Why Previous Treatment May Not Have Worked and What to Look for Next

A previous treatment episode that did not produce lasting change does not necessarily mean treatment cannot work.

It may mean the treatment model did not adequately match the person's needs.

Possible factors include:

• An untreated co-occurring mental health condition
• Insufficient treatment duration
• Limited therapeutic engagement
• Returning immediately to a destabilizing environment
• Inadequate aftercare
• Medication issues
• Lack of family involvement
• A treatment approach that did not address underlying trauma
• An inappropriate level of care

One of the most important questions after unsuccessful treatment is:

What did we learn from the last episode?

A sophisticated residential program should use previous treatment history as clinical information.

At Avalon, treatment planning is individualized and designed to evolve as clinicians develop a more complete understanding of the client's needs.

The goal is not simply to repeat the same treatment in a nicer setting.

It is to understand what needs to be different this time.