Twelve Step Facilitation Therapy

Twelve Step Facilitation therapy is an evidence-based practice that involves breaking down the tenets of the twelve steps & associated fellowships. Because 12-step recovery is often misunderstood, our clinical team addresses an individual’s preconceptions and highlights the principles/actions associated with the twelve steps. This treatment modality enables clients to understand the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of substance use disorder.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Research indicates that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (often referred to at CBT) is a useful clinical tool for the treatment of Substance Use Disorder. Often considered an “active” form of therapy, this approach encourages a client to modify one’s behaviors to change cognition. Clinicians assist the individual in finding a connection between thoughts, emotions, actions and patterns of behavior to understand how this relates to substance use and recovery. CBT allows the client to not only identify maladaptive behaviors that may contribute to substance use, but also to draw on the actions that create positive experiences without the use of a mind or mood altering substance.

Motivational Interviewing

Motivational interviewing is a treatment modality that can be particularly effective in treating substance use disorders, as the clinician’s role is to assist the client in identifying a goal, then guiding the client to identify areas of ambivalence. A clinician works alongside the client to evoke a desire for change, build self-confidence and encourage readiness for change. This client-driven approach acknowledges that change must come from within the patient and the therapist’s role is to probe and guide the client, working collaboratively to identify negative patterns of thinking (including “all or nothing” thinking patterns) that often precede poor decision making.

Experiential Therapies

Just as we acknowledge that not all students learn efficiently in the same academic setting, we understand that this applies to therapeutic settings as well. Many people with substance use disorder find traditional forms of talk therapy challenging, so we integrate experiential therapies to encourage new and creative forms of expression. At Shore Break Recovery, our experiential therapies may include some form of physical fitness or outdoor activity. This allows our clients to experience emotions and challenges in real-time, exploring thought-patterns that emerge during an activity and connecting this to healthy coping mechanisms. For example, a client may focus on utilizing positive self-talk during a difficult hike, then share their profound surprise and joy that they could complete a challenging task.