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square bulletMadrona Recovery Program Through a Trauma-Informed Lens

June 5, 2018

From Rachelann Bryant, MSW, Community Liaison, Madrona Recovery

Who We Are and Who We Serve

The Madrona Recovery program developed based on a recognized need for more secure residential services for youth in our community. Our professional development team set out to provide care from a clear trauma-informed lens. Throughout our professional experiences in education, addictions, and mental health care services, we have seen models of service delivery that served youth in a trauma-informed way, and have seen programs that did not meet this standard. Using trauma informed care (TIC) and a client-centered approach as a driving force, Madrona Recovery has been serving youth and families from across the state of Oregon for the last 7 months.

Madrona Recovery is a secure, 23-bed residential program offering mental health, trauma, and recovery services for adolescents 13–17 with an average length of stay of three weeks. Our space is designed to look and feel safe and comfortable, with spaces for youth to rest and visit as a community both indoors and outside. Our staff continue to work collaboratively with our youth to make improvements to the look and feel of the space.  We serve youth with a mental health primary diagnosis, a substance abuse diagnosis or dual diagnosis. During our admission process, we establish youth engagement in their recovery and ensure that youth know about our program and expectations. We also ensure they are fully informed that they are coming to residential treatment. Our clinicians help youth understand our level of care and are available to explain the recommendation that they receive this level of care.

We provide a full orientation session with youth and families during admission with the client’s therapist. We recognize and honor the myriad of feelings that youth and families are having during the admission process and are available to answer questions and fully explain everything that the youth can expect upon walking onto the secure unit.

Program Principles

Our programming is centered around skill building, emotional regulation, resiliency, conflict resolution, and communication with a framework of intentional healing and relationships as a strategy for long-term recovery. We utilize a Community Resiliency Model to explore themes of trauma, stress, and coping skills in a non-threatening and proactive way. Madrona Recovery staff are committed to nonviolent crisis intervention and trauma and resiliency informed practices. Through monthly all-staff trainings, Madrona Recovery’s direct care staff develop and hone skills in verbal de-escalation, motivational interviewing, culturally inclusive services, and other knowledge and skills to support a high level of confidence and competency. Our direct-care staff work closely with our clinical team to integrate clinical interventions within the milieu, providing for intensive and practical skill development and learning for the youth in our care.

Madrona Recovery youth work with a comprehensive Care Team consisting of direct-care staff, the client’s therapists, nursing staff, group counselors and our full-time psychiatric nurse practitioner. Our team uses evidence-based treatment modalities and works closely with the youth and family to develop a care plan that best fits their needs. Our clinical team works directly and often with our youth. Therapists facilitate Seeking Safety, process, or dialectical behavior therapy skills groups twice daily. Throughout treatment, our youth engage in individual, family, and group therapy. The milieu participates in a Community Meeting each morning and evening, often facilitated by youth in the Madrona Recovery community.

Goals for Our Clients

Our priorities are to support clients to develop protective factors, self-acceptance, relapse prevention and other coping skills to manage related symptoms or other mental health or chemical dependency diagnoses. Additionally, Madrona Recovery provides certified Trauma-Informed Consent-Based Yoga and Expressive Arts Therapy to support growing insight and coping skill development from a trauma-informed framework. Psychoeducation and recovery group topics include mindfulness, emotional regulation, conflict resolution, communication, healthy boundaries, self-care, long-term recovery, refusal skills, and much more.

Families are an important component of recovery. Our clinical team communicates often with families throughout treatment. Family visits and parent/guardian support groups are offered Sunday at noon and each Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Madrona Recovery uses a trauma-informed lens because it maintains a client-centered focus, helps us to continually meet client’s where they are at, and supports our team to accomplish our mission to provide the highest quality care that stabilizes youth, educates families, and ensures the long-term success of our youth and their families.

For more information please reach out to me, Rachelann Bryant, at 503-749-0200 ext 510 or email me at rbryant@madronarecovery.com.