Treatment Programs
Individual Therapy
Individual therapy is a critical component of addiction treatment. Patients at Wellness Resource Center meet with their primary therapist at least weekly, on an as-needed basis, and in many cases on a daily basis to resolve individual problems and issues. Primary therapists are master’s level counselors who specialize in treating the complex issues facing patients with a diagnosis of chemical dependency and other mental health disorders. From depression, anxiety, grief, and loss to eating disorders and borderline personality disorders, our therapists are skilled in treating a diverse group of patients with a wide range of symptoms. Individual therapy sessions can be particularly beneficial for patients who aren’t responding to group therapy or who prefer to discuss sensitive or personal issues in private.
In a one-on-one setting, primary therapists have a chance to deeply explore a patient’s harmful or destructive addictive patterns and analyze the patient’s progress in meeting his treatment plan goals. Individual therapy sessions also help nurture the therapist-client relationship, encouraging patients to process their feelings, understand what their drug addiction took from them, and learn positive interpersonal skills.
Family Therapy
Family therapy sessions occur on an ongoing basis at Wellness Resource Center. Prior to admission, our family therapist will speak with family members or significant others about treatment goals, family participation, and visitation. During treatment, the family therapist is available by phone and email to update family members on their loved one’s progress and to provide therapy sessions for the family.
In addition, we invite every family to attend our Family Recovery Weekend, where we introduce family members to some of the drug rehab services we provide at Wellness Resource Center. Through traditional, expressive, and holistic therapies, family members learn about their role in the addiction recovery process, how best to support their loved one throughout treatment, and how to set goals of their own. More about family involvement »
Group Therapy
As part of our cognitive-behavioral approach to addiction treatment, Wellness Resource Center provides a broad range of psycho-educational group therapy sessions to help clients process their emotions in positive ways and develop new skills for adaptive living. Regular group offerings include anger management group, self-esteem group, boundaries skills group, assertiveness training group, and mental wellness group.
In these groups, a licensed therapist educates clients on healthy ways to control anger, set boundaries with friends, family, and roommates, and express themselves in honest and direct ways. In an ego-supportive environment, patients work through any resistance they feel to these lessons and become motivated to change. Patients then rehearse these skills with the support and encouragement of their peers.
Experiential Group Therapy
In experiential group therapy, patients address issues with interpersonal relationships and traumatic events in their lives that have resulted in unresolved grief and loss, increasing the risk of chemical dependency. Patients discuss a wide range of traumatic situations from emotional scars from childhood to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. Therapists empower patients to deal with past traumas through role-playing, skits, psychodrama, family sculpts, and other therapeutic tools. Patients walk out of experiential group therapy sessions knowing they are survivors, no matter what trauma they experienced in the past.
Gender-Specific Group Therapy
Gender groups provide a comfortable, nurturing environment for clients to explore sensitive or highly personal issues with the support of staff and peers. Male and female gender-specific groups are conducted at least twice weekly. Clients also attend gender-specific 12-step meetings seven days a week.
In gender-specific groups, clients can obtain objective, honest feedback about their behavior, attitudes, feelings, and methods of relating to others. Patients practice expressing themselves and communicating with peers and staff in positive ways, confront any obstacles to treatment and recovery such as defense mechanisms, and take responsibility for their actions. The group setting is an ideal place for friends and roommates to discuss any interpersonal conflicts or issues in their living environment, and to work through daily conflicts in an assertive and constructive way.
Eating Issues Group
We have a licensed nutritionist to help patients develop healthy eating habits that will enhance their quality of life while recovering from addiction. The nutritionist works with clients to create meal plans, offer cooking tips, and teach clients about making nutritious food choices. Equipped with this information, clients prepare their own meals or arrange meal plans with their roommates.
Patients recovering from addiction often struggle with cross-addiction or revert to old self-defeating behaviors to numb the emotional pain. Those who have struggled with an eating disorder in the past may try to use food to replace drugs and alcohol or may begin to focus obsessively on controlling their weight and appearance.
The eating issues group is an outlet for patients struggling with eating disorders or related issues. In a safe, controlled environment, patients can discuss eating disorder issues with others who have experienced the same struggles. The nutritionist will help assess and monitor eating disordered patterns and may review grocery store receipts and shopping lists. The nutritionist may also recommend that patients keep food logs, read helpful literature on eating disorders, and eat meals with a roommate present. Although the eating issues group generally meets in the therapy center, the nutritionist may also organize an outing to the local grocery store.
Spiritual Therapy
We believe a spiritual foundation, grounded in freedom of self-expression, is essential to recovery from addiction. In spiritual therapy sessions, patients discuss the role of faith, meaning, and purpose in the recovery process. The goal of this group is to connect clients with their spiritual center to help them stay motivated through the ups and downs of substance abuse recovery. The spiritual therapist encourages patients to analyze how their thinking affects the way they live and to reconsider how they define themselves. By taking the focus off of self and shifting their attention outward to nature, the environment, and the goodness of other people, patients identify a sense of fulfillment and purpose.
During spiritual therapy sessions, clients may read about world religions or engage in group discussion on interdependence, forgiveness, grief, or related topics. In addition, patients may practice morning meditation, or relaxation techniques in the therapy center or on some of the best beaches in the country.
Expressive Art Therapy
Every individual has their own learning style and way of expressing themselves. For some patients, listening to a presentation or reading a book can help them connect to their innermost feelings. Others learn best through hands-on experiential learning. In art therapy sessions, patients learn to express themselves in various forms. Led by a world-renowned art therapist, clients use painting, drawing, sculpture, and other forms of art to express feelings, ease tensions, and become more self-aware. The self-expressions created in art therapy group serve as an interpretive tool to help the treatment team better understand the needs of each patient.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Our therapeutic team of addiction specialists uses dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) concepts in many types of substance abuse treatment. DBT is a treatment approach that uses cognitive and behavioral therapies to teach people to express and cope with their emotions in a positive way. Rather than turning to substance abuse, eating disorders, or other destructive behaviors to cope with difficult emotions, therapists at Wellness Resource Center teach patients to use skills like mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.
DBT encourages people to use healthy distractions like conscious breathing, listening to music, or meditation to deepen their self-awareness and gain emotional clarity. By learning to face difficult emotions rather than running away or turning to a destructive behavior like addiction, patients learn to regulate their emotions. DBT teaches people to honestly and calmly communicate their feelings and needs, while taking into consideration other people’s interests and needs as well.
Even though drugs or alcohol may offer immediate relief, the benefit is temporary and patients inevitably feel more depressed and hopeless afterward. Instead of seeking instant gratification, patients learn to predict negative consequences and feelings, and to anticipate feeling good about themselves when they take a more productive approach.
Psychiatric Care
Our psychiatrist has been in private practice for fifteen years, specializing in dual diagnosis and addictive disorders. Wellness Resource Center patients receive an initial psychiatric evaluation upon admission and regular psychiatric sessions thereafter.
Wellness Resource Center prohibits the use of psychoactive medications such as benzodiazepines, methadone, suboxone, and other mind/mood-altering substances. These medications have a high potential for abuse and are contraindicated for use with dual diagnosed clients. Psychotropic medications, including some antidepressants and mood stabilizers, have no addictive properties and may be prescribed at the client’s cost to treat co-existing conditions. Clients self-administer their prescription medication, which they refill on a daily basis. However, supervision is provided for those who struggle with noncompliance.
