Substance Use Disorders Treatment & Recovery Services

Integrating DBT and Relational Family Therapy

Freedom Institute’s renowned IOP and Sustaining Recovery aftercare services integrate Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Relational Family Therapy (RFT) in all our clinical programs, a unique combination not offered anywhere else. We offer a range of services tailored to meet the complex needs and varying levels of recovery for individuals in different stages of life and customized programs so clients can enroll in a combination of groups to best fit their recovery needs. All our services, from the assessment to IOP, to individual and group sessions, are available both in person as well as through remote session with FI Telehealth.

Our services include:

Our renowned, flagship program, Freedom Institute's Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) can be the next phase of treatment for clients who have completed inpatient treatment or the first step in recovery for individuals who want to achieve sobriety and are unable to do inpatient. The IOP is our most involved treatment path, with three group sessions per week and weekly individual psychotherapy session for those who do not already have an individual therapist. The clinical foundation of our IOP is our unique integration of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Relational Family Therapy, which helps individuals and their families in the recovery process. Clients develop the skills needed for distress tolerance, emotion regulation, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness.

IOP groups and services include:

• DBT Skills Training

• Process Group

• DBT Skills in Action

• Individual Therapy

• Family Therapy

• Psychoeducation

• Psychodrama

• Mindfulness Meditation

• Yoga

• Art Therapy

• Drug Testing

Integrative Harm Reduction Psychotherapy (IHRP)

Dr. Andrew Tatarsky's Integrative Harm Reduction Psychotherapy  (IHRP) model is an umbrella that welcomes people into treatment accepting all positive change goals, including abstinence, on one end of the spectrum with virtually infinite opportunities for individuals to enter, progress, and succeed at a pace that is appropriate to them and their objectives.

IHRP is founded on compassion, respect, empowerment, and collaboration to meet people wherever they are on their positive change journeys and to support them in defining and achieving their optimal outcomes. This comprehensive approach to substance use is based on the belief that biology, psychology and social context contribute to an individual’s relationship with drugs or alcohol.

IHRP combines relational psychoanalysis, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and other practical strategies to address related personal and lifestyle issues while inspiring gradual behavioral changes that align with patients’ personal goals and reduce the negative health and social consequences of substance use.

Individually tailored treatment plans may include:

• Comprehensive assessment

• Individual psychotherapy

• Group therapy

• Couples therapy

• Family therapy and support

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) 

• Psychodrama, Meditation, Yoga, Art Therapy 

• Psychedelic preparation and integration

After completing the IOP, clients can choose to stay on for aftercare services to help strengthen and sustain their recovery. Depending on the needed level of care and the stage of recovery, a combination of the following services will be recommended:

• Advanced DBT Practice Group

• Advanced Relapse Prevention Group

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills Group

• Emotional Sobriety in Recovery Group

• Individual Therapy

• Couples Therapy

• Family Therapy

• Coaching

• Drug testing

The ESIR Advanced Process Group is an open ended aftercare Psychotherapy Group for adults that are stabilized in their recovery with a year or more of abstinence.  The group is conducted by a LCSWR utilizing integrative techniques as they interface with their emotional sobriety.  This  integrative approach helps clients to address skills to cope with emotions and feelings;  interpersonal communication, daily life stressors, finances,  family and work concerns, and enhancing  emotional regulation in a supportive environment.  Clinical techniques utilized at this level of care are psychotherapy,  Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Trauma Therapy, Advanced DBT Skills, Psychodrama and Experiential Therapies.

Prior to entering the group potential clients meet for a pre group initial consultation.

Clients make a 6 month commitment to this supportive group process. 

In addition clients participate in weekly/biweekly individual therapy.

• Group:  90 minutes, 1x weekly sessions via telehealth

• Days and Times:  Tuesday from 6:00 pm -7:30 pm and Wednesday from 6:30 pm- 8:00 pm

• Requirements:  Completion of 1 year of care in Phase II or another level of care.

We have always treated addiction as a family issue and take a uniquely holistic approach, understanding individuals within the context of their family. We offer support to all family members and significant others throughout the recovery process. Our clinical foundation integrates Relational Family Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), an approach unique to Freedom Institute. Relational Family Therapy is a therapeutic approach that focuses on relationships as the client (rather than the individual as the client). By shifting the focus from blaming and reacting to individuals, we create more room for change and growth. Our primary family therapists have completed post-graduate studies at the Ackerman Institute for the Family. We offer family therapy, multi-family counseling and groups, and a range of services for others with a loved one struggling with issues across the addiction spectrum. Our specialists work with you to identify family patterns that both evolve from and perpetuate substance abuse so those important relationships can be repaired. Our family therapists have substantial experience working with families confronting other major life stressors, including parenting issues, mental health challenges, trauma, divorce and loss. We help families identify and define current struggles as well as repair past hurts and hardships. We work with family members of all ages, from young children to elders, whether or not you have a loved one in treatment with us.

After a comprehensive assessment, we match every client with a counselor best suited for success in his or her individual treatment. The Freedom Institute team is comprised of a range of addiction specialists.

Our multidisciplinary team has been trained in a wide variety of innovative treatment modalities, including:

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
  DBT is a therapeutic model heavily backed by scientific research and is central to most of our programming. DBT Skills Group focuses on the four skill modules of DBT - Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness.

• Relational Family Therapy
  Relational Family Therapy is a therapeutic approach that focuses on relationships as the client (rather than the individual as the client).  By shifting the focus from blaming and reacting to individuals, we create more room for change and growth.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  CBT is a talk therapy (psychotherapy) method that rests on the idea that thoughts and perceptions influence behavior. CBT aims to help an individual identify harmful thoughts, assess whether they are an accurate depiction of reality, and, if they are not, works to view perceived negative situations more clearly and employ strategies to challenge and overcome them and respond in a more effective way.

• Mindfulness and Meditation
  Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a clinically proven set of tools to help maintain one's sense of calm, balance and well-being amid periods of high stress and anxiety.

Our renowned, flagship program, Freedom Institute's IOP can be the next phase of treatment for clients who have completed inpatient treatment or the first step in recovery for clients who are unable to do inpatient. The IOP is our most involved treatment path, with three group sessions per week and weekly individual psychotherapy session for those who do not already have an individual therapist. The clinical foundation of our IOP is our unique integration of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Relational Family Therapy, which helps individuals and their families in the recovery process. Clients develop the skills needed for distress tolerance, emotion regulation, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness.

IOP groups and services may include:

• DBT Skills Training

• Process Group

• DBT Skills in Action

• Individual Therapy

• Family Therapy

• Couples Therapy

• Psychoeducation

• Mindfulness Meditation

• Yoga

• Art Therapy

• Drug Testing

As part of our Intensive Outpatient Program, we offer mindfulness meditation, yoga, and art therapy to support holistic healing in clients’ recovery efforts. Mindfulness Meditation: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a clinically proven set of tools to help maintain one's sense of calm, balance and well-being amid periods of high stress and anxiety.

Psychodrama helps clients look at the past and present, set future goals, and build empathy for themselves and others, which is a key ingredient to recovery.   The group allows clients a safe and supportive environment to explore the many roles in their personal and professional lives and find new and creative ways of handling situations while incorporating elements of DBT, mindfulness, and the 12 Steps.

Advanced Relapse Prevention Group is for adults with a minimum of 90 days of continuous sobriety. ARP offers strategies to address issues that can pose a threat to sobriety this phase such as finances, relationships, family issues, career matters and spirituality.  The Masters-level clinicians who facilitate this group employ a variety of clinical techniques including psychotherapy process, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Experiential Therapies. This group takes place weekly and is a minimum 6-month commitment.