Welcome To InnerWisdom Counseling Centers

As part of the treatment at InnerWisdom, Inc., the client will be involved in some of the services listed below. There is a difference in the intensity of the group process, the length of time in treatment, the focus of the problem(s), the treatment plan goals and objectives, and the planned treatment outcomes for the Partial Day Programs and the Outpatient Programs. Each program has different objectives, different time frames, and different expected outcome results. In providing several different treatment options and programs, each client is assured of a flexible and individual plan of care.

Advanced Stress Management and Behavior Modification: The negative reaction to stress is a learned behavior. If the body is expected to respond in a different way, the individual must learn a new behavior. This new response allows the individual to more easily relax during stressful situations, thus helping to prevent the development of stress related problems and illnesses. Individuals who practice stress management can gain extraordinary self-control. They learn to control their body's response to pain, disease, and stress.
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Biofeedback: Biofeedback is a biomedical, physiological self-regulation process that helps the client develop an ability to relieve the negative symptoms and stressful situations that they are experiencing. Biofeedback is combined with hypnosis to enhance the body/mind's ability to manage stress.

In the biofeedback process, external sensors measure muscle tension, skin temperature, or other body processes such as blood pressure. The readings are then translated through a computer program into signals that can be seen and heard. Electrodes are placed on the head and hands of the subject to measure relaxation or tension. As an individual becomes accustomed to relaxing certain parts of the body, he gradually gains mastery over them and is able to relax at will, even when experiencing stressful events, pain, or illness.

The information gathered and processed through the biofeedback equipment gives the individual an understanding of the body's stress response. During a biofeedback-training group, individuals learn to consciously enhance these readings through relaxation and stress management techniques.
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Coping Patterns Group: This didactic group utilizes cognitive-behavioral theories to help individuals look at their current belief system, self-defeating attitudes and thoughts, and their connection to feelings and behaviors. Clients are taught alternative coping skills, problem-solving skills, social skills, thought stopping, and positive affirming statements and behaviors.
Back To Top

Didactic Group Therapy: This is an equally important therapeutic modality, as there can be no change within the infrastructure of the individual's personality and psyche without first uncovering conflicting stored data, and ultimately learning new ways to use the information. Coping and life skills, as well as distorted thinking patterns and belief systems are highlighted in this intense format. Many topics are discussed, and each client's individual situation is considered, making it a personal experience for each group member.
Back To Top

Expressive and Creative Arts Therapies: Creative arts and expressive therapies emphasize the simple act of creating. This can produce a sense of achievement and confidence that, in and of itself, has a positive effect on health. Artistic talent is not a requirement, since the goal is to involve the client in a creative expression of thoughts and feelings.

Another objective of these therapies is interaction. Whether playing a role in a psychodrama, or playing in a musical ensemble, people learn to cooperate and communicate with each other. Often times these forms of artistic expression can free clients to share thoughts and emotions that are otherwise difficult to reveal in words. It is also possible for painful, repressed emotional memories and thoughts to surface during this group, where they can be explored, processed and resolved.
Back To Top

Family Support: This group is the supportive aspect for family and significant others only. It offers families a chance to ask questions, learn about the client's illness, and get support for themselves. It allows the family the freedom to ask tough questions that they might normally shy away from when the client is present.
Back To Top

Goal Setting Group: This group teaches how to set realistic short term and long term goals. Goals are set for the entire week and evaluated the following week. Progress in applying new coping skills, new communication skills, and expanding the support system is the main focus.
Back To Top

Group Therapy (Process Group): This is the most basic of all the therapeutic modalities. Each client learns to share problems in a supportive atmosphere with other people who have similar problems. Group therapy focuses on individual and family issues as well as those that arise from participating in a community of peers. The feelings and conflicts that led the individual to seek treatment are explored and new solutions are sought. As most people are reluctant to share their problems with others, group discussions lead to a shared sense of trust and a decrease in embarrassment and shameful feelings.
Back To Top

Hypnosis: This modality may be utilized as a specific intervention in some cases, under the specific order of a physician. Hypnosis is neither sleep nor unconsciousness; it is an altered state in which a person has closed out all other distractions, and is free to focus intently on a particular subject, feeling, or memory. It is a normal state, and nearly everyone experiences some form of hypnotic state spontaneously, while daydreaming, reading, watching television, or even while driving.

Such focused concentration has important benefits. While under hypnosis, a person is more receptive to suggestions. Because of this receptivity, hypnosis has been used successfully to alleviate pain, reduce stress, overcome phobias, reduce depression and anxiety, relieve chronic headaches and other chronic pains, bring relief to those afflicted with allergies and some types of skin disorders, and assist in the recovery from such addictions as cigarette smoking, nail biting, food disorders, and chemical abuse.

Through the use of regressive hypnotherapy, specific, painful incidents can be identified and permanently changed, replacing "survival decisions" that were made in response to stress, abuse, or trauma. Often times these decisions, stored deeply in the unconscious mind, leave victims isolated, lonely, and unfulfilled. These past situations are briefly re-experienced and instantly reframed, leaving the individual with a new decision that improves their outlook, relationships, and lifestyle. Regressive therapy is only used under the order of a psychiatrist and performed by a highly trained and qualified, licensed professional.
Back To Top

Journal Writing: Journal writing has helped many people release frustrations and sort out problems. It can actually assist in keeping one emotionally and physically healthy. We encourage individuals to keep their own personal journals. This provides a way for each person to express the feelings and events in their life in a private, yet intimate way. Certain studies indicate that individuals who write about important issues in their lives are healthier than those who keep feelings and thoughts bottled up.

Writing in a journal is more than simply keeping a record of daily activities. Writing about the feelings that are connected to problems are just as important as recording the facts. Describing a situation or event thoroughly, and recording what is felt at the same time, seems to help put things in perspective. It is also used as a way of tracking progress through the active recovery period.
Back To Top

Multi-family Group (Didactic and/or Process Group): This group teaches the client, family members, and/or significant others better communication and coping skills. Questions and problems regarding treatment may also be discussed in the group. Another purpose of the group is to teach each participating individual about the warning signs of an illness, when additional help or intervention is needed, and actions that can be taken in the event of a crisis. This group is also part of the aftercare program and the outpatient program, and is open to all clients and family members once they are discharged from an InnerWisdom counseling program.
Back To Top

Physical Conditioning: This group focuses on the well being of the body and the importance of daily exercise and healthy grooming. Yoga type exercises and stretching practices are a regular part of this group, as well as brisk walking and physical training, in some cases. Physical limitations and illnesses are assessed, and specific individual exercises are developed.
Back To Top

Relapse Prevention Group: This group helps to identify early warning signs and symptoms of an illness. It teaches individuals to identify actions that can be taken when negative symptoms first appear. The internal and external triggers that may cause these symptoms to recur are also explored. Finally, current support systems are identified, improved upon, and maintained. Twelve-step support groups may be introduced and used as an adjunct to therapy.
Back To Top

Relationships Group (Didactic Group): One of the most vital and often problematic aspects of an individual's life is a relationship with others. The basis of a healthy lifestyle is the development of trust and confidence in others with whom we relate. This didactic group teaches ways to improve communication, intimacy, boundaries and conflict resolution in relationships. It explores codependency and addictive relationships, as well.
Back To Top

Step Support Groups: This group is a 12-step based support group that assists clients who are participating in an addiction recovery program, focusing on the development of an organized, focused recovery program. It addresses the addictive/compulsive disorders and their resulting behaviors. This group is open to family, friends, and significant others. Clients who have graduated from the program, or who are in one of the outpatient programs, are also encouraged to attend.
Back To Top

Stress Management: During the course of the training, participants will learn to recognize the signs of stress and how it affects the body. Each individual learns techniques for relaxation, such as deep muscle relaxation, deep breathing, and guided imagery. Later in the training, these skills will be applied to day-to-day situations. Through repeated practice, a sense of mastery will be gained over stressful situations, and the individual will learn to cope more effectively.
Back To Top

Transition Group: This group is designed to help the client transition back home and/or back to the community following intensive therapy. It considers each aspect of the patient's Continuing Care Plan, which is the 90-day post discharge plan of treatment developed for each patient discharged from a program or service. Support is given to facilitate the discharge of the client, as the individual begins to use new coping skills and communication patterns.

		As part of the treatment at InnerWisdom, Inc., the client will be involved in some of the services listed below. There is a difference in the intensity of the group process, the length of time in treatment, the focus of the problem(s), the treatment plan goals and objectives, and the planned treatment outcomes for the Partial Day Programs and the Outpatient Programs. Each program has different objectives, different time frames, and different expected outcome results. In providing several different treatment options and programs, each client is assured of a flexible and individual plan of care. *Advanced Stress Management and Behavior Modification:* The negative reaction to stress is a learned behavior. If the body is expected to respond in a different way, the individual must learn a new behavior. This new response allows the individual to more easily relax during stressful situations, thus helping to prevent the development of stress related problems and illnesses. Individuals who practice stress management can gain extraordinary self-control. They learn to control their body's response to pain, disease, and stress. Back To Top *Biofeedback:* Biofeedback is a biomedical, physiological self-regulation process that helps the client develop an ability to relieve the negative symptoms and stressful situations that they are experiencing. Biofeedback is combined with hypnosis to enhance the body/mind's ability to manage stress. In the biofeedback process, external sensors measure muscle tension, skin temperature, or other body processes such as blood pressure. The readings are then translated through a computer program into signals that can be seen and heard. Electrodes are placed on the head and hands of the subject to measure relaxation or tension. As an individual becomes accustomed to relaxing certain parts of the body, he gradually gains mastery over them and is able to relax at will, even when experiencing stressful events, pain, or illness. The information gathered and processed through the biofeedback equipment gives the individual an understanding of the body's stress response. During a biofeedback-training group, individuals learn to consciously enhance these readings through relaxation and stress management techniques. Back To Top Coping Patterns Group: This didactic group utilizes cognitive-behavioral theories to help individuals look at their current belief system, self-defeating attitudes and thoughts, and their connection to feelings and behaviors. Clients are taught alternative coping skills, problem-solving skills, social skills, thought stopping, and positive affirming statements and behaviors. Back To Top *Didactic Group Therapy:* This is an equally important therapeutic modality, as there can be no change within the infrastructure of the individual's personality and psyche without first uncovering conflicting stored data, and ultimately learning new ways to use the information. Coping and life skills, as well as distorted thinking patterns and belief systems are highlighted in this intense format. Many topics are discussed, and each client's individual situation is considered, making it a personal experience for each group member. Back To Top Expressive and Creative Arts Therapies: Creative arts and expressive therapies emphasize the simple act of creating. This can produce a sense of achievement and confidence that, in and of itself, has a positive effect on health. Artistic talent is not a requirement, since the goal is to involve the client in a creative expression of thoughts and feelings. Another objective of these therapies is interaction. Whether playing a role in a psychodrama, or playing in a musical ensemble, people learn to cooperate and communicate with each other. Often times these forms of artistic expression can free clients to share thoughts and emotions that are otherwise difficult to reveal in words. It is also possible for painful, repressed emotional memories and thoughts to surface during this group, where they can be explored, processed and resolved. Back To Top *Family Support:* This group is the supportive aspect for family and significant others only. It offers families a chance to ask questions, learn about the client's illness, and get support for themselves. It allows the family the freedom to ask tough questions that they might normally shy away from when the client is present. Back To Top *Goal Setting Group:* This group teaches how to set realistic short term and long term goals. Goals are set for the entire week and evaluated the following week. Progress in applying new coping skills, new communication skills, and expanding the support system is the main focus. Back To Top *Group Therapy (Process Group):* This is the most basic of all the therapeutic modalities. Each client learns to share problems in a supportive atmosphere with other people who have similar problems. Group therapy focuses on individual and family issues as well as those that arise from participating in a community of peers. The feelings and conflicts that led the individual to seek treatment are explored and new solutions are sought. As most people are reluctant to share their problems with others, group discussions lead to a shared sense of trust and a decrease in embarrassment and shameful feelings. Back To Top *Hypnosis:* This modality may be utilized as a specific intervention in some cases, under the specific order of a physician. Hypnosis is neither sleep nor unconsciousness; it is an altered state in which a person has closed out all other distractions, and is free to focus intently on a particular subject, feeling, or memory. It is a normal state, and nearly everyone experiences some form of hypnotic state spontaneously, while daydreaming, reading, watching television, or even while driving. Such focused concentration has important benefits. While under hypnosis, a person is more receptive to suggestions. Because of this receptivity, hypnosis has been used successfully to alleviate pain, reduce stress, overcome phobias, reduce depression and anxiety, relieve chronic headaches and other chronic pains, bring relief to those afflicted with allergies and some types of skin disorders, and assist in the recovery from such addictions as cigarette smoking, nail biting, food disorders, and chemical abuse. Through the use of regressive hypnotherapy, specific, painful incidents can be identified and permanently changed, replacing "survival decisions" that were made in response to stress, abuse, or trauma. Often times these decisions, stored deeply in the unconscious mind, leave victims isolated, lonely, and unfulfilled. These past situations are briefly re-experienced and instantly reframed, leaving the individual with a new decision that improves their outlook, relationships, and lifestyle. Regressive therapy is only used under the order of a psychiatrist and performed by a highly trained and qualified, licensed professional. Back To Top *Journal Writing:* Journal writing has helped many people release frustrations and sort out problems. It can actually assist in keeping one emotionally and physically healthy. We encourage individuals to keep their own personal journals. This provides a way for each person to express the feelings and events in their life in a private, yet intimate way. Certain studies indicate that individuals who write about important issues in their lives are healthier than those who keep feelings and thoughts bottled up. Writing in a journal is more than simply keeping a record of daily activities. Writing about the feelings that are connected to problems are just as important as recording the facts. Describing a situation or event thoroughly, and recording what is felt at the same time, seems to help put things in perspective. It is also used as a way of tracking progress through the active recovery period. Back To Top *Multi-family Group (Didactic and/or Process Group):* This group teaches the client, family members, and/or significant others better communication and coping skills. Questions and problems regarding treatment may also be discussed in the group. Another purpose of the group is to teach each participating individual about the warning signs of an illness, when additional help or intervention is needed, and actions that can be taken in the event of a crisis. This group is also part of the aftercare program and the outpatient program, and is open to all clients and family members once they are discharged from an InnerWisdom counseling program. Back To Top *Physical Conditioning:* This group focuses on the well being of the body and the importance of daily exercise and healthy grooming. Yoga type exercises and stretching practices are a regular part of this group, as well as brisk walking and physical training, in some cases. Physical limitations and illnesses are assessed, and specific individual exercises are developed. Back To Top Relapse Prevention Group: This group helps to identify early warning signs and symptoms of an illness. It teaches individuals to identify actions that can be taken when negative symptoms first appear. The internal and external triggers that may cause these symptoms to recur are also explored. Finally, current support systems are identified, improved upon, and maintained. Twelve-step support groups may be introduced and used as an adjunct to therapy. Back To Top *Relationships Group (Didactic Group):* One of the most vital and often problematic aspects of an individual's life is a relationship with others. The basis of a healthy lifestyle is the development of trust and confidence in others with whom we relate. This didactic group teaches ways to improve communication, intimacy, boundaries and conflict resolution in relationships. It explores codependency and addictive relationships, as well. Back To Top *Step Support Groups:* This group is a 12-step based support group that assists clients who are participating in an addiction recovery program, focusing on the development of an organized, focused recovery program. It addresses the addictive/compulsive disorders and their resulting behaviors. This group is open to family, friends, and significant others. Clients who have graduated from the program, or who are in one of the outpatient programs, are also encouraged to attend. Back To Top *Stress Management:* During the course of the training, participants will learn to recognize the signs of stress and how it affects the body. Each individual learns techniques for relaxation, such as deep muscle relaxation, deep breathing, and guided imagery. Later in the training, these skills will be applied to day-to-day situations. Through repeated practice, a sense of mastery will be gained over stressful situations, and the individual will learn to cope more effectively. Back To Top *Transition Group:* This group is designed to help the client transition back home and/or back to the community following intensive therapy. It considers each aspect of the patient's Continuing Care Plan, which is the 90-day post discharge plan of treatment developed for each patient discharged from a program or service. Support is given to facilitate the discharge of the client, as the individual begins to use new coping skills and communication patterns.	Advanced Stress Management and Behavior Modifcation Biofeedback Coping Patterns Group Didactic Group Therapy Expressive Creative Arts Therapies Family Support Goal Setting Group Group Therapy (Process Group) Hypnosis Journal Writing Multi-Family Group (Didactic and/or Process Group) Physical Conditioning Relapse Prevention Group Relationships Group (Didactic Group) Step Support Group Stress Management Transition Group

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