Evidence-Based Practices

Seeking Safety helps people attain a feeling of safety from trauma and/or substance abuse, allowing them to better focus on their treatment. This program addresses both trauma and addiction without having the client recount disturbing trauma memories. Seeking Safety is used with a broad range of clients.

The Seven Challenges is designed for adolescents struggling with substance use disorder. This evidence-based practice provides an effective model for building life skills such as problem-solving, decision making, coping, goal development and more. Sessions address drug use, co-occurring problems, and development of life skills. In addition to required counseling, adolescents write in separate journals, progressing through each Challenge, and counselors and adolescents engage in a written process called cooperative journaling.

Motivational Interviewing is a widely-used evidence-based practice to help reduce high-risk behavior and promote positive behavioral change. Within individual or group sessions or as a training program, Motivational Interviewing relies upon empathy and other verbal strategies to reduce “resistance,” engender cooperation and build relationships.

A short-term, goal-oriented behavioral treatment, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy takes a practical, hands-on approach to problem-solving, addressing harmful thought patterns and helping persons recognize their ability to practice alternative ways of thinking to regulate distressing emotions and harmful behavior.  A research-based treatment modality, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is an effective approach in treating substance abuse.

Trauma-Informed Care relies on the knowledge of common triggers and vulnerabilities of trauma survivors and effective interventions to use. This evidence-based practice requires understanding, anticipating, and responding to expectations and needs, and reducing the chances of re-traumatizing someone who is trying to heal.

Living in Balance is an evidence-based relapse prevention model informed by a structured, manual-based curriculum.

Clients are encouraged to “rewire” their thought processes and improve their consequential thinking through a manualized curriculum that incorporates journaling.

Modified for Outreach’s adolescent residents, the Therapeutic Community Model is a highly structured, “pyramid” model, designed with a sanctions and rewards system. The model also encourages residents to meet and exceed treatment milestones through the residents’ ability to earn status and privileges.

Developed by OASAS and SAMHSA, this set of survey tools measures and manages clients’ perception of treatment to determine the program’s quality improvement.

Clients are given the opportunity to provide their input and perspective on services and progress. Collaborative/Concurrent Documentation also allows clients and clinicians to clarify their understanding of important issues.