Who’s the Right Fit

Medical / Clinical Professionals – calls that come from Behavioral Health Professionals are my primary source of referrals.  They have been seeing a client/patient, often for some time, perhaps over the course of years without marked improvement or change and recognize the need for a higher or different kind of care and healing.  In the case of medical providers, interventions may not have been successful because of unacknowledged addiction or trauma, so partnering with these professionals offers all of us a broader approach to healing.  I consult with the professionals and often the individual or family, recommend a couple treatment options based on the clinical issues with consideration to cost, location, and time away from work and family logistics, run verification of benefits and provide concierge connection with an admission specialist – without them having to repeat all of the detailed information gathered from their referent and from them.

Advocacy/Diversion Programs – These organizations provide diversion and advocacy for professionals when health and wellness issues threaten licensure or career.  Through intervention and monitoring, they protect the professional through compliance with treatment recommendations.  They are skilled in dealing with State Board requirements and when they call me, they know the treatment needs of the individual, so the interaction is shorter and less intense – typically providing the right connections with admissions and the clinical teams of professionals’ programs.

Medical Facilities – Medical Facilities call me, typically at the request of a therapist or family member after crisis detox or mental health stabilization is nearing completion to work with a Case Worker to plan a continuum of care and step down, usually to residential treatment, partial hospitalization, then outpatient programming with or without sober living.

Individuals and Families – I often receive calls from individuals in crisis, their family members or friends who are either in crisis or great concern because of mental health or addiction.  Sometimes they find my profile on Psychology Today or my website comes up.  I start from scratch.  They say, I don’t know where to begin.  I invite them to start with what is going on at the moment and tell them we will work back.  When they describe the presenting problems, there is power in the naming.  It’s a confession of sorts and as such it is recognized by 12 Step programs as the first step: “We admitted.”  There we have a starting point, a place to begin to explore healing options that would be a fit for this individual.