AK Child and Family – Jesse Lee Campus

Dual Diagnosis

Alaska provides specialized dual-diagnosis addiction treatment, including outpatient, inpatient, and partial hospitalization programs, which address mental health and substance use disorders. You can generally expect a dual-diagnosis rehab to incorporate evidence-based therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), trauma-focused therapy, and mindfulness-based therapy. When combined, these programs and therapeutic interventions can successfully address co-occurring disorders to improve mental health and well-being.

Mental Health

During inpatient addiction treatment, you live at the facility while receiving mental health services. Around the clock supervision by clinical and mental health providers creates a safe environment–whether it’s in a hospital, clinic, or luxury facility. Most inpatient programs last 30 days, but some last several months. Mental health programs include assessment, individual and group counseling, education on addiction recovery, relapse prevention, and training in emotional regulation.

• Medicaid
• Private insurance
• Self-pay options
• Financial aid
• Military insurance
• Daily
• Financing available
• Sliding scale payment assistance

• Adolescence program
• Children program
• Program for men
• Total beds: 36
• Young adult program

Inpatient

The treatment program includes, but is not limited to, the following: individual, group and family therapy on a weekly basis by a Master’s-educated clinical therapist; nursing services by registered nurses with oversight of a medical director; milieu therapy which includes structure activities; individualized treatment work for youth; recreation therapy; voluntary spiritual life activities; and educational support.

Intervention Services

Intervention services helps family or friends of addicts stage an intervention, which is a meeting in which loved ones share their concerns and attempt to get an addict into treatment. Professional intervention specialists can help loved ones organize, gather, and communicate with an addict. They can guide intervention participants in describing the damage the addict's behavior is causing and that outside help is necessary to address the addiction. The ideal outcome of an intervention is for the addict to go to rehab and get the help they need.

Aftercare Support

The youth, parent/guardian, community therapist/clinical therapist/coaching parent/life-skills specialist/placing worker/treatment parent/case manager, as appropriate, will be involved in discharge planning. This plan begins with the development of the treatment plan and continues throughout treatment. When indicated, the above mentioned treatment team will participate in the development of a written discharge plan. Discharge planning is an ongoing and collaborative process, and specific designation of responsibility for services after discharge from the facility will be documented throughout the discharge planning process.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a therapy modality that focuses on the relationship between one's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is used to establish and allow for healthy responses to thoughts and feelings (instead of unhealthy responses, like using drugs or alcohol). CBT has been proven effective for recovering addicts of all kinds, and is used to strengthen a patient's own self-awareness and ability to self-regulate. CBT allows individuals to monitor their own emotional state, become more adept at communicating with others, and manage stress without needing to engage in substance abuse.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a modified form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a treatment designed to help people understand and ultimately affect the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. DBT is often used for individuals who struggle with self-harm behaviors, such as self-mutilation (cutting) and suicidal thoughts, urges, or attempts. It has been proven clinically effective for those who struggle with out-of-control emotions and mental health illnesses like Borderline Personality Disorder.

Experiential Therapy

Experiential therapy is a form of therapy in which clients are encouraged to surface and work through subconscious issues by engaging in real-time experiences. Experiential therapy departs from traditional talk therapy by involving the body, and having clients engage in activities, movements, and physical and emotional expression. This can involve role-play or using props (which can include other people). Experiential therapy can help people process trauma, memories, and emotion quickly, deeply, and in a lasting fashion, leading to substantial and impactful healing.

Family Therapy

Research clearly demonstrates that recovery is far more successful and sustainable when loved ones like family members participate in rehab and substance abuse treatment. Genetic factors may be at play when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction, as well as mental health issues. Family dynamics often play a critical role in addiction triggers, and if properly educated, family members can be a strong source of support when it comes to rehabilitation.

Group Therapy

Group therapy is any therapeutic work that happens in a group (not one-on-one). There are a number of different group therapy modalities, including support groups, experiential therapy, psycho-education, and more. Group therapy involves treatment as well as processing interaction between group members.

Individual Therapy

In individual therapy, a patient meets one-on-one with a trained psychologist or counselor. Therapy is a pivotal part of effective substance abuse treatment, as it often covers root causes of addiction, including challenges faced by the patient in their social, family, and work/school life.

Life Skills

Activity therapy is available both individually and in a group setting. Individual activity therapy pairs a child with an adult Activity Therapist (AT) to work on social skills, communication, goal setting, independent living, anger management and other treatment issues. Group Activity Therapy follows a curriculum that introduces youth to a variety of topics and issues that may include self-expression, community resources, initiative taking, vocational training, team building, health and fitness, social skill development and psychotherapy.

Nutrition Therapy

Nutrition therapy, aka medical nutrition therapy (MNT), is a way of treating physical, emotional, and medical conditions through diet. Specific dietary plans are designed by professional nutritionists or registered dietitians, and patients follow them in order to positively affect their physical and mental health.

Trauma Therapy

Trauma therapy addresses traumatic incidents from a client's past that are likely affecting their present-day experience. Trauma is often one of the primary triggers and potential causes of addiction, and can stem from child sexual abuse, domestic violence, having a parent with a mental illness, losing one or both parents at a young age, teenage or adult sexual assault, or any number of other factors. The purpose of trauma therapy is to allow a patient to process trauma and move through and past it, with the help of trained and compassionate mental health professionals.

• Residential setting
• Private setting
• Recreation room
• Private rooms
• Day school
  Depending on the needs of the youth, they may attend one of the self contained on or off campus Anchorage School District classrooms or may be mainstreamed into a local community school. Staff at AK Child & Family provide educational supports by facilitating the enrollment process and encouraging each youth to succeed at school. The professionals on the treatment team will work closely with the youth and parent/guardian to evaluate and identify the most appropriate school placement.