Abraxas I

About Abraxas I

Since its inception in 1973 under a contract with the Governor’s Council on Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Abraxas I has treated residents in the interrelated areas of substance use/abuse, socialization, education/vocation, family, delinquency, community awareness, and victim impact. At Abraxas, recovery is not just about sobriety. Recovery is about emotional well-being, intellectual growth, competency development and so much more.

Abraxas I philosophy is based on an unknown author quote that says “We are here because there is no refuge finally from ourselves. Until we confront ourselves in the eyes and hearts of others, we are running. Until we suffer them to share our secrets, we have no safety from them. Afraid to be known, we can know neither ourselves nor any other. We will be alone. Where else but in our common ground can we find such a mirror? Here together, we can at last appear clearly to ourselves, not as the giant of our dreams, nor the dwarf of our fears, but as an individual part of a whole with a share in its purpose. In this ground we can each take root and grow. Not alone anymore as in death, but alive to others and ourselves.”

Abraxas I is located at a 90 acre campus sits in the Allegheny National Forest in northwestern Pennsylvania, tucked quietly away from what many people are accustomed to. This setting provides a fresh start, from the moment you turn onto their tree-lined drive.

Abraxas I is a multi-service campus. They offer five different treatment options in effort to meet each resident’s individual needs. They also have the on-site Arlene Lissner Middle/High private School, fully accredited and licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Their school is staffed by certified teachers who are committed to assisting all of the students with their educational needs and goals. In addition to their core course offerings, several electives including art, music and family consumer science are offered. Within family consumer science, students participate in classroom focused instruction in parenting, drivers education and housing and money management.

At Abraxas I they believe that athletics not only give young men and women a physical and emotional outlet, but also provide valuable lessons in team work, self-confidence, perseverance and leadership. Their involvement in PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc.) football, track and field, wrestling (boys) and softball (girls) further illustrates their holistic approach to treatment.
Abraxas provides Sheffield with 20 athletes to boost their participation numbers and Abraxas residents are given the opportunity to play PIAA football. The successful football partnership then led to more opportunities and now includes four sports (Football, Wrestling, Softball and Track).
The Abraxas I / Sheffield football co-op was featured on Sports Illustrated Underdogs – Inspiring Stories in High School Football.

Abraxas I provides service tracks and treatment modalities such as Nourishing Personal Growth and Development, Drug and Alcohol Treatment, Case Management, Strengthening Family Connections, Middle/High School, PIAA Athletics, Interscholastic and Intramural Athletics, Community Service, Restitution Opportunities, Youth Advisory Committee, Continuing Care Plans, ART (Aggression Replacement Training), Drug & Alcohol Prevention, Gang Intervention/Prevention, Gun Violence Prevention, Educational Services, Step-Down Options, CTE Programs, STEP (Social Training and Education Program), Balanced and Restorative Justice, Structured Sensory Interventions (SITCAP), SELF – Psychoeducation, ARISE; among others.

In addition to all of their on-grounds opportunities, their unique partnership with the Venango Training and Development Center provides our young men and women with “hands on” experience learning and performing various skills such as Career and Technical Education, Work Readiness Program, and Higher Education.

At Abraxas I, they lay the framework for treatment through The Sanctuary Model. Sanctuary promotes safety and recovery from adversity through the active creation of a trauma-informed community. Both staff and youth use the Sanctuary Tools. These activities and practices enhance treatment outcomes and overlay an element of trauma-sensitivity to all that they do.

They promote, and through Sanctuary residents, commit to a culture of non-violence, emotional intelligence, social learning, democracy, open communication, social responsibility, and growth & change. Each day begins and ends with a community meeting in every dorm to share information, make decisions and offer feedback.

Accreditations at Abraxas I

Joint Commission

The Joint Commission, formerly known as JCAHO, is a nonprofit organization that accredits rehab organizations and programs. Founded in 1951, the Joint Commision's mission is to improve the quality of patient care and demonstrating the quality of patient care.

Joint Commission Accreditation: Yes
Accreditation Number: 55490

State License

State Licenses are permits issued by government agencies that allow rehab organizations to conduct business legally within a certain geographical area. Typically, the kind of program a rehab facility offers, along with its physical location, determines which licenses are required to operate legally.

State License: Pennsylvania

Treatment at Abraxas I

Alcoholism

The goal of treatment for alcoholism is abstinence. Those with poor social support, poor motivation, or psychiatric disorders tend to relapse within a few years of treatment. For these people, success is measured by longer periods of abstinence, reduced use of alcohol, better health, and improved social functioning. Recovery and Maintenance are usually based on 12 step programs and AA meetings.

Drug Addiction

Drug rehab in Pennsylvania is devoted to the treatment of addiction. Levels of care, treatment methods, and settings differ, but the aim of each program is to end drug dependency and empower participants to achieve long-term recovery.

Dual Diagnosis

Many of those suffering from addiction also suffer from mental or emotional illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorders. Rehab and other substance abuse facilities treating those with a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder administer psychiatric treatment to address the person's mental health issue in addition to drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse

A combined mental health and substance abuse rehab has the staff and resources available to handle individuals with both mental health and substance abuse issues. It can be challenging to determine where a specific symptom stems from (a mental health issue or an issue related to substance abuse), so mental health and substance abuse professionals are helpful in detangling symptoms and keeping treatment on track.

Opioid Addiction

Opioid rehabs specialize in supporting those recovering from opioid addiction. They treat those suffering from addiction to illegal opioids like heroin, as well as prescription drugs like oxycodone. These centers typically combine both physical as well as mental and emotional support to help stop addiction. Physical support often includes medical detox and subsequent medical support (including medication), and mental support includes in-depth therapy to address the underlying causes of addiction.

Insurance and Financial at Abraxas I

Medicaid

Programs at Abraxas I

Adolescence program

Children program

HIV/AIDS program

Program for men

Program for women

Young adult program

Levels of Care at Abraxas I

Inpatient

Residential treatment programs are those that offer housing and meals in addition to substance abuse treatment. Rehab facilities that offer residential treatment allow patients to focus solely on recovery, in an environment totally separate from their lives. Some rehab centers specialize in short-term residential treatment (a few days to a week or two), while others solely provide treatment on a long-term basis (several weeks to months). Some offer both, and tailor treatment to the patient's individual requirements.

Intervention Services

Intervention services helps family or friends of addicts stage an intervention, which is a meeting in which loved ones share their concerns and attempt to get an addict into treatment. Professional intervention specialists can help loved ones organize, gather, and communicate with an addict. They can guide intervention participants in describing the damage the addict's behavior is causing and that outside help is necessary to address the addiction. The ideal outcome of an intervention is for the addict to go to rehab and get the help they need.

12-Step

12-step programs are addiction recovery models based on Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). A number of substance abuse programs (including some drug and alcohol rehab centers) use the 12 steps as a basis for treatment. Beginning steps involve admitting powerlessness over the addiction and creating a spiritual basis for recovery. Middle steps including making direct amends to those who've been hurt by the addiction, and the final step is to assist others in addiction recovery in the same way. 12-Step offshoots including Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA), Dual Recovery Anonymous (DRA), Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA) and Gamblers Anonymous (GA).

Aftercare Support

Completing a drug or alcohol rehab program shouldn't spell the end of substance abuse treatment. Aftercare involves making a sustainable plan for recovery, including ongoing support. This can include sober living arrangements like halfway houses, career counseling, and setting a patient up with community programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA).

Clinical Services at Abraxas I

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a therapy modality that focuses on the relationship between one's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is used to establish and allow for healthy responses to thoughts and feelings (instead of unhealthy responses, like using drugs or alcohol). CBT has been proven effective for recovering addicts of all kinds, and is used to strengthen a patient's own self-awareness and ability to self-regulate. CBT allows individuals to monitor their own emotional state, become more adept at communicating with others, and manage stress without needing to engage in substance abuse.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a modified form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a treatment designed to help people understand and ultimately affect the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. DBT is often used for individuals who struggle with self-harm behaviors, such as self-mutilation (cutting) and suicidal thoughts, urges, or attempts. It has been proven clinically effective for those who struggle with out-of-control emotions and mental health illnesses like Borderline Personality Disorder.

Experiential Therapy

Experiential therapy is a form of therapy in which clients are encouraged to surface and work through subconscious issues by engaging in real-time experiences. Experiential therapy departs from traditional talk therapy by involving the body, and having clients engage in activities, movements, and physical and emotional expression. This can involve role-play or using props (which can include other people). Experiential therapy can help people process trauma, memories, and emotion quickly, deeply, and in a lasting fashion, leading to substantial and impactful healing.

Family Therapy

Research clearly demonstrates that recovery is far more successful and sustainable when loved ones like family members participate in rehab and substance abuse treatment. Genetic factors may be at play when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction, as well as mental health issues. Family dynamics often play a critical role in addiction triggers, and if properly educated, family members can be a strong source of support when it comes to rehabilitation.

Group Therapy

Group therapy is any therapeutic work that happens in a group (not one-on-one). There are a number of different group therapy modalities, including support groups, experiential therapy, psycho-education, and more. Group therapy involves treatment as well as processing interaction between group members.

Individual Therapy

In individual therapy, a patient meets one-on-one with a trained psychologist or counselor. Therapy is a pivotal part of effective substance abuse treatment, as it often covers root causes of addiction, including challenges faced by the patient in their social, family, and work/school life.

Life Skills

Life skills trainings involve all the skills a person must have in order to function successfully in the world. These include time management, career guidance, money management, and effective communication. Truly successful addiction recovery is based on the ability to not only live substance-free, but to thrive. Life skills teaches the practical necessities of functioning in society, which sets clients up for success in life, and therefore sobriety.

Motivational Interviewing

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a clinical approach to helping people with substance abuse issues and other conditions shift behavior in positive ways. It is more goal-oriented than traditional psychotherapy, as MI counselors directly attempt to get clients to consider making behavioral change (rather than wait for them to come to conclusions themselves). Its primary purpose is to resolve ambivalence and help clients become able to make healthy choices freely.

Recreational Therapy

Recreational therapy (aka therapeutic recreation) uses creative and fun activities to help with addiction recovery. Recreational therapists lead patients in entertaining and engaging activities like sports or games; art (drawing, painting, sculpture); drama, music, and dance; and/or community outings (field trips) to improve patients' physical, social, and emotional well-being.

Trauma Therapy

Trauma therapy addresses traumatic incidents from a client's past that are likely affecting their present-day experience. Trauma is often one of the primary triggers and potential causes of addiction, and can stem from child sexual abuse, domestic violence, having a parent with a mental illness, losing one or both parents at a young age, teenage or adult sexual assault, or any number of other factors. The purpose of trauma therapy is to allow a patient to process trauma and move through and past it, with the help of trained and compassionate mental health professionals.