Primary Addiction Treatment

The Farley Center recognizes addiction as a primary disease. We follow the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) criteria for assigning the appropriate level of service to patients entering treatment. This internationally recognized assessment tool allows us to do effective treatment planning and documentation and assists us in making decisions about continued service or discharge through on-going patient assessment.

We honor a comprehensive approach, incorporating the evidenced based practices of  12-step facilitation, cognitive behavioral therapy, and a variety of pharmacotherapies. Patients learn how to understand addiction as a disease, address the denial of their disease, reconnect their feelings, and identify the core issues that perpetuate their need to use. Working collaboratively with peers and licensed therapists, patients develop relapse prevention strategies, acquire coping skills, and involve their families in their recovery goals.

Farley has general medicine and psychiatric capability. Sometimes traumatic experiences in life can alter the way people cope with stress and, in turn, affect recovery. Chronic pain, depression, anxiety, and medical conditions all require specialized assessment and treatment.  Supportive needs vary from individual to individual.

Our multidisciplinary team, which includes the addiction medicine physician, addiction psychiatrist, psychologists, licensed clinicians, nurses, and patients, allows us to maximize a tridimensional treatment approach that involves the body, mind, and soul.

The Military Support Path

Perhaps it is the ultimate irony that those who bravely step forward to protect our country are at such high risk for mental health and substance use disorders.

It is no surprise that drugs and alcohol are commonly used as a coping mechanism in the military population.  In fact, prescription drug use in the military tripled from 2005 to 2008, and 27 percent of Army soldiers screened 3–4 months after returning home from active duty met the criteria for alcohol abuse. Service members who served post-9/11 develop substance use disorders at twice the rate of those who served from 1990 to 2001. While using drugs or alcohol to cope is not unique to the military, the stressors and triggers to which military personnel respond must be understood and closely considered when developing a course of treatment.

Whether you are an active-duty service member, reserve military personnel, retired military veteran, or a dependant, our staff has experience navigating the circumstances that come with:

• Multiple or drawn-out deployments
• Disruptive changes in family dynamics
• The emotional stresses of duty, including combat exposure, bodily injuries, and violence
• Issues related to full-time employment in the service
• Transitioning back to civilian life

Those who are in treatment participate in men’s and women’s groups, pain management therapies, grief and loss groups, defenses training, relapse prevention, and appropriate experiential therapies.

Group Treatment

The heart of alcoholism and addiction treatment has always been one person with alcohol and drug problems helping another. Group work, facilitated by an experienced, professional, and compassionate therapist, uses the strengths of participants to heal the wounds of addiction and alcoholism and allow for growth and recovery.

Participants are taught the skills necessary for group therapy and are supported and encouraged as they face the challenges of early sobriety.  Decades of experience have taught us that the pain of addiction, the negative consequences of the illness, and the unmanageability of participants’ lives can be addressed in constructive and supportive ways that allow the recovery process to begin.

When you come to The Farley Center for treatment, you can find the strength you need to overcome addiction in our specialized group therapy sessions. Our peer support programs have forged lasting friendships among our alumni, confirming our belief that our residents are our family.

Experiential Therapy

At The Farley Center at Williamsburg Place, the intensive 12-step focus on recovery and cognitive behavioral therapy is reinforced by a commitment to experiential therapies that deepen the psychological and spiritual journey of recovery. Brain research reinforces the effectiveness of this approach, which not only aids the patient cognitively but also stimulates different areas of the brain and enables the patient to more effectively “inhabit” their bodies and mind unaffected by chemicals. Examples of the experiential therapies offered at The Farley Center include mandala therapy and activity therapy.

Mandala Therapy

The Sanskrit word mandala is loosely translated as “circle” but is far more than a simple circular shape. The mandala is used as a tool to help patients realize that addiction is a “feeling” disease. By participating in mandala journaling, they can associate these new feelings with recovery.

Activity Therapy

Activity therapy, long a staple at The Farley Center, remains a major therapeutic modality. Intensive processing in an outdoor setting and identification of personality tendencies that enhance recovery are central to this experiential therapy.

Continuing Care Management

Treatment at The Farley Center allows patients to experience a semi-insulated environment of recovery. They engage in recovery skill building, allowing them the opportunity to apply what they learn in real-life experiences. This is the first step to long-term sobriety. However, 70 percent of recovery occurs after leaving an inpatient treatment facility. Continuing care management is an important aspect of recovery. Our care managers work closely with the patient, and providers in the community help provide continued support to our alumni once they complete their treatment at Farley. Continuing care begins the moment the patient enters treatment. This includes group therapy, a clinical aftercare group, individual counseling, family therapy, relapse prevention, and AA/NA meetings.

To learn more about our program or to schedule an admission, please contact us.