Outpatient Services

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a cognitive behavioral treatment that was originally developed to treat chronically suicidal individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and it is now recognized as the gold standard psychological treatment for this population. In addition, research has shown that it is effective in treating a wide range of other disorders such as substance dependence, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and eating disorders. This group focuses on the skills training component of DBT.

Clients participate in curriculum which works to promote and educate individuals to foster relationships with foundations of respect, freedom to problem solve, fostering motivation, and showing empathy and compassion in the process. Love and Logic is a philosophy of family engagement which allows adults to be happier, empowered, and more skilled in the interactions with their loved ones. Love allows us to grow through our mistakes. Logic allows us to live with the consequences of our choices. Love and Logic is a way of working with families that puts parents and teachers back in control, teaches others to be responsible, and prepares young people to live in the real world, with its many choices and consequences. Clients can expect to roll play situations and events with peers to gain and practice newfound knowledge.

Uses Finding Your Moral Compass – a book written by an AA leader reviewing positive and negative values and discussing the place of each in moving on after recovery. This group is discussion based- evaluating the values and principles from the book and what place they have in the individual’s life goals.

Uses a variety of interactive journaling workbooks from the Change Company. Clients work individually on different journals or writing assignments and share with the group what they are learning about. Others in the group give feedback and support to each other.

How To Escape Your Prison is the primary MRT workbook used for adult offenders and adults in substance abuse treatment. Here, clients will independently complete workbook homework prior to coming to each session. In the group, clients present their homework and the facilitator passes the client to the next step — or has the client re-do the homework based on objective criteria. Group is primarily peer driven and facilitated by a trained counselor.

Using the book Stop the Chaos, group members study how environmental and internal triggers can lead to relapse. They create a plan for how to handle life issues in a way that makes relapse less likely.

The Strategies for Self-improvement and Change (SSC) program is provided in steps or phases that are developed around three stages in the circle of change. The first phase builds knowledge and skills in several areas. It is the challenge phase of change. This phase consists of 20 sessions. Phase II is a commitment to change. It focuses on strengthening one’s knowledge and skills in bringing about changes that lead to a more responsible and fulfilling life. This phase also focuses on one’s personal strengths and the problems identified in Phase I. Phase II consists of 22 sessions. Phase III moves into greater ownership of ones change. This is where one develops critical reasoning skills, learns how to resolve conflict, learns about lifestyles and activities to maintain change, examines work and job issues, and learns how to become a mentor for others.

Health is a part of life that many people take for granted. For individuals going through recovery, health becomes a tool that needs to be used, a muscle that needs to be exercised, in the fight to stay clean. Advantage Treatment offers services such as yoga, running groups, recreational sports leagues, psycho-education groups, guest speakers and more to encourage exercise, personal growth, and teamwork; but there are other forms of physical activity that a person can participate in to develop a healthy and strong body in the aftermath of a drug habit. ATC strives to provide holistic treatment to mind and body healing, approaches that consider the psychological and the physical to be two sides of the same coin, both of which need to be simultaneously elevated.

This program is designed to bring practices of mindful awareness to individuals who have suffered from the addictive trappings and tendencies of the mind. MBRP practices are intended to foster increased awareness of triggers, destructive habitual patterns, and “automatic” reactions that seem to control lives. The mindfulness practices in MBRP are designed to help us pause, observe present experiences, and bring awareness to the range of choices before each of us in every moment. We learn to respond in ways that serve us, rather than react in ways that are detrimental to our health and happiness. Ultimately, we are working towards freedom from deeply ingrained and often catastrophic habits.

As treatment providers, we believe that thoughtful conversations, aided by mapping-enhanced exploration and discussion, hold the best promise for eliciting from clients the changes they want to see in their lives, their ideas about the best way to make those changes, and their considerations about how to measure progress. This type of collaborative, future-focused treatment plan has the best chance for success because, with the help of mapping strategies, clients are assisted in articulating and claiming ownership of their treatment journey. Therapists will aid clients in setting realistic and SMART goals specific to the week. The group will follow up at the end of the week and explore and process progress toward weekly treatment goals and objectives.

Our Process Group allows clients to explore communication styles and social skills in a supportive setting facilitated by highly trained therapists. Through introspective and practical exercises, clients are able to identify problematic perspectives and behaviors that stand in the way of mutually beneficial, satisfying social relationships. By becoming aware of the impact of behavior on self and others, clients can gain insight into past experiences while developing the skills to enhance meaningful social bonding in a pro-social and safe environment. In a safe, non-judgmental space, clients receive thoughtful, professional, and peer feedback.

Through the IRT visiting program, family members are encouraged to attend visiting sessions which begin with a family education group. Topics that are covered include education about addiction, discussion on how addiction affects family members, and how to improve communication skills.

Restoring physical health through good nutrition is a smart way to lay the foundation for continuing recovery and sobriety. True recovery from substance abuse is about restoring your mind, body, and spirit. Good nutrition is one of the best ways to replenish a body that’s been ravished by addiction. This group explores the importance of nutrition, finds helpful tips, and works with each client to explore ways to increase healthy habits in their lives. Group topics include healthy snack/meal ideas, the hidden dangers of sugar and caffeine, decoding labels, linkage to DHS food assistance programs, and couponing.

A different client each week presents a recovery-related topic of their choosing to the rest of the group. This encourages clients to share their expertise with each other, as well as practice research and preparation. The group participates in the education topic and then gives the presenter feedback.

The course focuses on personal relationships and situations that clients may encounter when re-entering their home lives. Group topics discussed vary from engaging in romantic relationships while in recovery to deciphering positive from negative peers.

This evidence-based model is facilitated as a direct therapy group with no more than 12 same gender clients. It was specifically developed to help survivors with co-occurring trauma and SUD and, crucially, in a way that does not ask them to delve into emotionally distressing trauma narratives. Thus, “safety” is a deep concept with varied layers of meaning – the safety of the client as they do the work; helping clients envision what safety would look and feel like in their lives; and helping them learn specific new ways of coping.

Clients go off grounds with a staff member to learn about and practice physical activities. Activities include volleyball, Frisbee golf, tennis, walking/running, softball, etc.

Clients try out a variety of activities that can be helpful during times when stress or other negative emotions are making relapse prevention difficult. Some examples include journaling, exercise, music, meditation, and prosocial activities with peers. This group is led by a different client each week so that clients can try a variety of activities.

This psychoeducation group is all about enhancing the quality of adult life. Participants will explore a wide variety of life skills including resume building, characteristics of healthy employment, locating a safe and sober living environment, refusal and other safe coping skills, motivational journaling, budgeting, interpersonal relationship skills, safe online behaviors, and many more. This group may host a variety of guest speakers and hold engaging and educational Q&A sessions.

Planning the discharge process thoroughly and completely, including housing finances, continued treatment and support groups, as well as community and family support.

Alcohol and Drug Education promotes responsible decision making and healthy lifestyle choices. Clients will explore and discuss the physical, psychological, and relational effect of continued substance use on their lives and others. Here, effective and accurate information, resources, and skills are explored which are relevant to living in a world where psychoactive substances are widely available and the risks for continued use will be damaging.

This group utilized Hazelden’s curriculum and explores unique components to help clients address life issues that are central to achieving a successful recovery. Topics include Planning for Sobriety, Triggers, Sex, Alcohol, and other Drugs, Skills for Reducing Stress, Negative Emotions, and Avoiding Relapse. This client-focused model allows clients to identify situations that may trigger cravings and pinpoint the decisions that can lead to drug use. Additionally, they will develop immediate alternatives to drug use and implement a long-term plan for full recovery, including relapse prevention.

Group members are encouraged to explore several stress-relieving techniques through many mediums including clay, paint, creative writing, and chalk.

This client uses the workbook Socialization, a part of a core module of A New Direction, Hazelden’s evidence-based pioneering treatment program. This workbook helps clients explore difficulties in building relationships based on trust and respect.

Clients view documentaries and other educational videos to help develop their understanding of addiction and the effects that various substances have on themselves and the community.