Best Point Education and Behavioral Health is a non-profit specializing in education, behavioral and therapeutic health services, and autism services for vulnerable, at-risk individuals, their families, and caregivers.
Located in Cincinnati, Best Point has used The Seven Challenges since 2012 in outpatient and school settings. They’ve implemented the full Seven Challenges program for adolescents as well as Brief Challenges.
The Seven Challenges (Adolescent)
Brief Challenges
Outpatient
Schools
February 2012
Cincinnati, Ohio
For many of Best Point’s clients, mental health issues and substance use were coexisting. But the counselors felt like they didn’t have the training tools, resources, or clinical foundation to treat adolescents who were struggling with a dual diagnosis. So, the organization looked for a program that could help them treat both — and better serve their clients and the greater Cincinnati community.
The vast majority of Best Point’s work was with adolescents, so they needed a youth-focused program. There weren’t many out there — and there still aren’t today — but The Seven Challenges was the clear choice because:
It helps clients with both substance use and co-occurring mental health problems. Best Point understood that neither mental health issues nor substance use problems occur in a vacuum, so they needed a program to help them treat both.
It isn’t abstinence-based. Best Point knew that requiring adolescents to be abstinent would hinder engagement, so they needed a program focused on harm reduction instead.
It is evidence-based. Best Point wanted a program that was backed by research and proven to work.
“The Seven Challenges was a game changer,” according to Jenny Carman, Best Point’s Director of Counseling Programs, who was a therapist at the time of implementation. The program “just made sense.” Rather than questioning why their clients are using if they’re getting in trouble, counselors now acknowledge the benefits clients get from substance use, discuss ways to reduce harm, and look at adolescents more holistically.
Jenny had a client with a long history of substance use, mental health issues, and terrible trauma. He was using to help with his nightmares and fall asleep. She told him that using for these reasons made a lot of sense. And he said nobody had ever said that to him before — he had only been criticized for his drug use. The Seven Challenges gave Jenny a framework for how to approach the situation, and validating why he was using made a significant difference in his ability and willingness to engage in treatment.
Best Point has run into challenges getting buy-in with the full Seven Challenges program. Some adolescents don’t want their parents to know the extent of their substance use, so they won’t ask for their consent to be in the program.
To make treatment more accessible, Best Point implemented Brief Challenges, the brief therapy version of The Seven Challenges. In many cases, Brief Challenges met the needs of the client at the time and helped them talk about a variety of things, including their drug and alcohol use. Some clients who do Brief Challenges also go into the full Seven Challenges program. Best Point also works with schools to use Brief Challenges in lieu of expulsion for drug and alcohol use. Their goal is to partner with more schools to do treatment instead of discipline.
Instead of immediately going into the full Seven Challenges program, starting with Brief Challenges has made a significant difference in clients’ willingness to engage. Counselors can now open doors that were previously shut tight.
For example, Best Point had a long-term client with a lot of high acuity needs who was very difficult to engage in any substance use treatment. When he overdosed and was in the ICU, his therapist suggested Brief Challenges. He finally stopped resisting treatment and opened up about his life and substance use, eventually transitioning to the full Seven Challenges program. While the overdose played a part, his therapist said Brief Challenges had a big impact on his engagement.
For more information on Best Point and their services, visit bestpoint.org.