Wellness Center

The Seed Digging Model blends concepts, strategies, and techniques of well-established counseling models and current neurological research into a language of a garden to bring simplicity and understanding to the world of mental health.

The Seed Digging Model seeks to equip clients, clinicians, and communities to not just "survive" but "thrive" in everyday life. The acronym SEEDDIG is at the core of Seed Digging and is used with clients (in therapy sessions), clinicians (training sessions), and communities (trauma-informed school based and agency services).





















S
See the big picture! It's very important to not judge a book by its covers, a garden by its weeds, and a person by his/her problems. Seed Digging holds the belief that humans are created uniquely, with a great value and purpose. It is the clinician’s job to guide the client to discover the great value that lies inside of them, in a "nonjudgmental"; and “shame free” atmosphere. The client’s strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences (SNAP) are incorporated into the therapy process; Seed Diggings seeks to build the client’s self-esteem and help them reach level 4 on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Vast research has found that positive self-esteem decreases suicidality, violent behaviors, poor academic performance, and mental health stressors.

Screen and access what “innate need” is lacking. The Seed Digging Universal Self-Esteem Screener (SDUS), based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, is used as a baseline to determine what "seeds" the child (or adult) is lacking. This tool will become vital in therapy sessions and also used as a resource for parents, teachers, and those involved in care of the client. In addition to the SDUS, other pre/post assessment measures will be used during the S.E.E.D.D.I.G. process to provide data and improve services for our clients.

E
Educating clients and their families regarding the development of emotions and behaviors through a garden analogy, psychological perspective, neurological perspective, cultural, and biological perspective is an important component of the therapy process. During this phase, mental health professionals use psychoeducational concepts that are age appropriate and specific for clients including concepts regarding neuroplasticity, developmental stages, adolescent brain, medication consistency, addictions, symptoms, diagnoses, and short-term and long-term techniques to sustain emotional healing.

E
Equipping clients with appropriate tools and strategies from evidence-based models and techniques in counseling is important not only to help the client "replant" and "rewire" neural connections during the process, but also prepares them to use the tools independently once discharge occurs. The Seed Digging Model uses concepts and strategies from CBT, interpersonal neurobiology, attachment theory, narrative therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and mindfulness. 

D
Digging refers to the process of looking deeper for the root of the problem and not just accepting that the surface issue is the problem (example: a splinter is the problem, not the pain and swelling). The Seed Digging model holds the belief that unmet needs are responsible for negative behaviors. During this phase of treatment, the Seed Digging professional uses concepts from CBT, psychodynamic therapy, internal family systems therapy, interpersonal neurobiology, narrative therapy, play therapy, visualization, and mindfulness to explore behavior patterns, challenge defense mechanisms, and work toward integration of any parts of
the “self” that may not be integrated.

D
Dig Deeper is a concept that applies to clients who have encountered complex levels of trauma. The Seed Digging model has advanced training methods that include strategies from internal family systems therapy, psychodynamic therapy, interpersonal neurobiology, visualization, mindfulness, and CBT. Advanced training equips clinicians to aid clients in working through repressed memories and fractured parts of the self (due to severe abuse, neglect, and chronic trauma exposure); Seed Digging assists the “fractured parts of the self” to integrate back together through self-love and compassion.

I
Integration is vital to optimal mental health. Along with self-integration, helping the client connect socially in his/her environment is very important for sustained emotional healing. Humans are innately wired to connect with others. Before discharge occurs, a Seed Digging Professional will help the client explore options/activities to ensure social connection is occurring on a consistent basis.

G
Go and Grow!
The Seed Digging model is a sustainable mental health model that holds the belief of Aaron Beck, founder of CBT, that “clients could become their own therapist”. Once clients move through each phase of the S.E.E.D.D.I.G. model (session frequencies and modalities are determined based on severity of need), the client is weaned from counseling services. Clients are welcome to return for “touch ups” and empowerment sessions; however, to re-enroll for services after the “launch” occurs, a new evaluation must occur to determine if the client qualifies for extended treatment.