Our Mission
Onward Transitions guides and supports bright, motivated emerging adults towards sustainable independent living, autonomy, and the formation of meaningful reciprocal relationships through engagement with our greater community.
To achieve this mission, we begin by assessing each member individually to determine their immediate and longer-term goals. These goals are considered when creating the member’s therapeutic plan, which we call the Treatment Agreement.
To monitor progress, we hold quarterly reflection meetings with our staff to help members recognize and acknowledge their achievements toward their goals. During these meetings, they also receive feedback on areas that need improvement and set new goals for the upcoming quarter.
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Our Therapeutic Modalities
ACT
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a psychological intervention that uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies and commitment and behavior change strategies. The ultimate goal is increasing psychological flexibility. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a psychological intervention that combines mindfulness and acceptance techniques with strategies to foster commitment and behavior change. One of the main distinctions between ACT and other CBT-based therapies is that ACT acknowledges suffering as a universal experience and does not focus on directly reducing symptoms of distress. To learn more about ACT, you can click on the link provided.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that helps people understand the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The goal is to identify negative or self-limiting thoughts and challenge them by asking questions such as "Is that a fact or just a thought?" or "Are there exceptions to the rule?" This process can help individuals understand how their thoughts impact their emotions, such as self-doubt, anxiety, or avoidance. Individuals can learn to replace negative thought patterns with more positive and constructive thoughts by gaining awareness of them. Thoughts (i.e., “I’m no good at math”), beginning to challenge these thoughts (ie “Is that a fact or just a thought?”, “Are there exceptions to the rule”), and then helping them understand how this influences their emotions (self-doubt, anxiety in class, avoidance).
Family Systems Therapy
Family systems theory aims to assist individuals in comprehending how family dynamics can shape their personality and identity. We analyze patterns, communication styles, and family history to help members gain a deeper understanding of their birth or adoptive family. This knowledge is also crucial in conducting weekly family calls with members and their family of origin and/or their adopted family. This information also guides us in facilitating weekly family calls with members and their families.
Distress Tolerance
Building Distress tolerance is central to working with our emerging adult members. Distress tolerance may also be called resiliency, grit, frustration tolerance, and psychological flexibility. Developing this tolerance involves experiential exposures (”getting out and doing it”), and our program integrates therapy with the challenges of work, school, social competence, and the tasks of independence in general.