How We Treat - Our Clinical Protocols: What Happens Inside Each Stage of Treatment
When someone decides to seek help for addiction or a mental health condition, one of their first questions - and one of the most important is: what actually happens during treatment? At Athena Behavioral Health, we believe transparency is the foundation of trust. This page explains exactly what happens at each stage of our clinical process, the evidence base behind our protocols, and what patients and families can expect from the moment of first contact through to long-term recovery.
Our clinical protocols are designed and continuously reviewed by a multidisciplinary team of consultant psychiatrists, addiction physicians, clinical psychologists, and social workers - aligned with international standards including those set by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
The Six Stages :
Stage 1: First Contact & Initial Assessment
Every patient journey at Athena begins with a compassionate, non-judgmental clinical assessment. This is not a formality - it is the most important clinical step in the entire treatment process, because treatment can only be effective if it is accurately matched to individual need. The initial assessment is conducted by a senior clinician - typically a consultant psychiatrist or a specialist addiction physician - and covers:
- Full substance use history: substances used, frequency, quantity, duration, and previous withdrawal experiences
- Psychiatric and psychological history: current symptoms, previous diagnoses, prior treatment, family mental health history
- Medical history: physical health conditions, medications, allergies, and any complications from substance use
- Social and occupational history: family situation, living circumstances, employment, social supports, and any legal issues
- Motivational assessment: understanding the patient's readiness for change and any ambivalence about treatment
Stage 2: Medical Detoxification (Where Required)
For patients with physical dependence on alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, or other substances, the first clinical phase is medically supervised detoxification. Attempting withdrawal without medical support is dangerous - particularly for alcohol and benzodiazepine dependence, where withdrawal can cause seizures and life-threatening complications. Athena's detox protocol is evidence-based and individually tailored:
- Alcohol detox: benzodiazepine tapering using symptom-triggered or fixed-schedule protocols (CIWA-Ar monitored), thiamine supplementation, electrolyte management, and continuous vital sign monitoring
- Opioid detox: buprenorphine-assisted withdrawal or symptomatic management using clonidine and loperamide, COWS-scale monitored
- Benzodiazepine detox: gradual diazepam equivalence tapering over an extended period appropriate to severity
- Stimulant and cannabis detox: primarily symptomatic management and psychological support
Stage 3: Psychiatric Stabilisation
Many patients arriving at Athena have co-occurring psychiatric conditions that require stabilisation alongside detoxification. Depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, psychosis, and PTSD are all common in individuals with addiction, and untreated psychiatric conditions significantly increase the risk of relapse. Athena's psychiatrists conduct a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation once patients are medically stable enough for accurate assessment (acute intoxication and early withdrawal can mimic or mask psychiatric conditions). Where medication is indicated - antidepressants, mood stabilisers, antipsychotics, anxiolytics - this is initiated and titrated carefully, with regular review and transparent communication with the patient about the purpose, expected effects, and any side effects of prescribed medications.
Stage 4: Core Rehabilitation - Psychotherapy & Skills Building
Once medically and psychiatrically stable, patients enter the core rehabilitation phase - the sustained therapeutic work that builds the psychological foundation for lasting recovery. This phase uses a range of evidence-based therapeutic modalities:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT is the most evidence-supported psychological treatment for both addiction and mental health conditions. At Athena, CBT sessions help patients identify the thought patterns and beliefs that drive substance use and emotional distress, develop cognitive restructuring skills to challenge and replace unhelpful thinking, and build behavioural strategies for managing triggers, cravings, and high-risk situations.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
DBT - particularly its skills training component - is used for patients with significant emotional dysregulation, self-harm histories, or borderline personality features. DBT skills in mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness are taught in individual and group formats.
Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET)
For patients with ambivalence about change or recovery, Motivational Enhancement Therapy builds intrinsic motivation by exploring personal values, goals, and the discrepancy between current behaviour and desired life direction. MET is particularly effective early in treatment and for patients with low initial motivation.
Psychoeducation
Knowledge is protective. Athena's psychoeducation programme ensures that every patient understands the neuroscience of addiction, the nature of their specific condition, how their medications work, the stages of recovery, and the warning signs of relapse - arming them with information that makes the rest of treatment more meaningful and effective.
Group Therapy
Daily group therapy sessions form the social backbone of rehabilitation. Groups provide peer learning, accountability, normalisation of shared experience, and the development of interpersonal skills in a safe, therapeutically facilitated environment.
Stage 5: Family Integration
Addiction and mental health conditions do not affect individuals in isolation - they affect entire families. Athena's clinical protocol integrates family therapy and family education sessions throughout the treatment process. Family members learn about the nature of addiction and mental health conditions, how to support recovery without enabling, and how to address their own emotional responses to the situation.
Stage 6: Discharge Planning & Aftercare
Discharge planning begins on day one of treatment, not the week before discharge. Athena's clinical team develops a comprehensive, written aftercare plan for every patient covering continuing psychiatric and psychological care, relapse prevention strategies specific to the individual, support group recommendations, family support roles, workplace reintegration (where relevant), and clear guidance on what to do if early warning signs of relapse appear. Our structured 12-month aftercare programme provides ongoing professional support after primary treatment ends, significantly reducing the risk of relapse in the critical months following discharge.
Recovery is possible at every stage. Early intervention improves long-term outcomes. Athena’s clinical team can confidentially assess the severity of alcohol addiction and recommend the most appropriate treatment approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are your treatment protocols the same for every patient?
No. While Athena's protocols are standardised in their evidence base and clinical rigour, every treatment plan is individually tailored to the specific patient - their diagnosis, severity, personal history, cultural background, and personal goals. Personalisation is not a luxury - it is a clinical necessity.
How long does a full course of treatment take?
This depends on the condition, severity, and the level of care. Medical detox typically takes 7-14 days. A primary inpatient rehabilitation programme is typically 28-90 days. Day care programmes typically run for 4-8 weeks. Outpatient treatment continues for as long as clinically indicated, often 6-12 months. Aftercare extends for a minimum of 12 months post-discharge.
What clinical standards does Athena follow?
Athena's protocols are aligned with ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine) placement criteria, NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) clinical guidelines, DSM-5 diagnostic standards, and WHO Mental Health Action Plan principles. Our programmes are reviewed regularly against current clinical evidence.
