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Adolescent SOAP offers four main components -  clinical, psycho-educational, prevention, and recreation/leisure time instruction and activities.  The clinical component  employs Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as the major treatment approaches.  Both approaches meet the client at their own particular starting (and re-starting) point.  Both are uniquely suited for a short-term, harm reduction outpatient treatment program and with clients who will not have been detoxed.  A mental health and addictions assessment is conducted immediately, every effort is made to have a parent or guardian present for the assessment.  Individual therapy sessions and family group meetings are a part of the structured service units.  Family therapy, Psychiatric and psychopharmacology services are provided in TPC Outpatient Department as a separate service when deemed clinically necessary .

 

The four principles of MI used by clinicians are to express empathy, to develop discrepancy, to roll with resistance, and to support self-efficacy.   These principles allow a client to learn harm reduction elements of his behavior as he struggles to overcome his addiction; for example, drinking less is acknowledged as a gain.  MI works with clients’ own agendas and directs them to examine their attachment to their substance abusing behaviors, employing a stages of change model.  CBT is based on the assumption that most emotional and behavioral reactions are due to early schemas which result in cognitive distortions.  CBT is structured, focused and typically a brief therapy.  CBT is delivered in a collaborative manner between the clinician and the client and is fact-based:  by looking at thoughts as hypotheses, they can be questioned and tested.  Between Session Training is assigned and progress is measured in part by completion and the client’s use of what is learned.  CBT employs two levels of change: altering ways of thinking for the better and helping a person cope with challenges and opportunities in life with a clearer focus.

 

TPC’s experience indicates that the major issues for substance abusing youth are abuse of opiates, poly drug use and anger.  According to a Mass DPH and BSAS fact sheet, almost 50% of adolescent admissions to substance abuse treatment had also received prior mental health treatment, implying a high percentage of co-occurring disorders.  Participants are from the local middle and high schools, juvenile courts, DYS and other community agencies.  Self-referrals and referrals from parents and friends are encouraged. 

 

For more information, please click here to email our Clinical Director