Safe Journey Counseling: Helping Teenagers Create Their Ideal Life

THE TEENAGE PAGE
Intensive Outpatient Counseling

Do you know of a teenager that may be involved in drug or alcohol abuse, or one that has

issues

with anger or

uncontrolled

rage? Could this be one of your own children, or maybe a

fri

end

of theirs? Could it be a teen of someone

you work with

or possibly a neighbors

teenager

The

teenagers can overcome these problems. They can resume a

life full of fun,

pleasure, perso

and academic growth. But, it must be accomplished from inside the person.

Thirty years ago our government began a war on drugs. Now the problem is worse than ever.

schools are infested

with drugs and kids with behavior issues. The kids know more about

drugs

than the experts do. We have used all facets

of the

military

and spent billions of dollars

with n

results.

Treatment is the only option.

As a former drug addict and alcoholic with almost 25 years of sobriety, I have worked with

thousands of people through

psychiatric hospitals, clinics, treatment centers and the courts.

I know

what works and what does not. Instead of trying

to stop the drug flow, we need to help

teenagers

develop the desire not to use them.

This means looking at the

question, why do people use drugs in the first place. We must use

treatments that have been

scientifically proven to

work.

I have combined one of the most

successful chemical dependency programs with one

the most successful Mind/Body

medicine

programs available.

The Chemical Dependency Part

The chemical dependency part of the program was created by a team of physicians at UCLA

over 20 years ago. It is

called the Matrix Program. This program is very successful and has

withstood the test of time. It is endorsed by the

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). I

one of the few counselors in the greater Phoenix area to use it. The

program is a 16 week

intensive chemic

dependency program. During that

time, teenagers will address such issues

as:

Neurobiology of addiction
Importance of developing structure in their life
Family participation
Drugs alcohol and sex
Cross addiction
Identifying internal triggers
Identifying external triggers
Identifying dangerous emotions
Managing anger
Feelings in recovery
Trust
Setting goals
Making changes
Dreams
Relapse prevention
Continuing recovery after the program
Defining Spirituality

                                     The Mind/ Body Program

                                       Not long ago, a study was released from Harvard University, stating that 70% to 90% percent of
                                       the reasons people go to see their primary care physicians are due to illness either caused by
                                       or related to stress, with no exception for children. This being the case, physicians and
                                       teachers became responsible for solving our family problems and the answer almost always
                                       comes in the form of a pill. This is not the physicians or teachers job. People must learn
                                       methods to manage their own stress.

                                               Stress being one of the biggest triggers for chemical dependency relapse, it only makes sense
                                       to teach teenagers how to manage theirs. From Harvard University came a cardiologist looking
                                       for methods to teach his patients to reduce stress, After 40 years of research and practice, Dr.
                                       Hebert Benson comprised a program called Mind?Body Medicine. This program will teach your
                                       teenager to:

Learn methods of slowing down their mind and using a calmer clearer mind to relate to

difficult painful thoughts and feelings.

They will learn to focus in a deep and meaningful way instead of feeling overwhelmed and

desperate to escape.

They will learn to change thinking patterns and be better prepared to deal with problems,

pain and stress through awareness and understanding of themselves.

                                               Teenagers will spend 2 hours a week in a group setting with no more than 9 of their peers. This
                                       will take place for a period of 16 weeks. After the 16 weeks are over the teenager will spend
                                       one hour a week in continuing recovery with the same peers for a period of 36 weeks. This
                                       provides 1 year of continuous treatment.

For further information, please feel free to call me at 480-250-1857

or e-mail me at

Michaelharmon@cox.net

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