The treatment uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, together with Motivational Interviewing and the Stages of Change model. All these approaches have a robust evidence-base and have been integrated to meet the complex needs of Cygnet Health Care’s service users.
After an initial period of assessment and formulation, the programme consists of three distinct tiers of treatment involving a weekly group therapy plus individual sessions to enhance progress. The programme sequentially addresses motivation and values; developing skills; and relapse prevention.
“Substance misuse programmes tend to have very high drop-out rates. Furthermore, we know that scare tactics rarely work. Instead, our new programme addresses personal reasons for not using. And rather than aiming to merely ‘stop’ using substances, the programme helps service users to fill the gap that substances once filled.”Dr Kelly Elsegood, Head of Psychology
The programme was developed by psychology colleagues at Cygnet Hospital Stevenage – Elise Stephen and Lauren Absalom. Cygnet Hospital Bierley would like to thank their Stevenage colleagues for their generous sharing of ideas, expertise and time.