What Makes Our Transitional Living Program Different?
When young adults join our Greater Portland community, they become part of something special. Here's what sets Stepping Stone apart:
The Therapeutic Milieu: Clinically-Driven Treatment in a Community Setting
Cornerstones of Maine was founded by two clinicians who had worked for years with young adults and wanted to do things differently. Today, therapeutic work is the foundation of the Cornerstones' program—and the primary way we help clients overcome the obstacles that have held them back in the past. But, it goes far beyond traditional therapy.
Instead,our unique community of healing acts as a “therapeutic milieu,” where the community is the therapy. Our clinical staff works alongside our clients in their home environment throughout the day. This facilitates transformative therapeutic work, as our therapists have the opportunity to truly observe and understand our clients and how they experience themselves and the world. They get to know clients in real-life situations—not just during scheduled sessions—creating deeper therapeutic relationships that lead to more meaningful growth.
Learning Through Living: Our Experiential Approach
Clients need much more than traditional therapy in order to truly thrive. And growth requires more than didactics. It requires learning, through practice. That’s why an experiential approach is the core methodology that suffuses every aspect of the Cornerstones program.
Utilizing an experiential approach means that we take treatment out of the therapist’s office and do it in real-life settings. Learning to meal prep and grocery shop can be a lesson in managing overwhelm. Community engagement and relationship building challenges social anxiety and helps build confidence. Taking care of one’s living space helps build executive functioning capacity.
Ultimately, these aren't hypothetical exercises; they're real-life responsibilities that build the foundation for lasting independence. The Stepping Stone transitional living program requires our clients to engage in the daily practice of managing the organizational demands and responsibilities that come with living independently. This provides the foundation for independent living and autonomy down the road.
Holistic Care: Development for a Meaningful Life
Still, independence isn't just about paying bills and keeping appointments. It's about creating a rich, meaningful adult life worth living. So, we offer diverse avenues towards emotional growth and character building. Our program is holistic in that it aids our clients on the path toward a meaningful life by offering additional opportunities for growth alongside work and school.
We incorporate exercise, meditation, yoga, nutrition, volunteering, and artistic expression into our core program, since these are necessary components to building a fulfilling life. Depending on the season, clients may learn to surf or ski. These activities help young adults discover new passions and strengths that become vital parts of their identity.
Our Continuum of Care: Client-Centered Programming That Grows With You
Cornerstones of Maine meets each client where they are—and grows alongside them. In practical terms, this means that the average client usually starts out with a fairly structured program that is collaboratively developed by the client and staff. As a client works their way through the program, they become increasingly independent and program structure decreases accordingly.
No two journeys to independence look exactly alike, which is why our approach evolves as each young adult demonstrates increasing capacity for self-direction and responsibility. Our continuum of care is not mandatory, but offers clients the opportunity to slowly build autonomy over time, with support.
