Program coordinator Sylva Frock, PhD, CSAT, and primary therapist Kate Balestrieri, Psy.D, join the Substance Abuse and Intimacy Disorders program at Promises Malibu.
Malibu, CA (PRWEB) June 18, 2014 – Two distinguished clinical professionals join the Substance Abuse and Intimacy Disorders (SAID) program at Promises Malibu: Program Coordinator Sylva Frock, PhD, CSAT, and Primary Therapist Kate Balestrieri, Psy.D., CSAT-C.
As primary therapist, Dr. Balestrieri will work with men whose drug or alcohol use is fused with problems related to sex, relationships and intimacy. She will also treat men and women in Promises Malibu’s core substance abuse treatment program.
Dr. Balestrieri has worked with diverse patient populations in various stages of change, many of whom have extensive histories of trauma, addiction and sexual disorders. She has conducted evaluations and provided treatment in clinical, forensic and correctional settings for several years. In clinical practice, Dr. Balestrieri has worked with adolescents, adults, couples and families to address a variety of mental health concerns, specializing in substance abuse and trauma recovery. She earned her doctorate of clinical psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, with a concentration in forensic psychology.
“I was drawn to Promises Malibu because of its forward-thinking leadership and progressive programs,” said Dr. Balestrieri. “Working with individuals who are struggling with substance use disorders for the past several years, I was struck by the prevalence of co-occurring disorders, particularly disorders related to romantic relationships. Although substance abuse and intimacy disorders are closely intertwined, these overlapping issues rarely receive the attention and treatment they need for sustainable recovery. I’m excited to be part of the SAID program, which identifies this gap and addresses it head-on.”
Dr. Balestrieri will be working closely with Sylva Frock, PhD, CSAT, program coordinator for SAID Malibu and the national coordinator of clinical development at Elements Behavioral Health. Dr. Frock spent the last few months developing the SAID program for women at Right Step Dallas/Fort Worth, an innovative drug and alcohol treatment program for women with a dual emphasis on intimacy and relationship healing. Now, she will apply her knowledge and experience to enhance the clinical programming at SAID Malibu.
Dr. Frock is a certified sex addiction therapist and licensed psychologist with over 20 years of experience. She holds a doctorate in counseling psychology from Texas Woman’s University. Prior to joining Elements, she worked as the director of training at a residential addiction treatment center in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and at a skilled nursing facility. She also maintained a private practice for 15 years, specializing in addiction, women’s and LGBT issues, and impaired professionals.
The SAID program at Promises Malibu is a men’s substance abuse treatment program with a dual focus on the drug and alcohol abuse that often occurs in combination with problem patterns involving relationships, sex and intimacy. This unique, specialized men’s program addresses the needs of those who may come to rehab specifically for substance abuse, but who also require an integrated focus on their sexual behavior and trauma history, and/or longstanding problems they’ve had in developing and maintaining healthy adult intimacy.
About Promises Treatment Centers
Promises Treatment Centers in Malibu, West Los Angeles and Austin, Texas, are among the nation’s premier addiction treatment centers. Led by some of the country’s leading addiction specialists, Promises has built an international reputation for innovative addiction treatment and exceptional service. Whether an individual requires detox, residential drug rehab, outpatient treatment, extended care or a sober living environment, Promises has been a drug rehabilitation center of choice for more than 25 years. For more information about Promises Treatment Centers, call (866) 285-9441 or visit www.promises.com.
Promises Treatment Centers is part of Elements Behavioral Health, a family of behavioral healthcare programs that also includes The Ranch, The Sexual Recovery Institute, The Recovery Place, Right Step, Journey Healing Center, Sundance Center, Lucida Treatment Center and Clarity Way. Elements offers comprehensive, innovative treatment for substance abuse, sexual addiction, trauma, eating disorders and other mental health disorders. We are committed to delivering clinically sophisticated treatment that promotes permanent lifestyle change, not only for the patient but for the entire family system. For more information about Elements Behavioral Health, visit elementsbh4.wpengine.com.
