PEARLS Program
Dealing with Depression
CCACC Health Center partners with the Maryland Living Well Center of Excellence to provide PEARLS (Program to Encourage Active and Rewarding LiveS), which is a one-on-one evidence-based program designed to reduce different kinds of depression in physically impaired and socially isolated adult individuals. This program is offered in 6-8 sessions over a 19-week period by a certified PEARLS Counselor at home, at a community location or via tele-health.
Sessions 1-3 are on a weekly basis, sessions 4-5 are on a bi-weekly basis and sessions 6-8 are on a monthly basis. Follow up calls once per month for up to 3 to 4 months followed by additional wrap up activities can be done after all 8 sessions of PEARLS. PEARLS focuses on helping individuals work through problems or challenges they identified in their daily lives such as social isolation, housing needs, or financial issues.
What to Expect in a PEARLS Session
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Participants will be screened in an initial session to determine their eligibility to participate in the program. If eligible, the counselor will begin the first session with the participant right away if time allows.
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Every session begins with a PHQ9 depression screening, followed by identifying a problem the participant would like to work on.
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The participant will be asked to create an action plan for their identified problem, brainstorm possible solutions and some advantages/disadvantages they may face. Then, the participant will choose one of the solution choices to work on step by step.
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Towards the end of each session, the participant would need to identify a social, physical, and pleasant activity they can do to reduce depressive symptoms.
