The Ernest E. Kennedy Center
Overview
Serving both adults and children, the Ernest E. Kennedy Center is a comprehensive alcohol and drug rehabilitation facility situated near Goose Creek, South Carolina. The center provides a variety of services, such as medication-assisted therapy, drug testing, intensive and general outpatient programs, and evidence-based therapeutic treatments, with an emphasis on delivering high-quality outpatient care. In order to make treatment available to a wide spectrum of people, the facility takes self-payment alternatives, Medicaid, and private insurance.
The Ernest E. Kennedy Center's science-based approach to addiction treatment is one of its unique selling points. A comprehensive biopsychosocial evaluation is the first step in the rehabilitation process in order to fully comprehend each person's condition and unique requirements. The center may develop a customized rehabilitation plan to assist clients in achieving their particular objectives thanks to this individualized examination. The facility provides a range of therapy strategies aimed at fostering long-term rehabilitation in addition to individual, group, and family counseling.
The Kennedy Center offers a variety of services to its clients that aid in their recuperation. These include courses on desire control, recreational therapy, and mindfulness techniques, all of which are meant to promote mental and emotional well. The facility offers educational lectures on a variety of recovery-focused subjects, including family dynamics, nutrition, and spirituality, in addition to these therapeutic procedures. The intensive outpatient program (IOP), which includes group therapy, family therapy, and psychoeducation, needs a minimum of nine hours of treatment per week for those who require a more organized level of care.
The Berkeley County Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse was the initial name of the Ernest E. Kennedy Center when it was founded in 1972. Its continued goal to provide mental health counseling to everyone, irrespective of gender, race, national origin, religion, or handicap, was reflected in its 1993 renaming in honor of Ernest E. Kennedy. By providing preventive, intervention, and treatment programs from two central sites, the center has been committed to serving the community for more than 40 years, making services conveniently accessible to Berkeley County citizens.
The Kennedy Center's skilled and caring staff of specialists is one of its main assets; they are dedicated to supporting those impacted by addiction and drug misuse. The center's evidence-based, progressive programs highlight that there are ways to avoid and cure the negative consequences of alcohol, tobacco, and other substances. The facility is a key component of a statewide network of 32 county authorities that treat more than 50,000 South Carolinians each year in all 46 counties as a recognized county substance abuse authority by the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (SCDAODAS).
The Ernest E. Kennedy Center's dedication to provide the best possible care for addiction treatment is further shown by its accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). This certification demonstrates the center's commitment to provide compassionate, evidence-based treatment to people in recovery, giving them hope and the resources they need to make long-lasting changes.
The Ernest E. Kennedy Center at a Glance
Payment Options
- Medicaid
- Private health insurance
- Cash or self-payment
- State-financed health insurance plan other than Medicaid
- Sliding fee scale (fee is based on income and other factors)
Assessments
- Comprehensive mental health assessment
- Comprehensive substance use assessment
Age Groups
- Adults
- Children/adolescents
- Young adults
- Adolescents
Operation
- Private non-profit organization
Accreditations
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF):
CARF accreditation is a prestigious recognition for organizations in rehabilitation and human services. It signifies that an organization meets rigorous quality standards and is committed to providing top-notch care. Achieving CARF accreditation involves a thorough evaluation process, including on-site surveys, to ensure excellence in programs and services. This accreditation boosts an organization's credibility, assures clients and funders of quality, and promotes ongoing improvement in the field of rehabilitation and human services.
Treatment At The Ernest E. Kennedy Center
Conditions Treated
Mental health treatment:
Mental health facilities offer a safe space for individuals to get specialized care. Trained experts create personal plans using therapies, possibly including medication. The goal is to help individuals cope better and lead fulfilling lives, with constant support and a community feel.
Alcoholism:
Alcohol addiction is a health problem where drinking takes control over a person's life. It affects how their brain thinks and acts, leading to strong desires to drink, bad feelings, sudden actions, and discomfort when not drinking. To help someone with this problem, there are treatments like detox, counseling, group support, and learning coping methods. While treatment can't completely cure the urge to drink, it helps people regain control of their lives and feel better overall.
Opioid Addiction:
Opioid rehabilitation centers are dedicated to assisting individuals on the path to recovery from opioid addiction. They provide specialized care for those struggling with addiction to substances like heroin and prescription opioids such as oxycodone. These facilities offer a comprehensive approach, including medical detoxification, ongoing medical assistance (including medication-based treatment), and therapeutic support to address the root causes of addiction.
Substance use treatment:
Substance use rehabilitation is a comprehensive treatment approach designed to assist individuals struggling with addiction to drugs or alcohol. This form of rehabilitation addresses both the physical dependency, often starting with detoxification, and the psychological triggers, using various therapeutic methods. The objective is to empower individuals to achieve and maintain sobriety, while equipping them with the tools and coping strategies needed to reintegrate into society and lead a substance-free life.
Co-occurring Disorders:
Dual-diagnosis rehabs are usually the appropriate solution to treat co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders. These facilities typically employ medical and behavioral experts who use a range of interventions, together with the right healing environment, for you to achieve and sustain long-term recovery. Treatment usually includes evidence-based therapies (like cognitive behavioral therapy), recovery support meetings, 12-step facilitation, psychoeducation, skills training, and group therapy.
Levels Of Care
Intensive outpatient treatment:
Intensive Outpatient (IOP) is a form of structured therapy designed to support individuals in recovery from addiction, mental health disorders, or other medical conditions. Unlike inpatient or residential treatment, where patients live at the facility, IOP allows individuals to receive high-level care while still living at home and maintaining specific day-to-day responsibilities. Typically, patients in IOP programs attend sessions multiple times per week, often totaling 9-20 hours or more. These sessions can include individual therapy, group therapy, family counseling, and educational classes focused on skills and strategies for managing symptoms and preventing relapse.
Detoxification:
Detoxification, often shortened to detox, is like giving the body a fresh start by getting rid of harmful substances like drugs or alcohol someone may have taken. When a person stops taking these substances, they might feel sick or uncomfortable as their body adjusts to the change. Detox helps ease these uncomfortable feelings while making sure the harmful substances are removed from the body in a safe way. This process helps prevent any additional harm caused by the drugs or alcohol.
Aftercare:
Aftercare refers to the structured support and programs offered to individuals after completing an initial treatment phase for substance abuse or other disorders. Recognizing that recovery is an ongoing process, aftercare provides continued counseling, skill-building, group therapy, and resources to help individuals maintain sobriety, manage triggers, and reintegrate into daily life, reducing the risk of relapse and ensuring long-term success in recovery.
Outpatient:
Outpatient programs cater to individuals who are in good medical condition and are not at a heightened risk of relapse, including those who have successfully finished their inpatient treatment. These programs usually build upon clients' existing treatment strategies, providing ongoing addiction counseling and educational support for recovery. Individuals who enter outpatient care right after detoxification may also undergo medical and psychological evaluations, followed by the creation of personalized treatment plans. Most outpatient rehabilitation centers offer various levels of care tailored to meet each client's specific needs.
Outpatient detoxification:
Outpatient Detoxification denotes a medical procedure wherein individuals grappling with substance dependence undergo a systematic and secure withdrawal from these substances while receiving medical oversight without the need for hospitalization or admission to an inpatient facility. This method empowers patients to detoxify from drugs or alcohol within a less confining setting, often permitting them to uphold important daily obligations like work or familiar responsibilities, in addition to being more cost-effective compared to inpatient detox.
Treatment Modalities
12-step facilitation:
Recovery models grounded in 12-step programs prominently incorporate peer coaching, strongly emphasizing personal growth as the pathway to enduring sobriety. Regular participation in 12-step meetings, known for their anonymity, cost-free access, and daily availability, is encouraged. The 12 steps of recovery, anchored in spiritual principles, guide participants in unraveling the core issues of their addiction, taking accountability for their decisions, and coming to terms with aspects beyond their control. Chosen by the individuals themselves, sponsors offer personalized one-on-one mentorship, aiding in navigating through the recovery journey.
Group counseling:
Group Therapy is a therapeutic space where individuals battling addiction come together to share experiences, gain insights, and support one another on their journey to recovery. Facilitated by trained professionals, this setting fosters communal healing and empowers participants to overcome the challenges of addiction through collective strength and understanding.
Individual psychotherapy:
Individual therapy, often referred to as psychotherapy or counseling, is a one-on-one therapeutic interaction between a trained therapist and a client. It provides a confidential space for individuals to explore their feelings, beliefs, and behaviors, working through challenging memories, experiences, or emotions. The therapist facilitates self-awareness, promotes personal growth and insight, and offers coping strategies to manage specific issues like stress, anxiety, depression, and other life challenges. The ultimate goal is to improve the individual's mental well-being and enhance their overall quality of life.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a evidence-based psychological treatment that focuses on identifying and challenging negative thought patterns and behaviors. It aims to develop coping strategies and promote healthier thinking to address a variety of mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and stress. CBT is typically short-term and goal-oriented, emphasizing the role of thought processes in influencing emotions and behaviors.
Family counseling:
Family Counseling is a therapeutic approach that seeks to address and improve communication, understanding, and dynamics within a family unit. By addressing conflicts, emotional distress, and behavioral challenges, a trained therapist provides guidance and tools for family members to strengthen bonds, resolve issues, and foster a healthier family environment.
Motivational Interviewing:
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a clinical approach to helping people with substance abuse issues and other conditions shift behavior in positive ways. It is more goal-oriented than traditional psychotherapy, as MI counselors directly attempt to get clients to consider making behavioral change (rather than wait for them to come to conclusions themselves). Its primary purpose is to resolve ambivalence and help clients become able to make healthy choices freely.
Nutrition Therapy:
Nutrition therapy, aka medical nutrition therapy (MNT), treats physical, emotional, and medical conditions through diet. Specific dietary plans are designed by professional nutritionists or registered dietitians, and patients follow them in order to affect their physical and mental health positively.
Experiential Therapy:
Experiential Therapy is a therapeutic approach that emphasizes direct experience and active client involvement to gain insight into unresolved issues and trauma. Through guided activities, role-playing, and other interactive techniques, clients are encouraged to confront and explore their emotions in the present moment, leading to a deeper understanding and resolution of their challenges. This therapy is rooted in the belief that transformative change occurs through meaningful experiences.
Life Skills:
Life skills training equips individuals with essential competencies, such as time management, career planning, financial literacy, and effective communication, to navigate the challenges of daily life. These skills are foundational to achieving not just sobriety but a thriving, fulfilling life post-addiction. Such training lays the groundwork for sustainable success and long-term recovery.
Creative Arts Therapy:
Creative Arts Therapy is a therapeutic technique that harnesses the power of the arts— including visual arts, dance, music, and drama—to help individuals express themselves, explore their emotions, and improve their mental, emotional, and even physical well-being. Through engaging in the creative process under the guidance of a trained therapist, individuals can uncover and work through underlying issues, improve self-awareness, and develop coping skills in a safe and supportive environment. This form of therapy is used to treat a variety of mental health conditions and is beneficial for people of all ages.
Intervention Services:
Intervention refers to organized efforts designed to guide individuals away from potentially harmful behaviors or decisions and towards healthier alternatives. Often used in the context of substance abuse or addiction, these services employ a structured approach where professionals, loved ones, and peers come together to confront the individual in a supportive manner, emphasizing the need for change and providing pathways for treatment or assistance. The goal is to break through denial, facilitate recognition of the problem, and initiate positive change.
Holistic Treatment:
A holistic approach encompasses a "whole person" perspective in treatment, emphasizing the interconnectedness of mental, physical, and spiritual health. At its core, holistic therapy believes in the seamless integration of an individual's body, mind, emotions, and spirit. In the context of addiction recovery, this approach ensures that the entire person is catered to, rather than isolating a specific symptom or behavior. Holistic treatments aim to enhance the individual's complete well-being instead of merely addressing isolated issues.
Dialectical behavior therapy:
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a cognitive-behavioral therapeutic approach primarily to treat individuals with borderline personality disorder. It combines standard cognitive-behavioral techniques with distress tolerance, acceptance, and mindfulness concepts. DBT emphasizes the balance between accepting and changing behaviors, aiming to help patients build life skills, regulate emotions, and improve interpersonal relationships. It has since been adapted for and shown effectiveness in treating a variety of other mental health conditions.
Trauma-related counseling:
Trauma therapy addresses the deep-seated emotional and psychological wounds often linked with substance abuse disorders. Recognizing that traumatic experiences can be a root cause or a significant contributing factor to substance addiction, this therapeutic approach seeks to help individuals understand, process, and heal from their traumas. Doing so fosters emotional healing and bolsters the individual's chances of long-term recovery from addiction. Integrating trauma-informed care into addiction treatment ensures a comprehensive approach that addresses substance abuse's symptoms and underlying causes.
Nicotine replacement:
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is a medical treatment designed to help individuals quit smoking by providing a controlled and decreasing dose of nicotine through alternative means, such as patches, gums, or lozenges, to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings. This approach aids in gradually weaning off nicotine dependence while bypassing the harmful effects of smoking.
Ancillary Services
Special Programs
- Clients with HIV or AIDS
Contact Information
DISCLAIMER: The facility name, logo and brand are the property and registered trademarks of The Ernest E. Kennedy Center, and are being used for identification and informational purposes only. Use of these names, logos and brands shall not imply endorsement. BetterAddictionCare.com is not affiliated with or sponsored by The Ernest E. Kennedy Center.
