Therapy available for victims of Hurricane Harvey

In partnership with the Baylor College of Medicine Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and American Red Cross, Project HEART is offering free home-based tele-mental health services to adults ages 18 and up. Project HEART serves the Golden Triangle region, including Beaumont, Port Arthur, Orange and its surrounding cities, which were severely impacted by Hurricane Harvey and its aftermath.

Project HEART is a tele-mental health program that allows therapists and providers to deliver services to individuals suffering from depression, anxiety and other emotional issues. The telehealth platform uses technology to provide evidence-based care in areas where barriers to access, such as cost and transportation, have often left mental health needs unmet.

Project HEART will use a cognitive behavioral therapy approach called the Unified Protocol, a transdiagnostic treatment developed to address common issues across emotional disorders and teach strategies for coping.

Under the direction of Dr. Bella Schanzer, vice chair for clinical affairs for the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Project HEART will also be providing psychiatric management for patients struggling with behavioral health concerns.

To qualify and access the tele-therapy for Project HEART, you must:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Have access to a computer/phone/tablet and internet or Wi-Fi
• Be a resident of the Golden Triangle Region (Beaumont, Port Arthur, Orange and its surrounding cities)
• Have been affected in some way by Hurricane Harvey or its aftermath

If you are interested in participating in the Project HEART program, email Andrea Grizzle at (713) 798-1916 or ProjectHeart@bcm.edu.