At Cliffside Malibu, residents are offered individual therapy sessions (including equine therapy) at least five times per week. Individual therapy provides the opportunity for primary counselors to review with residents specific treatment goals, individual therapy issues, relationship issues and discharge plans, and is a place where residents are encouraged to explore deeper issues pertinent to recovery.

Residents are encouraged to use individual therapy as a means to share these deeper issues in group process meetings as a means to gain group support and feedback. For instance, in individual therapy a patient may identify a traumatic experience which exacerbates his or her using and impeded recovery. Individual therapy is the place to become aware of and desensitized to such traumatic events and group process can then be utilized for healing purposes and additional support.

Cliffside Malibu is a residential treatment and extended care facility for adults with drug or alcohol dependencies including individuals who need a safe detoxification process. Our treatment philosophy is holistic, which we provide by combining Western and Eastern medicines, multi-modal psychotherapy, spiritual opportunities, and guidance with nutrition and exercise. Our weekly schedule includes, group therapy, individual rehabilitation therapy, art and equine therapy; acupuncture, yoga, massage and meditation; educational workshops and regular 12-step meetings.

We don’t believe in punishing people for their addictions; the process of rehabilitating from dependency problems is challenging enough. That’s why our clients are treated with respect and provided luxury amenities to help us achieve one of our primary goals: to ensure the highest level of comfort possible while working toward lasting sobriety.

With the creation of injectable drugs such as morphine and it’s refined
version, heroin abuse became widespread during the later part of
the 19th century, and the beginning of the 20th century. Prescribed by
doctors and pharmacists for a variety of ailments, and hawked as a
cure-all by traveling salesman and con men, the use of heroin, and other
narcotics grew rapidly.

Little was really known at the time about the dangers of heroin
abuse, as at the time it was considered a “safer, non-addictive” form of
morphine. With a large part of the population using heroin, abuse
and addiction were beginning to spread across the nation in epidemic
proportions. By 1903, there were thousands addicted and heroin
abuse was now considered a national problem.

In 1920, Congress made the sale of heroin and other like narcotics
illegal, and placed stricter control on their distribution. And by 1923,
The U.S. Treasury Department’s newly formed Narcotics Division, had
officially began the war on drugs by banning all legal narcotics sales.
With the closure of these shops the street dealer was born. In 1924, The
Heroin Act was signed into law, making the manufacture, and possession
of heroin illegal. It would be too little, too late, as by 1925, there
were an estimated 200,000 people addicted just to heroin. Heroin abuse was
here to stay.

Today, in the 21st century, heroin abuse is still
prevalent, and the “war on drugs” continues. As long as there’s
addictive narcotics like heroin, abuse and addiction will always be
right behind.

Group therapy is an opportunity to explore and learn a variety of things about oneself that are otherwise difficult to access. In a group setting a person can learn more about how they react in relationships, personal boundaries and limit-setting tools, developing empathy for self and others, and building self-esteem. Group therapy is also an opportunity for individuals to hear other people’s struggles with alcohol/drugs, which can help with feeling of isolation and loneliness.

Core Groups
Core groups are designed to provide residents with a thorough education regarding their adddiction. Each group therapy session lasts ninety minutes, and is utilized as a learning platform from which residents become educated on various aspects of their disease. Common educational topics include early recovery skills, relapse prevention, co-occurring disorders, relationships in recovery, family systems, triggers, body chemistry and others. Other softer topics such as healthy lifestyles, stress reduction, “one day at a time”, and thought-stopping techniques are frequently covered.

The core group therapy program schedule is designed to deliver all relevant educational material during the course of the typical 30 day residential stay. Core groups (or other educational components) are delivered each morning, followed by a process group in the afternoon. Patients are not encouraged to process during the morning core group and instead are encouraged to process relevant material from the morning group/activity in the afternoon process group.

Process Groups
Cliffside’s process groups are designed as an open forum during which residents have the opportunity to process any issues and feelings relevant to recovery. While the group leader facilitates group process, content is driven by the needs and desires of residents. Process group is a forum where patients can discuss personal material, and group therapy program facilitators may also bring in simple topics to be discussed. Examples of these simple topics include anger, fear, forgiveness, gratitude and others related to recovery.

At Cliffside Malibu, we place special emphasis on family therapy. Over the course of three days, our family program educates, explores and breaks down existing issues.

Family Education Groups
Upon completion of the family component of the clinical program, residents and their family members have a solid education in the addiction process, the disease concept, the brain model, emotional byproducts, codependency and family systems. For instance, family members learn about symptoms of codependency including caretaking, low self worth, obsession and control. They are given the opportunity to identify their own denial, poor communication and weak boundaries and how addiction has resulted in lack of trust and anger. Speakers are frequently invited to present material on the treatment of families. Family education is presented prior to family process as the educational content and material often facilitates family process group by stirring emotional issues and reactions.

Family Process Groups
Building upon family education group, Cliffside Malibu’s family process groups provide a forum within which residents and their family members can process experiences and feelings in a safe and trusting environment. In most cases, family education stirs unexpressed feelings and experiences. Family process is the place where these feelings can be expressed in a healthy manner and the healing process begins. Family process is conducted in three separate groups (all members, patients only and family only). Family Process normally occurs during the afternoon of the second day of Cliffside Malibu’s three day family program, as trust between family members, residents and staff has been established.

Individual Family Therapy
Individual family sessions are offered during the last day of Cliffside Malibu’s three day family program. These sessions provide a safe place where material from resident’s Cliffside experience and family program can be processed and future goals established. Primary counselors and Cliffside Malibu’s family therapist may also make referrals to family members regarding aftercare and follow-up. If necessary, families are offered follow-up sessions to be conducted during the remainder of each resident’s stay.

Expressive Arts Therapy is an alternative modality for people to access aspects of themselves through art mediums. Verbal communication about one’s inner world can be challenging for most people but particularly for those who are just becoming sober. Art therapy provides a creative and non-threatening way to move beyond these limitations. With the guidance of an Art Therapist an individual can create bridges to their inner depths through their art and, in turn, bring their thoughts and feelings out into the open for exploration.

When residents first admit to Cliffside Malibu, a comprehensive psychiatric and psychological evaluation is used to develop a well-designed, individualized treatment plan. This evaluation includes a number of intake assessment and formal diagnostic measures. In those cases where the individual has a history of mental illness or where the individual has more complex needs, we frequently utilize outside professionals for diagnostic evaluation and assessment purposes. In cases involving cognitive considerations, a neuropsychatric assessment may also be necessary.

Equine Assisted Therapy is also an alternative modality to help individuals better understand themselves and how they relate in the world. Dialogue between the substance abuser and their family and friends is often negatively colored because of hurt feelings and troubled histories, making it difficult for the individual to accurately see how they operate in the world. The horse actually becomes a co-facilitator to the certified Equine Therapist. Because of their dependence on instinct and intuition, the horse is adept at reading non-verbal and environmental cues and reflecting back with responses. The absence of language helps the individual stay focused on the moment of this equine assisted therapy encounter, so they can bring clarity to previously unseen behavioral patterns.