This treatment approach allows individuals recovering from substance abuse to continue their day-today activities while learning how to stay clean and sober within the framework of their daily lives. This is especially important to the recovery process because it encourages people with alcohol or drug problems to learn new behaviors in the same day-to-day living and working environments. The three phases of the program which follows the initial assessment - Intensive Treatment, Transitional Treatment and Continuing Care - are detailed below.
Assessment
The road to recovery begins with a single step - the recognition that there is a problem. The assessment stage is aimed at creating an individualized treatment plan for the program participants. Working closely with a wide variety or referral sources, the experienced professional at the Thelma McMillen Center offer a
free assessment
as a community service. A counselor specially trained in working with alcohol and/or drug dependent patients gather pertinent information about the individual. If the outpatient treatment is deemed appropriate, a health screening will be performed. Program enrollees will then be asked to complete a self-assessment, which identifies key issues and personal goals. Finally, a counselor conducts a comprehensive review of the patient's psychological, social and spiritual status. The purpose of the review is to collect detailed information about emotional and behavioral issues, the patient's history of drug and alcohol abuse, his or family status, current relationships and other areas of concern. If detoxification is necessary, the individual can make arrangements with the staff to have a physician supervise the detoxification process.
Intensive Treatment
During this phase of treatment, individuals enrolled in the program confront the complex and demanding issues that arise during the early stages of recovery, attending four to five days per weeks for the first six weeks. An integrated series of lectures and workshops dealing with the addition issues such as anger, depression, denial, grief, spiritually and the 12-step recovery offers participants guidance and assistance as they search for a new way of life. In addition, the individual and group therapy allows participants to focus on problems that may have contributed to the present difficulties and undermined their past attempts at sobriety. Program enrollees are also expected to attend a prescribed number of 12-step meetings in the community. Relapse prevention sessions are also conducted.
Family members and loved ones are deeply involved in the recovery process. They also attend lectures, participate in family group therapy and take advantage of a number of support groups that help them face the problems that have experiences in the past. The goal is to help them prepare for the challenges the encounter as their loved one navigates the road to recovery.
Transitional Treatment
Designed to reinforce the recovery process at every turn, the transitional phase of treatment combines three individual counseling sessions, group therapy, lectures and family sessions to provide an intensive approach to relapse prevention and continued sobriety. Participants attend three times per week for six weeks, and are also expected to attend a prescribed number of 12-step meetings outside the center.
Continuing Care
At the Thelma McMillen Center for Alcohol and Drug Treatment, the road to recovery does not end when the transitional phase of the program is completed. On-going aftercare is a significant component for recovery; the longer a person remains connected to the program, the better the chance for recovery. Participants and their loved ones continue to receive ongoing support to keep them moving in the right direction as sobriety becomes a way of life. Participants continue with weekly group therapy sessions and individual counseling sessions for the next six months. They enjoy access to the library and its resources, as well as the fitness facility. If the need arises, the participant may request additional private therapy sessions.