 |
|
The treatment philosophy of Tampa Crossroads, Inc. is most closely aligned with the contemporary psychological movement known as Third Force Psychology or the “Psychology of Responsibility”. Using evidenced based, motivational, and solution-focused therapies, we have helped thousands of men and women with addictions, mental health problems, trauma and abuse, eating disorders, codependency, unhealthy family and/ or personal relationship histories, and criminal behaviors. We approach treatment from a non-judgmental, holistic perspective and encourage clients to take responsibility for their own lives and their process of healing. At Tampa Crossroads, Inc., we do not view our clients as being “bad”, “broken”, or “morally corrupt”, nor do we attempt to define or label them by what behaviors they may have done in the past. Instead, we treat every individual who walks through the doors of one of our facilities with respect and admiration for finding the courage needed to ask for help.
Many of our clients initially come into treatment because some of the things they have done, recently and in the past, have resulted in being arrested, marital and relationship problems, self harm, financial problems, domestic violence, employment problems, and/or a myriad of other issues. These consequences have led them to believe that if they could only stop these behaviors, everything would be alright. We subscribe to the premise that all behavior is purposeful and that human beings will behave in ways to meet our basic psychological and emotional needs for survival, love, power, fun and freedom.
At first, it is often confusing and difficult for our clients to make the connection between how their substance abuse, poor choices in relationships, promiscuity, eating disorders, and commission of crimes are somehow an attempt for them to meet these basic needs. Through development of a trusting, non-judgmental therapeutic relationship with our clients, our clinicians are able to guide our clients to the self-realization and understanding that these unhealthy behaviors were learned and adopted by them as a way of trying to cope with the underlying emotional problems in their life that have caused them pain and suffering. If this emotional pain had not been present in their lives, they would not have needed to use and abuse drugs and alcohol or other unhealthy behaviors to feel “normal”, safe, loved, or in control.
Consider the adult or teen that is filled with feelings of self-hatred and discouragement. He or she often finds emotional “freedom” for a moment in a crack rock or a 12 pack of beer but always feels the same or much worse soon after. The woman, who had her safety and self esteem ripped away from her when sexually violated as a young girl, may find that she can regain a brief sense of “power” or control in her life through self-injurious behaviors, promiscuous manipulation of men or prostitution, or trying to maintain absolute control over her eating habits. The person who has been arrested for habitual criminal behavior will admit he or she felt satisfied from the “fun” or excitement and the “power” and control they felt over others when they got away with their crimes. When caught, they justify them stating “I had to do it to survive”.
At Tampa Crossroads, Inc. we have been very successful encouraging and helping our clients to make these connections, to take the responsibility for the healing of their individual emotional or psychological pain and scars, and with the development of new, healthy, and truly satisfying methods of meeting their basic psychological and emotional needs. Our ultimate goal for all of our clients is to re-discover their innate capability to make sound life decisions, regain control in their lives, and achieve and maintain their personal goals, thus changing the direction of their lives.