Compassionate Trauma and Substance Abuse Treatment

1. Safety – Creating a safe environment, both physically and emotionally, so that clients feel truly safe. For someone with a history of trauma, safety cannot be assumed; it has to be built intentionally through every interaction with our team being consistent, trustworthy, and respectful.
2. Trustworthiness and Transparency – Clearly and honestly explaining what is involved in treatment, what to expect, and how decisions are made. Trust can often be broken as a result of trauma, so rebuilding trust will require consistent follow-through and transparency from the clinical team.
3. Peer Support – Understanding how much connection can aid in the healing process through connection with those who have shared similar experiences. Peer support is used throughout all programs as a therapeutic component, as well as a source of hope.
4. Collaboration and Mutuality – Partnering with clients. Healing happens in relationships. Our clinical staff will work with clients, not stand above them.
5. Empowerment and Choice – Clients should be provided with an opportunity to have input, choice, and agency during the entire treatment process. For someone whose trauma was the result of loss of control or loss of independence, it can be a therapeutic experience to have an opportunity to make meaningful decisions about their care.

These principles guide how Meridian Recovery interacts with all of our clients.

• Has childhood trauma, has been sexually abused, physically abused, or experienced other types of traumatic events.
• Has been diagnosed with PTSD or is exhibiting PTSD symptoms in conjunction with a substance use disorder.
• Has attempted treatment before but did not feel safe or did not find a good fit with their previous program.
• Uses or has used substances to provide themselves with relief from emotional pain, intrusive memories, or overwhelming stress.
• Feels ashamed about their past, blames themselves, or does not trust their provider. This can prevent them from fully engaging in treatment.
• Has a co-occurring mental illness.

No one needs to have a formal diagnosis of PTSD in order to benefit from receiving trauma-informed treatment. Anyone who has been affected by painful or difficult experiences in their life will benefit from the trauma-informed model of care, which provides them with a more respectful and safer way to receive treatment.

• A Trained and Trauma-Aware Clinical Team – All clinical staff members have received training on the impact of trauma on behavior, emotional regulation, and recovery. They incorporate their learning into every client interaction.
• A Safe Environment – The way our treatment environment is designed, as well as the manner in which our staff members communicate with our clients, is designed to create safety for trauma survivors by minimizing triggers and creating a greater sense of respect, which survivors need in order to engage.
• Delivery of Evidence-Based Therapies – Trauma-informed care at Meridian Recovery is integrated with the delivery of evidence-based treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), individual therapy, and group therapy. This approach informs the way that these therapies are delivered so that there is no accidental re-traumatization.
• Dual Diagnosis Treatment – We do not treat trauma and substance use separately. Instead, we use an integrated, coordinated treatment plan that treats them simultaneously. Research indicates that concurrent treatment is the most effective means of treating individuals that have co-occurring trauma and addiction.[6]