Integrated Behavioral Health

The Basics

The Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH) unit of the North Slope Borough Department of Health serves adults living across the North Slope of Alaska. Services include treatment for substance abuse and co-occurring disorders through group and individual therapy sessions. Outpatient services are held at the IBH facility in Barrow, Alaska, by video teleconference or through in-person outreach. In-person outreach meetings are generally only arranged in exceptional cases.

Treatment and Staff

All prospective clients must first visit the IBH office for an intake. The staff then suggest treatment plans tailored to each client’s needs. Clients can also receive referrals to outside residential facilities or Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) when need be. While many clients at IBH attend classes voluntarily, the facility also accepts court-ordered clients.

Each individual is assigned a counselor to meet with for hour-long private sessions that are scheduled as needed. During this time, clients can openly discuss any issues relating  to their progress and goals.

Aside from individual sessions, group therapy is available every day of the week from 4 pm to 5 pm and 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. These meetings are open to all over the age of 18. Topics include the addiction-as-a-disease model, relapse prevention and dual diagnosis support and treatment methods include Motivational Interviewing (MI). There are also 12-step themed groups. Those interested in attending AA/NA meetings in the community are referred to local meetings, though these are not required.

For those living in the remote villages along the North Slope, there are video teleconferencing sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It’s also possible to receive in-person services from IBH staff members who travel to villages upon request.

There is a psychiatrist available to provide medication management for those in need of dual-diagnosis support. Other staff members include licensed social workers, LADCs and LPCs.

Extras

IBH also offers Gathering Place, a day program for adults dealing with mental illnesses. Treatment is offered every day of the week for three hours each day. The program consists of group meetings that address a variety of everyday life skills such as communication, time management and self-management.

The Matsutani Community Resource is an extension of IBH that offers educational substance abuse group meetings Monday through Friday after 5 pm. These meetings use the same treatment approach as IBH facilities.

In Summary

Integrated Behavioral Health provides substance abuse and co-occurring disorders support to adults in the remote North Slope region of Alaska. Staff members work with the community to make its services available to those in need regardless of the inconveniences of geography. Treatment varies but requires consistency for success.

Integrated Behavioral Health
5200 Karluk St
Barrow, AK 99723

Integrated Behavioral Health Cost: Sliding scale (30 days). Reach Integrated Behavioral Health by phone at (907) 852-0288.

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Photo courtesy of NorthSlope

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