Behavioral Health Clinics

Short-Term Assessment for Recovery and Treatment (START Clinic)

The START Clinic provides psychiatric evaluations for patients new to University Psychiatric Center, psychotherapy, medication management, patient education and supportive care.

COPE Clinic

COPE Clinic is available for patients with chronic mental illness who require ongoing treatment and frequent follow-up. Our team of psychiatrists, nurses and case managers provide supportive therapy and medication management.

Psychotherapy Clinic

The Outpatient Psychotherapy Clinic provides time-limited psychotherapies for patients who want to focus on recovering from the symptoms of a diagnosed mental health disorder.

Some of our evidence- informed treatment tracks address conditions such as:

• Depression and anxiety
• Trauma & PTSD
• Difficulties with emotional regulation and accountability in relationships
• Psychotic conditions and other serious mental illness

In order to reduce wait time to connect with our clinic, we do not schedule initial appointments. Instead, we offer walk-in/call-in services Mon-Fri. You can talk to a clinical team member and begin to get help and more information about the Recovery Stage Model our team provides. Please call 505-272-2800 for hours.

Seniors Clinic

The Seniors Clinic offers specialized behavioral health care and psychotherapy to patients ages 65 and over. Services include family and individual therapy, diagnosis and treatment of new mental health issues, ongoing treatment and management of long-standing mental health issues, and medication management.

ICOPE Clinic

The newest UNM Mental Health clinic, the ICOPE Clinic allows patients to receive ongoing care for chronic medical issues from clinical staff who are experienced in serving patients with psychiatric diagnoses. ICOPE is located within the UNM Psychiatric Center and accepts all patients currently established at University Psychiatric Center.

Clinics for Treatment-Resistant Depression

Sometimes, antidepressants and psychotherapy do not work as well as expected. UNM Health offers the latest therapies for people with severe depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

• Esketamine: Esketamine, also known by its brand name of Spravato, is a prescription medication used for treatment-resistant depression in adults. Esketamine is administered as a nasal spray in the clinic and requires monitoring by trained medical staff following administration. In clinical studies, Esketamine has been shown to be effective in improving symptoms of depression when used in conjunction with an oral antidepressant.
• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS): An effective option for treatment-resistant depression, TMS is a well-tolerated, noninvasive procedure. An electromagnetic coil is placed against the patient’s head while they are seated in a comfortable chair. Then, repetitive magnetic pulses are administered to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. This treatment is performed in our office and does not require anesthesia. Patients typically receive five treatments per week (10 to 30 minutes each) for six to eight weeks.
• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): This effective therapy may be an option for patients with severe major depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Done under general anesthesia in a monitored post-surgical setting, ECT involves passing small electric currents through the brain. These currents can trigger chemical changes in the brain to reverse symptoms of mental health conditions. ECT treatment typically involves a series of sessions. You and your doctor will discuss how many sessions you may need.