Beach House Center for Recovery is among the leading integrated trauma treatment centers in Florida, offering the latest highly effective treatment modalities for trauma-related mental health disorders. At Beach House, we offer the expertise and dedication of highly respected mental health clinicians, addiction care specialists, and psychiatric providers, who partner with patients to discover the best treatment plans for addressing addiction and co-occurring disorders.
What is Trauma?
Trauma can mean many things, from suffering a debilitating injury to experiencing a shocking and emotionally destabilizing event. For some people, the after-effects of trauma are long-term, resulting in symptoms that negatively affect multiple aspects of their lives.
Traumatic experiences that lead to emotional dysregulation might stem from an isolated occurrence, like a traffic collision or physical assault. However, traumas can also be persistent or ongoing experiences, like domestic violence, military combat, or childhood abuse.
The after-effects of trauma can seriously burden the people who experience it directly, their families, and their communities. While many people who have endured physical or emotional trauma might not suffer significantly negative or disruptive effects, many others will develop emotional responses that inhibit healthy or productive functioning.
Studies have long shown that behavioral disorders and long-term chronic health issues correspond with traumatic experiences, particularly those that occurred during the developmental years. Unaddressed childhood traumatic experiences are associated with a heightened risk of developing anxiety disorders, mood disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), heart disease, and certain cancers later in life. People who’ve endured childhood trauma are also at a significantly higher risk of developing substance use disorders than the general population.
Trauma and Addiction
Trauma and substance use disorder are frequently intertwined. People who have experienced trauma are at an increased risk of developing an addiction to a mood-altering substance. It is estimated that up to 75% of military veterans with diagnosed PTSD also misuse alcohol or drugs. Children who have experienced trauma are approximately 46 times more likely to misuse intravenous drugs than their peers.
Moreover, people who are addicted to mood-altering substances are more likely to experience further trauma as a direct result (getting into a vehicle collision while intoxicated or being incarcerated, for example).
Integrated Trauma Treatment Approaches
The strength of the connection between trauma and addiction requires an integrated treatment approach. At Beach House Center for Recovery, we offer an integrated trauma treatment center where patients can receive concurrent mental health and addiction treatments. Our approach effectively addresses the fundamental causes of addiction disorders, the triggers that lead to substance misuse, and the physical and emotional effects of long-term dependency.
The therapeutic modalities for addressing trauma involve holistic and clinical approaches, which include the following dual-diagnosis treatments:
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a form of psychotherapy that addresses a wide variety of mental health issues, including substance use disorders and their co-occurring conditions. This treatment modality addresses the causes and results of negative thought patterns.
For example, a person who feels as though their peers might ridicule them might be reluctant to participate in social activities, contributing to feelings of loneliness and depression. The cascading effect could lead to difficulties in fulfilling professional or personal obligations, financial difficulties, alienation, and reliance on substances.
By addressing the initial negative thoughts – a dread of ridicule or judgment – many negative behaviors and effects could be modified, leading to more positive outcomes. This treatment aims to provide a framework for identifying irrational negative thought patterns and fears and employing healthy and effective coping skills.
Dialectical-Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical-behavioral therapy is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy that was originally developed to address borderline personality disorder but is also used to treat numerous other behavioral and emotional issues. This approach is highly effective at treating co-occurring PTSD and mood disorders, particularly those that cause self-harming ideations and behaviors.
While CBT primarily focuses on recognizing and reforming negative thought patterns, DBT targets negative behaviors and coping strategies. This approach helps patients adopt positive actions that ultimately replace harmful ones.
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Motivational interviewing is a type of counseling that addresses ambivalence or hostility towards treatment for addiction and its co-occurring disorders. This therapy is designed as an intervention for people who are reluctant to change their behaviors or engage in the treatment and is intended to supplement ongoing counseling.
Beach House Center for Recovery: The Premier Integrated Trauma Treatment Center in Florida
We offer comprehensive treatment approaches at Beach House to address our patients’ unique needs. Our personalized programs are designed to target the core causes of addiction and provide ongoing support during the recovery journey. From personalized inpatient treatment programs to continuing outpatient care, our resources help patients achieve long-term freedom from addiction.
For more information about our trauma treatment center, please contact our compassionate admissions counselors today.