The Seeking Safety model is a modern treatment developed by Lisa M. Najavits, Ph.D. beginning in the 1990s. It is an evidence-based and trauma focused treatment for substance abuse caused by co-occurring traumas, such as PTSD, as a result of experiences in both childhood and adulthood.
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What kind of treatment does a seeking safety therapist offer?
Therapists may administer Seeking Safety in both residential treatment (RTC) and outpatient programs (including IOP and PHP). Ready to Get Help for Your Child? Evolve offers CARF and Joint Commission accredited treatment for teens with mental health disorders and/or substance abuse.
What is the concept of safety in addiction treatment?
The concept of safety is designed to protect the clinician as well as the client. By helping clients move toward safety, clinicians are protecting themselves from treatment that could move too fast without a solid foundation. Increased substance use and harm to self or others are of particular concern with this vulnerable population.
What is trauma-focused treatment for substance abuse?
Since many individuals with substance abuse issues have used substances (alcohol, drugs, food) to escape or “numb” the pain of past traumatic events or co-occurring PTSD, one component of our AAC dual diagnosis curriculum is the use of trauma-focused treatment modalities.
What is seeking safety?
What is Seeking Safety? Seeking Safety (Najavits, 2002) is an evidence-based model (see below) that can be used in group or individual counseling. It was specifically developed to help survivors with co-occurring trauma and SUD and, crucially, in a way that does not ask them to delve into emotionally distressing trauma narratives.
What is the purpose of Seeking Safety?
Seeking Safety is a present-focused therapy that helps clients attain safety from trauma (including PTSD) and substance abuse by emphasizing coping skills, grounding techniques, and education.
What is the most commonly used form of treatment for substance related disorders?
Counseling and other behavioral therapies are the most commonly used forms of treatment. Medications are often an important part of treatment, especially when combined with behavioral therapies.
What is a treatment plan for substance abuse?
A substance abuse treatment plan is an individualized, written document that details a client's goals and objectives, the steps need to achieve those, and a timeline for treatment. These plans are mutually agreed upon with the client and the clinician.
What is the primary emphasis in the Seeking Safety model?
The primary goal of the Seeking Safety model is assisting participants in attaining safety in their relationships, thinking, behavior, and emotions.
Who is most likely to exhibit a substance use disorder?
Among this population, those with the most notable risks for substance use disorders are women who immigrated to the U.S. at an earlier age (before 7 years of age) or who were born in the U.S. (Canino et al. 2008; Vega et al. 2003).
What are the three elements of a Substance Abuse program?
Goals and Effectiveness of TreatmentReducing substance abuse or achieving a substance-free life.Maximizing multiple aspects of life functioning.Preventing or reducing the frequency and severity of relapse.
What is the objective in treatment planning?
The purpose of a treatment plan is to guide a patient towards reaching goals. A treatment plan also helps counselors monitor progress and make treatment adjustments when necessary. You might think of a treatment plan as a map that points the way towards a healthier condition.
What is the treatment plan?
Listen to pronunciation. (TREET-ment plan) A detailed plan with information about a patient's disease, the goal of treatment, the treatment options for the disease and possible side effects, and the expected length of treatment.
What are the four goals of treatment?
The Four Goals of Drug TherapyIdentifying Drug Use and Problem Behavior. One of the hardest goals is also one of the most important, knowing what to look for when you have concerns about someone's drug use. ... Intervention and Detox. ... Drug Therapy and Treatment Completion. ... Work To Avoid Relapse.
How do you facilitate Seeking Safety?
Examples of Seeking Safety topics include, Honesty, Creating Meaning, Setting Boundaries in Relationships, Taking Good Care of Yourself, Compassion, Coping with Triggers, Healing from Anger, and Recovery Thinking.
Is Seeking Safety an evidence based treatment?
Seeking Safety is an evidence-based model, with over 45 published research articles and consistently positive results. For all studies, go to www.seekingsafety.org, section Evidence. Studies include pilots, randomized controlled trials, multi- site trials.
What is the session format for Seeking Safety?
The format mirrors the process of recovery from trauma and substance abuse: balanced and safe, good use of time, clear boundaries, and attention to each client's current issues.
What is seeking safety?
Seeking Safety is a relatively modern evidence-based treatment model that treats co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder and substance abuse. Lisa M. Najavits, Ph.D. began developing the Seeking Safety treatment model in the 1990s, with assistance from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. She published the research-based Seeking Safety ...
Why is seeking safety important?
Seeking Safety helps patients recover from their traumatic past so they can regain the footing they need to move forward in life. However, unlike other trauma-focused therapies, Seeking Safety does not ask the client to delve deep into the recesses and details of the trauma.
How does PTSD affect substance abuse?
PTSD and substance abuse often go hand-in-hand. After a traumatic experience, many people choose unhealthy coping mechanisms, which may include using substances to escape the pain. In fact, research has shown that exposure to trauma, especially childhood trauma, increases one’s likelihood of developing substance dependence/abuse later on in life. It also increases the chances of developing other mental health issues like depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Traumas can include neglect or abuse, including physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. Car accidents, natural disasters, war, school shootings, terrorist attacks like 9/11 (or even exposure to media coverage of traumatic events) are examples of trauma as well.
What are some examples of trauma?
Traumas can include neglect or abuse, including physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. Car accidents, natural disasters, war, school shootings, terrorist attacks like 9/11 ( or even exposure to media coverage of traumatic events) are examples of trauma as well.
What are the skills that help with trauma?
Every skill applies to both trauma and addiction simultaneously. Some categories of skills include: Setting Bo undaries in Relationships, Honesty, Compassion, Healing from Anger, and Recovery Thinking. The main aim of these skills is to help patients attain safety in their relationships, thinking, behavior, and emotions.
What is evolution treatment?
Evolve offers CARF and Joint Commission accredited treatment for teens with mental health disorders and/or substance abuse. Your child will receive the highest caliber of care in our comfortable, home-like residential treatment centers. We offer a full continuum of care, including residential, partial hospitalization/day (PHP), and intensive outpatient treatment (IOP).
What is seeking safety therapy?
It is primarily intended to treat those suffering from co-occurring post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse, but it can be used to treat those dealing with substance abuse and other forms of trauma. Evidence has shown it is effective, and clients are often able to start putting some skills ...
When was seeking safety therapy first developed?
The History of Seeking Safety Therapy. Seeking Safety (SS) came out of research in the 1990s that was conducted and funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). A manual of this form of therapy was finally written in 2002. Currently, the therapy can be conducted by both licensed and unlicensed professionals, peers, and other advocates.
What is the best way to help someone with addiction?
You’ll work with a physician who specializes in addiction treatment to determine if these medications are appropriate for your situation .You may also receive prescriptions for medications that can help certain co-occurring mental health issues, like depression, anxiety, PTSD, or personality disorders.
What is the goal of the focus on safety?
Part of this focus on safety means there is an emphasis on keeping you away from substances that harm you. The overall goal is to keep you safe in all aspects of life , and this means avoiding substance abuse.
What are the areas of focus?
Four areas of focus are behavioral, personal development, cognitive, and interpersonal. A balanced approach is used. Clinicians emphasize responsibility and give praise. They stress the importance of continued effort and self-care. Seeking Safety focuses on the present.
What is the main priority of treatment?
Safety of the client is the main priority of treatment. This takes precedence over all other objectives.
Why is seeking safety important?
Since Seeking Safety can be used in group settings, it’s a good way to build relationships with others in recovery. You share similar struggles, and the insight you receive from them can be vital to your recovery process.
What is Seeking Safety?
Seeking Safety (Najavits, 2002) is an evidence-based model (see below) that can be used in group or individual counseling. It was specifically developed to help survivors with co-occurring trauma and SUD and, crucially, in a way that does not ask them to delve into emotionally distressing trauma narratives. Thus, “safety” is a deep concept with varied layers of meaning – safety of the client as they do the work; helping clients envision what safety would look and feel like in their lives; and helping them learn specific new ways of coping.
Why is seeking safety important for clinicians?
By helping clients move toward safety, clinicians are protecting themselves from treatment that could move too fast without a solid foundation. Increased substance use and harm to self or others are of particular concern with this vulnerable population. Thus, seeking safety is both the clients’ and clinicians’ goal.
How does seeking safety work?
Seeking Safety stays in the present, teaching a broad array of safe coping skills that they may never have learned if they grew up in dysfunctional families or may have lost along the way as their addiction and trauma spiraled downward. All of the Seeking Safety coping skills apply to both trauma and addiction at the same time – providing integrated treatment that can help boost motivation and guide clients to see the connections between their trauma and addiction issues. There are 25 topics, each a safe coping skill. Each topic is independent of the others so they can be used in any order and for as long or short as the client’s time in treatment. The topics address cognitive, behavioral, and interpersonal skills, plus there is a focus on engaging clients in community resources. Examples of Seeking Safety topics include, Honesty, Creating Meaning, Setting Boundaries in Relationships, Taking Good Care of Yourself, Compassion, Coping with Triggers, Healing from Anger, and Recovery Thinking.
Why is seeking safety not required?
Because Seeking Safety does not require the client to explore painful trauma narratives, it can be conducted with the broadest range of clients – including the highly complex, chronic, and multiply burdened clients who often cycle in and out of treatment. -Lisa Najavits.
Why do people turn to substances?
Like the client above, people turn to substances to cope with the emotional aftermath of trauma. But addiction can also lead to trauma – from driving intoxicated and getting into a car crash to crime or sexual violence that takes place while under the influence. Whatever way they develop, many clients need help with both.
How long does trauma last?
For most people, the impact of trauma fades relatively soon, typically within one to three months. But for others trauma problems can persist for years and even decades. Trauma and substance abuse often go hand-in-hand. For most, trauma happens first and then addiction develops.
How many studies have been conducted on PTSD?
Altogether, more than 20 studies have been conducted including pilots, controlled trials, multisite trials, and dissemination studies. While most studies on PTSD exclude people with complex problems, Seeking Safety research has been conducted with such populations.
