Since 2000, The Bridge has provided consultation services to many organizations and schools specializing in suicide & self injury. Our 35 years of experience, combined with a commitment to Evidence-Based Practices makes us uniquely suited to assist mental health and educational professionals.

We Provide:

• customized training programs for clinical and direct care staff,
• assistance designing and implementing an evidence-based practice that meets the special needs of your population and milieu,
• assistance adapting these treatments to suit specific populations and setting such as: adolescents, individuals with developmental disabilities, parents, residential settings, schools, out-patient treatment and others,
• staff supervision,
• case consultation and treatment planning,
• assistance to agency leadership to develop strategies that build funder and stakeholder commitment to evidence-based practices,
• assistance to schools to manage and prevent dangerous and disruptive behaviors and costly outplacements.

Principle Consultation Staff

Self-Injury & Suicide Prevention 
Barent Walsh, Ph.D. has written extensively and presented internationally on the topic of self-destructive behavior. He is the author of the book, Treating Self-Injury: A Practical Guide published by Guilford Press (2006) and co-author of the book, Self-Mutilation: Theory, Research and Treatment (Guilford Press, New York, 1988). Both of these volumes have been translated into Japanese. Dr. Walsh recently completed a Self-Injury Prevention DVD and program for High Schools in collaboration with Screening for Mental Health of Wellesley, MA.

Dr. Walsh is the Executive Director of The Bridge of Central Massachusetts in Worcester, MA. He oversees 40 programs including special education services and residential treatment for children, adolescents, and adults with mental illness, developmental disabilities, and/or complex family problems. The Bridge also provides services for homeless individuals and operates two drop in centers for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth. Email Dr. Walsh

Illness Management and Recovery 
Kerrin Westerlind, L.I.C.S.W., is The Director of Illness Management & Recovery (IMR) Services at The Bridge of Central Massachusetts. She holds a master’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work. Ms. Westerlind is responsible for overseeing the implementation of IMR throughout the agency and training staff. In addition, Ms. Westerlind has provided IMR training and consultation to many organizations.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Jennifer Eaton, M.S., LMHC, is the Director of DBT Services for The Bridge of Central Massachusetts, Inc. She oversees eight DBT projects including residential and outreach DBT programs that serve emotionally disturbed adolescents and young adults, mentally ill adults, adult women with physical disabilities and traumatic brain injury, and adults with developmental disabilities.

Ms. Eaton, holds a masters degree in clinical psychology. In addition, she was intensively trained in DBT by Dr. Charles Swenson and completed an Advanced Intensive taught by Dr. Marsha Linehan, the developer of DBT. Ms. Eaton has presented numerous times at the annual ISITDBT Conference and at various local and national conferences.

Ms. Eaton has consulted and trained staff and administrators at the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services, the New York State Office of Mental Retardation, the Alabama Mentoring Network, Denver Behavioral Health, and various public school and outpatient clinics.

Some of the organizations that have benefited from our training and consultation are:

New York State’s Office of Mental Retardation & Developmental Disabilities 
Natick Public Schools 
Alabama Mentor Network 
Leominster Public School 
District Nashoba Regional School District 
Screening for Mental Health, Inc. 
Westborough Public School District 
Phoenix, Arizona Public School District 
Dover Sherborn Public School District 
University of Connecticut School of Medicine 
Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Quality Management Symposium 
Harvard Medical School Department of Continuing Education 
The Edinburg Center 
Riverside Community Care
Advocates
Preferred Alternatives, Fayetteville, NC
Denver Health, Denver, CO

Contact Us:

If you are interested in exploring ways The Bridge can help you with a new treatment model, a challenging client or a student in critical need, please contact Stephen Murphy.