Frequently Asked Questions

+ What is well-being for me?

well-being for me is a program that provides free mental well-being services to Paterson residents. Well-being can be described as judging life positively and feeling good (CDC).

+ What is the Center for Innovation at St. Joseph’s and InLab?

The St. Joseph’s Health Center for Innovation at St. Joseph’s Health (SJH) was established through a grant from the Nicholson Foundation in 2019. The Innovation Lab, or INLAB, is a multi-disciplinary group within the Center for Innovation focused on improving systems through better healthcare.

+ What is the role of the City of Paterson, CARES Act, and HUD?

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded funds to the City of Paterson in the form of Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to directly respond to the COVID-19Pandemic (CARES Act).

+ What is St. Joseph’s role?

The city of Paterson contracted with St. Joseph’s Health to administer and provide the wellbeing services funded through the federal CARES Act.

+ What is AbleTo?

St. Joseph’s is contracted with AbleTo to provide all of the services in a private and confidential manner. For over 10 years, AbleTo delivers over 1 million patient sessions, provides structured, high-quality and high-impact mental health care to people, when and where they need help most. For more information, visit AbleTo at www.ableto.com.

+ Is this service confidential?

Yes, this service is completely confidential. AbleTo will be providing thetherapy sessions and tools and will not be sharing any of your protected health information with the city of Paterson or St. Joseph’s Health.

+ Do I need insurance to get this service?

No, you do not need insurance. This service is completely free for Paterson residents who meet the eligibility requirements.

+ What if I have insurance, will it be billed?

No, your insurance provider will not be billed or notified of your participation in this service. This service is completely free for Paterson residents who meet the eligibility requirements.

+ Can I sign up a family member for them?

You can help a family member fill out the application, but it must be their proof of residency, income information, and signature on the form.

+ What if I don’t have the required proof of residency documents?

Unfortunately, we don’t have any flexibility regarding the documents required.

+ What happens if I don’t qualify?

If you don’t meet the eligibility requirements, there are other mental health resources in Paterson and at St. Joseph’s Hospital. You can contact St. Joseph’s Outpatient Behavioral Health at 973-754-4750. Or use St. Joseph’s Passaic County Crisis 24/7 Hotline 973-754-2033 for free and confidential support.

+ How does the AbleTo program work?

AbleTo’s programs are based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) which focuses on how your thoughts, feelings, and actions are all connected. Over 8 weeks, AbleTo will help you understand those connections, change unhelpful patterns of thoughts and actions, and build skills you can use for life to feel better.

+ Who will I work with?

AbleTo uses highly trained licensed therapists from across the country. They’ll help you find a type of provider for your needs and goals and you’ll work with them throughout your program.

+ What happens in the first meeting/call?

Your first call will be with a therapist where they’ll ask you questions to get to know you better, talk through your needs and goals, and answer questions you might have.

+ What can I expect during a session?

In most sessions, you’ll work with your therapist to set and work toward personal goals, understand the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and actions, and help you learn new skills you can use for life to make each day more manageable and fulfilling.

+ How much time does this program take?

AbleTo programs are 8 weeks of sessions, with evening and weekend appointments available. Depending on your needs, you may meet weekly with a therapist. Most calls are about 45 minutes, but some can be as short as 15 minutes based on the program you’re in.

+ Why is it 8 weeks?

There’s a large amount of evidence that shows focused care delivered over a certain time period, like AbleTo’s clinically-based 8-week programs, can not only provide short-term positive results, but can also be enough time to learn life skills that can be used in the future to help you feel better.

+ What if AbleTo isn’t the right fit for me? / What if I don’t like it or want to continue?

AbleTo is committed to helping you find the right type of care. If you’re not happy with how AbleTo is working for you or if we find you may need a different type of care, we’ll help you with next steps. You are also always welcome to opt out of the program at any time.

+ How can I be sure my information is safe?

AbleTo complies with applicable privacy rules and regulations including state privacy laws and HIPAA, like you’d expect at a doctor’s office or hospital. This means your activity and responses in the app and conversations with your therapist are always private and secure.