Behavioral Medicine in Denver

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an FDA-approved, innovative, non-pharmacological outpatient treatment for patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) who have not experienced satisfactory benefits from psychotherapy and antidepressant medication.

It is also an excellent alternative for those who are unable to tolerate antidepressant medication due to health issues or substantial side effects.

What is TMS Therapy?

TMS targets the key area in the brain that controls mood — the prefrontal cortex. This area is known to be underactive in people with major depression. Using focused magnetic pulses to stimulate that area, TMS may restore normal function and reduce the symptoms of depression and OCD.

TMS is performed by board-certified psychiatrists with extensive training and a team of trained, experienced technicians.

Treatment is given in daily sessions five times a week for six weeks. The treatment schedule then tapers off for the next two to three weeks.

Appointments generally last 45 minutes.

Criteria

• The minimum age, depending on the insurance provider, is 15 to a maximum age of 70 years old (some exceptions made)
• You must have a diagnosis of major depressive disorder or OCD
• Two to four failed trials of antidepressant medications or severe side effects from medication
• In some instances, failure of a trial of an evidence-based psychotherapy

Side Effects

TMS is an extremely safe, painless treatment with minimal side effects. Some patients report feeling only a mild pulsing sensation underlying the area where the stimulator coil rests.

Some patients initially report mild to moderate discomfort during their first few sessions, but this pain has been shown to improve as treatments progress.

Insurances accepted

Most insurance providers cover TMS for patients who meet their criteria. AdventHealth Porter is a network provider with most major insurance providers, managed care companies and Medicare. Colorado Medicaid currently does not cover TMS.

We are an LGBTQIA+ affirming facility committed to providing inclusive and respectful care to all.

To get started, call us at 303-715-7765.

Our Assessment Center at AdventHealth Porter has clinicians ready to help you find the best treatment options for your situation. 

We offer in-person or virtual Level of Care assessments for adults looking for support with mental health and substance abuse concerns. (Patients younger than 18 will be referred to services specializing in pediatric behavioral health).

During your scheduled visit, one of our clinicians will listen to your story and concerns, and together, you’ll determine the best path forward. If clinically appropriate, an intake will be completed for one of our intensive outpatient programs (IOP). Our clinicians are also qualified to decide on the most appropriate level of care for your needs, from outpatient therapy and medication management to acute hospitalization. If you require acute hospitalization for immediate stabilization, your attentive team will handle the details.

Whatever course you take, we’ll connect you with the care you need to get you started on your healing journey as soon as possible.

Plan for your assessment to take 45 minutes to two hours. 

We accept most commercial insurances, Medicare, Medicare Advantage Plans and Medicaid/Colorado Access/CCHA. 

Please call today to schedule an appointment or make a referral. Call 303-715-2300.

Patients who respond positively to skills-based and structured group therapy may benefit from our dialectical behavior therapy intensive outpatient program (DBT-IOP).

DBT-IOP provides skills training in the following areas, including:

• Mindfulness
• Interpersonal effectiveness
• Emotional regulation
• Distress tolerance
• Behavior chain analysis

This eight-week program takes place on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings. Patients must meet an IOP Level of Care for this program, requiring at least nine hours of treatment per week. Our experienced licensed counselors are certified DBT providers.

Admission Requirements:

• Agree to a safety plan
• Have reliable transportation
• Have safe and stable housing to allow functioning in an outpatient setting
• Attend weekly therapy with an outpatient individual therapist
• Take medication as prescribed (if applicable)
• Have a primary mental health diagnosis (participants with a co-occurring substance use disorder will be screened at intake for appropriateness of the program)

Participants are required to have an individual therapist and medication providers (if applicable) outside of the program. Referrals will provided as needed.

We are an LGBTQIA+ affirming facility committed to providing inclusive and respectful care to all.

For more information or to schedule a meeting, please call the Assessment Center at 303-715-2300.

Specialized group therapy may be an effective treatment for patients with mood and anxiety disorders. Our mental health intensive outpatient program (MH-IOP) is a skills-based treatment program utilizing dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills like mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

During the program, individual therapy is provided weekly, and medication management referrals are provided as needed.

MH-IOP is a virtual, eight-week program held Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 am to 1 pm. Patients must meet an IOP Level of Care for this program, requiring at least 12 hours of treatment per week. MH-IOP is led by experienced licensed professional counselors.

Admission Requirements:

• Agree to safety planning
• Safe and stable housing
• Reliable internet connection and video-capable device
• Private location to join IOP sessions
• Distress caused by worsening symptoms (severe depression, hypomania/mania, suicidal thoughts, impairment in thinking)
• Impairment in functioning (occupational, familial, social, activities of daily living) worse than the baseline level of functioning
• Be able to function as a member of a group
• Follow a care plan
• Take medication as prescribed

We are an LGBTQIA+ affirming facility committed to providing inclusive and respectful care to all individuals.

For more information or to schedule, please call 303-715-2300.

If you’re struggling with substance abuse or dependency, we’re here to help. Our substance use intensive outpatient program (SU-IOP) consists of evidence-based curricula, including DBT and CBT, designed to establish coping skills essential for recovery from substance use disorders.

SU-IOP is a 12-week, in-person program on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings. It is appropriate for those with primary substance use diagnoses and accepts patients with co-occurring diagnoses. Patients must meet an IOP Level of Care for this program, requiring at least nine hours of treatment per week.

Participants can expect to learn how to:

• Construct a supportive recovery environment
• Create a personalized and applicable relapse prevention plan
• Develop a wide variety of cognitive, emotional and behavioral coping skills
• Discover, label and recognize feelings
• Identify primary emotional triggers
• Initiate a foundation for sober living
• Learn to employ and actively use appropriate coping skills in daily life
• Recognize possible relapse warning signs
• Utilize and assist other group members constructively in the treatment experience

Admission to the program is based upon the Adult Placement Criteria for Substance Use Disorders, as defined by the American Society of Medicine.

Participants must have an individual therapist and medication providers (if applicable) outside the program and referrals will be provided as needed.

We are an LGBTQIA+ affirming facility committed to providing inclusive and respectful care to all individuals.

For more information or to schedule, please call 303-715-2300.

Whether you're dealing with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder or any other behavioral health issue, our inpatient units at AdventHealth Porter offer treatments — from support groups or one-on-one therapy to advanced treatment and medication plans — to help you feel like yourself again.

Our experienced team will provide you with the expert care and support you need to feel healthy and whole.

Psychiatric Inpatient Stabilization:

Our acute care units aim to reduce psychiatric symptoms and improve each individual's functioning and quality of life.

Our Team:

With our extensive network of care, our multidisciplinary team of expert physicians, psychologists, social workers and counselors work together to support you and your individual needs.

We believe health should be measured in terms of the whole person, so we'll work on your whole health by healing your body, strengthening your mind and lifting your spirit.

Adult Inpatient:

The Adult Acute Care Unit (1 South) provides psychiatric hospitalization for adults 18 years and older whose severe behavioral health conditions can't be safely managed on an outpatient basis. We provide whole-person care to patients with various clinical conditions, including suicidal thoughts, depression, psychosis and co-occurring disorders.

Senior Inpatient:

The Senior Acute Inpatient Unit (2 South) provides psychiatric care in a safe, highly structured environment to older adults with various behavioral symptoms.

What is Electroconvulsive Therapy?

A safe and effective medical treatment for certain treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is painless and performed under general anesthesia.

During the procedure, a small amount of electricity is applied to the scalp to produce a brief seizure in the brain. The American Medical Association (AMA), the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) recognize ECT as a safe and effective treatment for serious mental illness.

Benefits of ECT

Research has consistently shown ECT to be the most effective treatment for severe depression, especially when accompanied by psychotic features or catatonia. ECT is also highly effective in the treatment of bipolar disorder and some psychotic disorders.

ECT is generally used when other forms of treatment, including medication and psychotherapy, have failed. However, the rapid results often make ECT the first treatment of choice in life-threatening situations.

Length of Treatment

ECT typically occurs three days per week for 10 to 12 treatments. Ongoing maintenance treatments are available to prevent relapse. Each procedure takes about 10 minutes with extra time for preparation and recovery.

ECT at AdventHealth Porter

AdventHealth Porter is home to one of the region’s leading ECT programs. The treatment is administered in a specially equipped area and is staffed by highly trained, board-certified psychiatrists, anesthesiologists and nurses. Generally performed on an outpatient basis, it can be given as an inpatient treatment when clinically indicated. Our team has an unparalleled reputation in the community for compassion and care.

Our ECT program features:

• Three board-certified psychiatrists with extensive ECT experience
• An award-winning nursing team who cares for the whole health of each patient
• Individualized care based on your specific needs as a patient
• The support of an acute care medical hospital with on-call specialists such as cardiologists and neurologists.

Contact Us

2535 South Downing Street, Suite 200, Denver, CO 80210

Schedule a consultation by calling 303-765-6283 and fax ECT referrals to Call303-649-7147.

Click to download our ECT referral Form.

AdventHealth Porter’s Centre for Behavioral Health is ready to come alongside patients and families to support sustained relief and recovery from a variety of mental health conditions.
Our experienced providers facilitate medication management services and individual therapy.
Our medication providers will complete a comprehensive intake to develop a treatment plan to help ensure your prescribed medications are impacting you in a positive way and adjusting dosages
and medications as needed.
Our therapists will conduct a thorough intake to assess your needs and goals and develop a treatment plan that is right for you. They will provide a supportive dynamic to help facilitate
insight and learn skills to manage life stressors and symptoms.
Our care team is made up of the following:

• Physician Assistants (PAs) who hold a CAQ in Psychiatry
• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners(PMNP)
• Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC), Licensed Professional Counselor Candidates(LPCC), Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), and Licensed Social Workers(LSW)
• Certified Medical Assistants
  

We are a proud LGBTQIA+ affirming facility, committed to providing inclusive and respectful care to all individuals.

We accept most commercial insurances, Medicare, Medicare Advantage Plans. We do not accept Medicaid at the Centre for Behavioral Health.

For questions or to schedule an appointment, please call 303-778-5774.