Changing the face of adolescent substance abuse treatment

On June 16-17 Imagine held our first Intensive Family Weekend. It has long been a goal to add this to our family programming, and it's gratifying to have accomplished this. In the tradition of quality, “Minnesota Model” chemical dependency treatment, it has always been recognized that the opportunity to do intensive family work is an integral component for successful treatment. However, with current healthcare constraints it becomes increasingly difficult to provide all that is needed in an IOP format. Imagine has always tried to be innovative in finding ways to implement vital aspects of traditional treatment which are now typically found in only expensive and/or non-reimbursable, higher level of care programs.

In the past we have typically conducted family weekend types of activities during the weekly multi-family groups. However, the opportunity to complete this work in the intensive format is what really allows the full impact of family work to be accomplished. That is, the process of reviewing the harmful impact of addiction within the family system, combined with intensive education about the disease concept and family illness, and the opportunity to move into forgiveness and reconciliation creates a powerful experience of healing and better understanding of “family recovery.” The Imagine “Family Recovery Journal” is an exclusive tool we have implemented to help families better understand, implement, and measure their own family recovery progress.

Special mention should go to Judy Terry, LCDC, CART, Imagine family therapist, who led this first Intensive Family Weekend. She did a marvelous job, as all client surveys indicated. Also especially effective and greatly appreciated was the participation of Imagine Aftercare parents and kids who shared their stories during AA/Alanon meetings both days.