Addictions Services

The Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach (A-CRA) to alcohol and substance use treatment is a behavioral intervention that seeks to replace environmental contingencies that have supported alcohol or drug use (or other problematic behaviors) with pro-social activities and behaviors that support recovery.

According to the adolescent’s needs and self-assessment of happiness in multiple areas of functioning, therapists choose from among 17 A-CRA procedures that address, for example, problem-solving skills to cope with day-to-day stressors, communication skills, and active participation in pro-social activities with the goal of improving life satisfaction and eliminating alcohol and substance use problems (or other problematic behaviors).

Role-playing/behavioral rehearsal is a critical component of the skills training used in A-CRA,  particularly for the acquisition of better communication and relapse prevention skills. Homework between sessions consists of practicing skills learned during sessions and participating in pro-social leisure activities.

Our Alumni Mentors help solidify the bridge between treatment at Stepping Stone, and recovery in the 12 Step Community. These efforts promote volunteerism in our Stepping Stone community.

Alumni Mentor – A person in recovery who has completed an intensive treatment at Stepping Stone, has at least 90 days of abstinence, and has been active in the 12 Step Community. Mentors commit to donating their time and personal resources to assist those in treatment, or leaving treatment, at Stepping Stone in getting acclimated in the recovery community.

Alumni Advisory Board – A group of alumni (five to seven members), who commit to attend quarterly advisory board meetings at Stepping Stone, recruit and coordinate alumni volunteers, organize and plan alumni support groups and other events, and provide input to management staff at Stepping Stone regarding needed program changes.

Alumni – A person who is within two weeks of completing an intensive treatment program at Stepping Stone that voluntarily chooses to sign up for an alumni mentor and attend the alumni support group.

ALUMNI EVENTS –  Tuesdays at 8p

ALUMNI SUPPORT GROUP – This is a closed meeting for Stepping Stone Alumni and Alumni Mentors. This is an opportunity for new Alumni to meet Alumni Mentors and begin using this support group as a resource in recovery. All Alumni are welcome to attend Tuesday nights at Stepping Stone.

CHRISTMAS PARTY, SUPERBOWL PARTY, MOVIE NIGHTS, AND MORE!

The Detoxification Unit at Stepping Stone has continued to evolve to fill a needed role in the continuum of care for the chemically dependent population of the Tri-State. Over the past several years, the only patients detoxified in inpatient hospital settings are those who are suffering from potentially life threatening withdrawal states. This leaves a sizable group who, due to physical distress or an overwhelming compulsive pattern of use, find it impossible to successfully detoxify themselves in their current living environments.

While initially a “social detox” unit, the unit now is better considered a “modified medical” detox unit. Many patients are prescribed medications to support their withdrawal efforts, so long as their risk is deemed acceptable and only non-controlled substances are offered. This has allowed many patients a much better opportunity to initiate their recovery effort in a supportive environment which allows seamless transition into the rehab efforts to follow.

The process starts with a phone inquiry where extensive information is collected for screening by the management and medical staff to determine safety for detoxification at Stepping Stone. While in detox, the patients attend a slightly less rigorous treatment program and are not allowed off premises for outside meetings. The unit offers very cost effective care, priced close to the same as our residential program. Our typical length of stay in this program is five to seven days.

Types of patients commonly served:

• Individuals detoxing from prescription opiate pain medications
• Individuals unable to stop using methamphetamine or cocaine compulsively
• Patients using a host of substances who cannot manage to stop all simultaneously
• Alcoholic patients who after screening are felt to offer moderate or less risk for complications during withdrawal
• Individuals using designer drugs compulsively

For further information or to start the inquiry for Detoxification Services process, please call 812.473.3104. We can take your information and answer questions 24 hours a day.

Involvement of family and significant others throughout treatment is essential. Re-establishing and enhancing communication is an important focus of treatment. Family programming begins the first weekend and consists of several weekend family education groups. As a family member or significant other, weekly attendance of the Family Education program is encouraged. Family programming is education for our client’s families and loved ones with four rotating topics. This is not visitation time. Visitation time will be immediately following the education class.

In order to visit with our clients here at our residential program, Family Education classes are mandatory. No children under the age of 14 are permitted, and number of visitors is limited to 2.

Family Education classes will focus on topics including the disease model of addiction, understanding the impact of substance use on the individual and their family, learning ways for more healthy communication, CRAFT, and an introduction of a 12-Step program for recovery for the family. Families learn about the process of recovery and how they can work together to avoid relapse. Family Education classes typically last about 1 hour.

The following is a schedule for Family Education sessions and corresponding times:

Saturdays

1p – 2p       Room 236       Family Education Program

2p – 3p       Room 236       Visitation

If your schedule does not allow for you to attend the family education program, please talk with staff to arrange a family therapy session. Family therapy is encouraged for all clients in our residential programs and is scheduled with the client’s therapist

** PLEASE NOTE: Visitors must enter the facility through the Outpatient entrance. Visitors may begin to arrive at 12:45p. After checking in, visitors will be directed to Room 236 for the educational program. Visitors who arrive after 1:05p will not be allowed to attend family program/visitation on that date.

Alanon meetings are strongly encouraged for family members. They are free and open to whoever would like to attend.

The following meeting are held at Stepping Stone:

Fridays 12p                 Outpatient Entrance, Room 236

Other Alanon meetings are held throughout the area and schedules are available at the technician station.

NO SMOKING OR E-CIGARETTE USE ON THE GROUNDS.

Staff will be available during visitation for information, education, and support.  Personal items may be brought in to patients during family visitation.  Items are to be checked in at the Technician Station.

Food/drink items are prohibited. Please leave your purses and cell phones in your vehicle.

CRAFT – Getting Your Loved One Sober

At Stepping Stone, we receive many calls from family and concerned significant others seeking help for their loved one who is in the throws of addiction. Limited treatment in the community has
generally led to referrals to Alanon, but not much else. Southwestern Behavioral Healthcare, Inc. strives to treat the whole family and therefore has pursued to develop new treatment options for family.

The Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA) is a comprehensive behavioral program for treating substance-abuse problems. It is based on the belief that environmental contingencies can play a powerful role in encouraging or discouraging drinking or drug use. Consequently, it utilizes social, recreational, familial, and vocational reinforcers to assist consumers in the recovery process. Its goal is to make a sober lifestyle more rewarding than the use of substances. Oddly enough, however, while virtually every review of alcohol and drug treatment outcome research lists CRA among approaches with the strongest scientific evidence of efficacy, very few clinicians who treat consumers with addictions are familiar with it.

The Community Reinforcement Approach and Family Training (CRAFT) intervention is a scientifically based intervention designed to help concerned significant others (CSOs) to engage treatment-refusing substance abusers into treatment. This new intervention method was developed with the belief that since family members can, and do make important contribution in other areas of addiction treatment (i.e. family and couples therapy), that the CSO can play a powerful role in helping to engage the substance user who is in denial to submit to treatment. In addition, it is often the substance user who reports that family pressure or influence is the reason sought treatment. Also, CSOs who attend the CRAFT program also benefit by becoming more independent and reducing their depression, anxiety and anger symptoms even if their loved one does not enter treatment.

CRAFT uses an overall positive approach and steers clear of any confrontation. The program emphasizes learning new skills to cope with old problems. Some of the components include how to
stay safe, outlining the context in which substance abusing behavior occurs, teaching CSOs how to use positive rewards and how to let the substance user suffer the natural consequences for their using behavior.

No one has better information about the substance user’s behavior patterns than a close family member. CRAFT teaches the CSO how to use this information in a motivational way to increase the
chance of the substance user entering treatment. CRAFT research has shown that almost 7 out of 10 people who use the program get their substance user to attend treatment. Research has shown that the CRAFT model is 2-3 times more successful at engaging treatment resistant individuals in substance abuse treatment than the traditional Al-Anon and the Johnson Intervention.

Southwestern Behavioral Healthcare, Inc., with the support of the Vanderburgh County Substance Abuse Council, has received training on the CRAFT model by it’s founder, Robert J. Meyers, PhD and is pursuing certification. If you are seeking help in getting your loved one sober, please call us at 812-473-3144. At Stepping Stone, we treat the whole family touched by addiction.

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

Phase I: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 6:00-9:00 p.m. for at least eight weeks (24 sessions)
Phase II: TBD 1 hour weekly for 8 weeks
Three Recovery Meetings (AA/NA) per week required while in treatment, along with obtaining a sponsor

Our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is designed to help clients who have an identified problem with substances (alcohol and/or other drugs), either substance abuse or dependence and therefore need more intensive treatment than weekly group therapy.

People with a more serious substance abuse or dependence problem need frequent if not daily support in making positive changes and avoiding relapse on substances. Therefore, recovery community (AA/NA) involvement is required during treatment. As support from family is also needed in recovery, Thursday night is family night. Clients are expected to bring a family member (high school age or older, clean/sober) to at least four out of their eight Thursday sessions.

IOP curriculum includes materials that are empirically-based, clinically-sound and widely used and respected by clinicians nationwide in the field of substance abuse treatment. These include: Matrix, Seeking Safety, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and 12- step facilitation, with a focus on early recovery, relapse prevention and changing problematic thoughts and behaviors.

The Matrix Group

Phase I: Mondays and Thursdays 9:30a – 11:30a, Wednesdays 9:30a – 10:30a for four weeks
Phase II: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays 9:30a – 10:30a for eight weeks
Phase III: Mondays and Thursdays 9:30a – 10:30a for four weeks
Phase IV: Wednesdays 10:30a – 11:30a for at least eight weeks

The Matrix Group is a structured intensive outpatient group that focuses on the development of early recovery skills, relapse prevention skills, and support. There are four treatment groups that make up the program: Early Recovery Skills (ERS), Relapse Prevention (RP), Family Group, and Social Support Group. The intensity of the treatment decreases as the client goes through the program and gains important skills.

Modified Group

Days/Times: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays 12p – 1p
Duration: Total of 12 sessions; followed by a weekly one hour group

Modified Group is designed for the individual with a history of substance abuse needing a higher level of treatment then an education group and/or those who have had prior intensive treatment that would benefit from something more intensive than a weekly relapse prevention group. Modified Group allows individuals to examine areas of life more closely by exploring issues such as: communication barriers, managing relationships, self-improvement, relapse and disease and taking personal responsibility.

Transitional Action Stage Group
Monday and Wednesday 4:30p – 5:30p

This action stage group was developed to help clients transition from a completed Residential program or Intensive Outpatient Program to a decreased level of care. Clients in this phase of treatment have accepted their addiction, are attending 12 Step meetings on a regular basis, and have a sponsor. This action stage group concentrates on Evidenced Based Practices including Hazelden’s Family Recovery Program. Among topics discussed include self awareness exercises, problem identification, understanding defense mechanisms, forming stable relationships in recovery as well as support networks, and co-dependency issues.

Early Recovery Skills Group
Wednesday 5p – 6p or Thursday 6p – 7p

Early Recovery skills group is designed for the client who has completed an intensive substance abuse program. This group addresses maintaining sobriety, internal and external triggers, and common challenges in early recovery as well as skills for relationship building and coping with stress.

Anger Management
Wednesday 5p – 6p

The Anger Management Group is an action stage group designed to help clients increase awareness of the anger triggers and patterns and to develop more appropriate anger control and expression strategies. It can be either a continuing care group to be attended after a client has completed intensive treatment, or an initial phase group for those clients who have primary mental health issues rather than substances abuse issues.

Action Stage Group
Friday 9a – 10a

Good candidates for the group would be clients who have accepted their addiction, are actively attending recovery support meetings, and are in at least the preparation stage in regards to the stages of change model. Treatment focus is on Relapse Prevention and Early Recovery Skills.

Moms Group
Tuesday 2p – 3p

Moms group is an action oriented group designed for women who are at risk for chemical dependence or relapse. It is primarily designed for obstetric clients and/or post-delivery clients with children under the age of four years. This group utilizes Evidenced Based Treatment models such as Matrix, Seeking Safety and Families First. Topics included in this group consist of relapse prevention, parenting styles, boundaries, healthy relationships and coping strategies.

Women’s Issues Group
Thursday 5p – 7p

This treatment group is designed to use Trauma Informed Treatment and Cognitive Therapy to overcome life issues as a result of various forms of trauma. Women will learn how to restore and develop healthy ways of living, and how to interact and communicate assertively with others.

Awareness Group
Monday 3p – 4p

Awareness group is designed for clients who have experienced their first problem(s) with substances (e.g. first DUI or possession charge), and is therefore more introductory than our more intensive treatment programs.

Exploring Change Group
Monday 5p – 6p

The Exploring Change Group is an initial phase group for pre-contemplative clients who exhibit problematic substance use behavior but who do not believe or acknowledge that a problem exists. Good candidates for the group would be clients who have had previous treatment, carry a substance dependence diagnosis, and who continue to deny that an addiction exists.

The Gambler’s Group
Thursday 5p – 6p

Have you ever had to lie to people important to you about how much you gambled? Have you ever felt the need to bet more and more money? If you answered “yes” to one of these two questions, The Gambler’s Group may be for you. It will focus on cognitive behavioral interventions and will last for at least eight weeks. Sample topics to be covered will include triggers, warning signs, functional analysis, coping with urges, cognitive restructuring and financial planning.

The residential addiction treatment program at Stepping Stone provides an intensive program of care to meet the needs of community members who cannot sustain abstinence from drugs and alcohol in a less structured environment, such as intensive outpatient or outpatient settings. Many clients begin their treatment either in our social detox or detox in tri-state hospitals. Some are involved with drug courts or probation offices in the tri-state and have been unable to achieve abstinence despite facing significant legal consequences. Many are self-referred, coming to Stepping Stone after many failed attempts at stopping their addiction on their own.

The residential treatment program lasts 21 to 28 days, depending on individualized needs and requests. Some of our clients present with diminished mental capacity and benefit from the longer stay. Person-centered treatment planning begins at assessment, as does post-discharge recovery planning. The treatment schedule is rigorous and clients are actively involved in classes, group and individual therapy, and on-site and community-based 12 Step meetings from 7a until 10p. Family therapy and family education are a fundamental part of our treatment program.

The core of our educational curriculum has been identified and implemented according to SAMHSA’s Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices. These include programming focused on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational  Interviewing, Trauma Informed Care, and 12 Step Facilitation.

While establishing initial sobriety occurs in treatment, early recovery in the community presents our clients with many sobriety-threatening challenges. Relapse prevention and recovery planning start on day one of treatment. Prior to discharge, clients have a well-developed relapse prevention plan geared toward their individual challenges and a recovery plan identifying their goals and the steps to achieve them. Given the often advance progression of addiction, the recovery plans include areas that include: recovery support, family, housing, employment, spirituality, health, recreation, and resolution of legal issues.

Stepping Stone is grateful to have a strong group of alumni in the recovery community who volunteer their time to mentor and support our clients, both on-site and in the rooms of local 12-step support groups. They carry on a long tradition of one alcoholic or addict helping another to attain sobriety and regain stability and health.