Aired: July 28, 2008 – 11:00 AM PST
www.latalkradio.com
http://www.adolescentgrowth.com
TITLE: The Power of Dual Diagnosis at “Abundant Life & Adolescent Growth Center”
SPECIAL GUEST: Special Guest: Lori Kaplan, Ph.D, and John Lewis, M.A. and Dr. Joy Holmes, Psy.D., the founders of Abundant Life and Adolescent Growth, Inc.
“Abundant Life” is a dual diagnosis residential facility for adolescents who have found themselves in crisis. Log on and listen as Allen discusses with them how “Abundant Life” is affecting adolescent growth through mind, body and soul while helping you find more… Answers for the Family.
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Our mission is to facilitate healing in a holistic manner effecting mind, body, and spirit. It is understood that no lasting change can take place unless intervention is focused on an internal and external basis. Fundamental change must, therefore, affect what a person thinks, what a person does, and who a person believes in.
Through psychological intervention, we seek to increase our client’s dignity and self-respect by encouraging them to understand that they have a purpose in life. And to educate each youth in crisis to the impact that they have on the outcomes in their lives based upon the choices they make.
About Us
Abundant Life and Adolescent Growth Inc is a short-term residential in-patient, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient treatment facility that specializes in treating adolescent boys and girls, ages twelve through seventeen, who do have some capacity for normal functioning. These adolescents are experiencing emotional, behavioral, and learning difficulties. We offer proven methods of turning around the lives of teenagers inundated by emotional and behavioral problems. Our caring treatment team works in a unique environment which can help make a positive difference in a troubled adolescent’s life.
Residential Treatment
Once an adolescent has been admitted to the residential program, our treatment team works with each individual adolescent to develop a specific treatment plan to meet his/her individual needs. The treatment team consists of the following professionals: a medical director, master’s prepared therapists, mental health specialists, a licensed nurse, an educational counselor, the clinical director, the program director, and consulting clinicians. The treatment team delivers a full range of clinical and educational services. Each adolescent receives individual, group therapy, milieu intervention, and family therapy.
Family therapy is one of the most important aspects of our residential treatment. We work closely with the family from the beginning of treatment, integrating the whole support system in the therapy process. Family therapy helps prepare the family to support the positive changes the adolescent has made in treatment and helps all of the family members examine their own problems. Without adequate intervention, families tend to repeat negative patterns of interaction that sabotage the gains the adolescent has made while in treatment.
The adolescent will benefit from a highly structured therapeutic milieu, which operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Each adolescent is responsible for maintaining the living environment and earning privileges through a graduated tier system. The environment is warm, comfortable, and structured. Structure in the program includes daily routines, community meetings, school, therapeutic groups and activities. All of the individual therapy, group therapy, milieu intervention, and family therapy provide our adolescents with the opportunity to have successful experiences, improve their self-esteem, and enrich social understanding.
Partial Hospitalization Treatment
Our partial hospitalization program (day treatment) is a structured, short-term active treatment that is operable at a minimum of 6 hours per day, 7 days per week. Adolescents are not cared for on a 24-hour per day basis, and leave the program each evening and on weekends. Partial hospitalization treatment is provided by our treatment team, which includes a medical director, master’s prepared therapists, a licensed nurse, mental health specialists, and an educational counselor. Partial hospitalization is an alternative to residential treatment and offers intensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary clinical services for adolescents that are able to function in the community at a minimally appropriate level and do not present as an imminent potential for harm to themselves or others.
Our partial program is designed as a step down to a lower level of care from our residential program for those adolescents that still need individualized academic instruction, individual therapy, and family therapy. Completion of our residential program is not required for an adolescent to participate in the partial hospitalization program.
Intensive Outpatient Program (“IOP”)
Intensive outpatient program is a structured, short-term treatment program that provides only individual therapy, group therapy, and family therapy. “IOP” is the lowest level of care we offer and usually meets a least three times per week, providing a minimum of 3 hours of treatment per session.
Adolescents at this level demonstrate some capacity to be in the home environment and attend school off site — however; adolescents still need the support provided by treatment groups and family therapy. Completion of residential treatment or partial hospitalization treatment is not required for placement in the “IOP.”
Treatment Modalities
There are a number of treatment modalities utilized at Abundant Life. We individualize our treatment to address the specific needs of each client. Specific modalities include, but are not limited to, cognitive behavioral, brief therapy, solution focused therapy, reality therapy, structured therapy, and art therapy. Clients are seen for individual therapy 2-3x weekly and family sessions is conducted 1x per week. Moreover, we offer parenting classes twice per week and individual therapy for the parents once a week.
Multidisciplinary Team
Multidisciplinary team meets twice a week. It includes our psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, licensed therapists and nurses and other consulting clinicians. Each case is discussed individually. Cases are reviewed for progressions/regressions and weekly goals are assigned. The treatment team also invites each client to examine their progression in treatment and to explore what they feel they need to focus on in the upcoming week. Staff provides the client with feedback and clients give their peers feedback.
Discharge Planning
Discharge planning begins at intake. Clients participate in preparing for their discharge by completing a client discharge summary. The therapist generates a discharge plan in collaboration with the client and the family. Specific appointments and referrals are made prior to discharge and those appointments and referrals are included in the recommendations. At discharge, the client and the parents sign the form along with the therapist. The family is then given a copy to take with them upon departure.
After Care
The after care program at Abundant Life is a significant part of the treatment. There is a monthly alumni meeting for all former participants. The meeting is conducted by a licensed therapist and each former client and parent is invited to attend. The meeting consists of one hour with parents and former clients separated and one hour with the two groups combined. The support and encouragement given during this time is spectacular. This is a free service that is offered to former clients and the number of times that a former client can attend is unlimited.
