Minnesota Alternatives is a treatment facility that offers a unique approach to substance abuse disorder treatment and provides an alternative to the 12-Step, abstinence-based “Minnesota Model”. Minnesota Alternatives offers adult outpatient mental health and addiction treatment, and focuses on skill development, engagement, neuroscience and personalized interventions. Treatment options utilize meditation, imagery and cognitive behavioral therapies.
Facility Highlights
- Person-Centered
- Flexible Programming
- Trauma Treatment
Specialization
Individualized Treatment
Some facilities have an addiction treatment protocol that all patients or clients are expected to follow, while others customize or individualize treatment based on a person’s unique needs and circumstances. Factors that may affect treatment decisions include age, lifestyle, medical conditions, type of drug, religious beliefs, etc.Client & Family Support Groups
Group therapy is a vital component of addiction recovery treatment, considered as important and effective (sometimes even more so) than individual therapy. Benefits include reducing isolation and loneliness and providing the opportunity to learn from others in recovery. In the addiction setting, group therapy is run by trained professionals who guide participants toward a shared goal of recovery.
Facility Settings
- Residential Neighborhood
Meet the Staff
Paula L DeSanto, Owner and DirectorMS, LSW, CPRP, CCDP-DPaula is the founder and president of Minnesota Alternatives, a unique outpatient program providing substance use and mental health treatment through person-centered principles and interventions. Paula also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota, where she teaches graduate students about her model. Paula’s Master of Science degree is in Psychiatric Rehabilitation from Boston University. She is a Licensed Social Worker as well as a Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner and a Certified Co-Occurring Disorder Professional-Diplomat. In her role as outside consultant and trainer, Paula is often invited to speak to both professional and consumer audiences about alternative approaches to substance use disorder treatment and harm/risk reduction. She also serves on the Department of Human Services Alcohol and Drug Division Advisory Council, the Anoka County Directors Network, and the Medica Community Advisory Council. Paula has developed programs that serve adults with mental health and/or substance use issues for more than 25 years. She has worked in a variety of settings that include intensive residential and outpatient treatment, case management, and community support. Previously, she worked at Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center bringing progressive, person-centered care into a medical setting. She was a program director for Diane Ollendick-Wright – working with her for 11 years and she also directed programs for 9 years for People Incorporated.
Financial Details
- Up to 100%
