Therapy Programs for Addiction Recovery in Massachusetts | NorthStar Recovery Center

Day Treatment Program (Partial Hospitalization) in Southborough and Springfield, MA

The partial hospitalization program (PHP), or day treatment program, is offered in both Southborough and Springfield, MA. This program offers a significant amount of structure and support for clients. While they do not stay on property like residential treatment, they attend sessions at NorthStar Recovery five days a week for up to six hours a day.

Therapy programs play an important role in PHP. Clients attend both individual and group therapy sessions as part of their treatment. In addition, some participate in peer support groups like 12-Step programs.

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for Flexible Recovery Support

At NorthStar Recovery Center, we offer an intensive outpatient program (IOP). This differs from an outpatient program (OP) as it provides more structure and support. While it is structured and gives clients the support they need to heal, IOP offers flexibility. This is vital to clients who need help but are not in a position where they need continual care.

Therapy programs are important in IOP. Clients attend varying types of therapy as a method of healing. Working with a counselor helps clients understand addiction and their unique challenges with it. In addition, as an outpatient program, therapy programs in IOP help clients make changes at home while receiving continual support and care from a mental health care professional.

Specialized Addiction Therapy Approaches at NorthStar Recovery Center

At NorthStar Recovery, we understand that every client is unique. Therefore, we offer multiple therapeutic approaches that provide different types and styles of support to clients. Primary therapeutic modalities include behavioral-based therapies and trauma-informed care.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Addiction and Mental Health

As a behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is highly useful for helping clients to heal from addiction and mental health disorders. The premise behind CBT is that a person’s thoughts, feelings, and actions are all related. This means that each influences the other. Therefore, they act as a chain that can cause certain actions, such as substance abuse or certain emotions/thoughts that influence mental health.

Through CBT in addiction and mental health recovery, clients are challenged to identify important patterns within themselves. Then, they learn how they can break these patterns in order to make different choices. The result is that CBT can help prevent relapse and improve mental health.

Trauma-Informed Care and EMDR Therapy for Trauma Recovery

Addiction and trauma are closely connected. At NorthStar Recovery Center, we see clients who are, on the surface, struggling with substance abuse but, underneath, have a history of trauma. We believe in holistic treatment that not only helps clients resolve surface-level issues but also provides ways to address the deep underlying causes of their mental health and addiction challenges.

As a result, we offer trauma-informed care and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Trauma-informed care is ingrained in our therapy programs. Our staff understands the connection between trauma and addiction, and we offer counseling that takes this into consideration. The NorthStar Recovery team recognizes the different reactions to trauma and aims to help clients feel comfortable and understood through therapy and holistic treatments. EMDR is a therapy that is specifically offered to clients with a history of trauma. It helps clients to reprocess their trauma through specific eye movements while accessing different memories. Both EMDR and trauma-informed care are helpful in aiding our clients to heal and reframe the trauma they have experienced in their past.

Group and Family Therapy Programs for a Supportive Recovery Community

At NorthStar Recovery Center, our therapy programs include group and family therapy. We believe that addiction thrives in isolation. Group and family therapy, therefore, provides a start to connecting with others as clients heal from addiction. It is an ideal place for patients to learn improved communication and listening skills and gain an understanding that they are not alone.

Group Therapy Programs for Peer Support and Healing

Every group therapy session is different based on the goal of the session and who is involved. However, each has a similar format and incorporates multiple people with one or more counselors. Within these sessions, patients are asked to listen to others’ experiences and share their own. The counselors aid the session and help clients communicate and work through challenges that are met during the group session.

By listening to others and sharing, patients received peer support. This support and knowing they are not alone is important in addiction and mental health treatment. Additionally, listening to others’ challenges and their potential solutions often helps them heal, giving them a new outlook on their own challenges.

Family Therapy for Inclusive Recovery Support

Each patient that we see at NorthStar Recovery has connections outside of treatment. This often includes family connections that can both help or hinder their recovery. As a result, we offer family therapy. Family therapy helps integrate the family into the healing process. While it is focused on the patients themselves, families are encouraged to participate in healing. This helps patients have support and understanding both while they are in treatment and beyond. In addition, it aids in healing the entire family, which helps patients themselves to heal their mental health and addiction challenges.

Holistic and Spiritual Development Therapy Programs

At NorthStar Recovery Center, we aim to heal the whole person. Therefore, we offer therapy programs that include integrative and holistic therapies. In addition, we have a robust aftercare program that helps patients continue receiving care and support even after leaving our more intensive programs. Even after treatment, we aim to be a light and guide for our patients. 

Integrative Therapies: Mindfulness, Meditation, and 12-Step Programs

Our integrative therapy programs include mindfulness, meditation, and 12-Step programs. For many of our patients, these are new experiences. However, we believe that they help patients build self-awareness, improve their overall health, and have support that aids them in their long-term recovery. 

Mindfulness is a skill that means being aware of a given moment. A person can be mindful of their surroundings, their internal dialogue, or sensations in the body. As an integrative therapy, mindfulness helps clients to connect the dots for themselves. Clients learn to be in touch with their feelings, pay attention to their thoughts, and have improved awareness of their environment. All of these help them to make different choices regarding substance abuse and improve their mental health. 

Meditation, while similar to mindfulness, is primarily about focus. Through meditation, individuals learn to focus on their breathing, sensations in the body, and even sounds around them. Meditation is a skill that helps with stress reduction and improves overall health. These are very important in life and particularly important for patients who are facing a significant amount of change through rehab. 

Building a Long-Term Recovery Network Through Aftercare and Alumni Programs

In our treatment programs, patients learn to build relationships and community. However, we believe that rehab should not be the end of these networks. As a result, we encourage and help our patients to build long-term relationships in their lives. One way we do so is by offering extensive aftercare and alumni programs. 

In our aftercare and alumni programs, clients are offered an opportunity to stay engaged in the community of NorthStar Recovery Center. We offer peer support groups and alumni meet-ups where patients can stay in contact with others who have gone through rehab and are in recovery. These programs help patients stay engaged in the community, help others, and receive support no matter where they are on their journey to healing.