90 Day Extended Care Treatment Plan

August 2007 – One important discovery: evidence is building to support the 90-day rehabilitation model, which was stumbled upon by AA (new members are advised to attend a meeting a day for the first 90 days) and is the duration of a typical stint in a drug-treatment program. It turns out that this is just about how long it takes for the brain to reset itself and shake off the immediate influence of a drug. Researchers at Yale University have documented what they call the sleeper effect--a gradual re-engaging of proper decision making and analytical functions in the brain's prefrontal cortex--after an addict has abstained for at least 90 days.

 

Balboa Horizons’ 90-day Extended Care schedule is at the core of our Holistic Healing Program for Women.  Why?  The evidence that 90-days sober is the beginning of both the physical and mental benefits of getting sober is undisputable. But it’s not just about getting 90-days, it’s about getting the proper care and focus on the specific issues surrounding the addicted woman that is equally important.

In a study released in April 2007 the State of California’s Department of Alcohol & Drug Programs stated the following: Girls and women differ from boys and men in many aspects, including their reasons for initiating substance use; the consequences they experience; barriers and motivations for entering treatment; treatment services needs; relapse risks and recovery support needs. For these reasons the report suggests that successful rehabilitation service be gender specific and that successful gender specific programs have the following characteristics:

Address the different pathways to use, consequences of use, treatment needs and relapse prevention needs that are unique to women.

• Comprehensive.
• Trauma informed.
• Provide an environment where women feel comfortable and safe.

 

The majority of facilities accepting women don’t offer a women’s specific program or group.  Having a women’s specific program is a minimal measure of gender responsiveness of a facility. Balboa Horizons is the only State of California licensed facility in Newport Beach California dedicated exclusively to women.

 

Details of 90 Day Treatment Program to follow:

 

Balboa Horizons is a highly individualized program. Based on the client's initial evaluation by her case manager and primary counselor, the client will then be provided with any additional referrals needed in regard to her medical or psychiatric care. Once the client is stabilized, we then tailor a specific treatment plan in regard to the clients needs during her first month of treatment. As the client progresses in our program her treatment plan is then updated whenever needed to attend to any immediate developments that may arise. In regard to visitation and contact, we use a progressive phase system after the client achieves stabilization, which allows the client to earn more freedoms and privileges based on her participation in the program and approval by our treatment team evaluation.

There are numerous services provided to our clients on a daily basis throughout their stay. We do have 24 hour supervision of the clients by a qualified residential staff member.  The client medication is monitored, and drug testing is performed many times a week on a scheduled and random basis. The clients are driven and supervised for all of their off campus activities. It is our goal that each client have available to them a loving and experienced staff member to talk to or spend time with whenever they are in need of support or friendship.

In addition, our clients participate in many outside 12 step meetings and attend our weekly alumni group where they can enjoy a meal and fellowship with our graduated clients. This embraces the philosophy of women helping women, and offers inspiration and hope, an example to our current clients of the transformation that is possible when they apply themselves to the program.

The clinical component in our program includes; two daily group sessions led by remarkable clinicians that we are fortunate to have on our staff. They include; Creative Expression therapy, Relapse Prevention, Integrative Therapy, Life Skills, just to mention a few. Also, the client will meet with their primary therapist and case manager for a minimum of one weekly session, more will be provided if deemed necessary.

We believe it is also important that the client be exposed to sober socialization and increased physical activity. In that vein, we have many different planned outdoor groups, excursions, and also scheduled self care appointments. From morning beach walks and gym workouts, to yoga class on the sand and massage, we try to keep the women in our program engaged in a healthy lifestyle while they are working through their interpersonal struggles in regard to their recovery.