The Meadows Offers Holistic Intensive Outpatient Care In Downers Grove

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — “It is important for people to realize that their mental health is as important as their physical health” Tom Delegatto, Director of The Meadows Outpatient Services, Chicago, told Patch. For Delegatto, Friday's ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Meadows intensive outpatient facility in Downers Grove means his organization can bring holistic mental health care and awareness to even more people.

The intensive outpatient program at The Meadows is “very patient-centered and patient driven," Delegatto explained.

Clients attend the outpatient program four days a week, for three hours each day, for help facing depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues.

Delegatto said The Meadows' proprietary model hones in on trauma, including relational and childhood trauma and trauma.

“We take a holistic approach to the care that we provide," Delegatto explained, adding that patients work with licensed therapists and also have access to art therapy, yoga, neurofeedback, and optional tai chi and qigong.

“We integrate neurofeedback right into our treatment," he said.

The Meadows has its own neurofeedback equipment and an in-house brain center, where patients can become familiar with their neurofeedback patterns and slowly start to retrain their brains, so they can "be more settled in how their body is reacting and how their brain is reacting to stimuli."

Delegatto explained that some patients who have Parkinson's Disease have stopped shaking when they are in a neurofeedback session.

Since opening in November, The Meadows has treated five patients, all of whom have found the neurofeedback "very helpful," he said.

When clients finish their intensive outpatient program at The Meadows, they attend a graduation ceremony of sorts with those they've worked with and alongside in the program.

They also receive feedback from their peers, in addition to a coin that Delegatto said is "charged" with inspirational adjectives provided from each person in attendance.

Patients also have a chance to share their own testimonials about their experience in the program.

“It’s usually pretty emotional because they’ve been together for eight to 10 weeks," Delegatto said. "They’ve learned a lot about each other in that time."

More than 100 people were in attendance Friday at the ribbon cutting event, including members of Chamber 630.

“We’re excited to be able to bring the Meadows model to the Chicagoland area, and we’re excited to be in Downers Grove because of its proximity to Chicago and surrounding areas," Delegatto told Patch.

“Any of us will talk about a triple bypass or high cholesterol or say, 'my doctor wants me to do this and that,'” Delegatto said. He hopes people will start to feel more comfortable talking about seeking and help for the struggles they face emotionally.

He's also working to get substance abuse treatment for patients at The Meadows.

“Don’t be embarrassed or afraid to ask for help," Delegatto said, "Take that next step."

He added that when people thank The Meadows for saving their lives, he says, "No; you saved your own life. You took the steps you needed to.”

Click the link for more information about The Meadows.