The River Model

Medically Reviewed by Bill Brown, LCMHC

A Personal Wellness Curriculum Supporting Clinical Treatment

Confluence developed a personal growth model to help participants begin, navigate and emerge from the program. The process acknowledges the effort and growth participants make while enrolled. Each structured stage is marked by ceremony to recognize the hard work the participant has done to get there. Confluence uses a river as metaphor for the four stages, which are built successively on each other. With each new stage, there are new opportunities, responsibilities and challenges. Participants move from one stage to the next as they work with their individualized treatment plans and complete assignments helping them heal and change while gaining new skills, insights and awareness. The curriculum offers an educational opportunity and helps participants better understand and communicate about their mental health challenges.

The River

The Headwaters

Settling In: Orientation and Rest

In the Headwaters participants settle in and orient themselves to the new environment. Initial introductions to clinicians, staff and participants are made. At the start of the program participants have space to rest and relax before beginning the journey down river. It is an opportunity to reorganize and recuperate from the busy, hectic world while collecting the energy to start moving. At this stage the participants receive the handbook and review it with mentors.

The Stream

Starting Out: Introspection and Engagement

The Stream is the introduction to the participant group and activities. It marks the real beginning of the journey at Confluence. During this stage participants begin to examine their experiences at home, school, work and in relationships. Starting slowly, as a small stream does, the young adults begin to reflect on how things have gone in their past while beginning to make some headway toward fully engaging. Here they look downstream and start to formulate what they want for their future.

The River

Searching Around: Insight and Exploration

Entering the River marks the move into deeper, swifter waters. Participants work to recognize and develop their individual motivations and aspirations. At the same time, participants seek to identify the obstacles, hesitations and elements getting in the way of them reaching their fullest potential. Here participants set goals for themselves and develop strategies to successfully navigate around obstacles. The River stage includes the challenge to look beyond the obvious and superficial into more meaningful and illustrative truths.

The Estuary

Seeing Beyond: Awareness and Foresight

The Estuary is the confluence of the whole experience It is where the river meets the sea or where participants prepare to reengage with their lives away from Confluence. This stage is about integrating the therapy, experiences and skills into a cohesive new mindset and modality for living. At the Estuary, the work is to apply the treatment gains to support the next step of each participant's journey. Participants wrap up their work with Confluence and plan their transition, each leaving with a new awareness and skills.

The team at Confluence helped our son immensely. We couldn't be happier with the results and would highly recommend the program for young adults that are ready and willing to actively engage in making significant progress toward a healthier life.

Quite frankly, our daughter’s transformation at Confluence saved her life. The experience was the most challenging of her life but it has changed her profoundly - she is learning to communicate, know herself and deal with her inner mental self.

Explore Your Health Insurance Benefits

Confluence Behavioral Health is a state-licensed residential treatment center providing intermediate mental health care. Many insurance plans will cover costs for mental health care services provided by Confluence.