Addiction Recovery and Transitioning From Residential or Wilderness Treatment

• One of every eight Americans has a significant problem with alcohol or drugs, with 40 percent of the group having a "dual diagnosis," or concurrent mental/nervous disorder;
• Approximately 27 million Americans either use illicit drugs regularly or are "heavy drinkers." Of these almost 16 million are estimated to need immediate treatment;
• By age eighteen, almost 12 percent of all young people are illicit drug users;
                                           According to SAMHSA (U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)

Ski Therapy offers support for individuals and families facing the challenges of addictions.  Individual and family programs can take place before or after a member participates in a residential or wilderness therapy.  For addicted individuals, a medical model of addiction is taught and forms the basis for treatment that focuses on stress management and healthy soothing.  This model is based on work by Dr. Kevin McCauley with the Institute for Addiction Study.

Because the basis for addictive behavior is soothing stress, and stress is often a symptom of trauma and/or early attachment disruption, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and Brainspotting are used to desensitize the client to older stress triggers.

For families challenged by addictive behavior of one or some members, a Ski Therapy Family Therapy program offers a space for communication and contact before or after a residential treatment program.

EMDR page from Aetna Inc.
Brainspotting information from David Grande, Ph.D.
more information from EMDR International Association