TREATMENT
PROGRAMS
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EMOTIONAL HEALTH
Chemical Dependency can have complex emotional underpinnings
which require equally complex interventions and treatments.
That is why at ECHO all therapy sessions are conducted by licensed
clinical therapists. At ECHO we utilize a wide array of interventions
including:
Psychiatric Evaluation
- Upon admission, all
clients are given a complete psychiatric
evaluation by our Medical Director, a Board
Certified Adolescent Psychiatrist with a specialty in addictionology.
Psychological Assessments
- At ECHO, each client is given a comprehensive psychological
evaluation by a licensed clinical psychologist. This is coupled
with the evaluation conducted by the adolescent psychiatrists,
and on- going assessments conducted by licensed marriage and family
therapists. Collectively, these professionals provide the most
comprehensive assessment possible.
Individual Therapy
- Individual sessions are conducted by licensed therapists only.
ECHO does not use para-professional counselors to provide psychotherapy
sessions with participants or their families. Individual sessions
are key to processing the thoughts, emotions and challenges that
arise during the recovery process.
Group Therapy
- The importance of peer interaction as a tool for recovery when
working with youth can not be stressed enough. The power of peer
relationships is stronger at this stage of human development than
at any other. Therefore, at ECHO, we conduct appropriate therapeutic
interactions using a social group modality. With proper adult
guidance, peers frequently have a very positive impact on each
other.

Family Therapy
- Chemical dependency affects the entire family. It is important
that, whenever possible, family members be involved in treatment.
If family members are unable to attend sessions due to work, geographic
location or for other reasons, our family therapist will conduct
telephonic sessions, or seek other appropriate ways to involve
family members. We offer individual and multi-family sessions
as well as parenting and education classes.
Animal Assisted Therapy
– Research has shown the use of animal assisted therapy
(AAT) as a recovery tool is highly effective. AAT provides participants
with additional opportunities for awareness of key social communication
factors that effect relationships, and provides clear feedback
on the impact their behaviors have on others. AAT has been proven
to increase verbal interactions, attention skills, and vocabulary,
and decrease feelings of isolation and anxiety. All AAT is provided
by a Certified AAT Specialist.

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Expressive Arts Therapies
- The purpose of Expressive Arts therapies is to provide youth with alternative methods of expression that will reaffirm their emotional experiences, and thought processes. Through art, music, writing, drama and depth therapy youth can utilize creative ways to communicate difficult thoughts and feelings that they might not otherwise be able to articulate. As a result of these interventions, youth begin to re-experience emotional materials in a more present and tangible way that allows for corrective experiences within the creative work itself. ECHO utilizes licensed, credentialed and master’s level therapists to evoke and process material gleaned from creative expression.
Art Therapy - At ECHO, the clinical specialty of art therapy is facilitated by our board certified art therapist. Like many of the creative arts therapies, these are therapies, not arts and crafts projects. Intrapsychic materials are evoked through the use of art. The therapist then works through the issues that arise using the therapeutic process.

View an online art gallery of work created by program participants at ECHO
Drama Workshop -
Our Drama Therapy Coordinator at ECHO works in a group process to recreate different individual, family and social dynamics as they emerge in treatment. ECHO’s Drama Workshops are guided by the youth in treatment and are remarkable opportunities for corrective emotional experiences of past events.
Music Therapy -
As an alternative form of communication and expression, music therapy assists youth in tapping into the core emotional and behavioral elements largely overlooked as a result of their alcohol or drug use. As with other forms of expressive arts therapies, youth who have difficulty responding to traditional talk therapies, thrive in this alternative expressive modality.

Dream Project
- The therapeutic dream project is an interpretative group serving to creatively delve into the images and symbols found in a youth’s dream life. The group explores and identifies ways in which dreams inform our waking hours. This expressive therapy group is conducted by masters-level or board-registered therapists.

Writing Workshop -
Writing Workshops are another component in our Expressive Arts Therapies Program. Opportunities for the use of Impulse Writing, Metaphor exercises and Writing/Listening activities assist youth in identifying and expressing a variety of thoughts and feelings that aid in their recovery process.
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