SageWalk Introduces Specialized Treatment Groups for Girls in Recovery

All-girls substance abuse group splits in two to provide more in-depth, individualized treatment to girls at every stage in the recovery process.

Redmond, Ore. (PRWEB) June 30, 2008 -- Girls attending SageWalk the Wilderness School are now receiving more specialized treatment for their drug and alcohol issues than ever before.

In order to better meet the needs of its female students, SageWalk is now dividing its girls' addiction group into two separate units: one for heavier users who exhibit more acute chemical dependency issues, and another for younger girls who primarily struggle with behavioral issues like defiance, low self-esteem, or depression, but may be experimenting with drugs and alcohol as a symptom of their underlying disorder.

"The new groupings will make wilderness therapy a more effective intervention for the entire community of girls," says Laurie Wilmot, LCSW, a therapist at SageWalk. "By separating the heavier users from the lighter users we can minimize the sharing of negative learned behaviors and take some pressure off the girls to 'fit in' and be 'cool.' In these specialized groups, the field instructors can focus on each student individually without having to divert their attention to girls with more pressing issues."

All of SageWalk's students take part in the school's wilderness and academic programs, but those struggling with drug or alcohol dependence receive traditional substance abuse treatment as well. For example, students are introduced to the 12-step philosophy, triggers for use, and Prochaska and DiClemente's stages of change model. They also read literature from Narcotics