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TREATMENT PHILOSOPHY

The treatment offered at Life Healing Center is unique for many reasons. We have been providing comprehensive, in-depth residential care for trauma integration and addictions since 1993. We are known for treating the whole person, body mind and spirit. Over the years, we have developed a highly effective methodology, and offer primary residential and extended care treatment for the following issues:
           

• Trauma
• Chemical Dependency
• Gender specific Sex, Love, and Relationship Addiction and compulsive behavior 
• Mood, anxiety, depressive disorders, personality disorders and other conditions that significantly impair daily life, including dissociative disorders and self-injury, self harm.
• Eating Disorders (we offer continuing recovery support for eating disorders, while addressing unresolved trauma issues)

Community – Humanizing Ourselves and Others

Trauma often causes a split; a chronic sense of separation from oneself, from others and from the world. Safety is often based on maintaining this profound distance, despite the pain and alienation that is causes. Survival may seem like it depends on disguising, hiding or denying our true human needs.

Our model of treatment utilizes group therapy in several forms. Our core process groups assist patients with exploring past and present patterns in a psychodynamic context. Our skills groups are designed to incorporate Dialectical Behavior Therapy and other Cognitive Behavioral Therapy modalities into a cohesive architecture, encourage patients to practice behavioral choices with more awareness. The afternoon groups address the patients’ issues in a task group format, and assist patients in identifying how their addictive and behavior patterns may be intertwined, allowing a better understanding of the interactive nature of addictive and behavioral disorders.

Expanding the Range of Experience

Central to the task of healing is fully experiencing ourselves as we are. This can only be learned by moving away from old patterns, and practicing being present in the moment. Behavioral and addictive disorders often lead to rigid or impulsive reactions and repeated self-judgments. Life becomes increasingly more diminished and one’s true self cannot emerge. The destructive power of these issues is not primarily that it keeps us locked in the past, but that it teaches us to be terrified of the present.

Program Structure

The treatment program at Life Healing Center combines the specificity and depth of intense individual therapy with the healing power of group work.

Individual Therapy

Each patient is assigned a primary therapist and is provided with one individual therapy session per week. Case management is also provided weekly as needed. Additional individual therapy can be scheduled for an additional charge. We strongly believe individual therapy has an essential role in the healing process.

Specialty Groups

In addition to intensive individual therapy, Life Healing Center offers over thirty hours of weekly group sessions. Among the groups that may be offered are: core Process Groups; Addictive Disorders; Sex, Love and Relationship Addiction; Co-Dependency; Aftercare Planning; Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills; Alchemy of Recovery; Living in Body Balance; Women’s Issues; Men’s Issues; Resiliency; Art Therapy; and other therapy groups. Groups are subject to change.

Psychiatric Consultation

Each patient is provided with a psychiatric evaluation soon after admission. The consultation includes a thorough review of any current medications and an initial plan for any needed adjustments. The psychiatrist continues to monitor progress and is available for additional consultations if needed. The initial evaluation and additional consultations are billed separately.

Individualized Program

The emphasis upon individualized treatment allows Life healing Center to tailor a treatment program to fit the needs of each patient. For example, people struggling with more acuity or who need a sustained focus on stabilization and containment will spend more time in the Serenity level of care, which provides increased structure for patients who need it.

12 Step Groups

Life Healing Center embraces a two phase recovery model. A solid recovery program needs to address both the addictive process and the underlying emotional pain. People who are in recovery from and addiction are required to attend 12 Step meetings regularly throughout their stay. In-house 12 Step model support groups are provided several times throughout the week.

Healthy Living

Transportation is provided to a state-of-the-art fitness center located in Santa Fe. Schedule varies.

Spirituality

Groups are designed to empower each patient to deepen one’s own spirituality. We do not endorse or condone any specific religious practice or doctrine. We invite patients to find practical ways to experience their spirituality within their healing process. We recognize the diversity and complexity of spiritual beliefs and respect the right of any patient to not participate in any aspect of the program that he/she feels infringes upon his/her personal spiritual beliefs.

Weekend Activities

The weekend programming allows more time to focus on daily living tasks. The activities are designed to ease the transition to living in a community.

THE LIFE HEALING CENTER APPROACH TO ADDICTION TREATMENT

Life Healing Center employs multiple treatment methods depending on the needs of our patients. These include:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) – supportive, educational and reality-based treatment modes
• Intensive group and individual therapy
• Psychodrama, Art Therapy and Somatic Experiencing
• Family participation as appropriate and with patient permission
• Integrative approaches such as massage, meditation, relaxation training and stress management
• Professional Psychiatric assessment and ongoing involvement for co-occurring disorders
• Spiritual awareness and support, including involvement with 12 Step fellowships and spirituality programs
• Acupuncture and medication for protracted withdrawal symptoms
• Assessment and treatment for multiple addictive disorders
• Step-down levels of care allowing for extended treatment experience

All Life Healing Center graduates leave with a specific and comprehensive aftercare plan for continuing therapy and support created with active input from all related outside therapists and supportive loved ones.

ABOUT THE LIFE HEALING CENTER OF SANTE FE

STAFFING RATIO:

• Average # of Therapists to # of Clients: 1:6
• Average # of Day/Evening Counselor Aides to # of Clients: 1:7
• Average # of Overnight Counselor Aides to # of Clients: 1:16

LENGTH OF STAY:

• Program length varies but a minimum of 35 days is requested. Our step-down programming capability allows patients to remain in treatment for significant periods of time if clinically appropriate.

STAFF ON GROUNDS:

• Staff members are on grounds at all times. We provide 24 hour, 7 day a week supervision, monitoring, and care.

LICENSING AND CREDENTIALS OF THERAPISTS:

• Masters level therapists, all licensed by the State of New Mexico

INDIVIDUAL THERAPY:

• 1 to 1 sessions one time per week with Primary Therapist. Additional individual sessions can be scheduled for an additional charge.
• Individual psychiatric evaluation and medication consult with one of our Staff Psychiatrists within 48-72 hours of admission. Additional sessions are available with a Staff Psychiatrist throughout treatment at an additional cost.

NUMBER OF PROGRAM DAYS PER WEEK:

• Primary Program operates 24 hours/day, 7 days/week
• Day Program operates 9:00-4:30 Monday – Friday

THERAPY GROUPS:

• Average size of Core Groups: 8-10
• Over 30 hours of group therapy per week (not including 12 Step and Other Self-Help Meetings

THE FAMILY WEEKEND:

• Three day Family Program offered for clients and their loved ones (at an additional fee)

12 STEP MEETINGS (conducted on campus):

• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Narcotics Anonymous
• Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
• Codependents Anonymous
• Emotions Anonymous

OTHER SERVICES:

Psychiatrists:

• Beyond the initial evaluation, our Staff Psychiatrists are available, as need, for on-going consultation and follow-up sessions at an additional charge.

Body Work and Equine Therapy

• Transportation to a state-of –the-art fitness facility is provided as scheduled throughout the week. There is no additional cost for this service.
• Massage Therapy is available by massage therapists trained to work with trauma survivors. These services are provided on campus, only with clinical approval, and at an additional cost.
• Yoga is offered several times a week on campus.
• Acupuncture is available on campus with clinical approval at an additional cost.
• Equine Psychotherapy is offered, when clinically appropriate, at an additional charge.

Career Counseling:

• Career counseling is available, when clinically appropriate, at an additional fee.

Admissions:

• There is no charge for the initial telephone assessment or for the admission process.

Transportation:

• Upon arrival, an LHC Staff member picks up each client at the airport. Transportation is provided to off-campus appointments (e.g. doctors, dentists, church, and LHC community outings). There may be a charge depending on the service.