Clinical Philosophy and Treatment

Clinical Philosophy

The path to sustainable healing begins with the development of trust between one person and another. A relationship defined by compassion, mutual respect, and a feeling of emotional and physical safety. Establishing such a relationship with another human being must begin by recognizing each individual for the whole person they are. At Willow Tree Recovery we believe that a transformational therapeutic journey can profoundly shift the way a human being feels not only about themself, but the world around them as well. Creating a greater understanding of one’s purpose and true self through varied and sophisticated treatment modalities provides an opportunity to find renewed purpose and personal growth.

Every human being has unique and highly individual treatment needs on a journey to (toward) mental wellness and substance use recovery. A holistic approach recognizes the interconnectedness of physical, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being. This comprehensive perspective goes beyond addressing symptoms or specific behaviors. Our goal is to understand the root causes of emotional pain and help our clients develop healthier coping strategies, build resilience, and most importantly, enhance a greater sense of self and purpose. Sustainable mental wellness occurs by nurturing every dimension of well-being by helping to create a more balanced path to healing. Healing is not simply the absence of symptoms, but rather growth and change.

Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation

Diagnostic assessments give a more complete view of a person’s health. Having a better understanding of the mental health, medical, psychiatric, and psychosocial impact of current presenting problems will help to create each clients individualized experience.

  • Clinical Review of Records
  • Psychiatric Assessment and Evaluation
  • Weekly Psychiatric Sessions and Medication Management (more often as needed)
  • History and Physical
  • Trauma Assessment
  • Substance Use Disorder Assessment
  • Biopsychosocial Assessment
  • Psychological Testing (if indicated)
  • Neuropsychological Testing (if indicated, additional cost)
  • Dietary and Nutrition Assessment
  • Physical Therapy Evaluation (if indicated, additional cost)
  • Specialty Consultation (if indicated, additional cost)

Willow Tree Recovery is able to treat clients that may have complex medical conditions and needs. Please feel free to contact us at any time to address any questions about medical concerns or care that may be needed.

Individual Therapy

Individual therapy can be a transformative experience for clients suffering with mental health issues and substance use disorders. Individual therapy allows for a deep personal exploration of the root causes of substance use and psychological pain such as trauma, unresolved emotional pain, and unhealthy thought patterns. Individual therapy is tailored to each client’s specific needs, allowing therapists to utilize diverse therapeutic intervention and techniques that work best for each client throughout care while recognizing that everyone progresses at their own pace, ensuring that the therapeutic process is neither rushed nor pressured. Every client will receive a minimum of 2 Individual Therapy sessions per week and more often as clinically indicated. Our Primary Therapist carries an individual caseload of only three clients at any given time allowing for a trusting relationship that fosters hope and motivation to take place. Our clinicians utilize a broad range of therapy modalities to include:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Dialectic Behavior Therapy
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Trauma-Responsive Therapy
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
  • Interpersonal Therapy 
  • Internal Family Systems
  • Accelerated Resolution Therapy
  • Polyvagal Therapy
  • Somatic Experience

Group Therapy

Group Therapy at Willow Tree Recovery provides a small and nurturing environment where clients can share their experiences and struggles with both the therapists and fellow group members. Building a supportive community in group therapy enhances connections amongst members who share similar challenges. Providing an emotionally safe environment for clients to share their stories, success, and struggles can be a powerful avenue for change. Group Therapy offers each client the opportunity to reduce isolation, develop insight into themselves and each other and create a sense of mutual accountability and respect. Providing an opportunity to learn and practice emotional regulation, understanding others’ perspective, and building self esteem is an incredibly important part of personal growth and healing. Our clinicians offer a broad range of group therapy modalities to include:
 
  • Psychodynamic Process Groups
  • Dialectic Behavior Therapy
  • Acceptance and Commitment 
  • Psychodrama Group
  • Sociometric Group
  • Relapse Prevention
  • Seeking Safety for Women
  • Seeking Safety for Men
  • Polyvagal Therapy Group
  • Relapse Prevention
  • Executive Function Group
  • Gender Specific Group Therapy

Family Therapy

Family Therapy addresses the broader context in which issues of substance use and mental health challenges affect an entire family system. These challenges often create an unhealthy pattern of isolation, miscommunication, and tremendous emotional strain on both the client seeking treatment and the family system as a whole. At Willow Tree Recovery our therapists create an individually crafted Family Therapy experience specifically tailored to the need of each family/client we serve. This could begin with telephonic or video family meetings or bringing family members on site to do more intensive family therapy. Individualizing the family involvement throughout treatment enhances the client and family’s ability to better navigate challenges and fosters a supportive environment necessary for sustained healing and growth.

Mindfulness & Wellness Therapies

Mindfulness and wellness therapies have a transformative impact that extends into every aspect of a healing therapeutic experience. These therapies offer a refuge for those who feel disconnected from self and the people we love most. Through moments of stillness, taking time to focus on our breath, reconnecting to our bodies allows us begin untangling the emotional pain that is stored deep inside. Wellness therapies provide an opportunity to slow the world down. For people struggling with substance use disorder and mental health challenges these therapies teach techniques to calm our central nervous system and observe thoughts and emotion without fear or judgement. Encouraging self-compassion and a heightened sense of self-awareness helps us recognize unhealthy patterns and make more conscious choices to better manage how we respond to the world around us. Fostering this connection between mind, body, and spirit provides a powerful pathway toward resilience and overall wellness. Mindfulness/Wellness Therapies include (but not limited to):
 
  • Yoga
  • Meditation practices
  • Breath Work
  • Sound Therapy and Sound Bath
  • Body scan work
  • Tai Chi
  • Nutritional Coaching
  • Mindful Eating and Movement

Recreational Therapy

Recreation and Experiential therapies are an important part of the healing journey. Providing opportunity to put newly developed skills, established in talk therapies, into action helps individuals improve both physical and mental health, resilience, enhances social skills, and creates an outlet for stress reduction. By engaging in purposeful activities allows clients to increase motivation and goal attainment. These therapies can also be just for fun. Creating enjoyable experiences for our clients strengthens trust and contributes to a more balanced life.

Aftercare Planning

Continuity of care is as individualized as every component of clinical programming at Willow Tree. Ensuring a smooth transition from residential treatment to ongoing support in the daily lives of clients is crucial to ongoing healing. Having a plan to address long-term success and overall well-being begins early on in the treatment process. Each client will work with their primary therapist and case manager to identify goals and clinical needs following treatment. We work closely with referents and our own full-time Referral Relations/National Recommendations Director to identify post-residential treatment needs.

Alumni Program

At Willow Tree Recovery, we love our alumni. We regularly receive phone calls from former clients updating us on their lives or just needing to reconnect with us in some way. We hold two alumni events at willow tree each year. Clients from around the country join our local alumni to reconnect and share their successes and challenges in their lives. These reunions provide an opportunity to reinforce a sense of belonging and community. We engage in BBQs, recreational experiences, and a lot of fun.