Addiction Treatment at The Meadows

By Christa Banister

While rugged individualism is often celebrated in our society, there are key moments in life when going at it alone simply isn’t an option. Especially when you — or someone you love — needs addiction treatment.

Trusted treatment with proven results isn’t a solo pursuit. It requires a synchronized team of experts, which is one of many reasons why The Meadows is the nation’s premier treatment institute. Clinicians and professionals trust The Meadows more than any other treatment program because of our impeccable reputation for quality, integrity, and proven results.

Whether it’s alcohol addiction treatment, drug addiction treatment, trauma treatment, or co-occurring disorders treatment, our caring professionals develop a customized plan that is tailored to your specific needs. From the moment you walk through the door, our staff’s empathetic approach helps what may seem daunting feel more manageable.

“Many of our staff have experienced some of the issues that our patients are going through,” says The Meadows’ Chief Executive Officer Sean Walsh. “They understand and can identify with their concerns. This adds to the atmosphere of acceptance and respect patients feel when they arrive and during their entire stay with us.”

Everybody’s Story Is Different

No two people’s struggles with addictions are the same, but there are usually underlying markers that are driving alcohol abuse or the misuse of substances. Unless you are healthy physically, mentally, and emotionally, a lack of balance makes it difficult to remain sober without a comprehensive strategy.

Here at The Meadows, a key component in our addiction treatment is addressing any co-occurring conditions. Maybe it’s a long-standing struggle with anxiety. A history of depression. Undiagnosed bipolar disorder, unresolved trauma, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  

Since addiction and mental health issues often work in tandem, it’s not surprising when someone with an undiagnosed mental health condition self-medicates in excess to manage their symptoms. Or when, say, depression symptoms are exacerbated by excessive use of substances or alcohol. One disorder usually informs the other.

Whenever two co-occurring disorders are identified during treatment, it’s referred to as a dual diagnosis. At The Meadows, our clinicians have found the best possibility of true and lasting recovery comes from treating both mental health issues and addiction simultaneously.

A Comprehensive Approach for the Real World

Instead of merely focusing on addressing the symptoms and behaviors associated with addiction, what differentiates The Meadows is the needed tools we provide to help you identify the root causes and triggers.

Having access to these resources is what inevitably helps you know what to do when you drive past the local watering hole where you regularly drank too much. Or navigate a surprise run-in with someone you got high with. Instead of feeling powerless, you can feel empowered.

This innovative, patient-focused approach is known as The Meadows Model — a groundbreaking methodology based on the pioneering work of Meadows Senior Fellow Pia Mellody.

While working at The Meadows in the 1970s, Mellody discovered a commonality between an increasing number of her patients. When talking about their childhood, they identified less-than-nurturing and abusive family systems. And as a result, codependency often wove its way into adulthood behaviors. Sometimes without them even being aware of it.

Ultimately, Mellody’s continued work with patients highlighted a need to address trauma at the root of codependency in order for people to achieve lasting recovery. And that’s when The Meadows Model was born and became an integral part of treatment.

How Does the Meadows Model Work?

The Meadows Model for recovery features a number of coordinated efforts including:

• Tracking your emotional development by utilizing your developmental history (which includes family dynamics, documentation of how you’ve grown and changed through childhood and adulthood, and how well you interact with others)
• Evaluating your emotional state and whether it’s less than optimal
• Identifying the actions that create relational difficulties and unmanageable day-to-day circumstances
• Helping you learn how to identify personal triggers
• Discerning the “residual energy” from the past and how it relates to the present
• Learning the value of every human from birth and how you all share vulnerabilities, imperfections, and a need for a supportive community
• Developing a vocabulary for describing your emotions and tracking your progress
• Cultivating resiliency for stability, having healthier relationships, and living in the present

For those seeking alcohol addiction treatment or drug addiction treatment in particular, The Meadows uses a specialized approach that pairs proven medical care with integrated trauma services featuring the latest therapeutic modalities. These include:

• Group therapy
• Neurofeedback
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
• Internal Family Systems (IFS)
• Expressive Arts Therapy
• Equine Therapy
• Tai Chi
• Yoga
• A 12-Step Approach
• Somatic Experiencing
• Safe and Sound Protocol

Let The Meadows Help You

If addiction, mental health issues, or trauma are holding you back from enjoying your life to the fullest, it may interest you to know that The Meadows has been helping men and woman ages 18 and older for nearly 50 years.

Whether it’s overcoming alcohol addiction or substance abuse or healing from unresolved emotional trauma, The Meadows can help you transform your life and relationships by helping you develop the tools you need for success. To find out more, don’t hesitate to reach out at any time, any day.