Schizophrenia Treatment Center

San Juan Capestrano Hospital offers a comprehensive, leading treatment program for schizophrenia in San Juan and other locations throughout Puerto Rico. We provide a full continuum of care including detox, inpatient, and outpatient services for adolescents, adults and seniors.

Schizophrenia Treatment

Learn more about schizophrenia treatment at San Juan Capestrano Hospital in Puerto Rico

Schizophrenia is a serious, chronic mental health disorder that requires lifelong treatment in order to be able to manage the associated symptoms. Individuals with schizophrenia usually experience a combination of hallucinations, delusions, disordered thinking, and bizarre behavior. More specifically, individuals with this disorder may hear things that are not really there, see things that do not exist, and believe that others are out to hurt them. All of these difficulties can make it hard for someone with schizophrenia to care for him or herself and so he or she often has to rely on others for help. The staff at San Juan Capestrano Hospital understands how extremely debilitating schizophrenia can be if not treated properly, which is why our hospital has designed specialized programming that is specifically tailored to address the needs of those who are battling the symptoms of schizophrenia.

San Juan Capestrano Hospital is a 172-bed, short-stay private psychiatric hospital located in Metropolitan San Juan, Puerto Rico. Since opening in 1988, we have prided ourselves on being a leader in offering superior treatment for individuals who are suffering from any number of behavioral and emotional concerns, as well as those who are plagued by chemical dependency issues. By offering programming options for adolescents, adults, and senior adults, San Juan Capestrano Hospital is able to afford immediate, acute care that is individualized to meet the unique needs of each patient with whom we work. Our staff consists of numerous mental health professionals, as well as addiction specialists and experienced medical personnel, who are able to facilitate services that emphasize the strengths that our patients possess, while understanding the sensitivity of the concerns that they face. We are proud of our ability to provide the highest quality of individualized care for individuals who self-harm that is available in Puerto Rico through innovative and distinctive treatment options that are based on integrity, respect, and compassionate care. We remain steadfast in our commitment to afford our patients with a safe and nurturing environment that will promote recovery and allow each individual to return to his or her respective community with an overall improved sense of emotional and physical wellbeing. If you or a loved one is struggling with schizophrenia, look no further than San Juan Capestrano Hospital. We can help you get your life back on track.

How to Help a Loved One

Helping a loved one get treatment for schizophrenia

If you have a loved one who is struggling with the debilitating and often unsettling symptoms of schizophrenia, the love and support of family members is often the most important role in the treatment and recovery process. Your help can make a world of difference to your loved one and how successful he or she is with his or her recovery. In addition to providing unconditional love and support, the following are some tips that may help a loved one who has schizophrenia:

  • Learn as much as you can about this disorder and the treatment options because it will allow you to make more informed decisions about how to best manage this illness and handle any setbacks.
  • Reduce stress in your loved one’s life because stress can often exacerbate schizophrenia symptoms. Try to create a structured, supportive environment for your loved one and avoid putting too much pressure on him or her.
  • Set realistic expectations, keeping in mind that there are some limits associated with schizophrenia. Help your loved one not only set, but also achieve manageable goals at a reasonable pace.
  • Empower you loved one, making sure not to take over and do things that he or she is capable of doing for him or herself.

Why Consider Treatment

Why consider treatment for schizophrenia at San Juan Capestrano Hospital in Puerto Rico

Schizophrenia is a chronic disorder and will require life-long treatment, even when the symptoms have abated. If schizophrenia is left untreated, the resulting emotional, behavioral, and health problems can cause severe disruption in an individual’s life. Those with schizophrenia have a higher risk for becoming homeless, which may be due to their inability to maintain steady employment and a greater likelihood to be incarcerated as a result of their erratic behaviors. Furthermore, many individuals with schizophrenia may develop substance abuse problems in an attempt to cope with the distressing symptoms, only making things worse.

When an individual is first diagnosed with schizophrenia, or when the symptoms are causing significant impairment in an individual’s life, inpatient treatment is going to be the recommended level of care. Inpatient treatment is especially needed when individuals are currently a danger to themselves or others. During inpatient treatment, these individuals are provided with a safe, secure environment with 24-hour supervision and support. Furthermore, this type of treatment program offers multiple therapeutic treatment approaches, of which are designed to help individuals better manage their symptoms and live more independent lives.

Types of Treatment

Types of schizophrenia treatment offered at San Juan Capestrano Hospital in Puerto Rico

At San Juan Capestrano Hospital, we wholeheartedly believe in the notion that each patient should have individualized treatment that meets his or her every need. For this reason, we afford each patient who comes to us struggling with the distressing symptoms of schizophrenia with individually tailored plans for treatment that are distinct to the adolescents, adults, and senior adults who come to us for mental health services. These plans detail the specific courses of treatment that patients will engage in and include aftercare recommendations that are devised by our staff so that every patient experiences a full continuum of care. The planning of treatment begins during the time of assessment and can be altered should additional concerns arise during the course of treatment at our hospital.

In order to meet the varying needs of people with schizophrenia, as well as the possible co-occurring issue of chemical dependency, San Juan Capestrano Hospital is pleased to provide various levels of care and specialized programming options. Our hospital features separate adult and adolescent inpatient programs that treat a myriad of mental health conditions, including those of which self-injury is often symptomatic. The level of care most appropriate for a patient is decided upon during the initial psychiatric evaluation, wherein a patient’s needs are assessed, a physical examination is conducted, and a mental status assessment is administered in order to determine which program will produce the most favorable treatment outcomes for any given patient.

Once admitted to one of our programs, patients struggling with the need to self-harm have the ability to partake in a number of therapeutic interventions and treatment modalities. These methods are rooted in evidence-based principles and techniques, including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and the 12-step model for recovery for those individuals who are struggling with substance abuse concerns in addition to the chronic symptoms of schizophrenia. The following methods for care are the ones primarily used at San Juan Capestrano Hospital and are implemented so that patients can find relief from the concerns that arise from the presence of schizophrenia:

Medical detoxification: For those that are battling a chemical dependency problem in addition to schizophrenia, San Juan Capestrano Hospital offers medically supervised detoxification services that are aimed at helping adults, aged 18 and older, withdraw from substances in the most effective and safest manner possible. These services are monitored by medical professionals who have experience in making the process of withdrawal as comfortable as can be so that patients can partake in therapeutic interventions with addiction specialists who can help springboard them towards lasting healing and a full recovery from addiction.

Medication management: In the case of schizophrenia, antipsychotic medications are a large part of the treatment process, helping individuals find some relief from their presenting symptoms. On a case-by-case basis, our qualified psychiatrists will determine each patient’s individual needs for medication, prescribe the appropriate medications, and will then monitor the therapeutic effectiveness of those medications.

Individual therapy: All patients who take part in our inpatient programming for schizophrenia engage in individual therapy sessions four times per week. Individual therapy is a treatment method that is designed to provide patients with an opportunity to process emotions and thoughts on a one-to-one basis with a member of our staff. This can also be a time for individuals to discuss any concerns that they may have, work through maladaptive thought patterns, and track treatment goals.

Group therapy: San Juan Capestrano Hospital offers a number of group therapy opportunities for patients with schizophrenia that offers them the opportunity to find support in one another and hone skills that have been learned. Such sessions can be especially beneficial for individuals who are struggling with the symptoms of schizophrenia, as they can provide them with the sense of comfort that comes with knowing that they are not alone in their struggles. Some of the topics covered in these groups include techniques for managing stress, improving communication, learning and adapting healthy coping methods, bettering self-esteem, dealing with grief and loss, and persevering through trauma. These groups are offered several times per week to maximize the benefits of treatment offered in a group setting.    

Family therapy: Family therapy is offered as a method of treatment during inpatient programming so that our patients can receive ample support from the people who care for them most. During family therapy sessions, patients and their loved ones can work through conflicts and improve communication so as to heal and better familial relationships through the implementation of skills that can serve a family unit well for a lifetime.

We also include a number of other therapeutic interventions as a way to wholly treat the individuals who come to our hospital for care. Especially for those who are plagued by the symptoms of schizophrenia and require additional support and/or resources, we supply the following interventions and group topics as part of our treatment; these interventions have proven effectiveness in helping our patients learn to manage stress and turmoil while gaining the tools needed to successfully manage the debilitating symptoms of their mental health condition while also addressing other concerns:   

  • Canine therapy
  • Pilates
  • Infection control education
  • Psychoeducation
  • Relaxation techniques
  • Recreational therapy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Crisis Management
  • Anger management
  • Medical issues management
  • Alcoholics Anonymous
  • Marijuana Anonymous

Continuing Care

Continuing care and levels of treatment for schizophrenia

At San Juan Capestrano Hospital, we strive to provide the most comprehensive services that embody the highest quality of care possible for individuals who are struggling to overcome the symptoms of schizophrenia. To fulfill this goal, we begin discharge planning at the time of admissions and feature a number of continuing care options at varying levels of treatment so that each and every one of our patient’s needs can be treated once a higher level of care is no longer required.

San Juan Capestrano Hospital offers partial hospitalization programs for both adolescents and adults. The adolescent program is catered to youth between the ages of 13 and 17 years old and our adult program is designed for those aged 18 and older who are struggling with mental health concerns such as schizophrenia.

Our hospital also features an adult substance abuse intensive outpatient program for individuals aged 18 and older who are battling the demon of addiction in addition to the symptoms of schizophrenia. This program is designed to continue the recovery process and help patients maintain sobriety after completing inpatient services.

Lastly, San Juan Capestrano Hospital provides outpatient services at eleven different locations on the island, including San Juan, Carolina, Bayamón, Hatillo, Mayagüez, Caguas, Humanao, Manatí, Condado, Ponce, and Guaynabo. Outpatient care allows patients to process feelings and thoughts with a mental health professional on a weekly basis.

Whatever your mental healthcare needs, the staff at San Juan Capestrano Hospital is devoted to helping those who are entrusted into our care overcome mental health issues or substance abuse concerns. We will put forth every effort to ensure that healing and lasting recovery from schizophrenia is successfully achieved.

My severe depression had taken over my life. I’m so thankful for San Juan Capestrano Hospital for giving me the strength to start living my life again to the fullest.

– Luis S.