Programs

Sitka Counseling & Prevention Services offers a continuum of behavioral health prevention, assessment, and treatment programs including:

Crisis Emergency Services Program:

Crisis Intervention services are provided during an acute episode of mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder.   Individuals and clients can access emergency services 24 hours a day by contacting staff at Sitka Community Hospital who will page the on-call clinician.   Emergency services can be provided within any 72 hour period per episode and are intended to reduce the symptoms of a disorder, prevent harm to the individual or others, prevent further lapses or deterioration of the individual's condition, and/or stabilize the presenting symptoms.

Comprehensive Behavioral Health Assessments:

Comprehensive bio-psychosocial assessments are conducted with each client referred for services.   Each assessment includes a clinical interview assessing life domains regarding substance use severity, medical conditions, emotional/cognitive/behavioral issues, motivation to change, relapse potential, and recovery environment.   A diagnosis is rendered per DSM-IV criteria and individualized treatment recommendations are provided.  

Prevention Programs:

SCPS provides a Student Assistance Program located in Blatchley Middle School.   The student assistance counselor screens students for behavioral health issues, delivers prevention education, conducts prevention education groups and individual counseling sessions to high-risk students, and refers students to appropriate services as needed.   In addition, SCPS' provides prevention education to community groups and other service agencies upon request.  

Early Intervention Programs - Adult/Youth Alcohol/Drug Information School (ADIS):

ADIS is a state approved prevention education component appropriate for individuals assessed as not meeting a substance abuse or dependence diagnosis.   The course is designed to increase awareness regarding the effects of alcohol/drug use and to promote responsible behavior.   ADIS instructors must be State certified to teach the class and deliver a State approved curriculum regarding alcohol and drugs.   The class consists of 12 hours of education and is typically delivered in three 4-hour sessions during a one week period.

Child/Youth SED Program:

This program serves children and youth under the age of 21 who are diagnosed as severely emotionally disturbed   - a group of persistent disabling mental and emotional disorders with profound impact upon the ability of the youth to adjust to home, school and the community, and upon his/her family to cope.   Services include individual, group, and family counseling; respite care; school based mental health rehabilitative services, home-based therapy, c ase management, psychiatric consultations, pharmacotherapy, community education, art/recreation therapy, and referral to residential services as needed.

Adult Community Support Program:

This program offers a comprehensive array of services for adults with severe and persistent (chronic) mental illnesses.   Services include outreach, case management, psychiatric consultations, and pharmacotherapy with medication monitoring, family and community education, peer support services, crisis intervention, psychosocial rehabilitation services, and referral to residential programs as needed.

Batterer's Intervention Program - VISION:

SCPS also offers the batterer's intervention VISION program.   Clients involved in this program are typically referred from the legal system due to domestic violence or assault related incidents.   The VISION Program addresses violence, substance abuse, and mental health issues within the context of domestic and social relationships.  

Adult/Youth Substance Abuse Outpatient Program:

Outpatient counseling is appropriate for individuals assessed with a substance abuse or dependence diagnosis and able to achieve/remain abstinent in an unstructured environment while engaging in outpatient services.   Individuals placed in this level of care will participate in an individualized treatment program consisting of group therapy, individual counseling, and support group meetings as indicated per the assessment results.  

Relapse Prevention Program:

Relapse Prevention Counseling is designed for individuals assessed as substance dependent, have previously completed substance abuse treatment, have experienced a relapse to substance use, and are able to attain/maintain abstinence in an outpatient setting.   Clients participate in an individualized treatment program typically consisting of group therapy, individual counseling, and community support group meetings.  

Low Intensity Residential Treatment: Aurora's Watch:

Low Intensity Residential Treatment is appropriate for individuals assessed as substance dependent and in need of a structured living environment to achieve and/or maintain abstinence.   This could include individuals unable to remain abstinent in an outpatient setting or clients who have completed a higher intensity residential treatment and in need of continued care in a low intensity residential treatment environment to maintain abstinence and treatment gains.   Sitka Counseling & Prevention Services offers gender specific low intensity residential treatment for males at Aurora's Watch.   Each client participates in an individualized treatment program typically consisting of individual counseling, group therapy, life skills training, recovery group process, case management services, and community support groups designed to assist the individual in establishing a quality recovery program while working toward self-sufficiency and re-entry into the community.  

Co-occurring Disorders:

Dual Diagnosis is an expectation rather than an exception.   All clients are screened and assessed for mental health and substance abuse issues.   If a client is dually diagnosed, both disorders are treated as primary and an integrated treatment approach is formulated with the client per their individualized needs, treatment stage, and stage of change.

Employee Assistance Program:

SCPS provides contractual services for employers who offer an Employee Assistance Program as part of their benefit package.   Employees either self-refer or are referred for services through their employer at a contracted rate.  

Continuing Care Program:

Continuing Care services are offered to all clients who complete outpatient and/or residential treatment services at this agency or are referred for continuing care by another treatment facility.   This treatment component typically consists of weekly group and/or monthly individual sessions to assist clients in maintaining abstinence and behavior changes in early recovery.  

Referral:

Clients assessed as needing services outside the scope of treatment provided by Sitka Counseling & Prevention Services are referred to other agencies located in Sitka and throughout the State.   Clients are encouraged and sometimes required to access other services as part of their individualized treatment plan while engaged in treatment at this agency.   Typical referrals include medium/high level residential treatment, dual diagnosis residential treatment, job training/placement services, medical/dental/vision services, detoxification, domestic violence counseling, batterer intervention counseling, parenting education, and public assistance.