Advanced Treatment

Specialized treatment for adolescents at Sunflower Landing is informed by the most current research and many years of experience, touching all facets of the young persons growth and development. Sunflower Landing treats boys and girls ages 13 through 18.



BODY

Addictive disease is physical; a genetically predisposed neurochemical imbalance affecting the sufferer physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. For more information on how the disease works, please see articles titled Comorbidity Issues in Adolescent Substance Abusers and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Conduct Disorder and Addiction, Cunning, Powerful, But No Longer Baffling.

Sunflower Landing treats the physical facets of chemical dependency through a variety of interventions, which affect the neurotransmitter cascade. These include nutritional and natural herbal interventions, exercise, sports, horseback riding and exposure to sunlight and bright light. Each of these interventions in their own right has been found as effective as psychotropic medications. Psychiatric and psychological evaluations are available, along with prescribed medications as needed. Sunflower Landing recognizes the prevalence of other diagnoses clustered around the diagnosis of chemical dependency and has trained nursing staff to oversee administration of prescribed medications.

Emotions

The neurochemical imbalance affects feelings – producing depression (often interpreted by young people as boredom), anxiety, feelings of impending doom, fatigue, and cravings.

The interventions, which affect the body, have a beneficial effect on emotions. Sunflower Landing also offers rational/emotive therapy and pet therapy.

Mind

The negative feelings caused by addictive disease affect thinking, producing mental confusion which interferes with academic pursuits, thoughts of worthlessness and hopelessness (even suicidal thoughts), loss of impulse control, obsessive thoughts and an inability to sleep.

Cognitive therapy and rational/emotive therapy, along with the physical interventions, which improve the feeling state, have a positive effect on thinking as well.

Spirit

Negative feelings affect the belief system – producing thoughts that God doesn’t exist, or doesn’t care, is cruel, is judgmental, and is untrustworthy. Often, such thoughts are so frightening the sufferer denies them or represses them, but the negative spirituality affects thinking and feeling, completing the circle.

All cognitive, rational/emotive and behavioral therapy are grounded in the spirituality of Alcoholic’s Anonymous 12 steps. This is a spiritual, rather than a religious program, which encourages the sufferer to open mind and heart to the possibility of a loving, Higher Power, which can do for them what they haven’t been able to do for themselves. All behavioral therapy is reward, consequence based, and all behaviors relate to residents treating themselves, peers, staff, animals and buildings with care and respect.

Family

The family is vitally important in treatment at Sunflower Landing. Every other Saturday the family is invited and encouraged to take part in a four-hour family program. Twenty-four residents are usually in treatment at Sunflower Landing on any given day. Half of these residents alternate Saturdays for Family Day. There are a number of affordable and comfortable motels for family members who need to overnight on Friday and/or Saturday.

Academic

Coahoma County School System supplies Sunflower Landing certified teachers with special interest in working with chemically dependent teens. Residents work towards reintegration into their home school setting with graduation as their goal, or work towards attaining a GED while at Sunflower Landing. College entrance exams are prepared for and taken while at Sunflower Landing. The Landing is fully supplied with the latest computer technology.

The Program

While the program is self-paced, it usually requires 12 months to complete. It is three-phased. The first phase takes about 6 weeks, the second phase a little longer, and the third phase the longest number of weeks to complete. During the first two phases, residents do not go home except in special circumstances worked out with staff. During the third phase, residents return home for weekend visits at first, then weeklong visits, always returning to the Landing to process visits and work out any problem areas. Behavioral contracts are agreed upon in advance of home visits. Twelve-step program attendance is required during home visits. For more information, speak with the Director or the Outreach Counselor at 662-624-4905.