Program Structure

The typical stay at Blue Coast Behavioral Health lasts for approximately 60 days, although that number varies on an individualized basis. During an individual’s stay, they participate in group and individual therapy as well as social sober activities. This fellowship allows individuals to transition from detox/residential care to sober living in a more controlled and accountability-based environment. Addiction therapists agree that the ideal continuum of care starts with detox, then residential, followed by PHP, then outpatient, with aftercare and sober living after that. Our program structure at Blue Coast includes case management, individual and group therapy, and sober fellowship.

Program Structure for Case Management

Blue Coast Behavioral Health assigns a case manager to every client upon intake. Our certified case managers guide individuals through treatment and keep track of their progress as well as areas for improvement. Addiction manifests differently in every individual, so case managers serve as an essential component for client advocacy within the program structure. Case managers also direct group meetings, guided meditations, and other social activities in outpatient.

While case managers do act as client advocates, they also understand their role in maintaining the integrity of the Blue Coast program as a whole. Any individuals found to be breaking rules or compromising the wellbeing of others receive the appropriate consequences. Case managers do their best to ensure that all individuals in our program stay on the right track and participate in group and individual therapy.

Therapeutic Modalities

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) represents one of the cornerstones of addiction treatment. As a behavioral disease, substance use disorder requires individuals to change their ways of thinking in a methodical way. Addiction therapists use CBT to guide this process. CBT encourages individuals to increase awareness of the differences (but interconnectedness) between thoughts, feelings, and actions. Mostly it focuses on showing that emotions and thoughts do not need to translate into action all the time. Often, issues like poor self esteem create negative thought patterns that contain the potential to be managed.

Matrix Model

Therapy presents a structured approach to making behavioral changes. The Matrix Model of addiction treatment specifically aims to help individuals in an outpatient setting. This comes in the form of interpersonal boundaries, crisis planning, and relapse prevention.

Typically, the Matrix Model structures its tenets around a 16-weeks timeframe. This length of time may change depending on each individual’s specific needs.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) offers an action-oriented approach to recovery. As a modified form of cognitive behavioral therapy, ACT guides individuals into healthier thought processes by re-examining thinking. The action-oriented nature makes ACT ideal for early recovery because it helps instill new habits. Rather than falling into the same old behaviors, ACT challenges individuals to re-examine thought patterns that no longer serve them. ACT has six principles:

• Acceptance
• Cognitive defusion
• Contact with the present moment
• Self as context
• Values
• Committed action

Each principle serves to reframe thinking. ACT’s purpose as psychological intervention comes from the principles of modern behavioral psychology. It focuses particularly on Relational Frame Theory to create psychological flexibility.

Enneagram

The Enneagram has gained popularity in treatment within the last few years. It serves as a diagnostic tool for how one processes their experience in the world and how they relate to others. Since addiction manifests as behavior and affects interpersonal relationships, many individuals in treatment find it helpful in targeting problematic dynamics. The Enneagram has nine different types that exist under three subgroups.

The Heart Types (Emotion): Depend on emotional intelligence to understand their own reactions and connect with others.

• Helper (Type 2): Helpers who need to be needed
• Achiever (Type 3): Focused on the presentation of success to attain validation
• Individualist (Type 4): Identity seekers who feel unique and different

The Head Triad (Thinking): Depend on intellectual approaches to make sense of things and navigate the world.

• Investigator (Type 5): Thinkers who tend to withdraw and observe
• Loyalist (Type 6): Conflicted between trust and distrust
• Enthusiast (Type 7): Pleasure seekers and planners in search of distraction

The Body Triad (Gut): Depend on instinctual intelligence and follow their “gut” to respond to threats and opportunities.

• Challenger (Type 8): Taking charge because they don’t want to be controlled
• Peacemaker (Type 9): Keeping peace and harmony
• Reformer (Type 1): Perfectionists, responsible, fixated on improvement

By finding one’s Enneagram type, they gain access to insights that explain behavioral tendencies within the program structure. The system also outlines how each type behaves when healthy, moderate, or under stress.

The Sober Fellowship

Social bonding in sobriety forms a core tenet of our program structure at Blue Coast. We believe that individuals in recovery do best when surrounded by people who have similar goals (i.e. staying clean and sober). Our clients participate in at least one group activity every day. That may vary from going to the gym to kayaking or golfing. We also schedule at least one friendly group competition activity such as football games or beach volleyball.