Traditional addiction treatment models often overlook the unique biological, relational, and systematic realities of women. This workshop provides a comprehensive, gender-responsive framework anchored in Women’s Integrated Treatment (WIT) models. Participants will analyze the "telescoping" effect, examining why women face accelerated medical and psychological consequences from substance use, and how the pressure to maintain a high-functioning exterior creates barriers to seek help.
Participants will walk away with practical tools to foster the healthy connections essential for long-term recovery. We will address life-saving interventions like MAT for pregnant women, family-based treatment, and grounding techniques. Finally, we will explore structural solutions for common barriers, to ensure treatment is accessible and sustainable for mothers and caregivers.
By the conclusion of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Define the "telescoping effect" and explain how accelerated progression of SUD in womenimpactsclinical timelines and physical health.
- Apply Women’s Integrated Treatment (WIT) Models: Implement the six guiding principles of gender-responsive care to create safer, more respectful therapeutic environments.
- Identifyhow the pressure to maintain caregiving roles contributes to "invisible" addiction and significant barriers to seeking help.
- Describe how women heal through healthy connection and how to move away from isolation-based treatment models.
- Articulate the standards for family-based treatment and the life-saving role of MAT for pregnant women.
- Implement tools (grounding, somatic) and approaches (relational model) that meet the needs of women with lived experiences.