Co-Occurring Disorders Clinic

The Co-Occurring Disorders Clinic

About the Co-Occurring Disorders Clinic

Services Provided

About the Therapist

Location

Fifty percent of all teenagers with a mental health problem have a substance abuse problem.  Sixty percent of all teenagers with a substance use problem have a mental health problem.  The Co-Occurring Disorders Clinic at Virginia Treatment Center for Children (VTCC) provides treatment for both disorders at the same time.

To be accepted into the outpatient Co-Occurring Disorders Clinic a youth must between the ages of 12 and 17 and have both a substance use diagnosis, and a mental health diagnosis

Services Provided

The clinic provides assessment and treatment services. 

Assessment: Each participant will receive a comprehensive assessment using the K-SADS-PL administered by a child and adolescent psychiatrist and a therapist.

Treatment: Participants in the clinic receive evidence-based treatment consisting of Cognitive Behavioral and Motivational Enhancement Therapies.  Therapy sessions, which include individual and family sessions, are held one time per week for an hour for a minimum of 16 weeks.  All youth receive treatment in the areas of Motivation and Engagement, Functional Behavioral Analysis, and Coping with Cravings. 

• Depending on the individual needs of the youth, skills training is also provided in Communication Skills, Anger Awareness and Anger Management, Negative Mood Regulation, Problem Solving, Substance Refusal Skills, Enhancing Social Support, Job-Seeking/Education, Coping with a Slip, Seemingly Irrelevant Decisions, and HIV Prevention.

Medication may be prescribed as part of treatment. A child and adolescent psychiatrist will monitor the patient during treatment if prescribed medication.  Regular measurements of progress are also conducted by the therapist, as well as weekly drug tests for therapeutic purposes only.

Sandra Langford is the therapist for the Co-Occurring Disorders Clinic. Ms. Langford is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with six years of experience working with adolescents and substance use. In addition, Ms. Langford has 13 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and families.

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