Pine Rest Mission Statement
Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services is called to express the healing ministry of Jesus Christ by providing behavioral health services with professional excellence, Christian integrity and compassion.

Newsletter Update

Welcome to the improved Pine Rest Mental Health News and Information Ezine. Beginning with this issue, we have combine three of Pine Rest's e-publications (Mental Health News and Information, Pine Rest Connections, and Pine Rest Clergy Connections) into one publication.

Our goal is to provide you with timely information on the latest mental health news and tips, plus Pine Rest staff announcements, clinical and other happenings within Pine Rest, information or courses for pastors and church leaders, and more.

We hope you find this new formate helpful and informative. Please let us know what you think and any suggestions you may have.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Does This Sound Like You?

I never stop worrying about things big and small.
I have headaches and other aches and pains for no reason.
I am tense a lot and have trouble relaxing. I have trouble keeping my mind on one thing.
I get crabby or grouchy.
I have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
I sweat and have hot flashes.
I sometimes have a lump in my throat or feel like I need to throw up when I am worried.

If you experience some of these problems, you may have Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

1. What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a real illness. GAD can be treated with medicine and therapy.

If you have GAD, you worry all the time about your family, health, or work, even when there are no signs of trouble. Sometimes you aren’t worried about anything special, but feel tense and worried all day long. You also have aches and pains for no reason and feel tired a lot.

Everyone gets worried sometimes, but if you have GAD, you stay worried, fear the worst will happen, and cannot relax.

2. When does GAD start and how long does it last?
Most often GAD starts when a person is still a child or teenager. It can start in an adult too. More women than men have this illness.

People with GAD may visit their doctor many times before they find out what their real illness is. They ask their doctor to help them with the signs of GAD like headaches or trouble falling asleep, but don’t get help for the illness itself.

3. Am I the only one with this illness?
No. You are not alone. In any year, 4 million Americans have GAD.

4. What can I do to help myself?
Talk to your doctor about your constant worry and tension. Tell your doctor about any other signs of GAD that you may have, such as aches and pains for no reason or trouble sleeping. Tell your doctor if these problems keep you from doing everyday things and living your life. Ask your doctor for a checkup to make sure you don’t have a different illness.

Ask your doctor if he or she has helped other people with GAD. Special training helps doctors treat people with GAD. If your doctor doesn’t have special training, ask for the name of a doctor or counselor who does.

5. What can a doctor or counselor do to help me?
The doctor may give you medicine. But it may take a few weeks for the medicine to work.

Talking to a specially trained doctor or counselor helps many people with GAD.

Here is one person’s story:
"I was worried all the time, about everything. It didn’t matter that there were no signs of problems, I just got upset. I was having trouble falling asleep at night, and I couldn’t keep my mind focused at work. I felt angry at my family all the time.

Finally, I saw my doctor and explained about my constant worries. My doctor sent me to someone who knows about GAD. Now I am taking medicine and working with a counselor to cope better with my worries. I had to work hard, but I feel better. I’m glad I made that first call to my doctor."

This article was excerpted from the NIMH article located at http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/nimhgad.cfm. Additional information and references may be obtained there.

Pine Rest Announcements

By Jesse Aukeman

Denise Gribbin, MD, Named Vice President and Chief Medical Officer
Denise Gribbin, MD, recently stepped into the role of Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for Community and Residential Psychiatry at Pine Rest. She has served Pine Rest as the interim chief medical officer since fall 2006.

Prior to her current role, Dr. Gribbin served as president of Pine Rest Medical Staff. She currently serves as Chief of the Department of Psychiatry at Saint Mary’s Health Care in Grand Rapids, and on the boards of Saint Mary’s Health Care Doran Foundation and the Kent County Medical society. She is a member of the Grand Rapids Police Department Mental Health Initiative Group as well as the Spectrum Health Suicide Assessment Team. She recently completed a two-year term as alternate delegate for the Michigan State Medical Society. Dr. Gribbin is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Michigan State University, as well as the Grand Rapids Psychiatry Clerkship Director for the MSU College of Human Medicine and MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Dr. Gribbin’s clinical experience includes adult inpatient and outpatient psychiatry, ECT, and extensive experience in consultation/liaison psychiatry. She is a graduate of University of Michigan Medical School, and completed a psychiatry internship and residency at University of Michigan Medical Center, where she served as Adult Services Chief Resident. Dr. Gribbin was recently elected to a two year term as a Councilor for the Michigan Psychiatric Society.

To contact Dr. Gribbin, please call 616/281-6312.

Carey Krause, DO, Named Medical Director of Hospital Based Services
Carey Krause, DO, is the new Medical Director of Hospital Based Services at Pine Rest. Dr. Krause has been a member of the Pine Rest medical staff since 1998, previously serving as Chief of Adult Services.

Dr. Krause has served as an inpatient psychiatrist on the psychiatric-medical unit at Saint Mary’s Health Care. In addition, he developed Pine Rest’s consultation/liaison service and performed ECT at both the Saint Mary’s and Pine Rest campuses. He also provided psychiatric care through Pine Rest’s Professional Practice Group outpatient network. Dr. Krause serves as President of the Pine Rest Medical Staff and is former President of the west Michigan chapter of the Michigan Psychiatric Association.

Dr. Krause received a medical degree from Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, completed an internship at Metro Health in Grand Rapids, and then completed a combined residency in psychiatry and internal medicine at Michigan State University. He has board certification in psychiatry from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and in internal medicine from the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Krause is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry in the MSU Department of Psychiatry, and has supervised and instructed medical students and residents since joining Pine Rest. Dr. Krause also writes and lectures on the practice of community psychiatry.

To contact Dr. Krause, please call 616/455-5000, extension 2246.

Staff Highlight: Karen Elbert, LMSW
Karen Elbert, LMSW, is the Clinic Manager for the Pine Rest Wyoming Clinic. She oversees projects relating to the integration of outpatient mental health care with primary care medical groups, and other areas of best practice. She also continues to serve as an outpatient clinician at Wyoming Clinic and as DBT program development coordinator.

Elbert has over 25 years’ experience in the human services field, with clinical experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings. She received a master’s degree in social work from Grand Valley State University. Elbert has also received continued education and training in cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, treatment of traumatic stress, and thought field and body-based therapies. In addition, she has a certificate in spiritual direction.

To contact Karen Elbert, please call the Wyoming Clinic at 616/252-8371.

Dr. Mark Eastburg Elected to Governing Council of American Hospital Association
In January, Dr. Mark Eastburg, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services’ President and Chief Executive Officer, was elected to a three-year term on the governing council of American Hospital Association’s (AHA) Section for Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Services (SPSAS).

AHA council members serve as the ‘eyes’ of behavioral health care for the AHA, focusing on reviewing advocacy and policy proposals, providing input and feedback, plus working with state and metropolitan hospital associations as appropriate.

Members of the council are nominated to three-year terms by AHA board members, peers at state hospital associations, C.E.O.’s of general acute care hospitals with behavioral health units, as well as other SPSAS members, then elected by the full council.

July 5, 12, 19, and 26
Eating Disorders Educational Support Group
Ongoing confidential group geared for persons with diagnosed eating disorders who are also receiving treatment from a health professional. 5:30 - 7 p.m. at Pine Rest Northeast Clinic, 1700 East Beltline, NE, Suite 240. Cost: $10/week. Facilitated by Michelle Muenzenmeyer, MA, LLP. An assessment or referral is required prior to joining the group. To schedule an assessment or for more information, call 616/364-1500. Additional information is available on the Pine Rest Website.

July 10, 17, 24, 31
Anger Management Classes for Teens
Led by Ryan LaRue, MSW, LMSW, ACSW, outpatient therapist at Pine Rest Campus Clinic. 4:15 -5:30 p.m. in the Van Andel Center on Pine Rest's main campus, 300 68th Street, SE, Grand Rapids. Open to male and female teens ages 12-17. Cost: $75/person. Those interested in these classes do not have to be patients of Pine Rest. Space may be limited and early registration is recommended. For more information and to register, call 616/222-4584 or email ryan.larue@pinerest.org.
Additional information is available on the Pine Rest Website.

Pine Rest Services

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Disclaimer

Copyright © 2007, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services. All rights reserved. The contents of Mental Health News & Information are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition.