Our Services

 

Assessment

An assessment at the Comprehensive Treatment Clinic consists of conducting a complete diagnostic interview coupled with taking a comprehensive mental health history. Attention is also placed gaining an adequate understanding of the current problem that brings the patient into therapy. Once this information is gathered, the therapist may determine that certain objective measurements are warranted. This may assist in helping to establish diagnosis and prognosis for the current condition. Each patient undergoes an initial assessment prior to beginning therapy at the Comprehensive Treatment Clinic.

 

 

Partner and Spouses Treatment

At the Comprehensive Treatment Clinic, we recognize that the prognosis of a successful outcome increases significantly if the spouse of an addict is involved in treatment. As a result, we strongly recommend that the spouse participate in his or her own treatment along with the primary patient. We have treatment programs including individual and group therapy for the spouses of addicts. This assists them in working through their own healing issues and facilitates them in releasing negative and sometimes angry feelings they may have for the addict.  Group therapy, specifically allows them to associate with individuals who are going through similar things as they are. It allows them to express emotions in a safe setting in such a way they may have not been able to prior.

 

Individual Psychotherapy

Individual psychotherapy is the process of treating mental health problems through the use of psychological techniques.  It is designed to encourage the communications of conflicts and insights which lead to problems. The goal is to bring relief of symptoms and ultimately changes in behavior. Medication is often prescribed by medical doctors in conjunction to psychotherapy as means of treating emotional problems.

Psychotherapy consists of a therapist and patient processing information and situations that lead to and contribute to negative emotional states such as depression, anxiety, anger and addiction.  Specifically, thoughts are processed, assessed and altered in order to facilitate more effective functioning. Ultimately, all psychotherapy should work towards the purpose of changing the brain, not just the thoughts of a person. Mental illness is a result of brain abnormalities due to neurotransmitter abnormalities.  Effective psychotherapy can help to regulate these neurotransmitters and hence contribute to a more stabilized states of being.

 

Group Psychotherapy

Group therapy consist of several individuals (normally 6-8) meeting together with a therapist for the purpose of working through individual problems.  Each member of the group may have a similar problem, or in some instances, each individual may have a different therapeutic focus. Group therapy is often referred to as a social microcosm.  This means that the way an individual acts inside of group is often the way he or she acts outside of group. Understanding this allows the therapist to be able to point out unhealthy patterns of behavior and assist the patient in changing the patterns of behavior.  In addition, group therapy allows each individual patient to often see in others, the very things they do not like about themselves.

For addictive disorders, group therapy is the most important form of therapy, although it must be used as part of the overall treatment program and in conjunction with individual therapy and sometimes marital and family therapy.  Participating in group therapy will often assist the individual in shame reduction. For example, a person with an addictive disorder often has a lot of shame and feels that he is different than others and some times associates that with being “bad”.  Group therapy helps the individual realize that there are others in his situation and that he is not alone. It is often referred to as the process of “coming out of hiding”. Shame reduction is crucial if healing is going to take place.

 

Sexual Behavior Risk Evaluations

Sexual Behavior Evaluations are conducted on individuals who have significant sexual compulsivity patterns of behavior. These patterns may include excessive use of pornography and masturbation, frequenting strip clubs or massage parlors, or engaging in multiple affairs.  The behaviors may also include public masturbation known as exhibitionism, voyeurism, or sexual offenses, which include sexual contact with another person.

The Sexual Behavior Evaluation includes a diagnostic interview, administering several objective measurements, and may include measures of sexual interest including the ABEL Assessment. This particular test is given if the patient has offended sexually against another person in which legal charges have resulted, or if they have self-reported attraction to under age individuals.  The results of the Sexual Behavior Evaluation are used to help determine level of risk for future acting out as well as assisting the therapist in developing an appropriate treatment plan.

 

Mental Health Evaluation

A mental health evaluation consists of an in depth diagnostic interview with a licensed clinician. During the interview, a comprehensive mental health and social history is taken as well as a complete drug and alcohol history. Specific areas of mental functioning such as memory, intelligence, problem solving, and social functioning are examined. Attention is also placed on relationships and history of mental illness such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, etc.  Specific objective measures might also be administered if the evaluating clinician determines that it is appropriate. These can help to give additional objective insights into diagnosis and functioning.  This information can then be used to ensure that proper treatment is provided. We ensure that all clinicians who conduct mental evaluations are properly licensed and trained in order to provide the best possible care.

 

Modified IOP for Sexual Compulsivity

The purpose of this program is to assist individual who are struggling with going through the detox process from pornography addiction or other sexual compulsivity.  Clinical experience indicates that the success of an individuals treatment and quest for long term sobriety relies very heavily on how well they are able to go through the detox process.  Detoxing refers to the adjustment the mind and body must make as they work towards a new equilibrium of dealing with life with out being sexually intoxicated. By the time someone seeks help for sexual compulsivity, sex has commonly become a way for him or her to cope with the every day challenges of life. Whatever disturbing feelings the sex has helped them to cover up, they are going to have to feel when the stop using the sex.  This is why relapse is so common.  Individuals often report increased anxiety, irritability, sleep disturbances and difficulties concentrating when they go through the detox process. Some report having “using dreams” in which they actually dream they are using the pornography or sex as they have been used to.

 

Marital & Family Therapy

Marital and family therapy consists of members of the same family or a married couple meeting with a therapist to address and change unhealthy family dynamics. Included in these processes are patterns of communication, problem solving, coping, etc. Emphasis is spent on assisting the individuals to identify the dysfunction and choose alternative methods of interacting that will lead to more effective functioning.  This is almost always a part of addiction treatment.  Research has shown that if an addict’s family is involved in the treatment process the prognosis is greatly increased for the patient to remain sober.

 

The IRATAD Treatement Program

Problematic Sexual Behavior (PSB) includes any sexual behavior that brings problems and pain to an individual’s life and his or her loved ones. This can include compulsive pornography use, chronic affairs, online sexual behavior, frequenting sex workers, etc. At the IRATAD we provide treatment for all types of PSB that is based on research to help individuals achieve long term sobriety. The PSB treatment program consists of four phases and is designed to complete in 12-18 months as follows:

Phase I (Four Months)
- Complete Mental Health, Trauma and Addiction Assessment.
- Addiction Testing
- Sexual Dependency Inventory (SDI-4)
- Weekly Individual Therapy
- Weekly Group Therapy
- Couples Therapy

Phase II (Four Months)
- Weekly Individual Therapy
- Weekly Group Therapy
- Couples Therapy

Phase III (Four Months)
- Weekly Individual Therapy
- Weekly Group Therapy
- Couples Therapy

Phase IV (After Care – Ongoing as a means of maintaining sobriety)

Once and individual completes Phases I-III and establishes sobriety, successfully beginning phase IV allows them to enter our After Care program and attend group therapy for as long as they desire as a means of maintaining their sobriety.

 

Court Ordered Treatment

Utah Department of Corrections Sex Offender Treatment (DOC)

The Utah DOC has specific requirements for outpatient sex offender treatment. Typically, this treatment begins after an individual has been sentenced. However, a client can be proactive and begin his treatment prior to being sentenced. A typical Outpatient Sex Offender treatment program consists of the following:

- Weekly individual therapy
- Weekly group therapy
- A certain number of six-week psychoeducational classes
- Other sex offender testing prior to program completion

People who are on probation or parole through the Utah DOC are required to be treated by an approved DOC Sex Offender Treatment provider. All of our clinicians are certified by the Utah DOC to provide this treatment. This program typically takes approximately 12 -18 months to complete followed by a period of After Care.

Misdemeanor Sex Crimes – Non-DOC clients

Municipal courts will often require that individuals who have been charged with voyeurism, exhibitionism or other lewdness type crimes to seek sex specific treatment. Typically, this treatment begins after an individual has been sentenced. However, a client can be proactive and begin his treatment prior to being sentenced. Treatment typically lasts approximately 12-18 months. A typical Outpatient Sex Offender treatment program for misdemeanor crimes consists of the following:

- A Completed Sexual Behavior Risk Evaluation
- Weekly individual therapy
- Weekly group therapy

 

EMDR Trauma Therapy

At Comprehensive Treatment Clinic and The IRATAD, we recognize that trauma, in its many forms are often at the root of the problems an individual may be experiencing. We utilize state of the art treatment procedures, including EMDR to assist patients resolving these traumatic issues. One of these techniques is EMDR treatment.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. Repeated studies show that by using EMDR therapy people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference. It is widely assumed that severe emotional pain requires a long time to heal. EMDR therapy shows that the mind can in fact heal from psychological trauma much as the body recovers from physical trauma. When you cut your hand, your body works to close the wound. If a foreign object or repeated injury irritates the wound, it festers and causes pain. Once the block is removed, healing resumes. EMDR therapy demonstrates that a similar sequence of events occurs with mental processes. The brain’s information processing system naturally moves toward mental health. If the system is blocked or imbalanced by the impact of a disturbing event, the emotional wound festers and can cause intense suffering. Once the block is removed, healing resumes. Using the detailed protocols and procedures learned in EMDR therapy training sessions, clinicians help clients activate their natural healing processes. (From the EMDR Institute)