Minneapolis’ & St. Paul’s Preferred Way of Life Programs & MAAEZ

Understanding Our Approach

Learn more about our approach to drug & alcohol addiction & abuse treatment

One of the many benefits of participating in treatment at Burkwood is that we integrate both time-tested techniques and emerging evidence-based therapeutics in order to provide the best possible care. This blending of old and new is perhaps most apparent in two specific interventions that we employ, Making Alcoholics Anonymous Easier (MAAEZ), and the Way of Life System.

What is MAAEZ?

Making Alcoholics Anonymous Easier (MAAEZ) Program near Minneapolis & St. Paul, MN

Through direct guidance from the Public Health Institute’s award-winning senior scientist, Dr. Lee Ann Kaskutas, we implemented the evidence-based MAAEZ Program at Burkwood near Minneapolis & St. Paul, Minnesota. Research shows that clients completing the MAAEZ Program have evidenced 10% higher abstinence rates (over usual treatment) at the 12-month follow-up mark. An action intervention in group format, the MAAEZ Program (see publications on MAAEZ Effectiveness in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment [2009], the American Psychological Association’s Journal of Addictive Behaviors [2012], and others) was presented at the 45th Annual Medical-Scientific Conference of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) in Chicago in April 2013.

The MAAEZ program was developed in 2002 by members of the Alcohol Research Group with funding from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Based on research which shows the effectiveness of TSF (Twelve Step Facilitation), MAAEZ helps facilitate a successful transition into the recovering way of life.

What is our Way of Life Program?

Our way of life system near Minneapolis & St. Paul, MN

The Way of Life System incorporates a 315-page manual that was designed specifically for men and women who receive care at Burkwood near Minneapolis & St. Paul, Minnesota. It was developed over a 13-month period with significant input and feedback from addiction program participants, who advised which components were most helpful for them.

We added a Way of Life System audio accompaniment complete with 115 audio files that feature guided imagery meditation practices and other recovery-focused materials. The Way of Life System specializes in TSF (Twelve-Step Facilitation) utilizing cognitive and Gestalt therapeutics combined with a number of other evidence-based didactic modules. The ultimate outcome is that participants receive step-by-step guidance through treatment and into healthy lifelong recovery.

For More Information

Learn more About MAAEZ for drug & alcohol addiction & abuse treatment

For more information about MAAEZ, Way of Life System, or any other aspect of addiction treatment at Burkwood, please feel free to contact us at your convenience. We are happy to answer all of your questions and help you decide if our addiction program is the ideal place for you or someone you care about.