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.
Professional Assessment
A professional assessment consists of conducting a complete mental health evaluation on professionals who have crossed professional boundaries and have been sanctioned by professional licensing boards, law enforcement, employers etc. Individuals who receive these evaluations are often attorneys, medical and dental professionals, mental health professionals, business executives, politicians and members of the clergy.
The evaluation consists of a thorough diagnostic interview coupled with taking a complete mental health history and assessment of the current problem. Often objective diagnostic measurements are administered as a means of gaining more information about the clinical needs of the patient so as to provide strong recommendations to referral sources.
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.
Phone Consultation
We provide phone consultations for individuals who are not living in our local area and are considering entering into our 10-Day Intensive Program for Sexual Compulsivity. The purpose of the consultation is to take a brief history and determine if he is appropriate for the program. During this consultation the dynamics of the program are discussed and the expectations are explained to the patient. If the patient is determined as appropriate for the program and he desires to enter, paper work is sent to the patient so the treatment program can be scheduled.
Sexual Behavior 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 administering a phalometric test known as the Penile Plethysmograph Test in order to assess deviant arousal patterns. This particular test is given if the patient has offended sexually against another person in which physical conflict was present, 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.