HRTC’s Drop-in Center Celebrates its First Birthday!

Nathan Kamps-Hughes, LCSW, Therapist & Program Manager

On any given day at 21 Merlin Street, HRTC’s low-barrier community mental health drop-in center, one will see folks engaging in a wide array of therapeutic and health-promoting activities. Moving freely throughout the space, drop-in center guests might choose to work on a piece of art, relax on a couch with a bowl of oatmeal, brush up on their overdose prevention strategies, plan their day over a cup of coffee, engage in an impromptu group with other guests about harm reduction, or discuss a goal or a desired change with an HRTC therapist.

The fluidity and flexibility of the center, which is the living embodiment of HRTC’s “milieu” treatment model, allows for guests to avail themselves of whatever level of care makes the most sense for them in the moment. Perhaps unsurprisingly, we have consistently found that empowering individuals to set the agenda of their own healing process helps to both promote self-regulation AND uphold their right to self-determination.

And it is working. When we first launched our drop-in center back in December 2022, 1 or 2 folks might poke their heads in each day, get some snacks, and then leave. We now consistently receive 20-35 guests each day, many of whom spend several hours with us and engage in several levels of care during their stay. And while we make it clear to all that participation in treatment with an HRTC therapist is not a requirement to access our center, we have observed that more than 25% of drop-in guests actively seek out treatment with one of our providers. It is truly amazing how folks will spontaneously initiate treatment and develop their own treatment goals when you acknowledge their expertise, including the logic and legitimacy of their ambivalence. By offering a calm, welcoming and safe environment, without preconditions, without the burdensome amounts of paperwork, self-disclosure, vulnerability, and/or requirements around behavioral change frequently present in other mental health and substance use treatment environments, our guests form connections at the speed of trust with therapists, each other and themselves. Through engagement in a therapeutic milieu where they can work at their own pace, free of stigma, judgment and pre-conditions, people can reflect on their needs, hopes, and goals, including any decisions they may wish to make around change.

Click HERE to support our drop-in

Click HERE to read what else we are up to