Dual Diagnosis

Dual Diagnosis treatment at Challenges addresses the severity and intensity of each client's mental health/substance abuse, affective disorders, personality traits and other factors such as chronic pain and trauma related issues. Clients will learn about medication education and how brain chemistry plays a major role in their recovery and goal of life long sobriety. Challenges approach to therapy is holistic and focuses on relapse care, identifying the importance of how a client's physical, mental/emotional, social and spiritual well-being is affected by the positive changes being made.

Upon admission to Challenges each client undergoes an extensive and detailed medical and psychiatric assessment for underlying mental health issues which may be causing or contributing to the client's history and which may be acting in concert with other addictive disorders, compulsive behaviors and chemical dependency to negatively impact upon the client's state of health and future prognosis.

When a client is found to be suffering a dual diagnosed disorder such as bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder or depression , they are given the opportunity to address these issues during treatment, thereby creating the potential for understanding and resolution. By combining Relapse Prevention and the latest research regarding co-occurring disorders, the client gets a comprehensive approach to a potentially debilitating disorder. Clinically, we work with a client's defense mechanisms, attempting to assist the client in shedding their false self and allow their true self to emerge.

At Challenges , staff and clients together begin to identify the interactive effects of these co-occuring disorders.

Substance Abuse Treatment For Those with Dual Diagnosed Disorders

Challenges ' holistic and individualized approach in treating alcoholism and/or drug addiction fully takes into account the special needs of individuals with dual diagnosed disorders. Upon admittance, clients are scheduled to meet with a Board Certified Neuropsychiatrist and Addictionoligist, together with a full range of other mental health and addiction treatment specialists. The clients' history and medications are reviewed and adjusted, if need be, in order to stabilize them and allow them to fully participate in their addiction treatment planning and program. Special one on one individual therapy sessions are also scheduled, in addition to the group therapy and special primary groups, which allow a dually diagnosed client to work through some of the special frustrations and issues they must deal with daily. At Challenges , we try to break through the stereotypical labeling a person dealing with mental illness issues must face in today's society. With depression and post traumatic stress disorders affecting so many people today, this aspect of addiction treatment can no longer go ignored. Challenges clients are given opportunities to learn appropriate socialization skills, have access to recreational activities, and develop peer relationships with other people learning to stay sober and live life on life's terms, one day at a time. Their families are also offered support and education, and encouraged to fully participate in Family Therapy sessions.

Dual Diagnosis and The Family

Drug abuse contributes to family conflict, erodes social support, and generates high levels of expressed emotion, thus disturbing the vitally needed care giving network. A dually diagnosed individual can throw the best of families off balance. Therefore, it is important to provide services for families. At Challenges , our family program is a vital treatment component. Family members are helped through the difficult realization that they cannot stop their loved one's substance abuse. They can, however, avoid covering it up or doing things that make it easy for the person to continue the denial. Families can learn what they can do about the problem, but they must face the reality that much of it is out of their hands. With education and understanding, painful emotions will subside, individuals will feel more serene, and life can be less stressful. There is hope.