Frequently Asked Questions

Addiction is a multi-factorial disease having psychosocial, genetic, spiritual and metabolic components. The medical model or disease concept of addiction establishes the Brain Reward Cascade as a hallmark of compulsive disorders as well as the five addictions which are:

Chemical
Work
Food
Sex
Gambling

Addictive disorders, such as substance abuse and dependence, are common disorders that involve the overuse of alcohol and/or drugs. Addiction develops over time and is a chronic and relapsing illness.

There are three different terms used to define substance-related addictive disorders:

Substance Abuse
Substance abuse, as a disorder, refers to the abuse of illegal substances or the abusive use of legal substances. It is an addictive disorder that describes a pattern of substance (usually drug or alcohol) use leading to significant problems or distress, such as failure to attend school, substance use in dangerous situations (like driving a car), substance-related legal problems or continued substance use that interferes with friendships and/or family relationships. Alcohol is the most common legal drug to be abused.

Substance Dependence
Substance dependence is an addictive disorder that describes continued use of drugs or alcohol, even when significant problems related to their use have developed. Signs include an increased tolerance—that is, the need for increased amounts of the substance to attain the desired effect; withdrawal symptoms with decreased use; unsuccessful efforts to decrease use; increased time spent in activities to obtain the substance; withdrawal from social and recreational activities; and continued use of the substance even with awareness of the physical or psychological problems encountered by the extent of substance use.

Chemical Dependence
Chemical dependence is also an addictive disorder that describes the compulsive use of chemicals (usually drugs or alcohol) and the inability to stop using them despite all the problems caused by their use.

The substances frequently abused by those with addictive disorders, include, but are not limited to, the following:

Alcohol
Marijuana
Hallucinogens
Cocaine
Amphetamines
Opiates
Anabolic steroids
Inhalants
Methamphetamine
Tobacco

Co-occurring Disorders are the coexistence of both a mental health and a substance use disorder is referred to as co-occurring disorders.  Approximately 7.9 million adults in the United States had co-occurring disorders in 2014.People with mental health disorders are more likely than people without mental health disorders to experience an alcohol or substance use disorder. (SAMSA)

We provide treatment for adults struggling with addiction disorder and substance abuse issues, mental health conditions and co-occurring substance use disorders, We also treat those suffering from compassion fatigue. We welcome all who are seeking relief using an integrative approach.

Conditions We Treat

There are many definitions of ‘integrative’ health care, but all involve bringing conventional and complementary approaches together in a coordinated way. The use of integrative approaches to health and wellness has grown within care settings across the United States. (from NIH)

Integrative in regard to health care/addiction or mental health care, means combining both allopathic or traditional approaches to treatment and complementary therapies. In our case it also means incorporating holistic approaches to treatment as well as traditional. Employing an integrative approach to addiction and recovery means we use evidence based modalities like counseling, as well as holistic and complimentary alternative medicine and therapies such as Expressive Arts to address a clients issues. Evidence shows that a multi-modality, integrative approach not only addresses the issue of addiction but also helps to secure the possibility of finding and maintaining recovery, while discovering new ways to move forward, and obtain optimal health and healing.

IAR follows an Integrative model in our approach to addiction and co-occurring disorders.

Integrative medicine is grounded in the definition of health. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
Integrative medicine seeks to restore and maintain health and wellness across a person’s lifespan by understanding the patient’s unique set of circumstances and addressing the full range of physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual and environmental influences that affect health.

Through personalizing care, integrative medicine goes beyond the treatment of symptoms to address all the causes of an illness, which includes addiction disorder and those co-occurring mental health issues most often connected to addiction.

Integrative medicine is not the same as alternative medicine, which refers to an approach to healing that is utilized in place of conventional therapies, or complementary medicine, which refers to healing modalities that are used to complement allopathic approaches. If the defining principles are applied, care can be integrative regardless of which modalities are utilized.

Our integrative approach works in conjunction with and not in replacement of conventional therapies.

IAR uses an integrative approach which includes counseling, expressive therapies, experiential therapies and cutting edge testing and treatment methods. There are many things which make IAR distinctive:Integrative approach to treatment and healing which focuses on mind, body and spirit healing as opposed to just treating symptoms.

• Experiential and Expressive therapies in every program.
• While sobriety is at the core of your health and at the center of our integrative model, your healing does not end with sobriety. That is where it begins.
• We believe in the possibilities of long term recovery for those who address all of the issues connected to the addiction.
• DNA lab testing to access and use as tools within treatment plans.
• IAR provides you with the tools to help you find sobriety and recovery, but also facilitates learning how to face daily challenges, victories, failures and success and all of the life circumstances from a sober and clear perspective.
• Clinical and practitioner team planning and commitment to your treatment plan.
• Strictest confidentiality and secured privacy in every aspect.
• Group and continued support sessions which are not open to the public, but only those participating in IAR programs.
• Nutritional support specific to addiction and recovery.

Finding sobriety and recovery may be a big challenge for you, but it is only one component of recovery. For the newly sober and enlightened, the much bigger challenge may be in learning to transition back into a world without the substance or addiction you’ve grown accustomed to using. IAR programs are designed not only to facilitate the start of the journey in recovery, but also to provide ongoing support for the long haul. IAR programs provide clients with daily lifestyle tools, as well as opportunities to practice those new skills, habits and perspectives in the new life you are transitioning towards.

In addition, IAR programs last as long as you need to retrain and reframe your mind, body and spirit and get the results you want.

We accept private pay by credit card or check.  Fees are discussed during the initial consultation and assessment, prior to starting your program. We provide a written cost of programs for your consideration before moving forward. Some of the therapies in each program may or may not be covered by health insurance, others including IAR counseling does NOT currently accept insurance. However, some insurance plans do offer FSA Flex Spending Account or HSA Health Savings Account, which may pay for all services.

If you are a new client, please contact us by phone (508 366 6630) or email us via our website, if you prefer. One of our counselors will respond to you within 2 business days to coordinate your appointment. Prior to your first scheduled appointment, you will need to complete a required intake form which you must bring with you on the day of your first visit. (see contact us page for form/link)

IAR is now part of the Westboro Spine & Holistic Health Center on 20 South Street in Westborough. The Holistic Health Center has been seeing patients and clients for over 15 years at this location.