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What Is the Serenity Program?

In many parts of the country, there is a Serenity Program that will help young people deal with the frustrations of every day life and help them through their high-risk behaviors. Missouri and Michigan are no different. The Serenity Program in these two states is similar in that they help teenagers who engage in substance abuse.

  1. Definition

    • The Serenity Program is a "short-term, comprehensive treatment for substance abuse and substance-dependent adolescents," according to Heartland Behavioral Health Services in Nevada, Missouri.

    What it Emphasizes

    • The Serenity Program at Heartland emphasizes a natural approach to treatment. Medications are not used in this program, as it is "important for patients to gain insight into their emotions and to be free of medications that mask the patient's control," according to Heartland. Medications are only used after the patient has exhausted all other avenues of managing their stress. The Serenity Program in Detroit offers young "high-risk" girls ages 12 to 19 the chance to become better prepared for their future, ensuring a more successful return to the community with the adaptation to a healthier and safer lifestyle. The Detroit program focuses their program on helping those with behavioral challenges, truancy from work or school, substance abuse, emotional disturbances and other high risk behaviors.

    Comprehensive Approach

    • The Serenity Program at Heartland takes on a comprehensive approach to treatment. It includes cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, a short 12-step approach, relapse prevention work and an overall substance abuse education approach. The program's environment gives the patients a safe and secure environment within a residential setting. Part of the approach also includes having nurses and doctors on site 24 hours a day. There is also a behavior modification program in place "to allow treatment for dual-diagnosis substance abuse/dependence and other Axis 1 diagnoses." Additionally, Heartland also provides daily recreation therapy, including equestrian therapy.

    What it Includes

    • The Serenity Program includes two hours of individual therapy a week, one to two hours of family therapy a week, three hours a day of group therapy, 14 hours a week of skill-building focused on impulse identification and control, education focused on distress tolerance skills and emotion regulation and regulation therapy completed by a certified recreation therapist. Additionally, there is 24 hour physician coverage, case management and aftercare planning to the patient's home community and a treatment team including a psychiatrist, a clinical therapist, a registered nurse, a case manager, milieu staff, a certified teaching staff, a certified recreation therapist and an equine assisted growth and learning association certified therapist.

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