New Lifestyles

As many families and referral sources, including educational consultants have noted, the care provided at New Lifestyles is intensive and comprehensive. Our treatment model encompasses not only multiple considerations but also a combination of approaches.

Testing and Evaluation

The key to effective treatment begins with a thorough assessment and evaluation. The Director of Admissions and Assessments, in conjunction with the applicant and family, formulates initial treatment goals based on a review of history, prior treatment and testing, as well as the results of preliminary tests administered during the intake process. Observations and possible additional testing during the initial weeks of placement contribute to a revised treatment plan by the end of the first month of program participation.

Observations, and further in-depth evaluation continue during the course of one's participation at New Lifestyles.

• Clinicians conduct comprehensive intellectual, cognitive, and personality assessments as indicated.
• A consulting psychiatrist evaluates students who have been prescribed or who might benefit from psychotropic medications.
• Staff review observations at regular intervals with each student to provide immediate feedback and reinforcement of appropriate behaviors and interactions.
• Staff administer regular assessment of progress at the end of each quarter.

Psychotherapeutic Perspectives

Guided by sound psychometric data and on-going behavioral observations, skilled clinicians provide interventions from a variety of theoretical perspectives including:

• psychodynamic psychotherapy
• cognitive behavioral therapy
• family systems therapy
• reality therapy
• integrative therapy
• humanistic and experiential therapies
• music therapy

Integrated Interventions

Because New Lifestyles in-house clinicians not only provide individual, group, and family psychotherapy but also work daily with the program staff, psychotherapeutic considerations are integrated into the entire program. A participant's individual therapist supported by other members of the clinical staff, as well as the house manager, and coordinators, all work together to create a tight knit team focused on the support of each individual in the program. 

Multiple members of this team interact with the participant throughout each day regarding very specific as well as general issues. On a daily basis, house team members provide information to the clinical team who in turn provide on-going guidance for the overall treatment process.

 As such, all programmatic services emanate from therapeutic considerations. Consistent, daily therapeutic and behavioral monitoring makes this level of intervention possible.

Intensive Psychotherapy Services

Clinical interventions consist of individual psychotherapy, group psychotherapy, and family consultation. As a therapeutically intensive program, participants meet with an individual therapist up to three times per week, twice for individual therapy and once for a family conference call. Students may meet with their individual therapist fewer than twice per week if they opt to include individual music therapy in their treatment. Additionally, the clinical team directs multiple groups on a daily basis. Clinical groups for each student vary between 5-10 sessions weekly.

New Lifestyles conducts multi-family workshops 4-5 times per year. During these workshops, families explore issues common to the parent-adult child transition relationship. Families address more individual matters in private sessions with their family therapist.

Again, because the integration of these services is critical to our treatment model, no additional fees are incurred for these services.