Session Description: This workshop presents a framework for a gender responsive treatment approach for adult women with substance use disorders. A significant percentage of women presenting for substance use treatment often report a history of trauma as well as difficulty in developing and maintaining meaningful, healthy and sustaining relationships. Shame and fear of severe consequences may result in the denial or minimization of the existence of a problem. This in addition to society’s stereotypes of women, often result in women remaining stuck in their substance use longer. These experiences further reinforce the importance of providing gender and trauma responsive treatment approaches. This workshop will review specific treatment needs of women across the various levels of care while also describing specific clinical interventions to facilitate women’s substance use treatment and improve outcomes.
Learning Objectives:
After this activity participants should be able to
Upon completion, participants will be able to describe the unique needs of women in substance use treatment.
Upon completion, participants will be able to identify clinical interventions that reinforce a gender responsive treatment approach for women and why they work
Upon completion, participants will be able to describe trauma responsive approaches to further support gender responsive treatment for women.