Phase Model

The CelestHealth System is unique because it is based on the phase model of behavioral health change. The model proposes that improvement in behavioral health typically occurs in three progressive, sequential stages across therapy sessions.  First, the client obtains a greater sense of well-being with increased optimism and hope.  For the second phase, specific symptoms such as panic attacks, depressive thinking, episodes of binge eating, and sleep disturbance diminish.  Finally, with entry into the third phase, life functioning improves, for example, at work, as a parent and partner, and in life enjoyment.  Improvement at each phase is contingent on improvement at the previous phase. The phase model has been validated in several research studies (e.g., Howard, Lueger, Maling, & Martinovich, 1993; Leon, Kopta, Howard, & Lutz, 1999; Lutz, Lowry, Kopta, Einstein, & Howard, 2001; Stulz & Lutz, 2007).

The CelestHealth System is composed of four instruments that (a) assess complete behavioral health, (b) alert at the first session whether the client is at risk to do poorly in psychotherapy, and (c) evaluate the relationship between the therapist and the client.

Behavioral Health Measure-20®

Taking 90 seconds to complete electronically, the BHM-20® is the briefest measure of complete behavioral health available. It is unique for the efficiency and comprehensiveness in which it assesses behavioral health.

The BHM-20 is a 20-item client-report questionnaire that assesses the three phases of behavioral health: (a) well-being (distress, life satisfaction, motivation), (b) psychological symptoms (depression, anxiety, panic disorder, mood swings associated with bipolar disorder, eating disorder, alcohol/drug abuse, suicidality, risk of violence), and (c) life functioning (work/school, intimate relationships, social relationships, life enjoyment). Additionally, it assesses positive psychology with the Personal Effectiveness Scale. The BHM-20 assesses the most frequently seen problems in outpatient psychotherapy. 

Behavioral Health Measure-43®

The BHM-43® is a 43-item client-report questionnaire that takes 3.5 minutes to complete electronically. It also assesses the three phases of behavioral health. It is a more comprehensive version of the BHM-20. The following scales are included in the instrument. The sub-scales in italics are not included in the BHM-20.
Well-Being Scale—Assesses the first of the three behavioral health phases to improve in treatment. Distress, emotional-well being, life satisfaction, and energy/motivation are evaluated.
Symptoms Scale—evaluates the major mental health syndromes including anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, drug/alcohol abuse, hostility, obsessive-compulsive, eating disorder, psychoticism, sleep disturbance, somatization, suicidality, and risk of violence.
Life Functioning Scale—measures life functioning in all the relevant areas--work, school, family, life enjoyment, intimate relationships, social relationships, sexual functioning, physical health, self-management, and money management.

Additionally, the BHM-43 assesses positive psychology with the Personal Effectiveness Scale which includes items from the Well-Being and Life Functioning Scales.

Psychotherapy Readiness Scale

The Psychotherapy Readiness Scale alerts the clinician - at the first session - whether the client is at risk to respond poorly to psychotherapy. It contains 5 items and takes 30 seconds to complete.

Therapeutic Bond Scale

The Therapeutic Bond Scale contains 6 items and takes 30 seconds to complete. It assesses the quality of the relationship between client and psychotherapist.  Because of the transition in mental health care towards briefer psychotherapy, the therapeutic bond is considered a major influence on treatment outcomes.  Specific bond patterns across sessions indicate whether the client’s mental health is likely to improve or decline as psychotherapy continues.