Our Approach
Square 1 Institute, Inc. aims to revolutionize treatment for substance use and mental health disorders, providing innovative tools for lasting recovery. We challenge outdated modalities and advocate for progressive, effective strategies. Our mission is to improve success rates and meet the diverse needs of clients, ensuring helping professionals have the resources to excel. We hope you find our programs as beneficial as we do.
Mission Statement
At Square 1 Institute, our mission is to provide integrated training modalities and systems that enhance and enrich therapeutic interventions for individuals struggling with substance use and co-occurring disorders.
Vision Statement
We envision a world where those that struggle with substance use and co-occurring disorders are provided the tools and skills to overcome life challenges without the use of substances. Driven by our passion for helping and instincts for creativity, we aim to empower clients in their desire for meaningful change.
Our Story
Our treatment modality was born from a conversation between three clinicians reflecting in recent relapses in intensive outpatient programs (IOP). While the supervising clinician encouraged the team not to be too hard on themselves-reminding them that national success rates were low-one supervisor spoke with determination that would shape our future: “I’m not okay with under 10 percent success. I need to figure out the benchmarks that will truly help clients succeed.” This sparked a breakthrough. We began meeting regularly to discuss what these benchmarks might look like and soon realized that each client’s benchmarks would need to be unique, tailored to their individuals needs. From there, we set out to create a program that would truly personalize the treatment experience, shifting the focus from time spent in treatment to the meaningful work of recovery itself. Over many years of refinement, collaboration with clinicians, clients, and researchers, and thoughtful additions, we have built a model we believe has that potential to revolutionize the treatment industry-one that places the individual’s progress, not a timeline, at the heart of healing.
Our Core Program Principles
Client Centered – Square 1 is the first treatment program that is truly client centered. Other programs may claim to be client centered, but each client is given the same exact book, with the same exact sequence of topics and work. Square 1 provides a unique treatment manual, specific to the individualized needs of each client. Square 1 asks clients to consider areas of their life that they would like to work on and then select Benchmarks from a menu which addresses these selected areas. In addition to each client choosing their own Benchmarks, their peers and counselor will also choose a Benchmark. This process helps the client account for any “blind spots.”
Eliminating "Doing Time" in treatment
In our programs treatment success is based in client action. It is no secret that client change is based on action. Clients can say they are going to change, they can really want to change, but change can only occur because of action. Unfortunately, most treatment programs miss the mark in assisting clients to change. These programs merely provide education to their clients, hoping this will inspire clients to take action. Ultimately, the only benchmark to successful completion of the most treatment program is “time” (30 days, 16 weeks, 12 weeks, etc.) Square 1 does not leave action to chance! To successfully complete each benchmark and section Square 1, the client must explore the problem, make a plan for the change, and take action. Not working in treatment is NOT an option!
Group Accountability
There is no feedback like the feedback that comes from a peer. Like a teenager who gets advice from a parent, clinician feedback often is ignored. The feedback that has a bigger impact on teenagers and clients alike is the feedback given by a peer. One of the most distinguishable characteristics of Square 1 is its emphasis on peer feedback.
Built in Treatment Plans and Discharge Plans
Square 1 has created treatment goal forms and completion forms which corresponds with each Benchmark. These documents compiled collectively during a client’s treatment will create a comprehensive treatment plan and discharge summary.
Interactive Group Topics
Square 1 believes in educating clients on a variety of different topics which will help clients gain skills and tools. Square 1 provides various group topics designed to be used for education and discussion in the group environment.
Protocol Interventions
Clients often lie, manipulate, and get angry when the clinician holds them accountable for missing a urine test or not attending twelve step meetings. Square 1 has compiled the most common rule violations into a set of protocols. These protocols encourage clients to explore any program violation and learn from the experience, while still holding them accountable for their actions.
Electives
Electives provides a method of forcing client participation in sober activities and reflection on the experience. Clients are provided a menu of Electives featuring a variety of sober activities. Clients choose which electives they would like to complete.