Clinical Practices

Strategies and tools for treating
behavioral health disorders.

People with co-occurring disorders typically have multiple needs. Like everyone, they also have their own unique preferences and values, which influence their goals. Interventions, therefore, must be highly individualized and tailored to each client.

Reflective Listening Helps Build Rapport
Clients with co-occurring disorders often complain that treatment professionals don't listen to them. One active-listening technique can remedy this problem.

Payoff Matrix Helps Clients Make Changes
A few tried-and-true practices can help clients struggling with addictions or chronic illnesses resolve to take the steps needed to change their behaviors and improve their health.

Program Integrates DBT, Twelve Steps
Developed for clients with multiple diagnoses, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy has been shown to be effective in addiction treatment. A new program unites the therapy with traditional approaches to addiction recovery.

Treating Adolescent Conduct Disorder
The symptoms of conduct disorder seriously interfere with a teen's positive connection to home, school, or community.

Knowing Your Treatment Team Role Helps Build Client Rapport
Employment specialists have a unique role on the treatment team. Review of a few core precepts can help these specialists strengthen their relationships with clients who have co-occurring disorders.

Keeping Clients Motivated to Pursue Recovery
Clients' confidence can ebb and flow over time. The authors of Illness Management and Recovery offer a few strategies for keeping clients motivated to gain skills and reach their personal recovery goals.

Help IPS clients without directing them
When concerned about a client's choices, it can be difficult not to impose your own wishes. Here are a few tips for effectively working with your supported employment clients.

Finding the Best Treatment for CODs
The number of treatment options for co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders can seem overwhelming. However, keeping in mind a few key factors and accepted approaches can help you select the right treatment.

Model Shows Promise in Reducing Harm, Risk for HIV and HCV
Recent clinical trial of the STIRR model indicate increased rates of testing and immunization and increased knowledge of HCV among participants with severe mental illness and co-occurring disorders. Learn more

Key Resource Updated and expanded, Integrated Dual Disorders Treatment contains nearly a decade of new research. Fact Sheets Download these PDFs for more information about the following disorders: Post-traumatic stress disorder Panic disorder Social anxiety disorder Generalized anxiety disorder Obsessive compulsive disorder Depression Dysthymia Bipolar disorder Schizophrenia Schizoaffective disorder This fact sheet can help explain the causes of co-occurring disorders: The Stress-Vulnerability Model of Mental Illness

Medications Play a Key Role in Treatment

Prescribed medications can reduce symptoms and prevent relapses of a psychiatric disorder. Medications can also help patients minimize cravings and maintain abstinence from addictive substances. Learn more

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

CBT is a well-established evidence-based practice for both substance use and psychiatric disorders. Learn more

• Webinar Q&A: Applying CBT
• Written Plan Helps Clients Note Relapse Triggers
• CBT Technique Helps Guide Decision Making

Treating Trauma

Tools and advice for treating clients who have experienced a traumatic event. Learn more

• Engaging Teens in Treatment for Trauma
• Screening Tools Help in Assessing Trauma
• Families can gain skills to cope with loved one's PTSD
• A PTSD Survivor's Story: A Soldier's Account

Engaging Families

Involving client families in therapy can improve communications, reduce stress, and help your client's recovery from co-occurring disorders. Learn more

• Getting Family Members Involved in Your Client's Recovery
• Family Therapy: Tips to Improve Communication
• Nine Strategies for Families Helping a Loved One in Recovery
• The Stress-Vulnerability Model of Co-occurring Disorders