CBT focuses on making connections between thoughts, feelings, and actions. It’s based on the belief that when negative thought patterns are identified and adjusted, positive changes in feelings and behavior can take place. When people think of therapy in general, CBT is what comes to mind: talk, think, talk more, then apply the concepts from discussion to daily behavior. At Evolve, they always focus on changing behavior. If the talk doesn’t lead to positive change, then they find something that does.
It’s no secret teens respond well to music and dancing. Expressive therapies like these improve self-understanding and teach productive ways to cope with uncomfortable feelings. Writing original lyrics helps identify and understand big emotions, and playing music has a magical way of simultaneously soothing and releasing those same emotions. Dance, like music, has an amazing capacity to unite mind, body, and soul in a single moment of pure joy and self-expression.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a modified form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a treatment designed to help people understand and ultimately affect the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. DBT is often used for individuals who struggle with self-harm behaviors, such as self-mutilation (cutting) and suicidal thoughts, urges, or attempts. It has been proven clinically effective for those who struggle with out-of-control emotions and mental health illnesses like Borderline Personality Disorder. DBT Group Therapy is a highly effective treatment for individuals with intense emotions, disrupted relationships, and impulsive behaviors. Evolve meets teens—as individuals and as groups—where they are in the moment, while maintaining a keen awareness of the necessity for change. Evolve uses DBT to help them understand and transform patterns of behavior such as self-harm, suicidal thinking, and substance abuse. DBT group therapy teaches teens to tolerate distress without making situations worse, be in the moment without judgment, observe and change strong emotions, and ask for what they want and need in an effective and productive way.
Eating disorders include anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, and dysfunctional eating patterns. Many psychologists and other mental health professionals consider eating disorders to be food addictions, meaning food is being used in an addictive way (similar to drug or alcohol addiction). Certain substance abuse treatment programs will have treatment for eating disorders as one of the services offered. An eating disorder may also present as a co-occuring disorder or dual diagnosis alongside drug and alcohol addiction.
Equine therapy, aka equine-assisted therapy (EAT), is a form of experiential therapy that involves interactions and activities with horses. Horses have a unique sensitivity to human emotions, which makes equine therapy an effective and widely accepted therapeutic tool. Teens can address and break down barriers and resistance toward the therapeutic process through their connection with horses. Their equine specialists hold certifications in the use of horses in therapeutic setting and specialize in working with teenagers with substance abuse and mental health issues. Equine therapists are present during the therapeutic process and work collaboratively with their clinical team in the development and implementation of the individual treatment plan.
Experiential therapy is a form of therapy in which clients are encouraged to surface and work through subconscious issues by engaging in real-time experiences. Their surfing program is all about taking therapy into nature. The National Surf School and Instructors Association accredits their surf instructors, who specialize in using surfing as a therapeutic tool and transformative experience. Therapeutic hiking groups provide their teens a unique opportunity to connect with nature. Nature hikes offer opportunities to develop a new self-image, a new way of relating to others and the environment, and new ways to respond to the challenges of daily life. Boxing helps teens learn to strategize, apply tactics, work hard, play hard, and recognize the proper time and place for this type of interaction. Evolve residential treatment centers are equipped with gym facilities their teens can use when they have down-time or free time. They take weekly trips to the beach, movies, special hiking trails, museums, miniature golf courses, and more.
Research clearly demonstrates that recovery is far more successful and sustainable when loved ones like family members participate in rehab and substance abuse treatment. At Evolve they believe teens cannot be completely understood in isolation from their families. When possible, practical, and productive, they require family members or caregivers to participate in family therapy sessions at least once a week. They prefer families to attend sessions in person, however, they accommodate sessions by telephone or web chat if necessary. The primary therapist will determine how to conduct family sessions. In addition to the family therapy sessions, families participate in multi-family parent support groups held every Sunday. These group sessions allow for families, teens, and therapists to meet either as a large group or in small, intimate groups to collaborate and share their treatment experiences. Parents need support, too. And sometimes, they need to talk to other parents without kids around. They offer support groups designed to teach parents a new set of skills to help them cope with their new normal.
Fitness therapy blends exercise with psychotherapy for a fun, inspiring, and effective way of treating addiction and other issues. By incorporating movement into counseling sessions, clients become more empowered, motivated, and goal-oriented, all while strengthening their bodies and becoming more flexible. Fitness Therapy is usually used to complement a course of treatment (inpatient or outpatient) to make it even more successful. Increasing the connection between a patient’s mind and body helps both with healing as well as in creating new, healthy habits.
Group Therapy is a powerful therapeutic tool at all levels of treatment. Peer approval and acceptance means everything to teens. During group sessions, therapists help teens develop and explore interpersonal relationships and work on specific treatment goals. At Evolve, they use group therapy in a variety of ways. Their teens participate in recreational groups, daily process groups, and 12-Step meetings when appropriate.
In individual therapy, a patient meets one-on-one with a trained psychologist or counselor. Therapy is a pivotal part of effective substance abuse treatment, as it often covers root causes of addiction, including challenges faced by the patient in their social, family, and work/school life.
Life skills trainings involve all the skills a person must have in order to function successfully in the world. During treatment, they offer career and college counseling, vocational opportunities, educational support, and student advocacy. Each center is equipped with a state-of-the-art computing facility that enables students to access public and/or private online learning programs and resources.
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a clinical approach to helping people with substance abuse issues and other conditions shift behavior in positive ways. It is more goal-oriented than traditional psychotherapy, as MI counselors directly attempt to get clients to consider making behavioral change (rather than wait for them to come to conclusions themselves). Its primary purpose is to resolve ambivalence and help clients become able to make healthy choices freely.
Recreational therapy (aka therapeutic recreation) uses creative and fun activities to help with addiction recovery. Recreational therapists lead patients in entertaining and engaging activities like sports or games; art (drawing, painting, sculpture); drama, music, and dance; and/or community outings (field trips) to improve patients' physical, social, and emotional well-being.
Trauma therapy addresses traumatic incidents from a client's past that are likely affecting their present-day experience. Trauma is often one of the primary triggers and potential causes of addiction, and can stem from child sexual abuse, domestic violence, having a parent with a mental illness, losing one or both parents at a young age, teenage or adult sexual assault, or any number of other factors. The purpose of trauma therapy is to allow a patient to process trauma and move through and past it, with the help of trained and compassionate mental health professionals.
