Paxcampus treatment center Clinical Toolbox

Introduction. PAX CAMPUS is a treatment center whose aim is to see, those suffering from addiction, through a personal recovery process. To access the PAX CAMPUS website for more information and to contact them, visit https: // www. Paxcampus.com. PAX CAMPUS helps clients to get to the root of the problem through therapeutic techniques thus helping them achieve their desired results (Leahy, 2017).

Client Population A housing and PAX CAMPUS client survey was taken showing there were over five hundred clients. The survey revealed the following: In the housing survey 96% of clients responded that they felt they were in a healthy or very healthy environment for recovery. In the PAX CAMPUS client surveys, ninety-four percent rated they were satisfied with the center’s services.

Activities. Initial Orientation The first activity enables the clients to get accustomed to the community and reduce the anxiety of being in a new environment (Robinson, 2014). Initial orientation occurs within the first four days on admission into the treatment center. Clients are also introduced to the staff. To make the new members comfortable and properly orient them into the community, they complete an intake, orientation, and medical assessments.

Activities. Clinical Program To immerse clients into the clinical program they advised to complete five days a week group therapy for the first two weeks of admissions (Leahy, 2017). Phase one helps clients to identify with the psychological components of their addiction. A treatment plan is created for their episode of care. ​Phase two involves helping clients to identify healthy decision making for post discharge aftercare and how to stay on course after returning home.

Activities. Graduation. Graduation marks the end of the Intensive Outpatient Program(IOP) phase and is important for encouraging the clients to keep up their ongoing sober lifestyle (Robinson, 2014). To complete IOP is typically around ninety days but timelines may shift based on clinical appropriateness. This is for encouraging the clients. Graduation may not mark the end as it is the beginning of the outpatient status and the clients continue to reside in sober living.

Issues. Several issues are addressed at PAX CAMPUS to get to the bottom of addiction they include: Codependency refers to an excessive emotional or psychological reliance on a partner and is an addiction (Meier, 2011). Trust or lack of it may be caused by beliefs one has that are controlled by his thoughts. Fear is a phobia that one acquires after experiencing a traumatizing event in the past. Spirituality is believing in a power greater than oneself.

Aspects of Techniques. Biofeedback Biofeedback is the use of signals from your own body to measure key body functions and helps one learn more about how their body works. (Bernard & Gordon 2007) This technique aims at fighting anxiety, where one consciously manipulates involuntary functions of the body to override its response to stressful situations. Biofeedback is most effective for conditions heavily influenced by stress and fear such as bedwetting, muscle spasms and learning disorders.

Aspects of Techniques. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy This therapy proves that what we feel is from our thoughts and it helps clients identify dysfunctional beliefs underlying their thinking. (Leahy, 2017). This technique helps the client modify those thoughts and the behaviors that flow from them especially the negative thoughts from beliefs. Cognitive behavioral therapy has been clinically proven to help clients with a wide range of disorders, including depression and anxiety.

Aspects of Techniques. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing(EMDR) Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is an information processing therapy that helps the clients cope with phobia, trauma and addictions (Meier, 2011). There are different forms of addiction that can be solved by this therapeutic technique an example being codependency and substance addiction. An Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy takes around sixty to ninety minutes per session till ultimate success is achieved.

Research Evidence. Vital elements of the community that are backed by research include:  Developing social networks through positive bonding and social interactions can offer support during treatment and after leaving the formal treatment environment. Positive peer communications in a mutual-help environment are important parts of the therapeutic process (Miller, Forcehimes & Zweben 2011) Living in a community that engages in mutual-help is seen as a mechanism for changing their general identity and lifestyle.

Theoretical Underpinnings. The initial EMDR theory proposed a model of how new experiences are integrated into already existing memory networks giving rise to current EMDR. (Brace-Thompson, Maurer & Harman 2015) The invention of cognitive behavioral therapy was in 1960’s by Aron Beck a psychiatrist as he was doing a psychoanalysis. Biofeedback has evolved over the years and currently therapists are using Electromyography while practicing the technique.

Indication of Techniques and Contradiction of Techniques. Some contraindications to the techniques and indications that the applied techniques are feasible or not feasible are: A survey proved that ninety-four percent of the clients found the techniques working as they recovered from their substance addictions. (Bernard & Gordon 2007) A contraindication is that six percent voted the techniques as not working that shows the techniques are not entirely dependable.

Demonstration. To demonstrate the EMDR technique, I will use an individual and ask him to focus on a negative memory As he continues to focus on the memory, he or she will watch my figure move in front of his eyes. (Brace-Thompson, Maurer & Harman 2015) I will then ask him to let his mind go blank and notice the thoughts and feelings he is having spontaneously.

Demonstration. After the individual identifies the thoughts he is having, I will have him refocus on the negative memory once again. After repeating the exercise severally, the distress caused by the particular memory will fade and we proceed to another thought. This will enable the individual to cope with trauma, phobias and also addictions as he is able to manage his thoughts.

Conclusion. PAX campus helps addicts to recover from addiction and move to an ongoing process of a sober life style after recovering. Therapeutic techniques applied by the institution include cognitive therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and biofeedback (Leahy, 2017). Other issues such as codependency, trust and fear are also addressed so that therapists can get to the root of addiction.

References. Bernard, A., & Gordon F. Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies. (2007). Therapeutic techniques that predict clinical improvement in a schizoid patient in long-term intensive psychoanalytic treatment. http://www.paxcampus.com/home/clinical philosophy/residence/news/career In Neukrug, E., In Brace-Thompson, J., In Maurer, C., & Harman, C. (2015). The SAGE encyclopedia of theory in counseling and psychotherapy.

References. Leahy, R. L. (2017). Cognitive therapy techniques: A practitioner's guide. Meier, A. (2011). Counselling and therapy techniques: Theory and practice. London: SAGE. Miller, W. R., Forcehimes, A., & Zweben, A. (2011). Treating addiction: A guide for professionals. New York: Guilford Press. Robinson, T. J. (2014). Therapeutic techniques: The healing elements of the spirituals. Shaker, R., Easterling, C., Belafsky, P. C., & Postma, G. N. (n.d.). Manual of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques for Disorders of Deglutition [recurso electrónico].