Our Approach to Addiction Services
The Sameem Way
The Sameem Way is a personalized path to living a Healthy Living lifestyle. Healthy Living is the third of three phases of recovery and is the phase of maintaining a happy and healthy lifestyle after a substance addiction situation. At Sameem we understand each individuals recovery is unique and the greatest success comes from a personalized path to one's own Healthy Living lifestyle. Sameem has a proven track record of developing a personalized path to get people there!
Recovery paths are crafted by one of our licensed and experienced therapists who have long track records of successfully working with those recovering from substance abuse and dual diagnosis situations. Additionally, a key component to success is a patient's honest input and desire to change. Meeting and discussing progress is an integral part of the journey through the three phases to Healthy Living.
Those in the Healthy Living stage are not in crisis, but will want professional input and support to stay mentally healthy, connected, and sober. They want to move forward - to understand themselves better, heal old wounds, strengthen their relationships, and find meaning in their lives, so they participate in one or two Sameem services a week.
Why the Sameem Way matters
- Sameem Behavioral Health meets individuals where they are
- Sameem Behavioral Health supports individuals in times of calm and can mobilize quickly if an event could trigger an issue
- For over 3 decades Sameem's success and experience has been proven
Here are some examples of people on healthy living lifestyle paths
Jasmine
Jasmine is a first-time parent, dealing with a number of life changes and possible depression.
She attends couples therapy with her husband once a week and attends a therapeutic group with other women.
Henry
Henry has been at Sameem since high school, when he was using a number of substances. He’s now in his twenties, sober, and employed. He attends a long-term therapeutic group that’s been together for years.
He also receives MAT services to address his cravings.
Sam
Sam’s a high school student whose parents were worried about his substance use.
At Sameem, it became clear that he was self-medicating his anxiety. Now he’s in family counseling and attends a therapeutic group to address his anxiety.
Erin
Erin transitioned into Sameem from an in-patient detox to a higher level of support at Sameem during the pandemic.
Sober and no longer depressed, she attends two ongoing therapeutic groups a week.
How To Get Started
Treatment Steps
Initial Intake
The intake process is a supportive experience designed to understand each individual's unique needs. The initial session lasts 1-2 hours, involving the patient and often a family member.
The initial assessment is not a formal clinical evaluation, but a non-stressful chance to get to know the patient well enough to recommend an initial plan. It is also an opportunity to educate the patient and family about what to expect of the Sameem approach. At the end of the session, the patient has a treatment recommendation and schedule for the next three months.
Formal Evaluation
Over the initial three months of service, clinicians conduct a formal evaluation as part of treatment. This culminates with a meeting at the three month mark to review results, progress, and outline future needs. At this juncture, the patient has an individualized plan for programs and services going forward. The plan changes as the patient and life circumstances change.
Treatment Levels
Advancing from Intensive Support to Enhanced Support to Healthy Living is done at each individual's own pace.
Call To Get Started
What To Expect
Treatment Milestones To Healthy Living
Road to Healthy Living
People come into Healthy Living in discomfort rather than crisis. Healthy Living can take many forms. As one enters the third phase of recovery and begins Healthy Living, guidance and support in staying mentally healthy, connected, and sober is the premise of being in this phase.
Some in this stage feel a need for forward motion, to understand themselves better, heal old wounds, strengthen their relationships, and find meaning in their lives. Others may want to focus on a particular issue for a period of time - their relationship with their professional life, developing a sense of comfort in their own skin.
Some people enter at this level of support and continue with an Enhanced level of support. They transition from a higher level of support when the time is right. The point here is Sameem works with each individual to help them get to and maintain the Healthy Living lifestyle they want to live.
One of the things people will learn though, is when they are Healthy Living, Sameem is a place that can quickly support a higher level of support if and when future times become challenging or turn into a crisis. Sameem has also found tremendous success in maintaining individual progress and preventing sliding by blending participant groups based on people being in different parts of their journey. The power of sharing and resharing experiences in a blended environment provides a profound learning experience that supports and promotes change while maintaining growth.
TREATMENTS
Individual path's are again customized to what works best for them. Treatment continues to be less frequent as part of healthy living and their day to day is unimpacted. The type of support one may use is:
- Individual therapy
- A weekly therapeutic group meeting upon entering this phase
- MAT services
- Family counseling
- Harm Reduction group
HEALTHY LIVING GOALS & ACHIEVEMENTS
Whatever their goals, most people in Healthy Living grow in the these areas:
- Increase in self understanding and ability to regulate emotions and behavior
- Stronger connections to friends and family
- Optimism about the future and gratitude for the present
- Ability to achieve goals they set for themselves
- Reduced chance of serious relapse for those with substance use disorder
Enhanced Support
When the path is uphill, you need an extra hand
Maybe you’ve been on a smooth path but have encountered a job loss, sick or death of a loved one, or are facing a life changing event such as going off to college or a career change. Or you have just completed an Intensive outpatient or inpatient program.
When a higher level of support is needed to ensure you get on the path and stay on the path to Healthier Living, individuals benefit from an enhanced support programs. The Enhanced Support includes three to five services per week, as needed. Programs are always individualized to meet individual needs.
Here are some examples of what Enhanced Support might look like:
- Individual therapy, couples therapy, and a therapeutic group.
- Family therapy, two or three therapeutic groups, and medically-assisted treatment (MAT).
- Four therapeutic groups, plus individual therapy and MAT.
Intensive Support
If you fall, we’ll help you up
For those coming out of a detox program or residential program or those looking to avoid getting to the detox stage. Intensive support (inpatient or outpatient) provides a rigorous solution to changing ones life and improving their life.
Clients in our Intensive Support programs receive 10 or more hours of services each week to help them get back on track. As always, we customize programs to meet your needs. If your goal is to continue to work or attend classes, we can usually schedule to accommodate this.
Intensive support can be either inpatient or outpatient programs
Initial & Ongoing Check-ins and Evaluations
An initial evaluation with a patient is needed when they start their road to Healthier Living. A support program typically starts within 24-hours of this evaluation. Programs are customized based on an individuals need and their circumstances.
The initial three months also serve as a more complete evaluation. At the three month mark, you meet with a clinician to make a longer term plan. For some people, this meeting is a formality - a quick check-in.
For others, it’s a chance to review current well-being and decide whether progress or evolving needs should lead to any adjustments to services or level of program.
Clinical measures, including the ASAM Criteria, Brief Addiction Monitor (BAM), Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS), ensure continuous assessment throughout the patient's tenure.
Cataclysmic Addiction Incident
Prior to taking part in an Intensive In-Patient or Outpatient program half of folks face a serious health incident requiring hospitalization and detox. Detox is a 3-10 day event that removes most of the chemical addiction your body has for a particular substance. While this reduces the intensity of one's addiction it puts the individual in a healthier state to take the next step in beating ones addiction struggles. Before support can be properly provided all chemical dependancies need to be subdued.
For the other half of individuals they have reached rock bottom in other ways. The journey is the same to removing their substance addiction but they have the opportunity of avoiding detox and/or a serious health incident.
Seasons change and so do our lives; as changes occur, our need for support rises and falls. Sameem is here throughout your Healthy Living journey.
Ready to Make
a Change?
If you are ready to start your road to recovery from drug or alcohol addiction, Sameem Behavioral Health offers comprehensive care options to address the unique needs of each client. To start your journey to recovery today, call Sameem Behavioral Health at 617-964-1060.
We accept most insurance providers and can help you understand and maximize your coverage to minimize out-of-pocket expenses.