| Choosing a Treatment Center | | | | before I make a commitment? (Even if you can't, ask |
| You are sick and tired of being sick and tired! Perhaps | | | | anyway, because that is a good way to find out if |
| your family or the court has decided that you need | | | | what is being told to you is true, or if the program is |
| treatment. Regardless of your decision, choosing the | | | | hiding something.) |
| right treatment center is probably one of the most | | | | What about accommodations? Ask about the facility's |
| important decisions you are ever going to make. | | | | physical plant. How many people will be in my room? |
| So now you are on the internet. You have done a | | | | How many people will share a bathroom? What |
| search and literally hundreds of treatment centers | | | | amenities are in the apartment? (Cable TV, Washer |
| have popped up. Amazing, each and every one of | | | | Dryer etc.) |
| them purports to be the very best program for you. | | | | How is the program supervised? What staff is |
| Everybody has a great web site. How do you know | | | | available if I have a problem in the middle of the night? |
| what program is really right for you? | | | | What about food? How is it prepared? Will I be able to |
| The first step is facing reality. Treatment can be very | | | | select my own menu, or must I eat what I am served. |
| expensive. One of the things we have to face in | | | | If I require detoxification, how will that work? Is it done |
| recovery is accepting the fact that we sometimes | | | | at the facility or somewhere else? How much will that |
| have to make choices based on the resources that | | | | cost? (Detoxification is generally a separate cost) |
| are available to us. Sad, but true, you are going to | | | | Ask about any special needs you may have? Dual |
| have to eliminate those programs you cannot afford. | | | | diagnosis, Court Involvement and help, nutrition, personal |
| Check your resources: Insurance is always a good | | | | needs such as physical assistance. Check on phone |
| beginning. Do you have any? What portion of your | | | | policies, internet etc. Many programs for therapeutic |
| treatment will they cover? What specific programs will | | | | reasons limit access to the outside world. You must |
| they cover? (If your policy is an HMO save yourself | | | | ask yourself if you can live with this. |
| time and effort and call them first.) If you don't have | | | | Finally make sure to ask about program philosophy |
| insurance, and/or don't like what they have to offer | | | | and goals. Everybody will tell you about sobriety, but |
| you can always take the next step. Remember also | | | | how are they going to get you there? Are they |
| that just because your policy covers treatment, it does | | | | confrontational? Are they non- confrontational? Do |
| not necessarily mean that they will approve treatment | | | | they use cognitive therapy? Do they have specialists |
| once you arrive. Always ask the treatment center to | | | | using other modalities that might be helpful to you? |
| guarantee in writing your maximum out of pocket | | | | Don't worry about taking the time of the program's |
| expenses. (Be sure to ask about hidden costs. Are | | | | representative. That is their job. If they seem rushed |
| MD visits, medications, field trips, medications etc. | | | | and/or high pressure that will tell you about their |
| extra?) Many programs offer discounted or | | | | motivation and how you will probably be treated once |
| scholarship rates to those that pay for themselves. | | | | you arrive. Also ask yourself what kind of questions |
| Don't be embarrassed to ask. Finally, how much of a | | | | they are asking you? Are they looking to make sure |
| commitment must I make? If the program is not for | | | | you are appropriate, or are they just trying to fill a bed |
| me how much, if any, of my tuition will be refunded? | | | | in their program whether it will work for you or not? |
| Next step is to decide what you can afford for | | | | The answers to these questions, combined with your |
| treatment. Remember depending on your situation your | | | | feeling about the program, after you have talked to |
| other expenses may be continuing while you are in | | | | someone on the phone, will help you determine the |
| treatment. Once you have determined what you can | | | | program(s) that will meet your needs. |
| afford to pay for treatment, you can eliminate all those | | | | Once you have decided on a program, immediately |
| wonderful places that you may not be able to afford. | | | | make arrangements for your admission. The sooner |
| Equally important is deciding what it is that you are | | | | you enter treatment the less time you will have to |
| looking for in a treatment facility. Remember this is a | | | | spend worrying about it. Also, the less time your |
| not a vacation, so make your decisions based on the | | | | problem will have to get you into more serious trouble. |
| quality of care, not on your ability to Para-sail or play | | | | Once you decide, don't wait, just do it! |
| golf. Here are some important things to look for: | | | | At the time of admission reconfirm your costs. Make |
| What is the size of the program? Some people like | | | | sure you understand fully what your financial obligation |
| small intimate programs. Others prefer large name | | | | is going to be. Ask what you should and should not |
| brand centers. The choice is really yours. | | | | bring along. If you are taking medications, it is always a |
| I have found over the years that most people do | | | | good idea to bring them with you. Even if the program |
| much better at places where they will receive lots of | | | | you are going to provides you with medication, you |
| individual attention. Smaller programs generally do this. | | | | can always make arrangements for them to hold |
| Good questions to ask are: | | | | what you are taking, just in case you leave suddenly |
| What is the size of the group? | | | | or they don't happen to have what you need in their |
| What is the client to counselor ratio? | | | | pharmacy. |
| What is the staff to client ratio? | | | | Prior to leaving let your family and everyone else that |
| How many groups will I have a week? | | | | might be contacting you know where you will be and |
| How many individual sessions will I have a week? | | | | how long you might be out of touch. Appoint one |
| Another issue is the quality of the program. Who is the | | | | member of your family whom you trust to be the |
| staff? What are their credentials? Are they certified, | | | | spokesperson to contact the program if you want the |
| licensed etc. How often will I see these people? Who | | | | family to know how you are doing. |
| runs the groups? (Some programs have great | | | | Get directions! If you are arriving by public |
| consulting staff, but unfortunately the patient's spend | | | | transportation, make sure you have made |
| their entire time in group with mental health technicians | | | | arrangements to get from the bus stop, airport etc. to |
| whose only qualification is a two or less years of | | | | the program. Most programs will be happy to pick you |
| personal sobriety.) If you feel you have a dual | | | | up. Be certain that you know the procedure. |
| diagnosis, ask about a psychiatrist, mental health | | | | Make up your mind to accept and cooperate with your |
| counselors or clinical social workers. Is the program | | | | counselors and program directions. Put on a good |
| properly licensed? How long has the program been in | | | | attitude...and the only thing left is to begin your new |
| operation? Can I come and look at the program | | | | quality sober life. |