Every human is a unique being who interprets the world around them differently. Even when people share similar experiences, their responses can be vastly dissimilar. This understanding is the core of multimodal therapy (MMT). Essentially, MMT is grounded in the idea that all treatment of the mind, body, and spirit must be tailored to each individual’s unique needs to be successful.
Beyond Healthcare provides outpatient treatment for adolescents aged 11-17 who struggle with mental, emotional, developmental, and behavioral challenges. Here, we see beyond a diagnosis to provide holistic treatment that gives families real solutions. Multimodal therapy is an integral part of our treatment approach, which allows children, teens, and families to go beyond just learning to cope and embrace actual growth and healing. Contact us at 833.698.0453 to learn about mental health therapies, including MMT.
What Is Multimodal Treatment?
Multimodal treatment involves therapists using multiple evidence-based behavioral therapies to create a treatment plan unique to each person’s needs. Arnold Lazarus developed multimodal therapy (MMT) in the 1950s to expand upon his concept of behavioral therapy using a comprehensive biopsychosocial approach to mental health assessment and treatment.
MMT transcends diagnostic labels by recognizing that people with the same diagnosis have different symptoms and require different treatment approaches. For example, we can look at the various symptoms of depression.
One person with depression might experience symptoms that include:
- Insomnia (inability to sleep)
- Anger or irritability
- Loss of appetite
- Social withdrawal
- Loss of motivation
- Anxiety
- Rumination
Meanwhile, another person with the same diagnosis of depression can have symptoms of:
- Hypersomnia (sleeping too much)
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- Difficulty concentrating
- Procrastination
- Intense sadness and crying
- Loss of pleasure
- Thoughts of suicide
From looking at these very different symptoms, it is clear that these individuals would not benefit from a “cookie-cutter” approach where everyone with a particular diagnosis receives the same treatment.
Understanding Multimodal Therapy (MMT) and BASIC I.D.
Multimodal therapy (MMT) aims to identify specific problems within and across a person’s BASIC I.D. and provide them with the best therapeutic interventions based on these characteristics. BASIC I.D. refers to seven aspects of personality that include:
- Behavior – Our actions
- Affect – Our emotions
- Sensation – Our senses
- Imagery – Our ability to imagine, visualize, and think in pictures
- Cognition – Our language-based thought processes
- Interpersonal relationships – Our intimate relationships and social connections
- Drugs – Our physical health, drug use (prescribed or illicit), and medical issues
From the MMT perspective, all reactions to life experiences combine how these seven personality features work together within a person to create a psychological or behavioral response.
At Beyond Healthcare, strengths and challenges in these areas are identified to help create a treatment plan for each teen. Because we work from a family systems approach, our treatment plans include family members and anyone significant in your child’s life.
Can Your Adolescent or Teen Benefit from Multimodal Treatment?
The beauty of multimodal therapy (MMT) is that it can be customized to meet the needs of every person seeking treatment, no matter their needs, because it is individualized. MMT is used for a vast array of issues, including:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
- Self-harm
- Eating disorders
- Substance use disorders
- Co-occurring disorders
At Beyond Healthcare, MMT also includes parental skills training, social skills training, coping skills training, behavioral therapy, and relaxation skills. We believe in the power of community, so we have designed our community connections program to help adolescents, teens, and families who are currently in treatment connect with alumni and other easily accessible community resources.
Learn More About Multimodal Therapy (MMT) for Adolescents, Teens, and Families at Beyond Healthcare
At Beyond Healthcare, we provide multimodal therapy (MMT) through highly personalized care designed to heal the body, mind, and spirit. Because today’s families are busier than ever, we can accommodate your family’s needs in our Toledo, Ohio treatment center, online, in your home, or community. Call Beyond Healthcare at 833.698.0453 to learn about our programs and schedule a free consultation.
