About Bridges to Change
Bridges to Change is a community oriented and compassionate mental health and substance abuse treatment program based in Portland, Oregon. Their approach is to deliver services that promote a healthy recovery and foster long term success. One of the big things that makes Bridges to Change special is they strive to do more than just provide treatment. They work in their local communities to enhance housing and employment support.
One of their support solutions is their outpatient treatment services. This option allows those in need to attend to their daily activities. The flexibility can be ideal for someone who does not need residential care but may require a level of structured support.
Bridges to Change mixes traditional counseling with peer support, so those in recovery can talk with and listen to others who have lived knowledge of what they are feeling. This peer-to-peer support is an integral component of their program as it fosters a sense of community and keeps participants accountable. Medically supported withdrawal services can be accessed as well, especially for those who need medication assisted treatment (MAT) while in recovery from substance use disorders.
One of the things that makes Bridges to Change unique is the way they incorporate their mental health services into their substance abuse programming. Recognizing the high rate of clients faced with both addiction and mental health disorders, they offer dual diagnosis treatment that addresses these comorbidities at the same time. They offer mental health services for individuals, couples and families. This includes individual therapy sessions with licensed therapists that focus on the development of coping skills and symptoms of any underlying mental health conditions.
Another important support for many is transitional housing, which Bridges to Change also provides. Recovering is hard enough, so they try to help those working to recover have somewhere safe, warm and dry to lay their head at night. Stable housing whilst in recovery serves as peace of mind and a safe place for continued sobriety and overall wellness.
In addition to housing support, Bridges also offers reentry services for people coming out of incarceration. Reentry services provide guidance on things like work, a place to live and community connections which help people transition back into society. They can help to remove the obstacles that accompany returning home and provide guidance that offers individuals an opportunity to maintain healthy behaviors.
Insurance & Financials
- Self-pay options
- Medicaid
Levels of Care
Outpatient
Outpatient Programs (OP) are for those seeking mental rehab or drug rehab, but who also stay at home every night. The main difference between outpatient treatment (OP) and intensive outpatient treatment (IOP) lies in the amount of hours the patient spends at the facility. Most of the time an outpatient program is designed for someone who has completed an inpatient stay and is looking to continue their growth in recovery. Outpatient is not meant to be the starting point, it is commonly referred to as aftercare.
Intensive Outpatient
Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) are for those who want or need a very structured treatment program but who also wish to live at home and continue with certain responsibilities (such as work or school). IOP substance abuse treatment programs vary in duration and intensity, and certain outpatient rehab centers will offer individualized treatment programs.
Sober Living Homes
Sober Living Houses (SLHs), aka sober homes or halfway houses, are safe, substance-free, supportive living facilities for those recovering from substance abuse. Ideal for those who've just been through inpatient or outpatient treatment, SLHs are supervised environments with rules that support sobriety, such as curfews, shared chores, and therapeutic meetings. Residents are also often trained on life skills and coping skills to make it easier to transition into society. SLHs also provide a strong sense of community that can lead to the kind of deep and lasting connections with other sober individuals that supports a new, healthy lifestyle.
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).
Programs
Adult program
Program for men
Program for women
Young adult program
Settings and Amenities
- Yoga studio
- Gym
Treatment
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 Oregon offers a full continuum of care for those struggling with addiction. From detox, to inpatient, to outpatient, to aftercare, Oregon residents can find the support they need for recovery. This treatment empowers individuals to replace drug use with positive alternatives and develop a healthier lifestyle.
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.
Clinical Services
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.
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.