MiraVista Behavioral Health Center is pleased to welcome Harold Ayala, LCSW the organization’s newest bilingual clinician to its Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP).
Harold comes to MiraVista with many years of Social Work experience, having previously worked with children and families, as well as providing mental health support to active service members in the National Guard. Ayala accepted the MiraVista position to continue his passion for supporting community members. He calls working in IOP “a rewarding experience” and feels well supported by the outpatient services team.
MiraVista’s IOP provides adults with an opportunity to enhance the process of their individual recovery in a group setting.
According to Ayala, “They learn from other people’s experiences, and they provide support for each other. They have a place in which they can clarify their ideas and receive valuable information that can help them to reach their own expectations.”
He added, “I found at an early age that I was good at helping others, hearing others. I believe my motivation to do this was grounded in an understanding that in helping others we are creating a better society, and in helping ourselves we become better individuals.”
Motivation is a key component of IOP in which participants share their personal stories and receive additional educational and therapeutic support. While relapse is not uncommon with substance use, studies have shown IOPs to be of benefit by the increased support offered weekly to participants as they live their lives out in their community. MiraVista’s IOP sessions follow a four-week curriculum and are being expanded to include evening hours and in Spanish. Transportation to and from the daytime IOP is available and at no cost.
MiraVista offers a continuum of inpatient behavioral health care, and outpatient substance use recovery services that include an Opioid Treatment Program with same-day admission and free transportation, substance use counseling, intensive day treatment programming and free Narcan that can reverse an opioid drug overdose.
MiraVista Behavioral Health Center opened in April of 2021 in Holyoke, Mass. MiraVista offers psychiatric care services for both adults and adolescents, as well as an array of recovery treatment programs including outpatient services such as substance use individual and group counseling, day and evening Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), court-ordered services, and outpatient Medication Supported Recovery and Massachusetts Impaired Driving programs.
MiraVista cares for thousands of individuals from across New England. MiraVista’s purpose is to provide effective, inspiring care for those challenged by mental health and substance use so they are empowered to lead fulfilling lives.
Anyone interested in learning more about MiraVista’s outpatient substance use programs, please visit https://www.miravistabhc.care/services/outpatient-substance-use-treatment-2/ or call 413-701-2600, option 3.