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Burning Tree and its staff take an integrated
treatment approach to Dual Diagnosis, rather than sequential
treatment of chemical dependency and mental disorders. Our
team members understand the concept of chemical dependency
as a primary disease yet, at the same time, recognize that
untreated psychiatric disorders are a contributing factor to
a relapse. All of our staff are trained and experienced in
recognizing how addiction interplays with other disorders.
We have therefore been able to help many people who
previously could not maintain recovery.
Also strategic in the treatment of those with dual
diagnoses is our combination of traditional forms of
treatment with other philosophical and experiential
therapies. This combination of treatment methods allows us
to recognize and confront problematic behavior and thinking
errors that show up in the client’s everyday life. It is
like they have been asleep dreaming that they were awake. We
wake them up to their powerlessness over alcohol and drug
and direct them towards recognizing the reasons for their
prior relapses. The staff helps client's make the connection
between everyday behavior and relapse, and then teaches them
how to manage their psychiatric disorder within the context
of sobriety and working an ongoing recovery program.
We are very fortunate to have two psychiatrists as members
of our professional team, Dennis
Dalton, M.D., and Mouna Sfeir, M.D. Dr. Dalton is an addictionologist and a
recognized expert in this area. Dr. Sfeir is a
psychiatrist who is board certified in psychiatry by the
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and certified in
addiction medicine by the American Society of Addiction
Medicine.
Both are highly skilled in diagnosis, medication, and
therapy appropriate for other disorders in context of, and
within treatment recommendations for, chemical dependency.
Specialized treatment plans are developed to assist with
problematic areas. Clients are given individualized
treatment and therapy to assist them in developing coping
strategies and structure for daily living.
Structure
and discipline are essential to successful sobriety. Our
daily routine and behavioral guidelines are designed to
assist the dual diagnosed client in developing these two
qualities. The unmanageability and self-indulgence of the
addictive life style must be replaced by a personal
responsibility and developing self-care in respect to both
diagnoses. We assist the client in developing
self-discipline and consistency around taking medications.
We also teach the client to eliminate the drug addiction
mentality that they know what is best for them and, instead
of practicing self-diagnosis, relinquish control of their
treatment and medication therapy to the direction of their
treatment team. Such thinking errors often cause relapse
unless interrupted and replaced by conscious effort to
manage both diagnoses simultaneously. |
