Inpatient Program · Women 18 and Older · Trauma-Informed Care
Women’s mental health is not one-size-fits-all. The experiences that shape a woman’s emotional life – reproductive health, trauma, relationships, grief, identity, and the particular weight of holding more than one role at once – require a clinical environment that is built to understand them.
The Empower Women’s Connection Program at Hospital for Behavioral Medicine is a women-only inpatient psychiatric program for women 18 and older who need a safe, structured level of care to stabilize, heal, and move forward.
Our program is grounded in trauma-informed care, a clinical framework built on six core principles: safety, trustworthiness and transparency, peer support, collaboration and mutuality, empowerment, and cultural humility. In practice, this means that every interaction, every space, and every decision in this program is shaped by an understanding that many of the women we serve have experienced trauma and that healing requires more than treatment. It requires an environment where you are believed, respected, included in your own care, and never made to feel that you have to manage how you are perceived in order to feel safe.
Who This Program Is For
This program is designed for women 18 and older who are experiencing acute psychiatric symptoms that require inpatient-level care. Many of the women who come to us have been managing their struggles for a long time – sometimes in silence – before reaching this point. Coming here is not a sign of failure. It is an act of courage.
You may benefit from this program if you are experiencing:
- Depression, including postpartum depression, perinatal mood disorders, or depression related to hormonal changes, infertility, or pregnancy loss
- Anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or symptoms related to trauma, abuse, or violence
- Bipolar disorder or significant mood instability
- Psychosis, including postpartum psychosis
- Suicidal thoughts, self-harm, or a recent crisis episode
- Grief, loss, or significant life transitions that have led to a psychiatric crisis
- Difficulty managing psychiatric symptoms that are worsening or no longer responding to current treatment
Each woman’s path to this program is different. What matters is not how you got here – it is that you are here, and that you are ready to be supported. If you are not sure of whether this program is the right fit, please call us. We will help you understand your options, honestly and without pressure. A free, confidential assessment is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
What to Expect in Our Program
From admission through discharge, your care is coordinated by a multidisciplinary clinical team that includes a psychiatric provider, registered nurses, licensed therapists, and a case manager – all working together in a women-only environment.
Your treatment plan is individualized, developed with your input, and adjusted as you progress.
- Comprehensive psychiatric evaluation with attention to women’s health history including reproductive, hormonal, and trauma history
- Medication evaluation, initiation, and management including careful consideration of reproductive health factors such as pregnancy, breastfeeding, and hormonal influences
- Individual therapy with a licensed clinician using trauma-informed, evidence-based approaches
- Gender-specific group therapy focused on trauma and recovery, emotional regulation, coping skills, self-image, relationships, grief and loss, and anger management
- Psychoeducation on diagnosis, medication, and the relationship between women’s health and mental health
- Life skills development, boundary-setting, and relapse prevention
- Family involvement and communication, with your permission
- Coordination with your primary care provider, OB/GYN, or other specialists as clinically indicated
- Discharge planning with connection to outpatient mental health, trauma-specific, and community supports before you leave
A Space That Is Yours
The Empower program is a women-only unit: meaning the patient community around you is made up entirely of women. The groups, the conversations, the shared spaces, and the therapeutic work all take place in an environment where you are not navigating a mixed-gender milieu while also trying to heal.
For many women, particularly those who have experienced trauma, abuse, or violation, this matters. Being in a space where the people around you share aspects of your lived experience can make it easier to be honest, to feel less alone, and to engage more fully in your own recovery.
Our clinical care is delivered by a multidisciplinary team on a women-centered milieu. Our care team includes psychiatric providers, program therapists, a case manager, and other trained staff, reflecting the full range of clinical professionals needed to provide you with the highest standard of care. What remains constant is the program’s commitment to treating every woman with dignity, transparency, and deep respect for what she has been through.
Who Can Refer – and How
We accept referrals from all sources. No formal referral is required for assessment.
We welcome referrals from:
- The individual herself or a family member
- Primary care physicians, OB/GYNs, and midwives
- Emergency departments and general hospitals
- Outpatient mental health providers and therapists
- Domestic violence programs and sexual assault advocacy organizations
- Community mental health centers and social workers
- Courts, probation officers, and diversion programs
To refer a patient or request an assessment, call our admissions team at (774) 314-3490. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You Do Not Have to Keep Going Through This Alone
We are here – any time of day or night.
Call (774) 314-3490 for a free, confidential assessment. Walk-ins are welcome. No referral required.