What was the personal spark that ignited the creation of Scottsdale Providence? Tell us about your professional journeys that ultimately led you to open the doors?

Dan: I became a social worker 20 years ago because I’m personally driven by the belief that people can heal and change in transformational ways. This belief sprung from my own recovery journey long before I earned my license or clinical skills. My sobriety was and remains the catalyst of my desire to help others. Early on, I recognized the limits of my experience, prompting me to work across diverse areas of community mental health, including with complex and stigmatized populations. These experiences opened my eyes and heart to how treating mental health, addiction and trauma concurrently can positively affect generations.

Alex: In 2016, the core founding team of Scottsdale Providence were all working in the field in various capacities and importantly, we are all personal friends in long-term recovery circles. We set out to build a treatment center where all people felt safe, cared for, supported yet challenged to grow, with a strong therapeutic community. I brought direct experience working with severely mentally ill clients which had taught me that rapport is as crucial to a client’s success as any other factor. Providence’s success comes from our ability to take evidence-based approaches and infuse them with authenticity, enthusiasm, and compassion, which appeals to clients who might fall through the cracks elsewhere.

What are some of the key therapeutic approaches used at Scottsdale Providence, and how do they contribute to the success of the clients?

Dan: Patient safety, physical and psychological, is paramount. Our team orientation promotes interprofessional collaboration and trust, ensuring patient-centered care aligned with individual needs.

From assessment through discharge, we address four domains in every treatment plan:

1. Physical and Psychiatric Wellbeing: Stabilization through an integrated health model managed by Dr. Steven Locnikar and Sabrina Norgood, PMNP includes medication management, exercise, nutrition, sleep, neurofeedback, and holistic interventions (acupuncture, breathwork, yoga).
2. Mind and Behaviors: CBT, DBT (skill building), Mindfulness and ACT (motivations/values) to develop insight and psychological flexibility, change maladaptive patterns, and strengthen emotional regulation in group and individual sessions.
3. Inner Self: Trauma therapies like EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, IFS, Deep Brain Reorienting, and Narrative therapies exploring identity, values, belief systems and aspirations. Art therapy, music, spirituality and psychodrama are also applicable.
4. Loss of Connection: 90-day extended care model with 12-step facilitation and immersion, family therapy and focus on prosocial behavior to build community.

We believe in our clients’ right to self-determination, working with clients to create treatment plans they understand, fostering genuine buy-in. This helps clients find and live their truth.

How has your personal recovery journey influenced your professional ability to provide tools and skills for clients to build meaningful healthy lives?

Alex: We know the courage and grit it takes to walk a recovery path one day at a time. We understand the fatal nature of untreated addiction and mental health issues and take our role as providers seriously. The combination of clinical knowledge paired with lived experiences provides our clients a sense of security and confidence that we have “walked the walk” and can offer a real solution to the challenges they face.

Recovery can be an isolating experience, but a strong community can be a cornerstone of success. How does the team at Scottsdale Providence cultivate a sense of community and support for clients?

Alex:  Cultivating community is one of our biggest strengths. I don’t think recovery really sticks unless you know you have got people in your corner after treatment ends. We have an alumni chat with over 250 people including staff and graduates who check in and offer support regularly. I’ve seen people plan meetups out of state, and some have gone on to start their own recovery or mental health groups where they live. We have a long list of alumni who can sponsor or act as mentors for clients once they graduate.

Dan: We also offer free lifelong aftercare to everyone who completes the program which includes weekly alumni meetings, monthly in-person alumni events and our annual camping trips. Our weekly alumni meetings are integrated with our current clients’ daily schedule to show that the connection doesn’t end when you walk out the door.

In the complex landscape of addiction and mental health, are there specific demographics or communities that you feel are currently being underserved? What do you see for the future for Scottsdale Providence?

Dan: In 2019, we identified a need to create a distinctive primary mental health program to run concurrently alongside our co-occurring substance use disorder program. We wanted to solve the puzzle on how to mimic the culture of 12-step communities for people with mental health concerns as there currently isn’t a “Mental Health Anonymous” organization. Some components, like trauma therapy and DBT, are applicable to all, but we knew it was necessary to design mental health specific curriculum, culture and support groups for aftercare. We discovered that leading with principles of authenticity, curiosity, accountability, perseverance and joy allowed our mental health clients to experience a treatment culture of their own that could guide and sustain recovery long after graduation. Our Mental Health PHP is now one of our most popular programs, but due to our intimate environment, we are limited in the number of clients we can serve.

Alex: Building off Dan’s thoughts, we are proud to be the first neuro-informed addiction treatment program in Arizona. I see our future growth focusing even further on spectrum-related disorders and how neurodiversity impacts a client’s experience of addiction, mental health, attachment, recovery and our environment of care. Our ongoing aspiration is just to ensure clients continue graduating treatment empowered to live a life aligned with their values and newfound purpose and hope, which is enough of an achievement for us.

To learn more about Scottsdale Providence visit https://www.scottsdaleprovidence.com

For immediate assistance call 866-311-5778.