It is with mixed feelings that I share with all of you that Helle Thorning, Ph.D.,M.S., LCSW, will be stepping down from her position at the end of March, 2023. Helle has been Director of the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Institute for the last ten years. During her tenure, the number of teams supported by the ACT Institute grew from 78 to 122. Helle led the ACT Institute’s support of teams delivering recovery-oriented and person-centered care that to the most vulnerable New Yorkers struggling with mental health challenges. During this time, Helle also served on the leadership team of the Center for Practice Innovations at the New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI).

Prior to her position as Director of the ACT Institute, Helle served as Clinical Professor, Program Chair of Field Education and Assistant Dean of Field Learning and Community Partnership at the Silver School of Social Work at New York University where she directed the field learning curriculum for social work bachelor's and master's students.  Prior to that, she was the Director of Social work at NYSPI and Assistant Professor at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. An experienced clinician in hospital and community mental health, Dr. Thorning is also a licensed clinical social worker, training clinicians and working with people facing mental health challenges and their families in the US and abroad and has a practice in New York City. 

Helle’s main research area is in the development and application of educational and psychoeducational interventions designed to improve quality of life and outcomes for individuals and families faced with trauma, mental illness, parenting in the context of behavioral health challenges or other significant life challenges as well as transitional care. She has published on the topic of interventions and the experience of families and siblings. Moreover, she studies implementation science to change practice through workforce development, clinical assessment, diagnosis and treatment, transformative learning processes, organizational change and quality improvement and has published in this emergent area of study.  These areas of interest have informed the training and implementation support provided by the ACT Institute. 

Helle will be missed. She has led brilliantly and with heart. She will continue to work at the ACT Institute overseeing external training contracts and support special projects for the ACT Institute and CPI. The Center for Practice Innovations and the New York State Office of Mental Health has begun a search for a new Director for the ACT Institute. We encourage interested candidates to apply for this position by clicking here.

Lisa Dixon, M.D., M.P.H.

Pronouns: She/her/hers