Chemical Dependency can have complex emotional underpinnings which require equally complex interventions and treatments. That is why at ECHO all therapy sessions are conducted by licensed clinical therapists. At ECHO we utilize a wide array of interventions including:

Psychiatric Evaluation - Upon admission, all
clients are given a complete psychiatric
evaluation by our Medical Director, a Board
Certified Adolescent Psychiatrist with a specialty in addictionology.

Psychological Assessments - At ECHO, each client is given a comprehensive psychological evaluation by a licensed clinical psychologist. This is coupled with the evaluation conducted by the adolescent psychiatrists, and on- going assessments conducted by licensed marriage and family therapists. Collectively, these professionals provide the most comprehensive assessment possible.

Individual Therapy - Individual sessions are conducted by licensed therapists only. ECHO does not use para-professional counselors to provide psychotherapy sessions with participants or their families. Individual sessions are key to processing the thoughts, emotions and challenges that arise during the recovery process.

Group Therapy - The importance of peer interaction as a tool for recovery when working with youth can not be stressed enough. The power of peer relationships is stronger at this stage of human development than at any other. Therefore, at ECHO, we conduct appropriate therapeutic interactions using a social group modality. With proper adult guidance, peers frequently have a very positive impact on each other.

Family Therapy - Chemical dependency affects the entire family. It is important that, whenever possible, family members be involved in treatment. If family members are unable to attend sessions due to work, geographic location or for other reasons, our family therapist will conduct telephonic sessions, or seek other appropriate ways to involve family members. We offer individual and multi-family sessions as well as parenting and education classes.

Animal Assisted Therapy – Research has shown the use of animal assisted therapy (AAT) as a recovery tool is highly effective. AAT provides participants with additional opportunities for awareness of key social communication factors that effect relationships, and provides clear feedback on the impact their behaviors have on others. AAT has been proven to increase verbal interactions, attention skills, and vocabulary, and decrease feelings of isolation and anxiety. All AAT is provided by a Certified AAT Specialist.

Expressive Arts Therapies - The purpose of Expressive Arts therapies is to provide youth with alternative methods of expression that will reaffirm their emotional experiences, and thought processes. Through art, music, dance, and drama therapy, youth can utilize creative ways to communicate difficult thoughts and feelings that they might not otherwise be able to articulate. As a result of these interventions, youth begin to re-experience emotional materials in a more present and tangible way that allows for corrective experiences within the creative work itself. ECHO utilizes licensed master’s level art therapists, drama therapists, music therapists, poetry therapists and dance/movement therapists to evoke and process material gleaned from creative expression.

Art Therapy - At ECHO, the clinical specialty of art therapy is facilitated by our licensed art therapist. Like many of the creative arts therapies, these are therapies, not arts and crafts projects. Intrapsychic materials are evoked through the use of art, then the therapist works through the issues that arise using the therapeutic process.

Drama Therapy - The Drama Therapist at ECHO works in a group process to recreate different individual, family and social dynamics as they emerge in treatment. Drama therapy narratives are guided by the youth in treatment and are remarkable opportunities for corrective emotional experiences of past events.

Music Therapy - As an alternative form of communication and expression, music therapy assist youth in tapping into the core emotional and behavioral elements largely overlooked as a result of their alcohol or drug use. As with other forms of expressive arts therapies, youth who have difficulty responding to traditional talk therapies, thrive in this alternative expressive modality.

Dance/Movement Therapy - Defined as the psychotherapeutic use of movement as a process which furthers the emotional, cognitive and physical integration of the individual, Dance/Movement therapy effects changes in feelings, cognitions, physical functioning, and behaviors of the youth who participate. All DMT sessions are conducted by a Certified Dance Movement Therapist.

Poetry Therapy - Poetry Therapy is another component in our Expressive Arts Therapies Program. Opportunities for the use of Impulse Writing, Metaphor exercises and Writing/Listening activities assist youth in identifying and expressing a variety of thoughts and feelings that aid in their recovery process.

EMOTIONAL HEALTH