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First Step Counseling Services

First Step Counseling Services

Drug Rehab Center in Metuchen, New Jersey

  • Substance Abuse
  • Opioid Addiction
  • Dual Diagnosis
  • Drug Addiction
  • Alcoholism

First Step Counseling Services is a New Jersey-based addiction and substance abuse treatment facility that provides evidence-based practices, individual, couple, and family therapy sessions, and aftercare support for long-term recovery in an intimate and comfortable setting.

About This Metuchen, NJ Facility

First Step Counseling Services is a private addiction and substance abuse treatment facility in Metuchen, New Jersey. Founded in 2002 by a team of mental health and addiction professionals, the center provides evidence-based practices for those struggling with substance abuse and addiction-related issues in an intimate and comfortable setting. They employ a variety of treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, rational emotive behavioral therapy, and eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to address the various needs of their clients.

At First Step Counseling Services, clients can participate in individual, couple, and family sessions. These sessions can provide those with substance abuse and addiction issues a safe space to explore and process their experiences and gain insight into their own unique needs and experiences. Additionally, they offer holistic treatments such as mindfulness and meditation to supplement their traditional therapeutic approaches. Furthermore, First Step Counseling Services provides aftercare support to ensure individuals stay connected between sessions and can develop healthy coping skills for long-term recovery.

First Step Counseling Services is licensed by the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services and is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO). Furthermore, the facility is a member of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP). Finally, First Step Counseling Services is dedicated to providing quality care and is committed to offering their clients individualized, compassionate care throughout their recovery journey.

Genders
  • Male
  • Female
  • Gender Exclusive Center
  • Ages
  • Children
  • Teenagers
  • Adults
  • Seniors (65+)
  • Modality
  • Individuals
  • Couples
  • Family
  • Groups
  • Additional
  • LGBTQ+ Allied
  • Hearing Impaired
  • Veteran Specific
  • SAMHSA Listed
  • Additional Languages
  • Smoking Allowed
  • Veterans
  • Accreditations

    SAMHSA

    Conditions and Issues Treated

    Substance abuse refers to the intensive and inappropriate use of psychoactive substances. Psychoactive substances are those that affect brain function. These include illegal drugs, alcohol, and even the excessive use of prescription drugs. The overuse of psychoactive substances leads to severe physical or psychological dependence. It also affects the social life and relationships of the affected individual. Substance abuse is treatable.

    The duration of treatment at First Step Counseling Services in Metuchen can require weeks or even months depending on the severity of the condition as there is a risk of relapse. Treatment options include medications, counseling sessions, various types of behavioral therapy, and group therapy in different combinations.

    Addiction to prescription opioid painkillers like oxycodone and hydrocodone, and illicit opioids such as heroin, leads to potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms when discontinued. Opioid addiction treatment typically involves an inpatient stay at facilities like First Step Counseling Services to make sure they get through withdrawal safely. Treatment also includes comprehensive mental health counseling.

    Conditions such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder are part of mental illness. This may occur that opioid abuse and vice versa are induced by mental illness. Diagnosing a concurrent diagnosis or co-occurring condition at First Step Counseling Services is essential to understand the addiction better.

    Alcohol Abuse, Dual Diagnosis (Co-Occuring Disorders), Gambling Addiction, Internet Use Addiction / Disorder, Opioid Addiction, Substance Abuse 

    Levels of Care Offered

    This center offers a variety of custom treatment tailored to individual recovery. Currently available are Aftercare Support, Drug Rehab, Dual-Diagnosis, Intervention, Outpatient, with additional therapies available as listed below.

    Outpatient programs are the standard for addiction treatment. About 9 in 10 U.S. adolescents entering addiction treatment enroll in these programs, so you’re not alone in Metuchen, NJ. Treatment is delivered in different settings – offices, clinics, and primary care clinics.

    Facilities offer a variety of services, such as individual and group counseling and family therapy. During the sessions, you work with a team of experts that include: General physicians, Psychiatrists, Social Workers, and Psychologists. The main goals of outpatient recovery programs are to help addicted individuals reduce drug use and addictive behaviors, eventually becoming entirely sober.

    An intervention is a planned conversation between an addicted person and their loved ones. Usually, a licensed alcohol and drug counselor or an interventionist supervises the conversation. The presence of a specialist is essential if your loved one has a history of a severe mental disorder, suicidal attempts, abusing mood-altering drugs. A proper intervention is an excellent bridge to an individual’s sobriety.

    Aftercare comprises services that help recovering addicts readjust to normal day-to-day New Jersey activities. It can last a year or even longer. Services include individual and family counseling, medications to reduce cravings, and treatment of psychiatric and other medical conditions. Aftercare support begins once you have completed earlier stages of treatment.

    First Step Counseling Services‘s Therapies & Programs

    In addiction recovery at First Step Counseling Services, therapy plays a significant role. This helps patients get to the root of their addiction and discover how the problems that contributed to their use can be handled better. Therapy can be performed in a group and one on one settings. The patient interacts with the therapist in a one-on-one atmosphere during individual therapy. This encourages them to reflect on the underlying addiction problems and develop ways to avoid potential future abuse.

    Recovering from addiction involves recovering relationships as well. One of the most common areas of stress and damage during addiction is in intimate relationships. Couples therapy at First Step Counseling Services can rebuild trust and joy that may have been damaged. Addiction involves everyone in the family, not only the addict.

    Family roles can change in damaging ways that may require professional help to rebalance. Successful intimate relationships can decrease the chances for relapse by ensuring a healthy environment after rehab in Metuchen, NJ.

    Addiction and alcoholism affect the entire family. For this reason, family therapy is vital to a person’s recovery from addiction. In contrast to couples counseling, family therapy at First Step Counseling Services may include siblings, children, parents, and other significant people in the recovering person’s life. Family support is one of the most important pillars of recovery.

    In group therapy, the patient undergoes sessions with other patients at First Step Counseling Services who are dealing with similar problems. The members of the group interact with each other and talk freely about their issues at scheduled sessions. Group therapy reduces the feeling of loneliness and improves the coping skills of the patients. You are not alone in Metuchen, New Jersey.

    Many people turn to drugs and alcohol as a way of processing trauma that has affected them in the past. Trauma can include abuse, neglect, the loss of a loved one and other unpleasant incidents. Trauma therapy at First Step Counseling Services helps patients process trauma. It gives them the tools to deal with it in a healthier manner.

    Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is a type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that focuses on eliminating specific negative thoughts such as suicidal thoughts that can potentially lead to an individual inflicting self-harm. It is useful in the treatment of patients exhibiting uncontrollable emotions, intense mood swings, and borderline personality disorders.

    The term “Dialectic” means the integration of opposites. In the substance abuse context, DBT refers to accepting the patient’s addiction and working to change their thoughts and behavior. It improves life skills such as controlling the intense emotions without reacting impulsively, resolving the interpersonal conflicts effectively, and promoting awareness about self and others.

    Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) examines the relationship between a patient’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors. First Step Counseling Services aims to establish a healthy response to thoughts and feelings as an alternative to turning to drugs and alcohol. It also promotes healthy communication between addicts and those around them. It is and effective therapy for people suffering with all types of addictions.

    Life skills pertain to the skill sets a person should possess to become successful in life. Examples are time management, budgeting, and social abilities. Life skills therapy highlights the fact that addiction recovery is more than just a person’s ability to go through their day-to-day without resorting to substance use in Metuchen, NJ once they leave the facility.

    The recovery technique used by Alcoholics Anonymous is the 12 step program, but it can relate to any form of addiction. The 12 steps that addicts must take on the road to recovery are explained. Measures include acknowledging that you have a problem and agreeing to turn around your life. The curriculum, instructed by First Step Counseling Services, also requires a belief in a greater power and making amends to others.

    Contingency Management (CM), also called motivational incentives, is a type of pure behavioral therapy. It’s based on the idea that behavior is shaped, motivated, or controlled by its outcomes. CM is a clinical application at First Step Counseling Services of operant conditioning, which helps clients eliminate unwanted behaviors by the use of positive and negative reinforcement.

    12-Step Facilitation, Aftercare, Anger Management, Cognitive Behavioral Treatment (CBT), Contingency management/motivational incentives, Couples Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Discharge Planning, Drug Rehab, Dual-Diagnosis, Family Therapy, Group Therapy, Hepatitis Education / Counseling / Support, HIV or AIDS education, Individual Therapy, Intervention, Life Skills, Motivational Interviewing, Outpatient Treatment (OP), Residential Long Term (>30 Days), Substance Use Counseling, Trauma Therapy

    Payment Options Accepted

    For specific insurance or payment methods please contact us.
  • Health Insurance
  • Self-Pay / Cash
  • Medicare
  • Medicaid
  • Military Insurance
  • IHS/Tribunal/Urban
  • State-Financed
  • Sliding Scale
  • Is your insurance accepted?
    Ask an expert, call (888) 674-0062

    Additional Details

    Specifics, location, and helpful extra information.
    First Step Counseling Services Location and Directions
    Address Information15 Calvin Pl
    Metuchen, New Jersey 8840 Phone Number(732) 549-0401 Meta DetailsUpdated November 25, 2023
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    Metuchen, New Jersey Addiction Information

    The state of New Jersey is afflicted by the rising opioid overdose crisis and the increase in the number of residents engaging in illegal substance abuse. 90% of the 2,900 drug overdose deaths in New Jersey involved opioids in 2018. Over 1.1 million New Jersey residents reportedly use drugs in a given year. High prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse caused 14% of all deaths in the state between 2008 and 2017.

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    The Counseling Center at Clark, NJ
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    The facility name, logo and brand are the property and registered trademarks of First Step Counseling Services, and are being used for identification and informational purposes only. Use of these names, logos and brands shall not imply endorsement. RehabNow.org is not affiliated with or sponsored by First Step Counseling Services.