The Rationale for Teen Gender-Specific Treatment
Newport Academy utilizes gender-specific treatment for teen addiction rehab.
By: Dr. Barbara Nosal, Clinical Director, Newport Academy
The rationale for the value of gender-specific treatment starts simply by looking at why females relapse. It has been said that the number one reason females relapse is because of males - whether it be a boyfriend or a friend, the majority of females will not turn down substances when offered by the opposite sex. This is often an indication of the female’s need for approval by their father which gets projected on all males in their lives. So rather than stand up for themselves, many girls will go along with a boy’s request to gain the approval. In a co-ed treatment environment females may fall into those roles by caretaking, enabling, and worrying more about “his” sobriety than hers. In a gender specific environment females are empowered to be more independent. Without the distraction of the opposite sex they can focus on building a stronger sense of self so in the future when they are in co-ed situations they will have boundaries in place and can respond in a healthy manner.
Having worked in facilities that were both co-ed and gender-specific, clients who had experience with both indicated a favorable difference towards gender specific treatment. Without the presence of the opposite sex girls do not have to focus on what to wear, makeup and fixing their hair. A gender specific environment allows females to be themselves without fear of judgment, many for the first time in their life. Taking away the distractions allows young people in treatment to begin to face their fears and identify and heal their underlying issues.
In addition, in a co-ed group setting girls are less communicative and tend to suppress their feelings out of fear of what a boy may think of them. Males tend to communicate more and express their feelings in front of females; however, it is often not their true feelings that get communicated. Rather, boys have a tendency to share what sounds good and what they think girls want to hear. For both females and males gender-specific groups provide a safe space for them to redefine their identity and allow their authentic self to emerge.
In a gender-specific environment females (and males) are free to focus on themselves and work through their own personal issues. Since there is a high correlation between substance abuse and other high risk behaviors many females have a history of sexual abuse or assault. Some girls had traumatic experiences in which they were unable to be in close proximity of any male. While attending co-ed 12 step meetings they might experience anxiety or panic attacks. For some girls it was a matter of not trusting any man. Many girls are not comfortable sharing their experience or may have repressed memories. Some girls will get in touch with their own abuse through the stories of others. In a supportive gender specific environment females do not have to continue to be re-traumatized. They can begin to build trust to share their feelings or process with other girls who have lived through similar situations.
Similarly, some women are cross-addicted and turn to men, sex, love, relationships for their high. It would be extremely difficult for these women to uncover the underlying issues of why they are addicted to men in a co-ed setting. In a nurturing environment women can take that first step toward healing.
Many of the miracles that we have see on a daily basis at Newport Academy would most likely not have occurred if the females were in a co-ed treatment facility.
Key points on Gender Specific Treatment:
1)High percentage of substance abusers are victims of sexual assault (non-consensual sex) - Symptoms include trauma, PTSD, anxiety and panic attacks in the presence of men
Symptoms can range from no memory to feelings of guilt, shame, or anger.
Symptoms can be processed individually and in group; share openly on such topics with others who can identify.
Females are not comfortable sharing those feelings in co-ed environment.
2) Most girls treated at Newport Academy are cross addicted - addictions with men, sex, love, relationships. Many were chasing the first high of sex like a drug. Processing those issues and helping them to redefine their identity would be difficult if not impossible in co-ed treatment environment.
2) Females share less in co-ed groups.
3) Females relapse due to males
4) Males are an obvious distraction
5) Females do not feel judged, free to create a new identity based on who they want to become, what brings them pleasure, what has meaning, etc., all without judgment.
To read more about Dr. Barbara, click here
To learn more about Newport Academy’s teen gender-specific program, click here
Tags: teen addiction, Teen Rehab