrenia, or an anxiety disorder. Most clients have co-occurring diagnoses including alcohol or substance abuse, borderline personality disorder, or secondary anxiety disorders. 

Because of our onsite primary care clinic, we can support those who have medical health needs in addition to psychiatric needs. 

While our clients are largely from Georgia and the southeast we have many clients from across the U.S. and a few from around the world.

We treat each individual, individually, tailoring an approach that includes a broad mix of evidence-based one-on-one and group therapies that help prepare our clients for reintegration into their lives.

Our holistic treatment model integrates strategies to help clients improve mental health, physical wellness, and relationships with family and friends.

• In addition to helping our clients through effective medications and evidence-based psychotherapy, we offer art, music, horticultural and recreation therapies; pastoral counseling; and family therapy.
• In classroom-like settings, we educate clients about their mental illness and teach strategies they can use to cope with stress and prevent relapse.
• Our vocational services program helps clients prepare to return to school or enter the workforce.
• We are one of only a few programs in the country to integrate medical care and mental health treatment.”