Medical Wellness Center
The Institute of Living (IOL), part of Hartford HealthCare, provides care to adolescents and adults in Connecticut experiencing mental health disorders, including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, and co-occurring substance use disorders. Some of the anxiety disorders they treat are generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), hoarding disorder, illness anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, school refusal, separation anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, phobias, hair-pulling, and skin-picking disorder.
They provide treatment notes during and after care with the MyChart app or website.
IOL has residential, day, intensive outpatient (IOP), and standard outpatient care tracks. Their care tracks all use evidence-based and medical approaches, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and medication-assisted treatment (MAT), along with many group therapy programs. Something that sets IOL apart is its integration of clinical care, education, and research, since it’s part of an academic hospital.
IOL uses life experience groups and general groups. Some general groups are social skill building, anger management, adventure-based counseling, expressive arts, art therapy, and sewing.
Within the pool of adolescents and adults who IOL treats, they offer specialized treatments for specific groups. For adults 55+, their geropsychiatriatrists can address aging-related issues like sleep disorders, dementia, and life changes that affect mental health and substance use. For clients with autism, especially children and adolescents with autism, they can provide treatment that helps with independent living skills, speech-language pathology, social skills, and other considerations that affect mental health. For young adults 18-26, the young adults services (YAS) program specializes in helping young adults overcome mental health challenges to be independent. For LGBTQ+ clients, especially those 18-26, IOL provides affirming care to in their right track program to manage stress and stigma, strengthen family connections, utilize personal strengths, and develop coping skills. For expecting and nursing mothers and fathers, the peripartum mood disorders program helps clients when they sense that something isn’t right with their mental health while parenting. For clients 11-14, the teaching our positive side (TOPS) day treatment program leads clients in experiential therapies to build social skills.
The Institute of Living’s main campus is in downtown Hartford, near the airport. They also have a branch campus for their Anxiety Disorders Center program, located 40 minutes away in Cheshire.
IOL’s therapy costs price estimates and care notes through MyChart. Generally, self-pay costs without insurance can range from $120-$360.
