Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)

School

Psychology

Advisor

Aundrea T. Harris

Abstract

Substance use disorder continues to be a major health crisis in the United States. Thousands of people die yearly due to substance use and related criminal activity. Substance abuse treatment is a remedy to the disorder and treatment centers admit thousands of patients yearly to address the dilemma. Throughout the years retention has been an ongoing barrier to successful treatment. This study explored significant obstacles to retention: motivation and engagement. The Baldrige Excellence Framework was utilized to assess the training, supervision, procedures, and leadership roles at an intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment center. This study utilized a qualitative approach case study design, interviewing three behavioral health leaders that managed the outpatient program. Content analysis was used to identify themes and understand how procedures helped or hindered patient motivation and engagement. Recommendations derived from this study included: thorough assessments, intense individual counseling, ongoing supervision, and counselor training, unifying the organizational culture, and the importance of managerial and therapeutic rapport. Focusing on improving retention will have a positive social impact on the lives of those entering substance abuse treatment and hopefully produce transferrable solutions for other treatment centers facing the same dilemma.

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