At Pyramid Healthcare, we understand that addiction is complex and personal. People turn to substances for various reasons, and their journeys into recovery are equally unique. We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all solution. That’s why every client’s treatment plan is personalized to meet their specific needs. Our evidence-based outpatient programs provide a supportive environment where individuals can develop healthier coping mechanisms, address the root causes of their substance use and gain the tools needed to achieve lasting recovery.

Matrix Model: A Structured Path to Recovery

At Pyramid Healthcare, we use the Matrix Model—a research-supported approach to addiction treatment that integrates therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing into a 16-week program. This method builds on itself, empowering clients to regain control of their lives by introducing positive, lasting habits. The Matrix Model emphasizes community and support, encouraging the involvement of peers and family members to reinforce recovery and strengthen the network of support.

During the program, clients will learn key strategies, such as:

  • Time Management: Learning how to manage time effectively to reduce stress and create space for healthy habits

  • Understanding Cravings: Developing tools to cope with ongoing cravings and withdrawal symptoms

  • Relapse Prevention: Identifying and using healthy coping mechanisms to reduce the risk of relapse

  • Peer Support: Learning how to both give and receive help from peers, enhancing the recovery process

The Matrix Model is structured into four stages:

  • 1
    Early Recovery
  • 2
    Family Education
  • 3
    Relapse Prevention
  • 4
    Social Support

As individuals progress through these stages, they not only learn how to make and maintain meaningful life changes, but they also gain access to external resources that can help them stay drug-free after completing treatment. This model has proven highly effective for clients, particularly those recovering from stimulant addiction.

Seeking Safety: Treating Trauma and Addiction Together

Addiction and trauma often go hand-in-hand. For many people, substance use begins as a form of self-medication to cope with past trauma or PTSD. At Pyramid Healthcare, we recognize the importance of addressing both addiction and trauma simultaneously. This is why we use the Seeking Safety curriculum, an evidence-based approach designed to help individuals work through trauma-related issues while achieving sobriety.

The Seeking Safety method empowers clients to focus on their recovery by moving forward rather than becoming stuck in the past. By addressing both PTSD and substance use, we guide participants toward healing and lasting change. Some of the core principles of Seeking Safety include:

  • Safety as the Primary Goal: Treatment is centered on creating safety for individuals in their lives and minds.

  • Dual Treatment: Addiction and trauma must be treated together for the most effective recovery.

  • Focusing on Ideals: Emphasizing personal ideals can help combat both PTSD and substance use.

  • Holistic Treatment Areas: Focusing on cognitive, behavioral, interpersonal and individual case management elements for comprehensive healing.

  • Therapeutic Relationship: Acknowledging the impact of the relationship with the counselor in shaping recovery.

Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT): Long-Term Change Through Mindfulness

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is another key approach used at Pyramid Healthcare. ACT focuses on helping individuals create lasting change by changing how they respond to their thoughts and emotions rather than trying to eliminate negative feelings altogether. This therapeutic model is rooted in mindfulness and helps clients learn how to live according to their values, regardless of difficult emotions or thoughts that may arise.

Based on relational frame theory (RFT), ACT helps individuals recognize that while triggers can’t always be controlled, new behaviors can be formed to respond to them in healthier ways. ACT encourages individuals to focus on their values and desired behaviors, rather than reacting based on impulse or old habits.

The six core methods taught in ACT include:

  • Defusion: Learning to view thoughts as separate from oneself, reducing their emotional impact

  • Acceptance: Embracing the reality that negative emotions are part of life and learning how to manage them

  • Attention to the Present: Focusing on the here and now instead of getting lost in past mistakes or future anxieties

  • Self-as-Context: Understanding that thoughts are not absolute truths but simply perceptions that can be challenged

  • Values: Identifying personal values and using them to guide behavior and decision-making

  • Committed Action: Setting and working toward goals that reflect one’s values, leading to sustained change