Our custom curriculum
A flexible 8-week rotating schedule
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM OUR PROGRAM
When you’re considering treatment, it can be hard to imagine just what that will look like. That’s why our website includes virtual tours of physical locations, information on treatment methods and programming, as well introductions to some of the staff you’ll encounter during the process. We’ve found that providing an overview of our 8-week curriculum is also helpful in understanding the topics that will be covered and how it works.
how it works
Everyone who seeks treatment at The Meadows Outpatient Center (whether in-person or virtually) goes through our 8-week curriculum. Developed by our own Meadows Senior Fellows, this always-rotating schedule allows newcomers to join at any point in the process, while being flexible enough to includes extension options for those who can benefit from more comprehensive trauma treatment.
Each treatment week serves a unique purpose as patients focus on functionality, emotional self-regulation, and addressing underlying issues, gaining the tools necessary to sustain long-term recovery.
Hear Virtual Outpatient Services Clinical Director Josh Ulrich discuss our curriculum and programming in this Season 4 episode of the Beyond Theory podcast.
Treatment week by week
Week 1: Trauma Week
Trauma Week is designed to educate participants on the fundamentals of trauma, including its definitions, types, and the effects it can have on the body and mind. Sessions cover a range of topics such as the neurological and psychological responses to trauma, an introduction to coping mechanisms, an introduction to core issues, and tools for building resilience. Through lectures, interactive discussions, and therapeutic activities, participants learn how complex developmental trauma, generational trauma, and subsequent maladaptive behaviors can shape emotional and behavioral patterns. The goal is to provide a safe space for participants to gain awareness of their own experiences with trauma and begin to explore pathways to healing.
Week 2: Boundaries & Communication
As we grow, we learn how to communicate with others and begin to set boundaries for protection and containment. When our boundaries are violated, either physically or emotionally, and we are not allowed to communicate in healthy ways, we experience trauma. During this week, the focus is on learning to function safely and communicate in relation to self and others while understanding how to identify and set realistic boundaries.
Week 3: Trauma Impact Week
Building on Trauma Week, Trauma Impact Week aimed at empowering participants with a clearer understanding of their trauma responses and developing practical tools for ongoing recovery and personal growth delves deeper into how trauma influences daily functioning, relationships, and long-term mental health. This week focuses on identifying the ongoing impact of trauma responses, such as hypervigilance, emotional dysregulation, and relational challenges. Participants engage in reflective exercises and group activities to process the effects of trauma in their lives. The curriculum includes specialized therapeutic techniques, like mindfulness, grounding exercises, Internal Family Systems, and cognitive-behavioral approaches to help participants manage symptoms and build healthier coping strategies.
Week 4: Out of Control Behaviors & Addictions
What happens to the brain in active substance and process addictions? It’s important to understand how this very real disorder affects every part of us and to discover the intent or reasons behind out-of-control behaviors and/or addictions. Then we learn about healthy tools that can help with lasting recovery.
Week 5: EMOTIONS
Through properly processing grief and loss, we can begin to understand the emotions that have been shut down, denied, or we were told not to feel as part of our boundary violations. In understanding how thoughts and emotions are linked, we discover the benefits of mindfulness to increase self-awareness, and learn how to confront and correct distorted thoughts.
Week 6: Shame & Vulnerability
Trauma and the resulting shame can leave some feeling too vulnerable while others respond by putting up walls in an attempt to become invulnerable. To numb the pain created by trauma and shame, it’s common to turn to addictive substances or behaviors. During this week in treatment, we work to understand shame and develop the tools to be appropriately vulnerable in healthy relationships.
Week 7: Grief & Loss
The grief and loss we can feel over our pre-traumatic selves or things we have done in our addictions or addictive behaviors needs to be addressed. That’s why it’s important to discover what successful grieving looks like and how its pain can be lessened through support and therapy. We’ll explore the many facets of grief and loss while we also examine how to move through the stages in a healthy and productive way.
Week 8: Recovery Management
To heal from the trauma, addiction, grief, and loss we’ve experienced, we need to develop recovery management skills. These include boundary setting and healthy communication of our emotions to help us manage mood disorders and addictions. We also explore available recovery resources and develop a personalized plan for continued growth, wellness, and relapse prevention — all while nurturing a belief in ourselves to carry out this plan and thrive post-treatment.
Reach Out Today
Convenient, comprehensive care is available. Your next chapter can start right now.
