The Basics
Founded in downtown Portland as a way to counteract the city’s growing substance abuse epidemic, Top of the Hill Counseling was launched in 2005. Founder Chris Coose, a long-time recovery advocate in the non-profit sector, sought to provide straight-forward outpatient substance abuse services to men and women in Maine’s largest city.
Treatment and Staff
There are no detox or other medical services currently offered at Top of the Hill. The clinic does have a medical director, however, and is in the process of hiring doctors in order to be able to include Suboxone in the treatment protocol. This isn’t a mental health clinic, either—the goal is to treat addiction primarily and to refer clients out for dual diagnosis support. That being said, if a client also suffers from acute depression, he or she will not be turned away, but referred out for additional psychiatric services in addition to addiction treatment.
Motivational Interviewing is the primary therapeutic model at Top of the Hill. Typically, clients attend three groups and one individual session per week. Sessions are normally an hour but groups are occasionally longer. There are both co-ed and gender-specific groups for trauma. Clients are invited (rather than required) to attend 12-step meetings; Top of the Hill adheres to the AA tradition of “attraction rather than promotion.” No 12-step meetings are held at this clinic, but Top of the Hill does provide AA/NA directories. The duration of treatment is based entirely on individual progress.
There is no official family program, but if a client wishes to involve his or her family, accommodations are made, both at the client’s request and the therapist’s suggestion.
Top of the Hill employs five specialists—these trained men and women are all LADCs. Currently, Top of the Hill manages 60 clients, with group size topping out at five participants. Clinic hours are Monday through Friday from 8 am to 6 pm, but weekend appointments can be made under special circumstances.
In Summary
Top of the Hill prides itself on providing treatment in a safe environment with welcoming arms. The goal is to build people up, restoring their self worth so remaining sober becomes a more attractive prospect. Chris Coose, who continues to run Top of the Hill, has an impressive 27+ years of sobriety which serves as a testament to his understanding of his clients. More, at one point in time, his grand sponsor was none other than the Bill Wilson! Those interested in low-cost treatment from someone in the AA founder’s recovery family will find plenty of old school treatment here.
Top of the Hill Counseling
142 High St, Ste 416
Portland, ME 04101
Top of the Hill Counseling Cost: Sliding scale. Reach Top of the Hill Counseling by phone at (207) 780-8999 or by email at info@topfothehill.me. Find Top of the Hill Counseling on Facebook and Google+
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Sponsored DISCLAIMER: This is a paid advertisement for California Behavioral Health, LLC, a CA licensed substance abuse treatment provider and not a service provided by The Fix. Calls to this number are answered by CBH, free and without obligation to the consumer. No one who answers the call receives a fee based upon the consumer’s choice to enter treatment. For additional info on other treatment providers and options visit www.samhsa.gov.
