The Basics
Rustic and earthy in its design and overall ambience, The Evolution Group in Albuquerque, New Mexico, provides clients with ongoing outpatient counseling for substance abuse and with co-occurring disorders in addition to gambling and sexual addiction. Founded in 1988, Evolution tries to create an atmosphere in which people of diverse cultures feel comfortable.
Treatment and Staff
After an initial bio-psychosocial assessment, an individualized treatment plan is developed and each client begins the one-year outpatient program. Evolution doesn’t offer detox, and there is no on-site physician on staff. However, the facility has a clinical psychologist who is certified to write prescriptions for medication-assisted treatment—Suboxone may be used for opiate withdrawal. Based on the evaluation, clients participate in a customized variety of group and individual therapy. Groups take place between three and six times a week, and clients have individual sessions at least once a week. Techniques for both include CBT, EMDR, integrative therapy and Motivational Interviewing (MI).
Clients typically begin in the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and then step down to regular outpatient or they may be moved into IOP from outpatient if the clinical staff feels it is needed. IOP consists of mandatory acupuncture, a daily three-hour group and two individual therapy sessions per week. SMART Recovery, and 12-step meetings are available on-site at Evolution, but clients are not required to attend. To accommodate diverse cultural experiences, Evolution offers specialized tracks that are targeted to various groups such as Native Americans, women, gay and lesbian clients and those with co-occurring disorders. The groups are led by counselors who identify with the specific group.
In addition to a myriad of more traditional treatment options, Evolution has trademarked its own approach called Integrity Recovery, which seeks to help clients focus on balancing mind, body and spirit. This verbal technique gives clients the tools to go deeper within themselves for healing. The ultimate goal is lasting recovery with a diminished risk of relapse. Though it’s similar to a 12-step model, Integrity Recovery isn’t founded in religion.
The Evolution staff of 18 holds credentials including PhD in psychology, CSAC, LPC and LADC. The staff-to-client ratio varies, but group therapy is limited to between eight and 12 people with one leader per group.
Extras
Evolution emphasizes the role of family and spouses in recovery and thus offers couples and family counseling. Clients participate in these sessions regularly throughout treatment.
In Summary
What sets Evolution apart from many outpatient facilities is its Integrity Recovery approach and emphasis on targeting treatments in a culturally-sensitive way. Native Americans, Spanish-speaking individuals, gay and lesbian men and women, among other groups, will find treatment within an environment that aims to understand their experience and needs. With a considerable number of treatment options and a sliding fee scale, clients can find affordable recovery under the glorious New Mexico sun. That said, this facility is for those inclined towards holistic treatments with a spiritual approach.
The Evolution Group
218 Broadway Blvd SE
Albuquerque, NM 87102
The Evolution Group Cost: Sliding scale (1 year program). Reach The Evolution Group by phone at (505) 242-6988 or by email at jrooney@theevolutiongroup.com. Find The Evolution group on Facebook and YouTube
Do you have a complaint or review of The Evolution Group to add? Use the comments area below to add your The Evolution Group review.
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.
