Enhancing Therapy with Evidence-Based Treatments

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there are over 14,500 drug treatment centers in the United States alone. With so many choices, how does a program stand out from the pack and provide top-tier treatment?

Naturally, a 12-Step approach to relapse prevention remains fundamental to recovery, and it remains the foundation for nearly all treatment centers. But focus on the 12 Steps alone is no longer enough, which is why Crossroads Centre Antigua has begun to integrate three psychosocial therapies into its treatment protocols. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) have been shown, through years of research, to be effective in the treatment of addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders.

CBT focuses on the connection between thoughts, feelings and behaviors with an emphasis on changing distorted thoughts that lead to overwhelming negative feelings and, consequently, unhealthy behaviors.

MBRP utilizes meditation as a practical tool to help individuals change their relationship to the thoughts they cannot change. It focuses on developing non-judgmental self-acceptance in the present moment and can help one cultivate psychological flexibility, which has been shown to be a marker of overall mental health.

ACT utilizes aspects of both CBT and MBRP while adding its own unique focus: helping individuals identify those values that are important to them in their lives, and then facilitating a willingness to commit to living one’s life according to those values.

Part of my job as Chief of Psychology is to provide ongoing training to clinical staff in these therapies so our clients will benefit from a rich, deep, and broad recovery that is rooted in the science of relapse prevention. These therapies not only integrate seamlessly into Crossroad Centre Antigua’s holistic approach to recovery but will ensure that Crossroads remains a leader in the treatment of addictive disorders.