| Integrative Counseling |
| Substance Abuse care for adults and teens |
| Phone: (410) 740-8066 Fax: (410) 740-8068 |
| Copyright © 2009-2011 Integrative Counseling |
| Teen/Adolescent Treatment |
Most teens/adolescents are not addicted to substances, though an addictive potential or family
history may influence a teen’s use. While Integrative Counseling discusses the effects of substances
on a teens' life, we also address other areas usually suffering as a result of the use or causing the use.
These issues might include family problems, communication or peer problems, school or learning
difficulties, or legal concerns. Most adolescents who abuse substances have stopped maturing and
may be making decisions at a 10- or 12-year-old level.
history may influence a teen’s use. While Integrative Counseling discusses the effects of substances
on a teens' life, we also address other areas usually suffering as a result of the use or causing the use.
These issues might include family problems, communication or peer problems, school or learning
difficulties, or legal concerns. Most adolescents who abuse substances have stopped maturing and
may be making decisions at a 10- or 12-year-old level.
We offer five levels of education or treatment for kids and teens using or abusing substances. We
place kids in groups with other kids having similar difficulties. Teens may attend group or individual
counseling or both.
Parents are encouraged to schedule family sessions or parent-only sessions to discuss how to best
help your child.
place kids in groups with other kids having similar difficulties. Teens may attend group or individual
counseling or both.
Parents are encouraged to schedule family sessions or parent-only sessions to discuss how to best
help your child.
Brief Alcohol and Marijuana Education Program
Integrative Counseling is offering a brief two- or three-session
education program for teens involved in substance use. This
group is intended for teens that may have gotten into minor
trouble for using tobacco, alcohol, or marijuana. The sessions
will include:
1. Education about the effects of tobacco and alcohol for teens
including the ideas behind “gateway drugs”.
2. Education about the effects of Marijuana and Strategies for
stopping the use of all substances.
3. Parents may choose to meet with a counselor to discuss how
to help their teens stay clean and how to recognize problems.
This allows parents and teens to make changes or to address
other mental health or family concerns. Sometimes, a child's
experimentation is related to difficult social interactions, stress
in the home, peer or school stress, anxiety, ADHD or
depression. Parents may choose to meet with the therapist
alone or as a family with their child.
Integrative Counseling is offering a brief two- or three-session
education program for teens involved in substance use. This
group is intended for teens that may have gotten into minor
trouble for using tobacco, alcohol, or marijuana. The sessions
will include:
1. Education about the effects of tobacco and alcohol for teens
including the ideas behind “gateway drugs”.
2. Education about the effects of Marijuana and Strategies for
stopping the use of all substances.
3. Parents may choose to meet with a counselor to discuss how
to help their teens stay clean and how to recognize problems.
This allows parents and teens to make changes or to address
other mental health or family concerns. Sometimes, a child's
experimentation is related to difficult social interactions, stress
in the home, peer or school stress, anxiety, ADHD or
depression. Parents may choose to meet with the therapist
alone or as a family with their child.
Intensive Outpatient Program for Teens
Some teens struggle more than others and may be in need of increased support. Teens who have
not been able to succeed at other treatment programs, those who have been in an inpatient facility
for mental health or substance use issues, or for those who are out of control, we provide additional
support. Integrative Counseling has paired with Congruent Counseling Services to offer a dual
diagnosis Intensive Outpatient Program for teens with substance use issues or dual mental health
and substance use issues. Because of the extent of this program, Congruent Counseling has been
able to create an intensive program that is both certified by the State of Maryland and is covered by
most insurance plans. Please Contact Us to see how we might be of service or if this program might
be covered by your insurance.
We have found over the years that most programs address either mental health or substance use
issues; neglecting half of most teen's issues.
Yet traditional addiction treatment often does not address mental health concerns. Mental health
treatment often ignores addiction or substance abuse issues. Both options treat only half the client’s
needs. Congruent Counseling seeks to address multiple issues at once – a whole person approach.
We address both mental and substance related issues at the same time utilizing group therapy,
psycho-education, individual therapy, family group sessions, and family counseling. This Intensive
Outpatient Program is intended for teens who have had serious family, social, legal, or school
problems; who might not have succeeded in treatment previously; or who have a serious addiction.
This is a structured treatment program, certified by the State of Maryland, offering treatment three
days a week for three hours each day. The goal of this program is to help teens with serious
substance use problems and possible co-occurring mental health issues to accept what they need to
do in order to succeed in life.
Some teens struggle more than others and may be in need of increased support. Teens who have
not been able to succeed at other treatment programs, those who have been in an inpatient facility
for mental health or substance use issues, or for those who are out of control, we provide additional
support. Integrative Counseling has paired with Congruent Counseling Services to offer a dual
diagnosis Intensive Outpatient Program for teens with substance use issues or dual mental health
and substance use issues. Because of the extent of this program, Congruent Counseling has been
able to create an intensive program that is both certified by the State of Maryland and is covered by
most insurance plans. Please Contact Us to see how we might be of service or if this program might
be covered by your insurance.
We have found over the years that most programs address either mental health or substance use
issues; neglecting half of most teen's issues.
Yet traditional addiction treatment often does not address mental health concerns. Mental health
treatment often ignores addiction or substance abuse issues. Both options treat only half the client’s
needs. Congruent Counseling seeks to address multiple issues at once – a whole person approach.
We address both mental and substance related issues at the same time utilizing group therapy,
psycho-education, individual therapy, family group sessions, and family counseling. This Intensive
Outpatient Program is intended for teens who have had serious family, social, legal, or school
problems; who might not have succeeded in treatment previously; or who have a serious addiction.
This is a structured treatment program, certified by the State of Maryland, offering treatment three
days a week for three hours each day. The goal of this program is to help teens with serious
substance use problems and possible co-occurring mental health issues to accept what they need to
do in order to succeed in life.
| Studies show: * Over 65% of substance addicted clients also have depression or some other mental health issue. * 50% of clients with mental health issues also self medicate or abuse substances. * Only 30% of teens in treatment who currently meet criteria for abuse or dependence go on to have life long problems with substances. * This means 70% are not addicts! |
Relapse Prevention
Integrative Counseling offers an ongoing support group for teens that have completed treatment.
When they are doing well, and have made changes in their life, it is still difficult to continue doing the
right thing. Old peers or stressful home situations can cause a teen to return to old (bad) habits. The
relapse prevention group offers a safe place for teens to discuss pressures and options. This group is
run by a healthy mentor who can help teens negotiate difficult situations or process behaviors that
did not work. Other teens, also having similar influences, can provide a healthy support system for
teens in need.
We recommend a teen attend the Relapse Prevention group for at least six months after completing
outpatient treatment. Some teens have opted to stay in the group for longer because it provides a
safe place to process ongoing stressors.
Integrative Counseling offers an ongoing support group for teens that have completed treatment.
When they are doing well, and have made changes in their life, it is still difficult to continue doing the
right thing. Old peers or stressful home situations can cause a teen to return to old (bad) habits. The
relapse prevention group offers a safe place for teens to discuss pressures and options. This group is
run by a healthy mentor who can help teens negotiate difficult situations or process behaviors that
did not work. Other teens, also having similar influences, can provide a healthy support system for
teens in need.
We recommend a teen attend the Relapse Prevention group for at least six months after completing
outpatient treatment. Some teens have opted to stay in the group for longer because it provides a
safe place to process ongoing stressors.
Group or Individual Counseling
Integrative Counseling offers individual and group
counseling for teens who have been experimenting with
substances. These teens may have been caught by their
parents, by their school, or may have received a citation
from the police. Often, these teens have other areas of
concern including family problems, school problems or
declining grades, inappropriate peers or a change in
friends, depression or other mental health concerns, or
more. Integrative Counseling is careful to assess all of
these areas and help you address them all at once. If
there is some difficulty we can’t help with, such as a
medical issue, we will help you find someone who can help.
We know it is important to help the whole child in order for
them to grow and get better.
Often substances are used to address issues of self-esteem,
an inability to fit in, or to address depression or family
difficulties. Most teens haven’t been using long enough to
be using compulsively. Most are not addicts. If we can
help teens resolve their concerns then there will be no use
for the substances they are abusing. For those few who do
struggle with addiction or who have an intense family
history, we can help them as well to develop health
patterns that allow them to live happy, drug or alcohol free
lives. We work closely with parents and help kids to choose
to make a change.
Integrative Counseling offers individual and group
counseling for teens who have been experimenting with
substances. These teens may have been caught by their
parents, by their school, or may have received a citation
from the police. Often, these teens have other areas of
concern including family problems, school problems or
declining grades, inappropriate peers or a change in
friends, depression or other mental health concerns, or
more. Integrative Counseling is careful to assess all of
these areas and help you address them all at once. If
there is some difficulty we can’t help with, such as a
medical issue, we will help you find someone who can help.
We know it is important to help the whole child in order for
them to grow and get better.
Often substances are used to address issues of self-esteem,
an inability to fit in, or to address depression or family
difficulties. Most teens haven’t been using long enough to
be using compulsively. Most are not addicts. If we can
help teens resolve their concerns then there will be no use
for the substances they are abusing. For those few who do
struggle with addiction or who have an intense family
history, we can help them as well to develop health
patterns that allow them to live happy, drug or alcohol free
lives. We work closely with parents and help kids to choose
to make a change.
Parent Support
We find that if parents attend and participate in treatment, teens get better faster! This means the
child and family are doing better and are happier quicker. This also greatly reduces the long-term
cost of treatment.
Our teens cannot make changes without changes in the family. We can't "fix" your child without
your help. One of the best support systems a parent can have is other parents who are
experiencing similar problems. In order to help each other, Integrative Counseling has an open
group room during most of our teen groups so parents can meet. This time is encouraged for
parents to get together, learn from each other, and develop strategies to help your child. Who
better to help you than a parent of a child who is getting better?
Parents of teens in our IOP program are expected to attend a Parent/Teen group meeting on
Fridays at 5:00 PM. A room is also made available for parents of kids in our IOP on Fridays at
4:00 PM - just prior to our family group. This time can be used to prepare for the family group so
you and your teen get the most out of that time. Teens in our IOP often have multiple issues that
need to be addressed including mental health or social issues.
We find that if parents attend and participate in treatment, teens get better faster! This means the
child and family are doing better and are happier quicker. This also greatly reduces the long-term
cost of treatment.
Our teens cannot make changes without changes in the family. We can't "fix" your child without
your help. One of the best support systems a parent can have is other parents who are
experiencing similar problems. In order to help each other, Integrative Counseling has an open
group room during most of our teen groups so parents can meet. This time is encouraged for
parents to get together, learn from each other, and develop strategies to help your child. Who
better to help you than a parent of a child who is getting better?
Parents of teens in our IOP program are expected to attend a Parent/Teen group meeting on
Fridays at 5:00 PM. A room is also made available for parents of kids in our IOP on Fridays at
4:00 PM - just prior to our family group. This time can be used to prepare for the family group so
you and your teen get the most out of that time. Teens in our IOP often have multiple issues that
need to be addressed including mental health or social issues.
Medication, Individual Counseling and Testing
Most often, teens are abusing a substance to meet some need. Some reasons may include to fit in,
decrease stress, calm ADHD, "medicate" depression, distract from family problems or divorce
issues, feelings of loss and many more reasons. In some cases, taking away the substance the teen
is using leaves a void the child was trying to fill. We need to address that void as they are making
changes to "get clean". Otherwise we are just causing them pain by taking away something they
believe was helping.
We will work with you to determine how to best help your child. We have more than 10 therapists
on staff who have experience with kids and teens. We find we are able to be more effective because
our group leaders, our therapists, and our psychiatrists are able to talk easily. This helps us tailor
treatment to your needs. If your teen is already seeing another therapist in another practice, we
encourage you to continue working with that therapist. Even while your teen is attending substance
use treatment with us, it is important to continue to address any mental health concerns. Ideally,
we would be able to talk with that therapist to help 'keep us on the same page'. See our list of
therapists and their specialties by Clicking Here.
In some cases, a teen may need medication for depression, anxiety, ADHD, or other mental health
issues. We are lucky to have Dr. Joshua Rosenthal working with us. He has extensive experience
with kids and families. He even offers extra time to make sure he is meeting your needs. See more
at our Psychiatrists page.
In some cases, a teen may be struggling with school or learning difficulties. Psychological and
Educational testing can help you determine if there is a problem and what you or the school can do
to help. See more at our Educational Testing page.
Most often, teens are abusing a substance to meet some need. Some reasons may include to fit in,
decrease stress, calm ADHD, "medicate" depression, distract from family problems or divorce
issues, feelings of loss and many more reasons. In some cases, taking away the substance the teen
is using leaves a void the child was trying to fill. We need to address that void as they are making
changes to "get clean". Otherwise we are just causing them pain by taking away something they
believe was helping.
We will work with you to determine how to best help your child. We have more than 10 therapists
on staff who have experience with kids and teens. We find we are able to be more effective because
our group leaders, our therapists, and our psychiatrists are able to talk easily. This helps us tailor
treatment to your needs. If your teen is already seeing another therapist in another practice, we
encourage you to continue working with that therapist. Even while your teen is attending substance
use treatment with us, it is important to continue to address any mental health concerns. Ideally,
we would be able to talk with that therapist to help 'keep us on the same page'. See our list of
therapists and their specialties by Clicking Here.
In some cases, a teen may need medication for depression, anxiety, ADHD, or other mental health
issues. We are lucky to have Dr. Joshua Rosenthal working with us. He has extensive experience
with kids and families. He even offers extra time to make sure he is meeting your needs. See more
at our Psychiatrists page.
In some cases, a teen may be struggling with school or learning difficulties. Psychological and
Educational testing can help you determine if there is a problem and what you or the school can do
to help. See more at our Educational Testing page.
Parents may also choose to meet
with a counselor or therapist to
develop skills and insight into how
to best help your child. We
recommend all families develop
some form of "behavioral contract"
so everyone in the family knows
what is expected and what the
consequences are if these
expectations are not met. This
"contract" needs to be a constantly
modified document to meet the
changing needs of the family.
with a counselor or therapist to
develop skills and insight into how
to best help your child. We
recommend all families develop
some form of "behavioral contract"
so everyone in the family knows
what is expected and what the
consequences are if these
expectations are not met. This
"contract" needs to be a constantly
modified document to meet the
changing needs of the family.
| Integrative Counseling is here to provide you with a Safe, non-Judgemental environment for your Treatment and Education. If you have any questions about the Services we offer, please do not hesitate to Contact Us. How may we be of Service? |
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