An Interview with the 2020 Golden Bowtie Award Winners
The Center for Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy at Beck Institute – in partnership with Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services and Community Behavioral Health’s Evidence-Based Practice and Innovation Center – held the second annual Golden Bowtie Awards this past Wednesday, June 23. The Golden Bowtie Awards program was originated last year as a platform to publicly recognize programs, teams, and staff who have exemplified excellence in Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy (CT-R). The CT-R network has grown extensively in Philadelphia over the last 10 years – more than a dozen programs were eligible to be nominated for, and to receive, a Golden Bowtie distinction!
We’re taking a look back at 2020’s winners – Iheariochi Agwamba, Lisa Jackson, and Steven Burkitt – whose contributions to the Philadelphia community and wider mental health field are immeasurable.
Mr. Agwamba was awarded the Actualizing the Adaptive Mode Bowtie to recognize his collaboration with individuals on taking action toward their aspirations, his focus on using positive action, his ability to address challenges as they impact the pursuit of a meaningful life, and his use of these steps to empower.
Ms. Jackson’s award, the Strengthening the Adaptive Mode Bowtie, honors her ability to use guided discovery to draw attention to positive experiences, helping individuals reflect on what these says about their own qualities.
The 2020 Aaron T. Beck Golden Bowtie Award, presented to Mr. Burkitt, honors him for collaboration, leadership, and exemplifying all of the principles of CT-R excellence, especially dedication to improving the lives of individuals with serious mental health conditions in our city and beyond.
We got a chance to sit down (virtually) with the awardees and hear from them about how CT-R has provided a framework for their clients, staff, and their programs as a whole. Ms. Jackson’s colleague Alexis McDaniels-Brooks also joined us to share her input.
How does CT-R inform your approach to your work in general?
Iheariochi Agwamba: In a lot of ways, whatever I’ve been able to do as a clinician I trace back to CT-R, because what I learned from CT-R has impacted everything else I do. What I’ve learned is that with CT-R, you can immediately bypass certain challenges and get to the point of saying, “These are the obstacles you are facing. If you didn’t have these obstacles, what would you like to do?” You can help individuals realize that they have more power than they thought.
My colleagues have described me as “CT-R on wheels.” I describe it this way because CT-R involves learning by doing and being more action-oriented. You’ll probably fall down a few times, but you’ll enjoy it.
Alexis McDaniels-Brooks: CT-R comes from a framework of understanding that when humans are energized in a positive way, positivity will come in the form of motivation, activities, and more. This is the same approach we like to take with our staff: using positive energy to foster interaction and connection.
What import does using a team approach have in CT-R? How does collaboration, both with the Beck Institute team and your respective teams, come into play?
Steven Burkitt: I’ve noticed that using a team approach always brings new information about an individual to light because team members may be engaging with them in many different ways. It’s interesting in consultation to identify new interests based on each relationship to help get the largest picture possible of each person. We’re able to come together and contribute to a fuller understanding of the individual, who they are, and what they want to be. The team approach strengthens whatever is learned through shared knowledge and a more detailed conceptualization.
IA: Collaborating with Beck Institute’s team was my initial encounter with CT-R. I don’t know if it’s the model itself or the people or a combination, but I light up every time I see a member of the team. Some team members would do hospital visits with me, which helped me see how the people who already know the approach are doing it. I miss seeing them.
AMB: There is a cohesive team feeling between our team and the Beck Institute team. Our meetings are a great space for identifying positives and working through challenges. Learning the process of building recovery maps has been particularly helpful. They’ve helped create an environment of rapport and connection among staff and the individuals we work with.
SB: It’s been extremely helpful to have collaborative meetings with other organizations where we’ve talked about what’s new in the field, had trainings on special topics, and discussed how we can use the approach to target very specific aspects of people’s lives to help them live the life they want.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your CT-R approach? What has it been like to practice remote CT-R?
Lisa Jackson: From the inception of our knowledge about the pandemic, we had to focus on safety. We had previously been using CT-R out in the community, and moving indoors was difficult. After settling in, there was a level of comfort and room to make new safety plans.
IA: The biggest challenge of COVID has been recreating meaningful daily activities while someone with a diagnosis of a serious mental health condition is required to stay indoors. I’ve had to rephrase and refocus their thinking by saying, “This is what it is for now, and let’s figure out what we can do while you’re home.” Without knowing it, clients are able to refocus on what can be done inside the home.
SB: One of the biggest challenges regarding COVID has been trying to stay safe and distant from others while still contributing to public health. CT-R emphasizes the importance of connecting, and many of the people we work with have difficulty connecting with others and were already somewhat socially isolated before the pandemic. I truly loved when Paul and Ellen (Dr. Paul Grant and Dr. Ellen Inverso, co-Directors of the Center for CT-R) spoke about distancing as physical distancing rather than social distancing. It maintains the importance of social connection without being physically close.
Remote CT-R has differed from person to person, from staff member to staff member, and from program to program. There hasn’t been a universal triumph over all COVID barriers; I’ve heard a lot of success stories and a lot of challenges.
AMB: Our focus with remote CT-R has been maintaining connection between individuals and our team, making sure clinical interventions remain accessible.
SB: An unexpected silver lining era is that it has afforded us an opportunity to speak more in depth about how to give individuals an opportunity to share, learn, and express under even more pressing circumstances.
Originally planned as an in-person gala, the 2020 Golden Bowtie Awards was among the first major events to move to a virtual format at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Safety was maintained while members of the CT-R network congregated to celebrate success, join in fellowship, and express a shared mission to improve lives together.
The 2021 virtual ceremony focused on the incredible adaptability, resilience, and empowerment of Philadelphia’s CT-R Network. In an unimaginable year, dedication and grace under pressure – not to mention considerable and impressive creativity – typified the practice of CT-R. The Golden Bowties is an opportunity to take a little time to recognize and give shout out to this collective success. Keep an eye out for a future newsletter where we will announce the 2021 Golden Bowtie winners!
Here is the full list of last year’s winners:
| 2020 Award | Award Winner(s) |
| Individual Awards | |
| Accessing and Energizing the Adaptive Mode | Paul Nolan — Community Treatment Teams Jen Schonauer — CATCH Penrose LTSR |
| Developing the Adaptive Mode | Aisha Neal — Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard Darryl Dunham — Gaudenzia New Outlooks RTFA |
| Actualizing the Adaptive Mode | Iheariochi Agwamba — Community Treatment Teams Kristin Giangiordano — CATCH Penrose LTSR |
| Strengthening the Adaptive Mode | Mike Wilson — Temple University Hospital Episcopal Campus Lisa Jackson — COMHAR Independence House LTSR |
| Site Awards | |
| Excellence in Opportunities for Roles on the Milieu | Temple University Hospital – Episcopal Campus |
| Excellence in Community Integration | Community Treatment Teams |
| Collaborative CT-R Treatment Planning | Independence House LTSR |
| Excellence in Collaborative, Aspiration-Driven Transition Planning | New Vitae Recovery and Wellness RTFAs |
| Achievements in Comprehensive Team-Based CT-R Formulation | Admission, Discharge, and Planning Team (ADAPT) |
| Achievements in CT-R Outcomes | Behavioral Health and Justice Division |
| Achievements in Staff Training of CT-R | Horizon House |
| Network Enhancement Awards | |
| Sustainability and Training | Dr. Williametta Simmons — Temple University Hospital – Episcopal Campus Emily Andrews — Community Treatment Teams |
| Bringing the CT-R Network Together | Robert Dromboski — New Vitae Recovery and Wellness RTFAs Gail Schlosser — CATCH Penrose LTSR |
| 1st Annual Aaron T. Beck Golden Bowtie Award | |
| Aaron T. Beck Golden Bowtie Award | Steven Burkitt – Horizon House |