Saint Vincents Medical Center – Behavioral Health Services – Westport

Alcoholism

If the body experiences withdrawal symptoms in the absense of alcohol, they are considered alcohol dependent. This is one of the defining characteristics of alcoholism, also knosn as alcohol use disorder (AUD). If a person has reached this state, they typically need professional treatment to recover. Alcohol rehab in Connecticut can provide a safe, supervised detox to withdraw from alcohol, followed by inpatient or outpatient rehab, then a maintenance program.

Drug Addiction

Drug rehab in Connecticut provides the professional support that is often necessary to break free from drug dependency. With proper treatment, individuals can make changes that restore balance and health to their lives and achieve long-term recovery.

Opioid Addiction

Opioid rehabs specialize in supporting those recovering from opioid addiction. They treat those suffering from addiction to illegal opioids like heroin, as well as prescription drugs like oxycodone. These centers typically combine both physical as well as mental and emotional support to help stop addiction. Physical support often includes medical detox and subsequent medical support (including medication), and mental support includes in-depth therapy to address the underlying causes of addiction.

Substance Abuse

In Connecticut you’ll find a range of substance abuse rehabs providing effective and individualized care, which dramatically increases long-term recovery outcomes. These programs include various levels of care, including inpatient, medically assisted detox, and partial hospitalization programs. You’ll receive a comprehensive assessment and individualized treatment plan, to determine the appropriate level of care and evidence-based interventions. You can expect individual and group therapy, skills classes, and relapse prevention training.

• Medicaid
• Private insurance
• Self-pay options
• Medicare
• Military insurance
• Financial aid

• Adult program
• Hearing impaired program
• HIV/AIDS program
• Program for men
• Program for women
• Young adult program

Medically Assisted Detox

Typically seen as a first step in the recovery process, medically assisted detox generally takes place in an inpatient setting under the 24/7 supervision of licensed medical professionals. It is considered the safest way to remove addictive drugs from your body. The length of a medical detox program is individualized, but it often takes around 5-7 days.

Inpatient

Residential treatment programs are those that offer housing and meals in addition to substance abuse treatment. Rehab facilities that offer residential treatment allow patients to focus solely on recovery, in an environment totally separate from their lives. Some rehab centers specialize in short-term residential treatment (a few days to a week or two), while others solely provide treatment on a long-term basis (several weeks to months). Some offer both, and tailor treatment to the patient's individual requirements.

12-Step

12 step programs are a peer-directed, spiritually-focused approach to addiction recovery, though participants do not need to be religiously affiliated. They are also often considered to be the gold standard in addiction recovery. Participants self-select a sponsor to support them throughout the recovery journey. They also regularly attend group meetings, which are free, anonymous, and accessible multiple times daily in most communities. Dedicated programs for specialized groups, such as seniors, teens, and families, are widely available.

Aftercare Support

Completing a drug or alcohol rehab program shouldn't spell the end of substance abuse treatment. Aftercare involves making a sustainable plan for recovery, including ongoing support. This can include sober living arrangements like halfway houses, career counseling, and setting a patient up with community programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA).

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.

Electroconvulsive Therapy

ECT is a form of treatment in which controlled electric currents are passed through the brain, sometimes causing short seizures. Treatments are done under general anesthesia. ECT appears to change brain chemistry for the better, and has been shown to provide fast and sometimes dramatic improvements in severe mental health conditions that can exist alongside addiction, including depression, bipolar disorder, psychosis, and suicidality. ECT is also often used by those who prefer it to taking medication.

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

Life skills trainings involve all the skills a person must have in order to function successfully in the world. These include time management, career guidance, money management, and effective communication. Truly successful addiction recovery is based on the ability to not only live substance-free, but to thrive. Life skills teaches the practical necessities of functioning in society, which sets clients up for success in life, and therefore sobriety.

Motivational Interviewing

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a clinical approach to helping people with substance abuse issues and other conditions shift behavior in positive ways. It is more goal-oriented than traditional psychotherapy, as MI counselors directly attempt to get clients to consider making behavioral change (rather than wait for them to come to conclusions themselves). Its primary purpose is to resolve ambivalence and help clients become able to make healthy choices freely.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is a way of getting nicotine into the bloodstream without smoking. It uses products that supply low doses of nicotine to help people stop smoking. The goal of therapy is to cut down on cravings for nicotine and ease the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.

• Private setting