Partner Event | Region 6 Department of Family & Protective Services
May 6
Phoenix House Texas is grateful to be partnering with the Region 6 Department of Family & Protective Services where PHT’s CEO, Drew Dutton, M.Ed., MBA, MAPP, LPC-S, LCDC, ACPS, will be presenting Project Empathy: Reframing Addiction Through Neuroscience and Positive Psychology.
Project Empathy is a research-informed, interactive workshop that reframes adolescent addiction through the lens of neuroscience, development, and connection. The session breaks down how the teenage brain processes reward, stress, and decision-making—offering a clear explanation for why adolescents are uniquely wired for risk, bonding, and rapid learning. Participants explore how dopamine, impulse control, and prefrontal cortex development influence substance use patterns and recovery potential. Instead of relying on fear-based or punitive strategies, the workshop demonstrates how empathy and strengths-based communication interrupt shame and increase buy-in. Attendees learn practical ways to use accurate empathy, clarity, and modeling to keep adolescents engaged, even when they appear resistant or ambivalent. The session also challenges common misconceptions in youth treatment, highlighting how outdated models can unintentionally reinforce stigma and shut down communication. Real examples illustrate how to translate brain science into conversations that parents, schools, and youth can actually understand. By the end, participants will have a developmentally informed framework for supporting adolescents that emphasizes possibility, relationship, and long-term resilience.