The Summit Wellness Group, located in Midtown Atlanta and Roswell, Georgia, is a leading word approximations treatment center in Atlanta, Georgia. As a premier outpatient treatment center specializing in addiction recovery and co-occurring mental health disorders, we work closely with clients to determine their individual needs and recovery goals.
Among our clients’ complex challenges, word approximations—difficulties in finding or producing the correct words during communication—can significantly impact recovery.
These speech and language issues may arise from substance use disorders, mental illnesses, or neurological changes caused by prolonged conditions.
The Summit Wellness Group employs a comprehensive, individualized, and holistic approach to addressing word approximations. We integrate evidence-based therapies, holistic modalities, and specialized interventions to support clients in achieving clear communication and lasting recovery.
Understanding Word Approximations
Word approximations, sometimes called paraphasia or word-finding difficulties, occur when an individual struggles to retrieve precise words, often substituting incorrect or vague terms. In the context of addiction, these challenges can stem from various sources:
- Neurological Impact: Chronic use of substances like alcohol, opioids, or stimulants can impair brain regions responsible for language processing, such as the prefrontal cortex and temporal lobes. For example, alcohol-related brain damage may lead to difficulties in verbal fluency.
- Co-occurring Mental Health Disorders: Conditions like anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often co-occur and can exacerbate cognitive and communicative difficulties.
- Trauma and Stress: Trauma, a common factor, can disrupt cognitive functions, including language production, leading to word-finding issues.
- Medication Side Effects: Certain medications used in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) or psychiatric care may temporarily affect speech clarity.
Mental health conditions can also contribute largely to word approximations:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Men and women with autism may struggle with semantic processing and pragmatic language skills, leading to word approximations like using “thing” for specific objects or substituting related terms (e.g., “dog” for “cat”) due to challenges in retrieving precise vocabulary or understanding context.
- Schizophrenia: Disorganized thinking can disrupt semantic networks, causing loose associations where individuals use approximate or unrelated words (e.g., saying “sky” instead of “cloud”) due to impaired thought coherence.
- Anxiety Disorders: High anxiety can impair working memory and attention, leading to word-finding difficulties where individuals resort to approximations to compensate for retrieval issues under stress.
- Depression: Cognitive slowing and reduced concentration can hinder access to specific vocabulary, resulting in vague or approximate word choices due to diminished mental energy.
- Bipolar Disorder: During manic episodes, rapid speech and flight of ideas may cause individuals to use approximate words as they struggle to keep up with their thoughts, leading to imprecise language output.
- Neurocognitive Disorders (Dementia): Degeneration in language centers, like Alzheimer’s, can impair word retrieval, causing frequent approximations as a workaround for lost vocabulary.
- Apraxia of Speech: This condition, usually caused by brain damage, causes an inability to coordinate mouth and tongue movements for speech, leading to inconsistent speech errors or difficulty initiating words.
These effects vary by individual and disorder severity, often reflecting underlying language processing, memory, or executive function disruptions.
Articulation Disorder
An articulation disorder is a speech disorder where a person has difficulty producing speech sounds correctly, leading to unclear or distorted speech. It involves problems with the physical production of sounds due to incorrect placement, timing, or movement of the articulators (tongue, lips, jaw).
There are several types of errors made when someone suffers from an articulation disorder:
- Substitutions: Replacing one sound with another.
- Omissions: Leaving out sounds.
- Distortions: Sounds are produced inaccurately, often sounding slurred or unclear.
- Additions: Inserting extra sounds.
This condition could be caused by developmental or language delays in children, structural issues, neurological conditions, hearing loss, or other unknown causes. To ensure they receive proper care, clients will participate in comprehensive assessments during the initial stages of treatment.
At The Summit Wellness Group, our clinicians recognize that addressing word approximations is critical for effective communication, building self-esteem, fostering social connections, and supporting overall recovery. Their approach integrates speech and language interventions into their broader treatment framework.
The Summit Wellness Group’s Treatment Philosophy
The Summit Wellness Group operates on a mission to treat the whole person—physically, mentally, and spiritually. Our programs, including Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), and general outpatient care, are designed to provide flexible, personalized treatment.
With a client-to-staff ratio of 2:1, our center ensures individualized attention, which is particularly beneficial for addressing specific challenges like word approximations.
Our Joint Commission-accredited facilities in Atlanta and Roswell combine evidence-based therapies, holistic modalities, and advanced technologies to create a supportive environment for healing.
Evidence-Based Therapies for Word Approximations
The Summit Wellness Group employs several evidence-based therapies to address word approximations, particularly those linked to addiction and mental health disorders. These therapies target cognitive, emotional, and neurological factors contributing to communication difficulties.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a cornerstone of our treatment model. It helps clients identify and modify negative thought patterns that may contribute to stress-related word-finding difficulties. CBT is critical in assisting clients to avoid negative thought patterns in their daily lives.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) focuses on in-person emotion regulation, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness—skills crucial for clients with word approximations. Mindfulness exercises help clients stay present during conversations, reducing the pressure that can exacerbate word-finding issues. Interpersonal effectiveness training teaches strategies for clear communication, which can mitigate frustration during speech difficulties.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is clients whose word approximations are linked to trauma, EMDR is a powerful intervention. Trauma can disrupt language processing by heightening stress responses in the brain. EMDR helps clients process traumatic memories, reducing their impact on cognitive functions like speech.
- Motivational Interviewing is a type of therapy that helps enhance clients’ commitment to recovery and address ambivalence to change. For those with word approximations, MI sessions provide a safe space to practice communication skills without judgment, building confidence in verbal expression. This approach is beneficial in the early stages of recovery, when clients may feel self-conscious about their speech difficulties.
Holistic Therapies to Support Speech Skills
The Summit Wellness Group distinguishes itself by offering on-site holistic therapies, complementing evidence-based treatments for word approximations. These modalities address the physical and emotional aspects of communication challenges.
- Somatic Experiencing: This is a body-based approach that helps clients release physical tension and trauma stored in the body. Since stress and trauma can exacerbate word approximations, this therapy promotes relaxation and cognitive clarity, facilitating smoother language production.
- Mindfulness and Meditation: Mindfulness practices, including guided meditation and yoga, help clients manage anxiety and improve focus. These techniques are particularly beneficial for those whose word approximations worsen under stress. By fostering a calm mental state, mindfulness enhances cognitive processing, making retrieving and articulating words easier.
- Art and Experiential Therapies: Art therapy and other experiential modalities allow clients to express themselves nonverbally, reducing the pressure to find the “right” words. These activities build confidence and provide alternative outlets for communication, which can translate to improved verbal skills over time. Experiential activities also allow for low-stress social interactions.
Specialized Interventions
The Summit Wellness Group offers targeted interventions for clients with pronounced word approximations to address speech and language challenges directly.
- Brain Mapping and Biofeedback: The center utilizes advanced technologies like on-site brain mapping to assess neurological factors contributing to word approximations. Brain mapping identifies areas of the brain affected by substance use or trauma, allowing providers to tailor treatments. Biofeedback therapy helps clients regulate brain activity, potentially improving language processing and verbal fluency.
- Speech and Language Support: While The Summit Wellness Group does not offer on-site speech therapists or specific speech therapies, our master’s-level clinicians collaborate with external specialists when needed.
Clients with significant word-finding difficulties may be referred to speech-language pathologists (SLPs) within our network of partner providers. These specialists provide exercises to improve word retrieval, articulation, and verbal confidence, which are then integrated into the client’s broader treatment plan. - Group Therapy and Peer Support: Group therapy sessions, focused on relapse prevention, recovery tools, and peer support, provide a safe environment for clients to practice communication. Facilitators encourage clients to express themselves imperfectly, fostering confidence and reducing anxiety around word approximations.
Tailored Treatment Plans & Flexible Scheduling
The Summit Wellness Group offers three levels of outpatient care to accommodate clients’ needs with language disorders:
- Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP): Clients attend 30 weekly treatment hours for 2-4 weeks. This intensive program is ideal for those with severe word approximations linked to addiction or mental health issues, providing ample time for therapy and skill-building.
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): Our IOP offers morning, afternoon, and evening sessions, allowing clients to integrate treatment into busy schedules. This flexibility is crucial for clients who need to manage work or school while addressing communication challenges.
- General Outpatient Program: This program offers a few hours of weekly aftercare support, focusing on maintaining communication gains achieved in more intensive programs.
Each client receives a tailored treatment plan based on an initial assessment, ensuring that interventions for word approximations align with their addiction and mental health needs.
Insurance and Accessibility
The Summit Wellness Group accepts most private health insurance plans and offers complimentary and confidential benefit verification to reduce financial barriers. Our dedicated insurance team helps clients maximize coverage and ensures access to comprehensive care for word approximations and related conditions.
Find Recovery Today
The Summit Wellness Group in the Atlanta area provides a holistic and individualized approach to treating word approximations within the context of addiction and mental health recovery.
By combining evidence-based therapies like CBT, DBT, and EMDR with holistic modalities such as somatic experiencing, mindfulness, and brain mapping, the center addresses the root causes of communication difficulties.
Our flexible outpatient programs, advanced technologies, and compassionate staff create a supportive environment where clients can overcome word approximations, build confidence, and achieve lasting recovery.
For more information, call 770-692-4351. Our admissions team will schedule your initial assessment and answer any billing or informational questions you may have about our programs!