Substance Use Services
The Seven Challenges Program
Challenging ourselves to make wise decisions about alcohol and other drugs

Why The Seven Challenges Program at Pathways?
The Seven Challenges Program is designed for teens and adults experiencing problems related to the use of alcohol or other drugs, to motivate a decision and commitment to change. It helps them look at themselves and prepare for and attain success when they commit to making changes.
What is the Seven Challenges Program Offered by Pathways Of Arizona?
The program uses an empowerment model, putting personal problems in the context of broader social and environmental issues. Treatment modalities may include: Individual Therapy, Family Sessions, Seven Challenges Journaling, Seven Challenges Group, Relapse Prevention, Seeking Safety Group
To ensure The Seven Challenges program matches with Pathways’ mission of providing accessible high-quality care and social services, the program was built on being:
Developmentally Appropriate
The Seven Challenges Program helps teens master developmental tasks—to define their own identity, to learn systematic logical thinking and to prepare for adults roles—as they think about and examine their lives, their drug use, and the potential impact of their drug use upon their future.
Research-Based
Based on the latest research and evaluation literature, in particular findings about:
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The underlying and co-occurring psychological problems that typically accompany drug use and put youth at risk of such abuse
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The stages of change in overcoming drug problems
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Preparing individuals to change through motivational enhancement
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Resiliency
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Counseling outcomes
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Relapse prevention
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Culturally Sensitive
The Seven Challenges Program and materials were developed working with a culturally diverse group of teens and adults.
Holistic
The Seven Challenges Program addresses the drug use behavior, the underlying causes (including psychological and co-occurring problems), and lifestyle issues.
Respectful
To succeed in working with youth, The Seven Challenges Program places a special emphasis on creating a climate of mutual respect within which individuals can talk openly and honestly about themselves. We engage teens and adults in actively thinking about their alcohol or other drug use, and its effect upon their lives.
Understanding
Working through The Seven Challenges helps teens and adults understand what needs they are meeting by using drugs, what harm they are causing, what risks they are taking, and what it entails to give up a drug using lifestyle. We raise consciousness, inspire hope, and motivate internally driven, sincere decisions to change.
Partnership Driven
Our clinicians join with youth and their families as well as adult clients as their problem solving partners. We help young people overcome co-occurring problems and learn to meet their needs in positive ways so they are in a position from which they can sincerely make a commitment to change. Once such decisions are made, we teach the tools and provide the support that ensures success.
What Are The Seven Challenges?
1. We decided to open up and talk honestly about ourselves and about alcohol and other drugs.
2. We looked at what we liked about alcohol and other drugs, and why we were using them.
3. We looked at our use of alcohol or other drugs to see if it has caused harm or could cause harm.
4. We looked at our responsibility and the responsibility of others for our problems.
5. We thought about where we seemed to be headed, where we wanted to go, and what we wanted to accomplish.
6. We made thoughtful decisions about our lives and about our use of alcohol and other drugs.
7. We followed through on our decisions about our lives and drug use. If we saw problems, we went back to earlier challenges and mastered them.
What are specialty services are offered by Pathways of Arizona?
Substance Abuse Services
Pathways of Arizona utilizes the Seven Challenges model to treat adolescent substance use. This evidence-based program is offered in individual and group settings at outpatient and intensive outpatient levels. Seven Challenges teaches youth to think critically and make informed choices about how they deal with life, improving not only problems related to substance use but mental health conditions related to substance use but mental health conditions, which often co-occur with it.
Birth-5
Pathways provides and specialty services tailored to the needs of the birth to five population and their families. As part of Birth-5 program, we utilize child-parent psychotherapy which is an evidence based treatment for children Birth-5 who have experienced trauma.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing)
An integrative psychotherapy approach that has been extensively researched and proven effective for the treatment of trauma. EMDR is a set of standardized protocols that incorporates elements from many different treatment approaches.
TFCBT (Trauma Focus Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
TF-CBT is a psychotherapy approach for children and adolescents who are experiencing significant emotional and behavioral difficulties related to traumatic life events.
Family Therapy
We provide systemic family therapy to address support for positive parenting and to strengthen family relationships and communication.
The Seven Challenges Program by Pathways of Arizona are offered at the following locations:
Main Tucson
520-748-7108
1161 N El Dorado Pl Suite #203
Tucson, AZ 85715
Northwest Tucson
520-744-4376
3295 W. Ina Road Suite #150
Tucson, AZ 85741
Yuma
928-317-0177
3818 W 16th St.
Yuma, AZ 85364
Client Testimonials
This is a great place to reach out to if you need a safe place to lay your head at night. If you need help, reach out, their are plenty of resources in our community to get you out of whatever you need help from.
Mike
This place (I had no clue about) is SO AMAZING!! Highly recommend. They took on someone who needed it the most, provided a roof over his head, someone to talk to, and administered his medication all along with the staff doing everything they can to make sure his transition to his new home was safe and smooth. I thank your amazing staff so much!!!
Amanda
I am very pleased with the services and staff at this office. We transferred care with a therapist that my son already connects well with and we couldn't be happier with the staff at this office. The level of professionalism by far exceeds the previous clinic we attended. This office is warm, welcoming, and always helpful.
Rachel
In all honesty I have NEVER felt as supported from every face I see here at the office. We are so blessed to have come across this fantastic group of people that really do seen to care about everyone.
Thomas
I have been going to Pathways of Idaho for a long time now. I love the services there and the people that I work with. I have learned a lot there about myself and my struggles. I have made a lot of friends there and I feel very comfortable going to my appointments early in order to chat with the staff. I would like to thank you all who work at Pathways for contributing to the quality of my life.
Sally
We have been coming here for nearly 2 months and are happy with the services thus far. Very nice and helpful staff. Knowledgeable councilors with great resource for your family.
Katie