Thirty Years of Personalized Therapy for Individual Needs
In 1974, the vision of former Garden City Hospital President and CEO Mr. Allan Breakie led to the development of counseling services that responded to an identified community need and also served as a resource for the medical staff of the hospital. The program was developed in conjunction with Frank J MacDonell, CAC and Betsey Schrock, MPH. Through the years, the evolving Center for Counseling paralleled the national changes in the delivery of healthcare services. Initially, the focus was on providing treatment for the chemically dependent patient in an inpatient setting. Dr. Robert Ogden and Dr. Frederick Kroot were among several physicians who specialized in treating patients of that population. At that time, Betsey Schrock also served as a Board member of the National Council on Alcoholism-Greater Detroit Area. The introduction of the managed care philosophy ultimately moved chemical dependency treatment to an outpatient function.
In 1980, Dr. Phil O’Dwyer joined the clinical staff and became the Center’s Clinical Director in 1983. Under his leadership, the Center expanded into the treatment of eating disorders and a broader range of mental health issues. The Center received national attention when its Patient-Treatment matching system was described as a “model for the nation” in the 1990 Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report to Congress. In the early 90’s, Dr. Lars Lindstrom, Professor at the University of Stockholm, studied the program and suggested that Sweden adopt a similar treatment approach. During the Blanchard administration, Dr. O’Dwyer served as Chair of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Substance Abuse Services for the State of Michigan.
In recent years, services for children and adolescents were added, in response to the growing national concern with teen problems. In 2002, the Michigan Health and Hospital Association awarded the Center for Counseling its prestigious Patric Ludwig award for innovative community programming for adolescents.
Today, the Center has experienced staff that includes a Board Certified Psychiatrist, doctor and masters level psychologists, clinical social workers and professional counselors.
The Center is proud of its reputation and its continuous contribution to public policy and the professional literature. Several current staff members are on the faculty of local colleges and universities.
Over the past 30 years, more than 8,000 patients and their families have benefited from the treatment services of the Center for Counseling. Countless numbers have benefited from the prevention and education efforts undertaken through seminars, public presentations, and TV and radio appearances.
The success of the Center for Counseling is the result of the collegial efforts of the hospital administration, the medical staff, and a supportive community. They all deserve our gratitude.
