Programs

The Center’s multidisciplinary, evidence-based approach to adolescent mental health combines clinical, educational, psychiatric, psychological, substance-abuse treatment and social work perspectives. Evidence-based practices already employed at The Center are:

 

Adolescent Dialectical Behavior Therapy 

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an innovative treatment method developed specifically to treat challenging clients in a way that preserves the morale of the therapist and the client. Research findings suggest that DBT is successful in reducing acting-out behavior, self injury and in-patient treatment time.  

While it’s been successful in treating adults – we’re taking it to the youth served by The Center.  In fact, we were a pioneer in developing DBT therapy specifically for adolescents.  And it’s working.  We’re also pleased to serve as a model for other treatment programs looking to employ the practices of DBT for their adolescent clients. 

DBT is based on bio-social theory, which indicates that certain severe emotional disorders are a consequence of an emotionally vulnerable individual growing up in certain environmental circumstances that are “invalidating.”

The treatment is comprised of coaching, as well as individual and group therapy. Coaching is done throughout the entire treatment process to help clients apply what they learn to daily, real-world situations.  The therapy focuses on:

Therapy is structured in stages, and a hierarchy of targets is defined at each stage. The techniques used in DBT are extensive and varied, addressing essentially every aspect of therapy.

The techniques also are underpinned by a philosophy that recommends a balanced, flexible and systematic approach. Techniques for achieving change are balanced by techniques of acceptance; problem solving is surrounded by validation; confrontation is balanced by understanding. Clients are assisted in understanding their problem behaviors and in dealing with situations more effectively.    

 

Dual-Diagnosis Approach for Adolescents 

We’ve found that treatment of chemical dependencies alone doesn’t always solve the underlining issues associated with addiction. Nor does it prepare the adolescent for dealing with society – all of which can lead to relapses. That’s why we use a dual-diagnosis approach at The Center – treating not only the symptoms – but also the root cause of the problem.

We teach youths and teens how to cope with the underlying issues contributing to their chemical, emotional and mental behavioral problems. This dual-diagnosis approach is a key contributing factor in our 86% success rate.

 

Matrix Model for Substance Abuse 

The Matrix Model for adolescent substance abuse is a series of evidence-based treatment interventions that assist youths and teens in entering and maintaining sobriety.  The organizing principles of the program are:

The Model, specifically adapted for adolescents incorporates:  

These interventions are integrated into the following substance education and support groups:

Individual and family therapy allows for participants to engage in the treatment process, to assess their level of commitment to treatment, and to prepare them for a stage of change.

Individual therapy assists the adolescent in understanding the skills learned in groups, the process of their addiction and the function of their addiction. In addition, individual therapy assists youth in connecting mental-health symptoms and interpersonal dynamics to substance abuse through exercises that promote self-esteem, dignity and self-worth.

Family therapy teaches skills to better manage the process of change within their family and addresses dynamics that may enable substance abuse and / or contribute to relapse.  It also assists with communication, problem solving and limit setting, and helps the family support one another through the process.

The Early Recovery Skills Group is designed for adolescents early in recovery. The group assists the youth or teenager in gaining a deeper understanding of the function of their substance abuse.  It also helps them to recognize triggers, understand the relapse cycle and grasp the stages of recovery. Lastly, this group educates them on refusal skills, adaptive coping skills and replacement behaviors.

The Relapse Prevention Group assists the youth in maintaining sobriety post treatment. This group is supportive and educational in nature -- providing adolescents with education about the dangers of relapse, how to avoid relapse, identifying triggers and the importance of sobriety.

Family Education Support Group educates family members about the value of supportive change, and assists family members in raising awareness of substance abuse, while also providing parenting skills.

Adolescent Education Support Group provides youth with more information about substance abuse, and the dangers associated with recreational drug use.  It’s another opportunity to encourage abstinence and a commitment to sobriety.  

The Matrix Model has been recognized as a proven evidence-based program for substance abuse disorders.  It is federally recognized by the Center for Substance Abuse (CSAT), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), The Office of National Drug Control Policy and Department of Justice and listed on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP). 

 

Safety Acceptance Freedom Empowerment (S.A.F.E.) – Trauma Treatment 

The Center for Success and Independence has been awarded a grant from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, funded through the Substance Abuse Mental Health Administration (SAMHA), to provide the following to adolescents though the Harris County Texas juvenile justice program:

S.A.F.E. targets youths, aged 12-17, because of the high prevalence of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in this age group and the links between traumatic stress and escalating delinquency. 

Key aspects for the program include:

 

Community-Reinforcement Approach 

The community-reinforcement approach (CRA) is an alcoholism treatment approach that
aims to achieve abstinence by eliminating positive reinforcement for drinking and enhancing positive reinforcement for sobriety.  CRA integrates several treatment components, including building the adolescent’s motivation to quit drinking, helping the client initiate sobriety, analyzing the client’s drinking pattern, increasing positive reinforcement, learning new coping behaviors, and involving significant others in the recovery process. These components can be adjusted to the individual client’s needs to achieve optimal treatment outcome. In addition, treatment outcome can be influenced by factors such as therapist style and initial treatment intensity. Several studies have provided evidence for CRA’s effectiveness in achieving abstinence. Furthermore, CRA has been successfully integrated with a variety of other treatment approaches, such as family therapy and motivational interviewing, and has been tested in the treatment of other drug abuse.

http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh23-2/116-121.pdf

 

Project Towards No Drug Abuse (Project TND)  

Project Towards No Drug Abuse (Project TND) is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse as a drug abuse intervention and prevention program for high school-age youth. This school-based program:

Finally, it encourages youths and teens to use positive decision-making skills, to continue to discuss substance abuse with peers, and to commit to not using substances. Steve Sussman, a professor in the University of Southern California’s Departments of Preventive Medicine and Psychology, developed this program.

http://www.promoteprevent.org/publications/ebi-factsheets/project-towards-no-drug-abuse-project-tnd

 

Motivational Enhancement Therapy  

Personal commitment, motivation and effort are crucial elements needed to break addictions and achieve sobriety.  We use motivational enhancement therapy (MET) at TCSI to unlock the resolve clients have inside.  Resolve that is essential to their personal success and independence from addictions. 

The goal of MET is to create a receptive atmosphere which encourages the adolescent’s resolve and fosters their self-control.  Rather than engaging the client’s defense mechanisms through confrontational discourse, the therapist works with the client to create positive affirmations and a sense of inner willingness to facilitate change. Once that is achieved, the client becomes receptive to the healing process and progresses toward wellness.

Youths and teens who are faced with the challenge of substance abuse experience emotional and mental symptoms including resistance, narcissism, relational difficulties, and moodiness. MET has been proven to provide substantial relief from these symptoms and has been recognized as a useful tool for gaining control of these unwanted behavior patterns. MET can be applied to clients regardless of their commitment level and the course of treatment is usually brief. It has shown significant efficacy in clients who have previously demonstrated strong resistance to or weak motivation for change. It is particularly helpful to adolescents dealing with similar issues.

http://www.goodtherapy.org/motivational-enhancement-therapy.html

 

Strengthening Multi-Ethnic Families and Communities Program  

Strengthening Multi-Ethnic Families and Communities Program is a unique integration of various prevention/intervention strategies geared toward reducing violence against self, the family and the community. The program promotes parent and child self-esteem, self-discipline, and social competency skills.