MOTIVATING AFFECT SELF CONTROL – MASC

The MASC program was written to be delivered by staff to residents within a residential Therapeutic Community for the purpose of increasing resident’s success at comprehending and overcoming their alcohol or other drug addiction.  Government recommendations and the existing goals and structure of the Therapeutic Community were considered in the development of the MASC program.  Importantly the delivery of MASC ensures an evidence based, consistent approach to resident’s therapy.  Staff are provided clear assumptions (click for program assumptions), boundaries and guidelines regarding their provision of services to residents.

Participants are provided increased knowledge, strategy and skills to self-manage their vulnerability to addiction.

The MASC program explores the human emotional experience drawing from Kepner, LeDoux and Damasio.

MASC DELIVERY:

The MASC package aims to progress clients to a position where they can assimilate and regulate their experiences of;
Family, relationships, work, trauma, addiction recovery.

MASC training manuals, handouts, posters and ongoing support compliment staff training.

Download eBrochure - Click here

PROGRAM ASSUMPTIONS

EVALUATION OF MASC: RETENTION DATA FOR MASC WITHIN A THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY (80 BEDS) 2010-2013

Note that results suggest that Pre-MASC, the total average number of treatment days was 35 days.  Post MASC implementation, the total average number of days in treatment increased to 65 days.

For those individuals who remained beyond 29 days, the average stay pre-masc was 58 days.  Post MASC this average stay increased to 91 days.

Results presented at the VAADA Conference 2013 by Jennifer Armstrong (Director, JLA Consulting Psychologists) and Eric Allan (Executive Manager Odyssey Residential Services) and ATCA Conference October 2013 by Tim Flora (Senior Clinician, Odyssey House Victoria, Residential Services TC).

CONFERENCE PAPERS

Results presented at the VAADA Conference Melbourne February 14: Introducing MASC, A collaboration between Odyssey House Victoria and JLA Consulting Psychologists, 2013 by Eric Allan Executive Manager, Odyssey House Victoria and Jennifer Armstrong, Director JLA Consulting Psychologists Pty Ltd.

Download the VAADA Powerpoint Presentation 2013 - Click here

Tim Flora a Senior Therapist at Odyssey House Victoria presented quantitative and qualitative results of MASC in his paper Learning Emotional Self Control: The Neglected But Essential Ingredient at the Australian Therapeutic Communities Association (ATCA) National Conference Gold Coast, Australia October 14-18.


'Traditions of passivity, the blank screen, and uncovering techniques 
derived from psychoanalysis of the neurosis are ill-suited for
 responding to the treatment needs of most drug-dependent patients
 (Khantzian 1985). Instead, they need active approaches to appreciate 
how their difficulties with affect management and self care deficits
 [impulsivity] so seriously compromise their lives and predispose them 
to depend on substances " (Khantzian, 2007, p.536).