Our Clinical Pathways
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The Lifeskills Difference
At Lifeskills, our exclusive clinical pathways offer tailored, structured approaches to treat mental health, substance use, and trauma-related disorders. These pathways guide clients through recovery, ensuring they receive the appropriate level of care based on their unique needs. Each pathway is overseen by a doctoral-level or licensed clinician, with the flexibility to adjust as needed for personalized, effective treatment.
Based on an assessment of clinical need and diagnosis, each client is prescribed the most appropriate primary and secondary clinical pathways. Throughout treatment, we’re flexible within our clinical pathways to ensure that each client’s recovery journey is right for them.

Lifeskills offers clinical pathways, which are the foundation of our evidence-based practices. Each pathway is led by a doctoral-level or licensed clinician with additional national certifications in their area of expertise.
Based on an assessment of clinical need and diagnosis, each client is prescribed the most appropriate primary and secondary clinical pathways. Throughout treatment, we’re flexible within our clinical pathways to ensure that each client’s recovery journey is right for them.
- Evidence-based practices
- Integrated primary & behavioral care
- Life skills training
- Family support program
What Our Clinical Pathways Entail
Lifeskills offers pathways as the foundation of our evidence-based practices. Each pathway is led by a doctoral-level or licensed clinician with additional national certifications in their area of expertise. Based on an assessment of clinical need and diagnosis, each client is prescribed the most appropriate primary and secondary clinical pathways. Throughout treatment, we’re flexible within our clinical pathways to ensure that each client’s recovery journey is right for them. Two common examples of prescribed primary and secondary clinical pathways include:
Trauma Treatment & Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Clients must have the emotional regulation skills necessary to process trauma without becoming emotionally dysregulated or experiencing suicidal ideation. For this reason, before entering the Trauma Treatment Pathway, a client may enter the DBT Pathway to address their emotional dysregulation.
Substance-Induced Psychosis
For a client suffering from substance-induced psychosis, we treat the psychosis symptoms first using the Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT) Pathway. Treating the psychosis symptoms before the individual enters the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Pathway allows them to have better insight into their substance use. Once the client is stabilized, we transition them to the SUD Pathway.
Our Clinical Pathways
Acute Psychiatric Care / Medical Support Pathway
This pathway serves individuals with complex psychiatric and co-occurring disorders requiring heightened clinical oversight. It supports those facing acute symptoms, medical complications, treatment resistance, medication non-adherence, escalated risk-taking behaviors, or multiple treatment episodes. Guided by experienced clinicians, clients receive intensive psychiatric care, medical monitoring, and tailored interventions to stabilize symptoms and establish a strong foundation for long-term recovery.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Pathway
This pathway utilizes evidence-based CBT to treat mood disorders, including depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Through structured interventions, clients learn to recognize and reframe irrational or self-defeating thoughts, develop healthier responses, and build effective coping strategies for long-term emotional resilience.
Cognitive Remediation Therapy Pathway
Designed for individuals with thought disorders and psychosis related to substance use disorder (SUD), this pathway utilizes computer-based CRT to strengthen cognitive functions like executive functioning, decision-making, and impulse control. Through targeted interventions and life skills training, clients improve comprehension, enhance problem-solving abilities, and build a foundation for lasting stability and sobriety.
This evidence-based approach, combined with our life skills training, supports clients in managing their symptoms, thereby promoting more extended periods of stability and sobriety.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Pathway
This pathway follows a comprehensive DBT model and supports individuals with personality disorders, including borderline personality disorder (BPD) and emotional dysregulation. For real-time support, clients engage in skills training, individual therapy, and 24/7 phone coaching. A dedicated DBT clinician ensures continuous guidance and helps clients develop emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness skills for lasting recovery.
Metabolic Fitness Pathway
This pathway supports individuals at risk of cardiometabolic syndrome or weight-related challenges due to mental health conditions or psychotropic medications. Clients’ wellness improves through structured nutrition, fitness, and lifestyle interventions. Key components include personalized nutrition coaching, fitness training, and holistic wellness activities like yoga and meditation. While this pathway is adapted for clinical appropriateness in individuals with eating disorders, it does not serve as primary eating disorder treatment.
Social Integration Pathway
This pathway bridges treatment and real-world application, helping clients regain independence through recreational, social, and life-skills activities. Clients engage in real-life situations, practicing essential skills with professional guidance. Key components include personalized activity selection, real-time support from licensed professionals, and hands-on skill-building for lasting success. Our social integration model fosters confidence, autonomy, and resilience, empowering clients to navigate life with greater stability.
Substance Use Disorder / Chemical Dependency Pathway
This pathway integrates an evidence-based approach to support individuals with SUDs and co-occurring mental health conditions. It combines CBT, DBT, rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), and a 12-step philosophy to help clients develop healthier coping strategies and long-term recovery skills. Key components include relapse prevention groups, emotional regulation, mindfulness, holistic support, and a comprehensive recovery framework. This pathway promotes accountability, self-awareness, and resilience, equipping clients with the tools for sustained sobriety and mental wellness.
Trauma Treatment Pathway
This pathway addresses PTSD, complex trauma, and dissociative identity disorder (DID) through evidence-based therapies, including cognitive processing therapy (CPT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), seeking safety, and DBT. It follows a three-stage approach — safety and stabilization, trauma processing, and reintegration — with gender-specific groups in our women’s program. The pathway emphasizes emotional regulation, healing, and empowering clients for lasting recovery through a structured, trauma-informed approach.
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