What is Integrated Treatment?

Many times, a specific drug treatment program is used to address drug abuse and then a different approach is used for mental illness. Physicians are often the front line of treatment for mental health disorders, and drug abuse treatment is provided in various detox and rehab centers. With integrated treatment, however, there is no separation for someone who has co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. For example, an individual may struggle with depression as well as drug abuse. With integrated treatment, medical professionals treat both issues at the same time.

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Integrated treatment is comprehensive and addresses all angles of a person’s life:

physical

emotional

mental

spiritual

Did you Know?

Mental health conditions can make a person more susceptible to substance abuse. Here are some common mental health issues:

  • Depression
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • PTSD or Unresolved Trauma
  • ADHD
  • Anxiety

A person may also suffer from a “process addiction,” or an activity that he or she is compulsively addicted to, such as the following:

GAMBLING
SEX
DISORDERED EATING
THE INTERNET
GAMING

People don’t turn to drugs and alcohol because they’re looking for another problem in their lives. They’re looking for a solution. People use substances to self-medicate the pain, compulsions or mental health problems they are suffering from.

That’s why integrated treatment is so important. Without a program that can completely address all the issues, a person may be set up for an addiction relapse or a mental health relapse—or both. Half-fixing a problem is not fixing it at all.

X

BENEFITS OF RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT

  • Patients can be fully immersed in the treatment program. Residential counselors and clinical staff are available 24/7 for supervision and support.
  • Patients can gain important peer insight and make other friends in recovery based on the residential experience.
  • Leaving the home environment gives patients the time needed to examine unhealthy coping skills and learn and practice new coping skills while experiencing distance and time for reflection.
X

BENEFITS OF OUTPATIENT TREATMENT

  • They are often local, allowing patients to go home at night and maintain a regular work schedule.
  • They often provide the same quality of treatment as residential options but in a less structured setting.
  • In some circumstances, patients can attend as few or as many sessions as they feel necessary to maintain recovery once they have graduated from a residential or intensive outpatient program.

Residential VS. Outpatient Treatment

Choosing between residential and outpatient treatment is an important decision that may depend on the clinical severity of your issues, your ability to leave the responsibilities of home, your location, your insurance coverage and other considerations.

Both types of programs have advantages. Click each side of the scale to learn more:

It’s not uncommon to choose both residential and outpatient treatment. In fact, they work very well together. Attending a residential treatment program and then stepping down to outpatient treatment (and even perhaps sober living) is highly recommended by treatment professionals.

X
Traveling for treatment lessens the environmental risks related to addiction.

When to travel outside of your city or state for treatment:

Removing yourself from the circumstances that may have contributed to your addiction or exacerbated your mental health issues can be critical, and taking some well-apportioned time out of your everyday life to focus on recovery is highly beneficial.

When choosing a treatment location, ask yourself:

  1. What kind of location will give me the best chance to change my lifestyle?
  2. Will the locations I’m considering foster healing and recovery?
  3. At the location I’m thinking about, will I be encouraged to stay when the process gets tough?

How long should you stay in treatment?

Statistics and studies have shown that a 90-day treatment program is usually the most successful, producing the most lasting results and the best chance of long-term sobriety. The average stay in treatment is actually closer to 60 days, while many people only complete a 30-day residential program.

X
All health insurance plans must cover substance abuse treatment.

Will insurance help cover the cost of treatment?

How long a person stays at a treatment center (often referred to simply as “length of stay”) may also be determined by that person’s insurance coverage or financial capabilities.

Insurance can be instrumental in covering addiction treatment costs. While individual policies may vary, new laws such as the Parity Act and the Affordable Care Act have made treatment more affordable for many. Finding out how much of the treatment costs your insurance will cover is an important process, and it’s one that admissions coordinators can help you with.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE ADMISSION PROCESS

From the time you make your first phone call, admissions coordinators will be gathering information progressively to help you make decisions that will determine what kind of program fits your situation. The step-by-step process is designed to be informative and open-handed. It is also designed to assess costs, insurance coverage, and what kind of behavioral or medical considerations need to be addressed in treatment. If a loved one has not agreed to go to treatment, a family mediator or an interventionist may be contacted to facilitate the process.

When a loved one won’t let you help—and seems bent on self-destruction—it is enough to make anyone profoundly desperate for change.

That’s why it’s helpful to have an unbiased third party come in who can communicate clearly and factually, providing a professional opinion and helping present treatment options in a focused way without distractions. Interventionists can go by the name “family mediators” because they act as mediators or referees in family situations that are clouded by pain and negative communication patterns.

MORE INFO

Many treatment programs are made up of individual and group therapy, process groups, educational sessions, recreational activities and ongoing assessments to determine a patient’s progress. In addition, treatment centers can offer anything from wellness, nutrition support and physical activities to holistic offerings like acupuncture, equine therapy and meditation. Each facility has its own unique take on how to best serve their patients and help them achieve sobriety and wholeness. Some programs also offer specialized tracks for men, women, young people, LGBT individuals, business professionals or specific faith groups.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING TREATMENT?

For many, treatment begins with medically managed drug or alcohol detox. This is also known as stabilization. Patients are then transitioned into the residential program, where they will begin to focus on the emotional and psychological issues associated with chemical dependency.

The main goal of a reliable treatment program is to provide support, structure and hope for recovery first and foremost.

TYPES OF THERAPY


Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT ) is not actually a distinct therapeutic technique. Instead, it is a more general term for a group of therapies that share some similarities. A form of psychotherapy that emphasizes the important role of our thinking in how we feel and what we do, CBT is based on the idea that our thoughts cause our feelings and behaviors. That means we can change the way we think in order to feel or act better even if the situation itself doesn’t change.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) continues to evolve and has been adapted to help people with everything from substance use and binge eating disorders to depression and anxiety. This evidence-based therapy has been proven successful in reducing treatment drop-out, depression, suicidal ideation, hopelessness, anger, hostility and substance use. At its core, DBT combines the basic strategies of behavior therapy with mindfulness practices and works with patients to replace rigid, black-and-white thinking. The focus is on validation and acceptance of where the patient is right now in the process while at the same time facilitating change.

MORE INFO

Motivational Interviewing can be defined using three essential elements:

1. MI is a particular kind of conversation about change. It involves a therapeutic consultation where a patient can determine his or her desires and set realistic goals.

2. MI is collaborative. It is person-centered, a partnership between therapist and patient rather than a process of education passed from expert to recipient.

3. MI is evocative. It seeks to bring out a person’s own motivation and commitment.

WHAT IS MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING?


Motivational Interviewing (MI), also known as Motivational Enhancement Therapy, uses a stages-of-change approach that has been proven effective in treating substance abuse. It involves focusing on the patient’s goals and achieving them one step at a time. Plans are tailored to the individual, creating greater incentives for patients to make progress, since they do not have to focus on the impersonal goals of a one-size-fits-all program.

A comprehensive treatment experience

The best treatment options engage multiple aspects of an individual instead of just addressing the addiction. A model that addresses the whole person—physical, mental, emotional and spiritual—has been proven to provide the best opportunity for long-term recovery.

Residential treatment provides a perfect opportunity to start new habits related to food and exercise. In addition, holistic options in both residential and outpatient programs can enhance recovery. Adventure therapy, equine therapy, yoga and other holistic treatment methods not only engage your mind and body, but they can also improve your health and make long-term recovery more likely.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER TREATMENT?

Leaving a residential program is the beginning of a new phase of recovery. Ideally, long before a program ends, staff will have worked with each individual to create a customized aftercare and relapse prevention plan. This may include stepping down to outpatient treatment or a sober living facility. It may also involve a network of local meetings and accountability in the form of a sponsor or alumni group.

Ongoing support, such as an alumni program, is critical to maintaining your plan, and there are a lot of people who can help you. Whether you take advantage of weekly, monthly or annual events online or in person, the goal is to keep you connected.

Recovery starts when an individual admits to being unable to control his or her addiction.

When the individual believes in something greater—such as God—then a new life can start.

Instead of following selfish desires, an individual decides to follow a higher power.

After following the other steps, it is important for an individual to reflect and dig deep inside himself or herself.

When an individual grasps that he or she has made mistakes and wronged others, he or she can tell others about it, ask for forgiveness and ask for help from the higher power.

This is the moment when the individual is fully prepared to give their mistakes and faults to God or a higher authority.

At this step, the individual requests their Higher Power to remove any existing faults or problems due to addiction.

This involves making a list of those harmed before recovery. The individual must be willing to show remorse for what happened and a willingness to move forward.

Whenever possible, it is important to ask those who have been hurt for forgiveness.

This is the ongoing process of admitting where and when an individual has made mistakes.

This is the continual submission to a higher power through prayer and meditation.

An individual shares with others how he or she has changed and helps others who struggle with addiction.

So What is Integrated Treatment?

Integrated treatment is the best way to treat your addiction because it treats all of the interconnected issues, including the underlying causes of your addiction. In other cases, your mental health condition may be a side effect of your substance abuse.

In our ebook, we breakdown and explain all of the ways that integrated treatment can help you in your recovery. This is not a one-size-fits-all magic cure. Integrated treatment is a personal process where you work with a trained medical staff to treat your entire body, not just the physical addiction but also any mental, emotional and/or spiritual problems.

Help is available for you right now in this ebook. Don’t delay. There is no obligation on your part, so get the information you need about integrated treatment.

DOWNLOAD EBOOK
UA-5495921-1