Services Offered in Residential and Intensive Outpatient Therapy Programs

Clinical Services

Individual therapy

Individual therapy helps women in recovery to understand and address the complex underlying and unique issues that may contribute to their addiction. Clients focus on communicating thoughts and feelings, developing a sense of safety and hope, examining factors contributing to their substance abuse, learning to identify and manage emotions, correcting interpersonal difficulties, dealing with issues of loss and grief and post-traumatic stress, developing problem solving skills and coping strategies, and relinquishing self-destructive behaviors.

When treating seizures, do not start or stop taking diazepam during pregnancy without your doctor's advice. Diazepam may cause harm to an unborn baby, but having a seizure diazepam 2mg comprimes during pregnancy could harm both the mother and the baby. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking diazepam for seizures. When treating anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, or muscle spasms: If you take diazepam while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on habit-forming medicine may need medical treatment for several weeks.

Group therapy

Group therapy is a powerful modality for recovering women, providing positive peer pressure and support. Clients learn to recognize personality styles, give and receive feedback, confront and resolve conflict, explore healthy boundaries, share and relate to trauma, offer comfort and develop coping skills.

Treatment for trauma survivors

As a trauma informed program using the Sanctuary model, and in recognition of the critical role that trauma plays in the development of substance abuse and mental health disorders, we address the role of trauma in individual and group settings to support each woman's development of appropriate responses and supports that support her recovery and help her respond to the past trauma in their lives.

Psychiatric evaluations and services

The program psychiatrist conducts psychiatric evaluations and regular medication checks, provides psychiatric consultations and participates in clinical case consultations.

Case management and community linkages

Our staff works closely with each client to identify key resources and organizations in the community with which she would like to connect. As appropriate, staff members assist the woman in recovery to establish these linkages. We also maintain a detailed Family Resource Plan that includes specific goals and objectives to help the client obtain the resources necessary for her to be successful and support her in recovery.

^back to top

Creative Arts

Movement and Art Therapy

We offer art and/or movement therapy as alternative therapies within its treatment and recovery programming. Our experience finds that art and movement therapy can be an especially effective treatment modality for clients with limited academic skills and/or histories of trauma or abuse. For some clients, this approach helps them to express themselves more effectively than traditional psychotherapy.

^back to top

Education/Vocation

Peer Support Groups and Peer Support/Speakers Series

These groups are facilitated by Interim House alumni (those who have graduated from our residential program) who have participated in the PRO-ACT sponsored Peer Recovery Specialist Program. We also provide regular opportunities for clients to receive feedback and support from each other and from others who "have shared, lived experiences." We have an active alumnae network and regularly invite program alumni to come back to Interim House to share their inspirational stories and help the women understand many of the issues they will face as they transition through their recovery to greater independence.

Addiction & relapse prevention

Using a variety of cognitive-behavioral approaches, relapse-prevention groups help clients learn to develop healthy coping skills for dealing with cravings and to enhance their self -control. Specific techniques include exploring the positive and negative consequences of continued use, self-monitoring to recognize cravings, and strategies for identifying, coping with and/or avoiding high-risk situations.

Job training and job coaching

Interim House has developed an Enhanced Job Readiness Program with funding assistance from The Pew Charitable Trusts, Women's Way and LW Pierce Foundation, and a job training initiative called SUCCESS (Strengthening Urban Communities by Creating Economic Self Sufficiency), and established GED and ABE educational classes on site, as well as linkages to other community-based education agencies. Our clients receive individualized assistance to develop job-specific skills as well as assistance finding jobs. The goal of these projects is to help the women of Interim House advance on their personal paths to self-sufficiency and economic independence.

GED and ABE instruction

Based on specific criteria, all incoming residents are eligible to be selected for General Equivalency Diploma (GED) preparation and Competency Literacy classes. We connect women with Registered Nurses to assist with providing nutritional resources.

^back to top

Health and Nutrition

Life-skills workshops

Life-skills classes prepare clients to develop the skills associated with the activities of daily living and self-care, many of which have previously been neglected. These include hygiene and nutrition, budgeting and handling money appropriately, using leisure time appropriately, and conflict resolution.

Health and Wellness

Interim House provides opportunities for residents to participate in regular physical fitness activities including dance and other therapeutic recreation activities.

^back to top

Personal Growth & Spirituality

Spirituality groups

We partner with organization in the community to provide spiritual groups meeting opportunities on-site.

 

^back to top

Program Impact & Outcomes

Interim House builds every day upon its demonstrated track record of success. In the last year, we boasted an overall completion rate of 70% for our residential program, significantly higher than the national average of 45% as reported in the NIDA-funded National Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Study. The Drug and Alcohol Residential Rehabilitation Services Performance & Outcomes Report issued in 2002 by the Philadelphia Behavioral Health System indicated that Interim House had the lowest recidivism rate in the city. In recognition of our outstanding work, we have received a number of prestigious awards : the Philadelphia Foundation's 1996 Williams Award for Organizational Excellence and GlaxoSmithKline's 2002 Community Impact Award. The Interim House program director received the Making A Difference Award presented by the Mayor's Drug and Alcohol Executive Commission, WHYY's Community Caring Award, and Public Health Management Corporation's Carl Moore Community Leadership Award.