Low Client-Therapist Ratio – One way that we strive to measure, cultivate and continually improve therapeutic alliance is by providing a very low client-therapist ratio. In contrast to other drug treatment providers in Florida and nationwide, Beach House offers a strikingly low client-therapist ratio— 7:1 as opposed to the industry average of 11:1. This ensures more personalized attention to treatment needs, even during group therapy sessions.

Medication-Assisted Treatment – We also employ the latest medical advances in treating addiction. Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)—for example, Suboxone to relieve opiate cravings—is an option that our in-house psychiatrist can recommend to clients (depending on the drug of abuse, their history of addiction, and other factors that an in-depth medical and psychiatric assessment administered at the start of treatment may reveal). MAT has been evidenced to reduce rates of relapse for certain substance use disorders. In cases where Suboxone is prescribed for opiate cravings, care is taken to ensure that it is used as a short-term intervention and when other treatment options have been exhausted.

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) helps to manage the symptoms that can lead to relapse and helps to sustain sobriety.  We know the best results come with an interdisciplinary approach that combines medication with behavioral therapy in treating the physical and psychological roots of addiction. MAT is an important part of that approach.–  Medical Director Michael Slifer, MD, PhD

An OTP-certified, On-Site Pharmacy – Unlike many providers, Beach House enjoys the designation of being an “OTP” or “Opioid Treatment Program,” which is the highest level of certification that an addiction treatment provider can attain, based on a strict accreditation process that requires the oversight and approval of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Our in-house pharmacy can, therefore, dispense all medications, from naltrexone to more highly regulated MATs, quickly, conveniently and right on site at our facility.

Our Track Record in the Community as a Trusted Florida Provider – Beach House is known locally for its high safety standards. Our medical staff can and do provide one-on-one, 24/7 medical monitoring to clients who need it. We also have strong working relationships with hospitals in the area, including Jupiter, JFK, and Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, which regularly refer clients to us. Their close proximity also ensures that Beach House clients are guaranteed an extra layer of support and peace of mind in cases of a medical emergency.

Our Facility and Location – Our state-of-the-art rehabilitation facility offers a full continuum of substance abuse care, all within the safety and convenience of one peaceful, self-contained campus in sunny Juno Beach, Florida. (Take a virtual tour of our “home away from home.”)

An unsupervised drug or alcohol detox can be medically dangerous. We have a well-rounded team of medical and psychiatric providers who are able to provide a multidisciplinary treatment program. Co-occurring medical conditions are closely monitored so that the patient can focus on the detox and recovery process while being assured that all aspects of their health are being managed.– Medical Director Michael Slifer, MD, PhD

The main goal of an inpatient drug rehab program is to provide clients with the various recovery supports they will need—and which Beach House offers in the form of a highly individualized plan of medically and clinically integrated care—in order to achieve long-term freedom from one or more drugs. Clients at this level of care, therefore, can expect to receive ongoing monitoring by our medical team (as needed) for any post-detox occurrence of PAWS. They also can expect to participate daily in a group and individual therapy with therapists who are credentialed in the following evidence-based clinical interventions (also known as “best practices”) for substance use disorders:

• Trauma-Informed Therapy, including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills, helps clients heal from the experiences of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that are often at the root of substance abuse. Our therapists teach clients DBT skills involving how to manage the painful emotions associated with a post-traumatic stress response so that clients can successfully overcome this very common relapse trigger. In addition to these DBT skills, clients learn how to develop the following cognitive-behavioral tools through trauma-informed therapy: grounding skills, resource building, safe place work, and resiliency skills.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is another form of psychotherapy that, based on ongoing research into its comparative effectiveness next to other interventions, qualifies as a “best practice” in treating addiction. Our CBT-certified therapists work with clients to change the particular cognitive and behavioral patterns that feed their addiction to one or more drugs — and to replace them with healthier coping skills, in the way of alternative forms of thinking, relating and acting.
• Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a client-centered form of substance abuse counseling that seeks to facilitate positive change and a desire for change on the part of the client. Through motivational interviewing, our experienced therapists help gently steer clients towards freedom from addiction by encouraging greater self-awareness and a self-directed willingness to grow.
• Medication-Assisted Treatment can be very effective during inpatient drug rehab and after, depending on the person and the nature of their addiction. After a comprehensive assessment by our on-site, addictions-certified psychiatrist, clients may receive medication assistance for their particular chemical dependency and medical needs, and for any co-occurring diagnoses such as anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Mindfulness Meditation has become an important component in drug addiction recovery programs across the nation— and rightly so: multiple studies through the years have shown its effectiveness in treating substance use disorders. With the guidance of our experienced staff, clients at Beach House thus learn helpful techniques for practicing greater, non-judgmental attentiveness to their inner and outer worlds. Clients can take these tools with them when they leave, with the result that they become more resilient to relapse.
• Yoga, as another evidence-based practice promoting mindfulness and relaxation, yields great benefits for Beach House Clients. Certified yoga instructors lead clients through exercises that increase bodily awareness and holistic well-being (as the healthy integration of mind, body, and spirit). This tool can serve clients well as an effective stress-busting tool — stress is a common trigger of relapse — when they leave our facility.
• 12-Step Peer Support and Life Skills Groups feature prominently in our daily, residential treatment program. Studies show that participation in 12-Step recovery groups like Narcotics Anonymous significantly reduces the likelihood of relapse during the first critical year post-rehab. At Beach House, we offer 12-Step and other peer support options to our clients. Within the safety of these recovery groups, our clients learn crucial life skills pertaining to anger management, trauma-based issues, grief and loss, and cravings and relapse prevention.
• Family Therapy is a critical therapeutic dimension to finding freedom from addiction. Our family therapists invite clients’ closest support system into their healing and recovery process, with the understanding that this support network will be an essential safety net post-rehab, one that’s found to be instrumental in preventing relapse. (Learn more about our Family Program.)

More and more clinicians have seen the positive impact that mindfulness meditation has on clients in the treatment setting. Clients have benefited from the way that it helps with impulse control.– Chief Clinical Officer Anna Ciulla, LMHC, RD, LD

Success rates significantly increase the longer someone is engaged in a program of treatment, according to the research. Risks of relapse are also highest during the first months of recovery— especially during the first month after detox when drug cravings are strongest because of depleted levels of the “feel good” neurotransmitter dopamine. 35 days of inpatient drug treatment is, therefore, the minimal length of treatment that we recommend to clients who may not be able to undertake a longer course of treatment.

There is evidence to support a minimum of 35 days in treatment as the gold standard for detox and achieving recovery.  In general, the first 28 days of recovery are a time when the client is experiencing acute withdrawal followed by post-acute withdrawal syndrome. This is also the time when relationships are being established and re-established with their primary therapist and close loved ones. It is after the initial detox period that the underlying issues can be addressed that may have led to or worsened substance abuse and held the client back from achieving their recovery goals.–  Medical Director Michael Slifer, MD, PhD