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 Dual Diagnosis

Skyland Trail's dual diagnosis program is designed specifically for individuals who experience both a mental illness and substance use disorder. The unique needs of this population drive the treatment approach and intervention methods. The program combines best practices from the field of mental health. This creates a synergy to the Skyland Trail program better allowing recovery from these co-occuring disorders. In particular, Skyland Trail's approach to dual disorders include the most recent findings in the areas of:

  • Motivational Enhancement
  • Behavioral Skills Training
  • Neurocognitive Science
  • 12-Step Recovery
  • Harm-Reduction
  • Relapse Prevention


    • Skyland Trail integrates issues of substance abuse into all programming given that substance use disorders often co-occur with severe mental illness. When both problems are present, Skyland Trail considers each to be "primary." In addition to addressing substance use in core programming, Skyland Trail offers specific groups especially for dual disorderd individuals.

    Readiness Assessment and Development

    These two groups address clients who are either not contemplating that they have a substance abuse problem or who are ambivalent about their substance use. They are excellent groups for engaging clients who are not ready to make a commitment to recovery.

    The Readiness Assessment group helps the dual disordered individual with the help of the group leader to assess their life situation as it pertains to their overall goals. In this group, it is expected that the dual disordered individual will move from a stage in which they are not contemplating abstinence from alcohol and other drugs to a stage in which abstinence is contemplated.

    The Readiness Development group helps move clients from a stage in which they are contemplating abstinence to a stage in which they plan on how to achieve abstinence and then implement the plan.

    Substance Abuse Education

    The Substance Abuse Education group teaches clients about:

  • Harm reduction
  • Preventing relapse
  • Managing cravings
  • High-risk situations
  • Warning signs
  • Alternative healthy behaviors
  • Money Management


    • This group is appropriate for individuals who are contemplating changing their substance use to those who have already made change and would like to maintain it.

    Behavioral Skills Training Group for Substance Abuse

    Complimenting the Substance Abuse Education Group is the Behavioral Skills Training Group. This group teaches dual disordered individuals the behaviors needed for recovery. The skills taught include:

  • Harm reduction skills
  • Drug refusal skills
  • Getting a support person
  • Reporting symptoms and side effects
  • Social skills for healthy living


    • Similar to the Substance Education Group, this group is appropriate for those contemplating change to those who have changed their substance using behavior and would like to maintain that change.

    Step Study

    This group helps clients integrate the elements of 12-step recovery into their lives. In the process, it is hoped that clients will develop a working relationship with a 12-step recovery program and be further motivated to abstain from substance abuse. The Step Study is an ideal group for any individual who would like to incorporate a spiritual program into their recovery.

    Recovery Planning Group

    The purpose of this group is to prevent relapse through the promotion of healthy life choices. Relapse into drug and alcohol use can result from exposure to high-risk situations and/or the inability to cope with uncomfortable feelings. In the Recovery Planning Group, clients learn to use the High-Risk Situation Decision Tree developed at Skyland Trail to assess levels of risk inherent in certain situations and to formulate alternative behaviors. In addition, clients learn coping skills that allow them to manage their uncomfortable feelings. This approach to recovery planning is appropriate for any client regardless of their readiness to change their substance using behavior.

     

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    1903 North Druid Hills Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30319  •  (404) 315-8333