Values, Philosophy, and Evidence-based Care

Operational Overview

AdvancedMD How-tos

How to do everything from add new patients to process a refund in AdvancedMD.

New Patient Admissions (from Phone Call to First Day)

Neuroplasticity: The Ever-changing Brain

This lesson focuses on one of the essential tenants of evidence-based care: recovery is always possible through our brains' neuroplasticity.

Neuroplasticity: When Change Is Hard

While our brains never lose the ability to change, our brains also don't want to constantly be changing. That would be exhausting and defeat the purpose of learning . When we learn things that we're quite certain are true or useful in our lives, our brains "hardwire" those pathways in. This hardwiring is not permanent, but it does make change more difficult. In this lesson, we'll learn about the challenges of thought and behavior pattern change.

Moving Away from an Overemphasis on a Biomedical Model

While the average discussion of root causes in for mental health and addiction issues mentions a biopsychosocial approach, within the American behavioral health system, there is a strong tendency to overemphasize the biology component and underemphasize the psychosocial components when the exact opposite is the case. This lesson will highlight why an overemphasis on biology in not scientifically sound and what that means for how we approach therapeutic delivery and recovery.

The Importance of Sleep to Help Our Brains Learn & Recover

Many of those struggling with mental health and addiction issues don't get enough sleep or good sleep. This creates a negative feedback loop or lack of or poor sleep is detrimental to one's mental health. We take a look at the science of sleep and recommendations for good sleep habits for our kids that support recovery.

A Brief Look at the Neurobiology of Trauma

We'll explore this topic further later on when we discuss effective therapeutic interventions for trauma. Here we want to take a quick look at the neuroscience behind what causes it and methods of healing it.

Trauma, Memory Reconsolidation, & Schemas

Individual memories, memory networks, and schemas are essential elements in the neurobiology of recovery, especially in regards to trauma. We take an in-depth look at the science and how it applies to therapy.

The Neurobiology of Learning and Development

Ultimately, therapy is a process of learning. New knowledge and new skills to replace or build upon old or maladaptive ones. By understanding learning and development in the brain, we can deploy evidence-based techniques to deliver the most effective therapeutic interventions possible.

Putting It All Together

An Overarching Evidence-based Framework

What works in behavioral therapy is consistent across most well-known modalities and approaches and fits what we know about the neurobiology of thought, behavior, and change. This lesson will examine the commonalities and then explore how the neurobiology guides our choice of intervention.

Exposure Therapy, Restructuring, and Emotional Regulation for Trauma

Using coherence therapy and exposure therapy to effectively treat trauma within an PHP/IOP setting.

DBT and CPT for Suicidality

Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy for Suicidality

Addressing Substance Use and Prevention Through the Seven Challenges

Addressing Obsessions and Compulsions

Supporting Patients on the Autism Spectrum

For patients on the higher functioning end of the autism spectrum, what do we need to know, and how do we help.

The Myth of Permanent Defects

The Myths of Polyvagal and Associated Body-based Trauma Theories

The Myth of the Undeveloped Teenage Brain

The Myth of Learning Styles & Multiple Intelligences

Modalities with Pseudoscientific Components

EMDR, Tapping, Somatic Therapies, Internal Families Systems (IFS) and others are covered.

A Model for Processing

How to Deliver Engaging Group Therapy

Session Structure & Using the Curriculum

It's not enough to merely go through the tasks in the curriculum. It's critical that we understand the underlying principles of how sessions are structure so that we can adjust or modify as needed to best fit the needs of the kids in the session.

Investment, Capital, and Financial Models

Here we cover a general overview of organizational approaches to investment, capital, and financial models in behavioral health as well as how they apply specifically to Bricolage.

New Patient Admissions (from Phone Call to First Day)

Daily Tasks and Schedule

Important Contacts