' Tis the Season

Both anecdotal evidence and numerous studies support the idea that the holidays represent a time in which American’s experience a rise in depression, anxiety and substance abuse. The data that supports such a belief is almost exclusively aimed at adults, without consideration to adolescents. According to Cole Rucker, co-founder of ECHO MALIBU, such an oversight can be dangerous. “We see the holidays as potentially a very difficult time for adolescents. Many are on winter break with little supervision. They may be alone with difficult thoughts or feelings that they were to busy to experience during their last semester of school.”

Dr. Jeffrey Nalin, Executive Director of ECHO MALIBU adds, “As with adults, adolescents may experience great disappointment during the holidays if they’re expecting a holiday that is a direct reflection of what the media has told them is ideal. Most families fall short.” He goes on to state, “Teens may also pick up on the anxiety of adults, experience direct or indirect tensions around dealing with difficult visiting relatives, or simply be impacted by the collective stress the holidays can bring."

Rucker adds, “The bottom line is that if you are talking about at-risk youth, any added stressor can serve as a trigger for substance abuse or other problem behaviors. Parents should watch for signs that indicate that their child might be in trouble.” According to Dr. Nalin, “Some of the signs parents should look for include: changes in sleeping habits or appetite, social isolation or retreat, changes in dress or appearance, a change in friends, or loss of interest in pursuits that have been of importance. It isn’t always easy for parents to determine the nature or severity of an emerging problem.”

In an effort to assist parents, ECHO MALIBU will have extra counselors on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide assistance to families who may be in crisis. Parents or youth may call 800 780 ECHO to speak with a counselor free of charge.

Alternative Therapies for Mind, Body, and Spirit:

Young minds and bodies can be dramatically impacted by drug and alcohol abuse. By the time adolescents are admitted for residential addiction treatment, many have become cut off from everything that matters in their lives, including their parents, friends, and themselves. In order to help teens reconnect with their goals and passions ECHO MALIBU not only uses traditional therapeutic modalities and 12-Step meetings, but also alternative therapies like expressive and body therapies.

ECHO MALIBU’s unique philosophy grounded in empowering youth to make better decisions has established the treatment program as a leader in the field. The way Echo Malibu infuses this philosophy into treatment is by hiring top professionals in the field who have devoted their careers exclusively to the treatment of adolescents. This team of professionals provides daily individual therapy, intensive family therapy, and incorporates expressive, creative, and body arts that tap into new areas of each teen’s psyche.

“When we ask an adolescent to go to rehab, the truth is we’re asking them to do nothing less than change their world view,” says Jeff Nalin, Psy.D., co-founder and executive director of Echo Malibu. “We’re asking them to take a different look at their behaviors and their lives, and have the revelation that life going forward can be different. To ask them to change their world view, you have to offer a huge variety of services and activities that appeal to all variations of individuals. After all, this isn’t a factory – we’re dealing with human beings, each of whom will connect with a different piece of the program.”

Expressive Therapies

Alternative therapies in the creative arts open another avenue of self-exploration and self-expression for adolescents who often withdraw in traditional talk therapy. Rather than forcing a conversation with a youth who is emotionally withdrawn or who communicates best visually or kinesthetically, expressive therapies encourage young people to learn new skills and express themselves through art, writing, drama, music, or other experiential outlets.

Expressive therapies have proven particularly beneficial for children and adolescents who have experienced abuse, trauma, a separation or divorce, or loss of a loved one, or who have issues stemming from adoption, social isolation, learning differences, or autism-related disorders. Studies have shown, for example, that expressive writing can improve mood, decrease symptoms of depression, boost memory and grade point average, and strengthen immune system functioning. Another favorite among young people, animal-assisted therapy, has been shown to help young people establish healthy relationships, build trust, improve communication, and reduce feelings of isolation.

Echo Malibu offers an expansive selection of expressive therapies, ranging from art, drama, music, and dance to poetry, writing, and canine and equine therapy, that far surpasses the offerings at most other youth addiction treatment programs.

“The expressive arts are essential to our treatment philosophy,” says Dr. Nalin. “Teenagers are less defensive and make emotional connections they haven’t experienced before when they are given the opportunity to express themselves nonverbally. Our goal in offering a broad range of therapies is to find the one or two that make our students tick. If music therapy awakens something in you, we’ll get you more of that. If you are closed off to music therapy, let’s try something else.”

Body Therapies

Research has already proven that massage, acupuncture, biofeedback, and chiropractic care serve critical functions in relieving tension, improving circulation and flexibility, and strengthening the immune system. But a more recent development is the use of these body therapies in the treatment of substance abuse and co-occurring mental health issues.

Residential treatment centers are gravitating more and more toward the use of body therapies in the treatment of drug-addicted and alcoholic teens. For example, Echo Malibu offers a wide range of body-centered therapies, including nutritional assessments, acupuncture, chiropractic care, biofeedback, yoga, martial arts, and massage therapy. Standing in the face of criticism that these types of therapies make Echo a “health spa,” Dr. Nalin points out that more and more facilities are using body therapies as genuine clinical interventions.

“Body therapies have proven to be so important for teens dealing with trauma, showing them the definition of appropriate touch and helping them understand how they hold trauma in the body and how it can be released in a safe environment,” explains Dr. Nalin. “I’ve seen teens have an epiphany about what they’re holding in their bodies from one acupuncture session.”

Cole Rucker, M.A., the co-founder and chief executive officer of Echo Malibu, adds, “We’re not running a day spa. Every thing we do has therapeutic value – for example, many of the body therapies assist with the process of detox and aid in recovery.”

Recreational Therapy

When focusing on the depth and severity of the emotional and psychological needs of young substance abusers, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that these struggling adolescents are still teenagers. And teenagers need to have fun and remember that one of the upsides of youth is the freedom to explore new activities, meet new people, and enjoy life.

At drug rehab centers like Echo Malibu, this need for fun and social development is not lost on the staff and founders of the program. While the teens’ needs are satisfied with exciting outings like beach trips, surfing lessons, sporting events, day trips to amusement parks, sober parties, and horseback riding, the staff is satisfied knowing that these activities are an integral part of the therapeutic process. In addition to 12-Step work and social skills training, these recreational activities introduce young people to constructive ways to utilize their personal time, prevent boredom, and develop new drug-free interests.

“Healthy peer interaction and a sober social life are critical if a young person hopes to achieve lasting sobriety,” explains Dr. Nalin. “If a teen feels comfortable in his own body, that’s one less reason to turn to alcohol or drugs to fit in, and one less reason to relapse into old patterns.”

Echo Malibu also sponsors a program called SURF, in which sober surfers teach young people to ride the waves at southern California’s best beaches. “The SURF program introduces our students to a fun, light-hearted beach activity and hip young people,” says Rucker. “The message is that being sober doesn’t mean you won’t have anything interesting to do, or that you can’t hang out with popular, dynamic peers.”

When combined with daily individual therapy, intensive family systems work, and 12-Step meetings, alternative therapies can greatly increase a drug rehab program’s ability to turn young people’s lives around. By offering enough creative outlets that something is sure to resonate with each adolescent, addiction treatment programs like Echo Malibu are a great place for teens to reclaim their lives, free of drugs and alcohol.

Echo Alumni Association/Parents Council Publish 4th Annual Art Calendar

The ECHO MALIBU Alumni Association working in conjunction with the ECHO MALIBU Parent's council published the fourth annual Youth Art Calendar in November of 2008. The calendar features the artwork of ECHO graduates.

The article includes a letter from Executive Director, Jeff Nalin which reads:

Dear Friends of ECHO,

It is with great pride that we present to you ECHO MALIBU's fourth annual youth art calendar. This project is a joint effort by our alumni association and parent's council. These efforts were supported in full by our talented team of expressive arts therapists. The end result represents many hours of hard work by all.

We are honored to be associated with so many gifted people who have devoted their lives to helping youth obtain and sustain both sobriety and serenity. It is a privilege to be part of this effort and to be afforded another opportunity to be of service.

The calendar is available free of charge to all friends of ECHO. If you would like one, please drop us a note and request your complimentary copy.

Calendar Images: MOSAIC ME by Chanel N. of Charolette, North Carolina (left) and the other is called LIONIZED by Tiana B. of Los Angles California (right)