The Abbey Center

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 Iowa is available in many formats. A variety of inpatient and outpatient options provide programs that are tailored to individual needs, making recovery possible for everyone.

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.

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.

Family Therapy

Addiction is often described as a “Family Disease”. Indeed, when alcoholism and addiction infiltrate families, usually everyone is affected in negative ways. At The Abbey, they view the families of their patients as their clients, as well. Every week, appropriate family members are invited to participate in Family Programming at The Abbey – including an Alanon support group.

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.

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.

Creative Arts Therapy

Creativity is inherently healing, and can help those in recovery express thoughts or feelings they might not otherwise be able to. Creative arts therapy can include music, poetry/writing, painting, sculpting, dance, theater, sandplay, and more. Unlike traditional art, the final product matters far less than the experience of creation and expression itself.

Nutrition Therapy

At The Abbey, healthy meals provide a variety of significant benefits. First, their meals are nutritious. Nearly all of their clients at The Abbey suffer from poor nutrition due to their addictive behaviors. Too often, their clients ingest too many calories through the consumption of alcohol – or avoid eating altogether as a symptom of their alcoholism or drug abuse. By preparing healthy meals, their clients begin to get the nutrition their bodies need. Second, their meals are opportunities for healthy social interaction. Clients eat communally, and get the opportunity to connect with one another while “breaking bread” together. In fact, their meals are generally served in the Café, which is open to the clients throughout the day as a healthy, sober “hang out”. Too often, their clients are accustomed to establishing their social lives around meeting in bars, taverns, and pubs. Instead, their Café at The Abbey resembles a neighborhood Starbucks – and serves as a model for clients as a social setting for making healthy connections with friends when they return to their home communities. ​Third, from research and their own experience, they know that many of their clients run the risk of cross-addictions. For example, some of their clients may suffer from eating disorders (such as anorexia, bulimia, etc.). Their healthy and structured meals help reinforce positive eating habits.

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.