Evidence-Based Practices

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is a therapeutic approach designed to help develop psychological flexibility in facing life’s demands. Individuals learn to stop avoiding, denying, or struggling with their emotions and to instead accept that these feelings are appropriate responses to certain situations that should not stop them from moving forward with their lives. Individuals learn to accept their hardships and commit to making necessary changes in their behavior, regardless of what is happening in their life and how they feel about it.

Walk-in Assessments available at our Outpatient Clinics 5 Days a Week.

ACEs are potentially traumatic events that occur during childhood. These experiences may include violence or witnessing violence, neglect, abuse, having a family member attempt or die by suicide.  Exposure to ACEs can negatively impact a child’s development and lead to health problems, mental health issues, and substance use problems as an adult. Assessing an individual for ACEs that have been experienced can guide appropriate treatment approaches. 

Walk-in Assessments available at our Outpatient Clinics 5 Days a Week.

AUDIT is a 10-question simple and effective screening tool used to identify individuals at risk for dangerous drinking or alcohol use disorders. AUDIT provides a structure for intervention to help those with unhealthy alcohol use to reduce or stop drinking alcohol. Unhealthy alcohol use is defined as risky or hazardous alcohol consumption or any alcohol use disorder.

The ASAM Criteria is the most widely used and comprehensive set of standards for placement, continued service, and transfer of patients with addiction and co-occurring mental illness.  The ASAM Criteria is the result of an effort to define a single set of criteria for providing outcome-oriented and results-based care in addiction treatment.  ASAM Criteria considers an individual’s needs, obstacles and liabilities, as well as their strengths, assets, resources, and support structure to determine the appropriate level of care.

AMSR helps behavioral health professionals feel confident in providing best practice, compassionate care to people at risk of suicide.  AMSR is based on the latest research and is designed to support safer suicide care practices, such as Zero Suicide. The AMSR model offers strategies that are key to navigating challenging conversations and systemic barriers.

CANS is a multi-purpose tool used to assess and support decision-making, service planning, and quality improvement.  The CANS helps identify a child’s strengths and needs to help make appropriate decisions in case planning, placement, and monitoring of services. The CANS promotes open communication and collaboration between professionals, families, and the child. 

CPP is an intervention model for children ages 0-5 who have experienced traumatic events and/or are experiencing mental health, attachment, and/or behavioral problems. A central goal is to support and strengthen the caregiver-child relationship as a vehicle for restoring and protecting the child’s mental health. CPP can help decrease traumatic stress symptoms, behavioral problems, general distress, and rates of PTSD in children. CPP can also help decrease child-related stress and suboptimal parenting behaviors while enabling improved relationships within the family.

CIWA is a 10-item assessment tool that is used to assess the severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms to help guide treatment decisions.

COWS is an 11-item validated tool to assess signs and symptoms of opiate withdrawal and to guide treatment of opioid use disorder. The score for the scale can help providers determine the severity of opiate withdrawal and assess the level of physical dependence on opioids.

CBI-SUA is a curriculum designed for individuals who are at moderate to high need in the area of substance use.  CBI-SUA can be delivered as a stand-alone substance use intervention or it may be incorporated into larger programs, particularly those designed for people in the criminal justice system. This intervention focuses on teaching individuals strategies for identifying and managing risk factors related to substance use. This program places heavy emphasis on skill building activities to assist with cognitive, social, emotional, and coping skill development.

CBT teaches individuals to identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to mental health problems. It focuses on the present and aims to teach specific skills to manage current issues and improve emotional regulation. 

The C-SSRS, also known as The Columbia Protocol, provides screening for suicide risk through a series of questions asked in simple, plain, and direct language.  The answers to the questions help the provider identify if someone is at risk of suicide, determine the severity and immediacy of that risk, and determine the level of support that the individual needs. The C-SSRS asks the individual if they have thought about suicide and when, what actions they have taken (and when) to prepare for suicide, and if (and when) they have attempted suicide or began a suicide attempt that was stopped either by themselves or someone else. 

CALM is a practical intervention to increase the time and distance between individuals at risk of suicide and the most common and lethal methods of suicide. CALM, the oldest and most widely-used training on lethal means safety, teaches why means matter and gives individuals tools to intervene effectively with those at risk. 

DBT is a structured intervention that focuses on teaching mindfulness, acceptance and distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness to help individuals create a good life for themselves. DBT can lead to reducing self-harm, better adherence to treatment, less time in treatment, fewer serious episodes, and improved overall feelings of well-being.

DAST-10 is a 10-item brief screening tool used to assess illicit drug use (does not include alcohol or tobacco use) over the past 12 months. The DAST-10 provides valuable information for identifying problems as early as possible, tailoring interventions, and measuring the effectiveness of treatment.  

EMDR is a form of therapy that enables individuals to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress caused by disturbing life experiences. EMDR therapy shows that the mind can heal from trauma just as the body recovers from physical trauma. Using the detailed protocols and procedures of EMDR, clinicians help individuals activate natural healing processes.

THE GAD-7 is an easy-to-use tool for initial screening and assessment of the severity of anxiety. It can be self-administered or administered by the clinician.

Living in Balance is a flexible, practical, and user-friendly substance use treatment program with a strong emphasis on relapse prevention. The program helps individuals address lifestyle issues that may have been neglected during addiction.  Sessions address drugs of abuse, relapse prevention, self-help programs, mental and physical health, emotional and social wellness, sexual and spiritual health, daily living skills, and vocational and educational development.

Mental Health First Aid teaches the lay person or professional how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders. The course provides the skills necessary to reach out and provide early help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis. Mental Health First Aid takes the fear, hesitation, and stigma out of starting these conversations by improving understanding and providing a plan of action that teaches people to safely and responsibly identify and address a potential mental health or substance use challenge.

MindSet Safety Management training focuses on helping organizations build a culture of prevention by presenting an efficient and empathetic approach to helping individuals in need. MindSet promotes safety and growth, which creates positive outcomes for staff and individuals served.

MRT is a cognitive behavioral treatment that is used largely for individuals with a history of criminal behavior or substance abuse. MRT aims to address the underlying thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes that may contribute to criminal or problematic behaviors by promoting enhanced moral reasoning and positive behavior change. The approach emphasizes personal responsibility and helps individuals take ownership of their behaviors.

MI is a person-centered and collaborative treatment that helps individuals address their mixed feelings about change. MI is a conversational approach designed to help people discover their own interest in making a change in their life (such as diet, exercise, quitting smoking, etc), talk about their desire to change and their uncertainty about the change, plan for and begin the process of changing, enhance their confidence in making the change, and strengthening commitment to change.

PHQ-9 is an instrument used to screen, diagnose, monitor, and measure the severity of depression.  The PHQ-9 is easy to use and is completed by the individual prior to their visit, with the results to be discussed during the visit. The PHQ-9 asks 9 questions and the answers are calculated into a score.  The score can then be used to help plan and monitor treatment for depression.

QPR is an emergency response to an individual in crisis and can save their life. QPR Gatekeeper training provides the lay person or professional with the tools to follow 3 simple steps to help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. 

CT-R is a treatment approach designed to promote empowerment, recovery and resilience in individuals with serious mental health conditions, particularly those with psychosis.  CT-R emphasizes the individual’s active role in their recovery, encouraging them to develop positive beliefs, build connections, and find valuable meaning in life with a focus on long-term change and a whole-person approach.

Seeking Safety is a widely adopted treatment model for individuals struggling with co-occurring trauma and addiction.  Seeking Safety is designed to support individuals in establishing safety by reducing addictive behavior, building healthy relationships, managing symptoms, and restoring ideals that have been lost.  The program focuses on developing coping skills in the present and may be utilized to help treat individuals or groups.

Structured Follow-Up and Monitoring Procedure is a treatment approach in which individuals who have recently experienced a suicide crisis and/or recently returned home from a hospitalization are followed closely and monitored. The model guides clinicians in how and when to contact individuals who are at high risk of suicide and provides support to these individuals during the break in continuity of care as they transition from crisis treatment to outpatient services. Structured Follow-Up and Monitoring continues until the individual is safely engaged in treatment, rejects further treatment or follow-ups, or their risk of suicide decreases greatly.

SPF is a comprehensive, data-driven approach developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to guide communities in preventing substance abuse and related mental health problems. The SPF emphasizes using data to identify risk and protective factors, choose other appropriate evidence-based programs and strategies, and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions. 

The Seven Challenges® program, specifically for young people with drug problems, is designed to motivate a decision and commitment to change and to support success in implementing the desired changes. The program aims to help young people address their drug problems as well as their co-occurring life skill deficits and their situational and psychological problems.

TF-CBT is a short-term treatment approach designed specifically for children and adolescents who have experienced trauma and often involves the participation of a non-offending family member or caregiver.  TF-CBT aims to help the child or adolescent to process their trauma, manage emotional and behavioral difficulties, and improve coping skills.