The Professionals’ Program is an intensive group therapy program for adults whose mental health is affecting their relationships, work, or day-to-day lives.
Some people enter the program because of work-related stress, burnout, or changes in their ability to function at work. For others, work is going well, but they are struggling with relationships, emotional distress, or other concerns that are affecting their lives. The Professionals’ Program offers intensive group therapy for adults who need more structure and support while continuing to live and work in their communities.
Treatment focuses on both immediate concerns and the patterns that can contribute to ongoing difficulties. In group therapy, participants have the opportunity to better understand themselves and their relationships, develop new ways of responding to others, reduce symptoms, and improve their ability to manage work and everyday life.
Designed for the Whole Person: A Program for Adults with Diverse Life and Work Experiences
The Professionals’ Program provides a structured and supportive setting for adults experiencing significant emotional or mental health concerns. People enter the program with different challenges and circumstances, and treatment is tailored to help each person better understand what they are experiencing, address current concerns, and improve their ability to manage relationships, work, and daily life.
The program offers both Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) levels of care. Treatment takes place primarily in groups, where participants work with behavioral health professionals and connect with others facing similar challenges. We strongly encourage participants to take time away from work and other major responsibilities when possible, particularly during PHP, so they can fully focus on treatment and make the most of their time in the program. For those who are able to continue working, the treatment team can help consider how work fits into their overall treatment and recovery.
The Professionals’ Program serves adults from a wide range of backgrounds and occupations, including healthcare professionals, educators, business owners, first responders, tradespeople, primary caregivers, students, and others. The program recognizes that work is only one part of a person’s life and that mental health concerns can affect many areas of functioning. Treatment is focused on helping each person build greater self-understanding, strengthen relationships, manage symptoms, and return to their daily lives with greater stability and flexibility.
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How It Works
The Professionals’ Program brings individuals together in a structured group therapy setting with an interdisciplinary team of behavioral health professionals. Treatment is grounded in interpersonal and relational psychodynamic approaches, with additional evidence-based approaches integrated into treatment as appropriate. These include Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
Groups provide opportunities to explore relationships, emotions, patterns of behavior, and the ways these can affect work and everyday life. The program includes both interpersonal process groups and skills-based groups, as well as groups focused on specific topics and overall well-being.
The Professionals’ Program may be helpful for adults experiencing:
- Depression or anxiety
- Relationship difficulties
- Work-related stress or burnout
- Difficulty managing emotions or stress
- Life transitions and changes in functioning
- Bereavement and loss
- Difficulties with boundaries
- Challenges in work-life balance
- Concerns related to identity and relationships
- And other mental health concerns
Our Two Treatment Tracks
The Professionals’ Program offers two treatment tracks: the Traditional Track and the Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT)-Informed Track. Both are intensive, relational group therapy programs that focus on improving self-understanding, relationships, emotional well-being, and day-to-day functioning. The primary difference is in what each track emphasizes and how treatment approaches interpersonal difficulties.
Traditional Track
The Traditional Track uses an insight-oriented, interpersonal approach to help people better understand patterns in their relationships, how those patterns develop, and how they may contribute to symptoms, emotional distress or difficulties in daily life. Groups pay attention both to what is being discussed and to what is happening between group members, using the group itself as an opportunity to better understand interpersonal patterns.
Treatment integrates skills and concepts from several therapeutic approaches, including psychodynamic therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Treatment may be particularly helpful for individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, mood disorders, work-related stress, relationship difficulties, or challenges related to life transitions and functioning.
Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT)-Informed Track
The MBT-Informed Track is designed for individuals experiencing more complex interpersonal difficulties, including difficulties related to attachment, trauma, or personality functioning. The treatment places a particular emphasis on developing the ability to understand thoughts, feelings, intentions, and motivations in yourself and in other people.
During moments of emotional turmoil, such as when feeling hurt, rejected, or angry, it’s easy to lose understanding and assume the worst about oneself or others. MBT helps people slow down, remain curious, and consider what may be happening in their own mind and in the minds of others before reacting. Over time, this can support greater emotional regulation, more flexible responses, stronger relationships, and improved overall functioning.
What the Tracks Have in Common
Both tracks are relational and group-based. Both aim to reduce symptoms, increase self-understanding, improve relationships, and help people function more effectively in their daily lives. The two tracks share some programming and maintain the same schedule and team-based structure.
Other Program Considerations
The treatment team recommends a short break from work to participate in the program. Most participants use company time off, short-term disability or job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act and Connecticut Paid Family Leave Act. However, the part-time, outpatient structure of the program offers some flexibility for those who need to continue working on a limited basis.
The Professionals’ Program meets in the cozy, home-like setting of the Buckingham Building at The Institute of Living. All services are held in-person on the IOL Campus, across the street from Hartford Hospital.
Features of the Program: Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
The Professionals’ Program offers an integrative Partial Hospitalization Program. This is a more intensive treatment option and includes group therapy five days a week, with four groups each day. Most program participants start the Professionals’ Program by attending this five-day a week program, for about two weeks, to allow for an immersive start to treatment while rapidly building meaningful connections with other group members. Individuals who attend PHP will also meet with our program psychiatrist weekly for medication management. PHP is typically two weeks, with individuals stepping down to the Professionals’ IOP for ongoing treatment.
Features of the Program: Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
The Professionals’ Program is currently offering program on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. The program is typically 8 weeks in length (including two weeks of PHP). Each program day includes three groups and medication management as indicated.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is this program covered by my insurance?
The Institute of Living is a participating provider with most insurance, managed care and workers’ compensation plans.
Will my leave from work be covered by FMLA?
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) “entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons.” (Department of Labor). Further, On June 25, 2019, the State of Connecticut passed legislation to create a comprehensive paid family and medical leave insurance program through the signing of the Connecticut Public Act (CT Paid Leave Authority). The Professionals’ Program offers treatment for serious health conditions covered under FMLA and the CT Paid Leave Authority.
What are the hours of the program?
Monday-Friday, 9am to 1pm. Please see detailed program schedule here.
Can I continue seeing my own therapist?
Yes. Patients may continue to see their own psychotherapists if they already have one on days they are not coming to the program, or receive suggestions for referrals for follow-up after the program ends.
Can I take a leave or vacation from the program?
No. Unfortunately, taking time away from the program can hinder treatment progress given the intensive nature of the IOP treatment. Further, insurance coverage may vary for individuals not in treatment consistently.
Is there a professional substance use treatment program?
Yes, Please see https://instituteofliving.org/programs-services/adult-services/departments-services/addiction-services
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Resources
Suicide and Crisis Hotlines
- 211 Info Line - from within CT, dial 211, then option 3, then option 1 for a crisis hotline.)
- 1.800.SUICIDE (1.800.784.2433)
- 1.800.273.TALK (1.800.273.8255)
Suicide Prevention Websites
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Our Team
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Carol Freedman, LCSW, PhD, Clinician
Carol Freedman has worked in the Professionals’ Program for 22 years. She received her degree in clinical social work from Smith College and a doctorate in philosophy from Yale University. She integrates a psychodynamic framework with other therapeutic modalities into her work with groups, couples, and individuals, while also exploring how philosophical accounts of the self and meaning in life can deepen her approach to psychotherapy.
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Katherine Simeone, LPC, Clinician
Katie completed her graduate work in mental health counseling at Nova Southeastern University. Clinical interests include: facilitating group work, interpersonal processes, and working with individuals curious to explore their relationship with substances.
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Jim Casso, LCSW, Clinician
Jim is an experienced clinician with a history of working in a variety of community and hospital-based mental health settings since 2003. He completed his graduate degree in Social Work from the UConn School of Social Work where he specialized in Mental Health and Substance Abuse. His areas of clinical interest include trauma and mood disorders; and he has specialized training in CBT, EMDR and Mindfulness. Jim also loves music and has developed a music therapy intervention that he has brought to various settings.
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Ryan Donberg, PsyD, Psychologist
Dr. Ryan Donberg is a clinical psychologist at the Professionals’ Program. He completed his graduate training at Xavier University, his predoctoral internship at Hartford Hospital/Institute of Living, and his postdoctoral fellowship at The Menninger Clinic. Dr. Donberg’s clinical interests involve psychodynamic psychotherapy, with a particular interest in transference focused psychotherapy and mentalization based treatment.
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Bethany Caudill, PsyD, Psychologist
Dr. Bethany Caudill is a clinical psychologist at the Professionals' Program. She completed her graduate training at the University of Hartford, and her internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Hartford Hospital/Institute of Living. Dr. Caudill has clinical interests in psychodynamic therapy, particularly mentalization-based treatment and transference-focused psychotherapy. She also has clinical interest in working with patients navigating struggles related to sexuality, intimacy, and gender.
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Mitchell Page, LCSW, BCD, ACSW, Per Diem Clinician
Mitch completed his MSW at New York University and his DSW at the University of Southern California. A social worker and group therapist since 1986, Mitch has expertise in treating trauma, mood disorders, and marital and family discord.
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Karina Weiss, MD, Psychiatrist
Dr. Karina Weiss, a board-certified psychiatrist, has been practicing psychiatry since 2008. She has been at the Institute of Living since 2012. She is interested in mood disorders, anxiety disorders, psychiatric issues affecting pregnant and post-partum women and the interface of psychiatric disorders with medical illness. She holds faculty position, as Assistant Professor of the Department of Psychiatry at University of Connecticut School of Medicine. She graduated from Brown University, then University of Louisville School of Medicine, then Harvard Longwood Psychiatry Residency Training Program in 2008, where she was also a chief resident.
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Maschal Mohiuddin, MD, Psychiatrist
Dr. Mohiuddin is a board-certified adult psychiatrist. She completed her residency training at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts with a special interest in women’s mental health and perinatal psychiatry. She has worked in a variety of settings including acute hospital-based care, outpatient, and community programs.
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Brianna Pollock, PhD, Program Manager
Dr. Brianna Pollock is a clinical psychologist and serves as the administrative program manager for the Professionals’ Program and Perinatal Day Program. She completed her graduate training at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and her predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Hartford Hospital/Institute of Living. Dr. Pollock has clinical and research interests in psychodynamic and mentalization-based psychotherapy, group psychotherapy, personality health, reproductive mental health and the intersection of diversity, equity, and behavioral health treatment. Dr. Pollock can be reached at Brianna.Pollock@hhchealth.org or 860.545.7840.
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Information and Referrals
To begin the intake process with a confidential, personalized assessment, call the Institute of Living Access Center: 860.545.7200 or 1.800.673.2411
For additional information about the Mental Health Path, call 860.545.7061
For additional information about the Substance Abuse Path, call 860.972.7730
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For Current Patients
If you currently participating in the professionals’ program, here are some helpful links and files.
Please add links for the following documents available for download:
If you would like to complete a release of information for us to speak to your providers, family, or others, use our online form:
Release of Information
Emergency Phone Numbers
If you are having a clinical emergency and need immediate support we ask you to reach out to the 24/7 Crisis Hotline at 472-HELP, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline via phone or text at 988, 911, or go to your nearest emergency room.
Information and Referrals
To begin the intake process with a confidential, personalized assessment, call the Institute of Living Access Center: 860.545.7200 or 1.800.673.2411
For additional information about the Professionals’ Program, please call the program manager, Brianna Pollock, PhD at 860.545.7840
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For Referring Providers
If you are interested in making a referral to the Professionals’ Program, please call our access center at 860.545.7200. It is likely your client will also be asked to reach out to schedule an intake.
If you would like to discuss the program or potential referrals, please call the Professionals’ Program manager, Brianna Pollock, PhD at 860.545.7840.
If you are a referring provider, please review our admission and exclusionary guidelines.
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