Our Therapy Approach
Beatitude House Treatment Protocol

Process

Assessment

Planning

Techniques

Safety

Evaluation

Safe and respectful. We believe that the physical, emotional, and spiritual well being of our client (family) is the most important component in treatment.

Philosophy

We provide families safe and effective attachment treatment derived from a systemic perspective involving assessment and interventions in the spiritual, emotional, and relational realms with a Christian worldview. The family is considered an integral part of the treatment team and all decisions about treatment take into account their needs, opinions and most of all, safety. Our treatment is never coercive. The entire family’s well being is our utmost concern. The goal of treatment is to provide positive relationship changes in the individuals and family. The Beatitude House philosophy of treatment is anchored in the knowledge, belief and experience that our Lord Jesus Christ is the ultimate source of healing and truth and that we are His instrument.

Services Offered

• Individual, Marital and Family Psychotherapy

• Attachment Treatment- Individual, Adult, Couples and Family

• Inner Healing Prayer

• Workshops and training in Attachment Issues and Disorder, Inner Healing Prayer from an Attachment Perspective, God’s Blueprint for Graceful Parenting®, and Becoming a Love and Logic Parent ®

Beatitude House works with clients with a wide range of attachment problems; from relationship issues to severe attachment disorder (level 3). We are a not for profit (501c3) outpatient Christian counseling center.

Description of process

Intake/Admission- A family’s suitability for treatment at Beatitude House is determined after the application packet has been received. We spend a good bit of time on the phone trying to determine if there is a mutual fit for treatment.

Our application packet requests:

• Symptom checklist
• Child biography,  parent autobiographies, day in the life of the child
• School reports,  psychological evaluations and reports
• Medical history- past and current medication, treatment history and all prior    diagnoses
• Developmental history from conception-this includes birth family history
• History of trauma, disruptions and moves

This presents us with a good beginning picture of the family before they arrive.  We continue discussion with the parents for concise explanations regarding trauma history.  If a client does not have attachment/relationship issues or attachment disorder referrals will be suggested elsewhere. The risks and benefits of this kind of emotional treatment are discussed openly.  If in our opinion a child or other family member is not stable enough for treatment then other options are explored.

If the family does not appear motivated for the difficult work in store, other possibilities are discussed such as marital counseling in their hometown.

Assessment

We continue to review all the information with the parents and hear their perceptions, attitudes and emotions in person on the first day of the intensive.  This enhances the joining/rapport building process. A systems approach to treatment allows us to continue to assess all members of the family; their needs, behavior, patterns of communication, how they impact one another and how that affects the unit as a whole.  Assessment of the progress, which has occurred (or lack of) during treatment, is a critical part of moving forward towards what ever may next be indicated. This progressive approach insures greater success and is ultimately the most respectful posture we can take with the family.

Treatment Planning

Ongoing assessment and subsequent treatment planning and  modification unfold throughout the entire intensive.  The basic road map is laid out with the parents at the start and then revised as needed.  Treatment planning involves the child at the start of the intensive (depending upon resistance) by asking them how their life is going, are they interested in working on it, and in what areas do they think they need help. This starts a problem list or contract, which we add to as the issues go deeper. Ongoing contracting occurs during all phases of the intensive in order to promote honesty and instill feelings of ownership for the family regarding the outcome of their treatment.

Treatment Techniques

* Therapeutic Cradling –simulates mother/infant interactions, healthy touch, limbic

resonance- never restraining or coercive.

* First year of life cycle- discuss what they needed and didn’t get even before birth

and the impact that has had on the relationship with adoptive parents.

* Sentence Completion Form-to assess functioning, identity and resistance.

* Problem list-created by child and therapist for rapport, , contracting and assessment

* Psychodrama – role play utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Exposure Therapy

* Cognitive Restructuring

* Inner Child Metaphor

* Narrative Therapy – storytelling:  returning to joy from 6 painful emotions.

* Book and video therapy for child and parents

* Contracting/joining- ongoing part of assessment and treatment planning

* Physical and emotional feeling identification and expression.

* Attunement- synchronizing containment and safe structure for expressing painful

emotions.

* Affect Regulation- enhances attunement and interactive quiet.

* Amends Process- apology, forgiveness and acceptance practice.

* Parent/child communication and reciprocity- synchronized storytelling.

* Marital/communication counseling.

* Parent’s childhood repair.

* Attachment Parenting- daily feedback, training and role plays.

* Educate parents about resources- how to create and utilize support back home

* Homework for parents and child – when indicated.

* Child’s respect and compliance practice in therapeutic respite home.

* Parents observing and practicing in same respite home.

* Inner Healing Prayer

* EMDR

Safety/risk management plan

We spend a lot of time with parents prior to treatment on the phone and e-mail so they arrive understanding what the treatment is and what it is not. We discuss the risks of deep emotional trauma recovery in clear terms and the importance of safe attachment figures in that recovery. Treatment is always delivered by myself with my wife (parent trainer) assisting.  When parents are not in the treatment room participating, they are watching via closed circuit TV in the next room. Holding is always done in a nurturing, cradling fashion and utilizes the parent(s) when indicated.  Treatment is never coercive or done against anyones wishes. We encourage an out of town therapist to join the family so they can learn how to best support the family back home.  We are available at any time (24hrs.) during the intensive if an emergency occurs.  We carefully discuss follow-up needs with the family at the end of the intensive.

Evaluation/follow up

To evaluate progress a post intensive questionnaire is filled out by the parents. The problem list is reviewed with family at the end of treatment in order to evaluate progress in the child problem areas. We follow up the intensive with a month of scheduled phone contact, which is included in the fee. We also encourage non-scheduled informal contact as needed for support.

Email us with any questions

More about the Beatitude House Christian mission

We are not a residential treatment center