Addiction – Behavioral Counseling Services – Merrillville, Indiana

Payment Options

• Cash or self-payment
• Private health insurance
• Sliding fee scale (fee is based on income and other factors)
• Payment assistance (check with facility for details)

Addiction and Behavioral Counseling Services, Inc. (ABCS) is an outpatient treatment center situated in Merrillville, Indiana, that is committed to providing assistance to individuals who are grappling with substance use disorders and a variety of behavioral challenges. ABCS has been dedicated to delivering client-centered, comprehensive care that is customized to the individual requirements of each patient since its inception in 1999. The center has established a strong reputation for its commitment to assisting individuals in the Northwest Indiana community in achieving long-term recovery and behavioral wellness. 

ABCS provides a comprehensive selection of services that are intended to address both addiction and associated behavioral issues. The treatment programs are fundamentally composed of individual and group counseling sessions, which are conducted by seasoned professionals. The objective of these sessions is to equip individuals with the necessary tools and strategies to combat addiction and lead healthier lives. In addition to conventional counseling services, ABCS provides specialized court-ordered programs for individuals who are legally required to receive treatment, such as those who have been convicted of operating while impaired (OWI)… Additionally, the center offers relapse prevention strategies to assist individuals in maintaining their sobriety and preventing future setbacks

Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) is a behavioral therapy that is specifically designed to reduce the likelihood of relapsing into substance addiction. It is one of the distinctive offerings at ABCS. This therapy, when combined with battery programs and anger management, assists individuals in identifying and addressing the underlying behavioral patterns that may be contributing to their addiction. The center also provides a Minor in Possession program, which is specifically designed for individuals between the ages of 15 and 20. This program is dedicated to the prevention and education of substance abuse, providing young people with the resources necessary to make healthier decisions. 

ABCS offers services in a variety of languages, such as English, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian, and Polish, in recognition of the significance of cultural sensitivity. This multilingual approach guarantees that individuals from a variety of contexts can obtain the necessary care in a supportive and comfortable setting. For more than two decades, the center has been providing services to the Northwest Indiana community, demonstrating a dependable and enduring presence in the area. The center’s comprehensive resource for individuals at various phases of their recovery journey is based on its specialized programs, which include court-mandated treatment, an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), and intervention services for families. By enabling individuals to engage in structured therapy sessions while adhering to their daily regimens, the IOP offers the necessary flexibility for those who are juggling work, family, or other responsibilities. 

Treatment Options

The facility offers multiple levels of care, such as:

• Mentoring/peer support
• Housing services
• Discharge Planning
• Self-help groups
• Naloxone and overdose education
• Outcome follow-up after discharge
• Recovery coach

The center treats the following addictions and co-occurring disorders:

• Clients with co-occurring mental and substance use disorders
• Veterans
• Active duty military
• Members of military families
• Criminal justice (other than DUI/DWI)/Forensic clients
• Pregnant/postpartum women
• Clients with HIV or AIDS
• Clients who have experienced trauma
• Clients who have experienced sexual abuse
• Clients who have experienced intimate partner violence, domestic violence
• Clients with co-occurring pain and substance use disorders
• Screening for tobacco use
• Comprehensive substance use assessment
• Interim services for clients
• Outreach to persons in the community
• Screening for mental disorders
• Screening for substance use
• Professional interventionist/educational consultant
• Complete medical history/physical exam

Treatment Modalities

• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Telemedicine/telehealth therapy
• Substance use disorder counseling
• Trauma-related counseling
• Smoking/vaping/tobacco cessation counseling
• Treatment for gambling disorder
• Group counseling
• Family counseling
• Marital/couples counseling
• 12-step facilitation
• Intervention Services
• Motivational interviewing
• Anger management
• Matrix Model
• Relapse prevention
• Treatment for other addiction disorder
• SMART Recovery
• Individual psychotherapy

Conditions Treated

• Alcoholism
• Substance use treatment

Levels Of Care

• Outpatient
• Intensive outpatient treatment
• Regular outpatient treatment
• Aftercare

License and Accreditation

Ancillary Services

• Case management service
• Integrated primary care services
• Suicide prevention services
• Specially designed program for DUI/DWI clients
• Domestic violence services, including family or partner
• Early intervention for HIV
• Mental health services
• Social skills development