admin, Author at Driftwood Recovery

Healthcare professionals play an essential role in helping clients and families feel comfortable engaging in treatment programs for substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health conditions. According to BMC Psychology, “Trust and respect may be an important component of client-provider relationships.” Building trust with clients increases the effectiveness of treatment and reduces emotional distress for people struggling with mental health disorders. The experts at Driftwood Recovery create positive connections with clients by fostering compassion and providing personalized care.

Fostering Compassion Improves the Effectiveness of Treatment Programs

Treatment for SUD and mental health disorders requires clients to be vulnerable and open themselves up to making sometimes difficult lifestyle changes. Fostering compassion in everyday interactions with clients helps build a foundation of kindness, patience, trust, and support. Clients and their loved ones are more likely to make progress in treatment if they feel heard, valued, and understood. A compassionate approach to client care ensures healthcare workers give clients their complete focus and support. Each person is valued and allowed to express their needs and preferences.

A compassionate approach to care benefits healthcare workers and clients by doing the following:

Improving communication and collaboration
Increasing client engagement in treatment
Reducing stress by providing clients with a welcoming space for self-exploration and healing

Chronic substance abuse causes changes in the brain, affecting empathy. Compassionate treatment programs help clients develop empathy and social skills. According to Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, “Preclinical and clinical research alike continues to find an overlap between the underlying behavior and neural substrates that regulate both empathy and addiction.” Researchers report that treatment programs with “strong social support networks are more effective.” Driftwood Recovery understands the importance of modeling positive social interactions for clients and their families. Staff members practice kindness and compassion in every client interaction.

Creating a Welcoming and Inclusive Space for Healing

Driftwood Recovery offers clients a welcoming and inclusive space where they can feel comfortable collaborating with their care team. A trusting client-clinician relationship ensures more positive treatment outcomes. Studies have shown that “collaboration is also the key to serving the client in the broadest possible context.” Clients have distinct motivations, goals, and underlying issues affecting their ability to recover from SUD. Staff members benefit from doing a deep dive into the client’s needs, experiences, and concerns. Open and honest communication is essential to creating an inclusive space for people to heal.

Healthcare professionals create a welcoming environment by doing the following:

Learning each client’s needs and personal preferences
Treating coworkers and clients with respect and dignity
Practicing honesty and transparency
Being mindful of potential client triggers
Holding clients and coworkers accountable for their behaviors

Individuals in treatment for SUD and mental health disorders may have a limited support system and less developed social skills. Staff members are responsible for modeling positive social behaviors to help guide clients through developing essential coping skills for managing their condition.

The Importance of Fostering Compassion During Interactions With Clients, Families, and Coworkers

Clients and their families benefit from participating in treatment programs where staff members treat them with respect and understanding.

Fostering compassion does the following:

Creates a space where people feel comfortable asking for help and providing support to peers
Allows healthcare workers to provide care and support without taking on a client’s stress or trauma
It opens up lines of communication between clients and the care team

Healthcare workers encounter many unexpected and challenging situations while treating clients. Being compassionate with workers builds a healthier workplace and improves treatment outcomes for clients. Driftwood Recovery prioritizes teamwork and integrative care to enhance the treatment experience for clients and staff members. Clinicians and support staff meet daily to communicate workplace needs, connect on a human level, and address any challenges they encounter.

How Healthcare Professionals Show Compassion

Most people who work in healthcare want to make a difference in their clients’ lives. Addiction recovery and mental health experts show compassion through their words and actions. According to Frontiers in Psychology, “Compassion is among the most important virtues in medicine, expected from medical professionals and anticipated by patients.”

Healthcare workers show compassion by doing the following:

Actively listening to client needs
Modeling healthy behaviors for struggling clients
Taking the time to get to know clients on a deeper level
Smiling and using eye contact or other body language cues

Every day, staff members have an opportunity to help someone turn their life around. This critical work makes it vital for healthcare workers to practice compassion with clients, coworkers, and themselves.

Fostering Compassion at Driftwood Recovery

Driftwood Recovery fosters compassion by providing staff members with continuing training, resources, and support. People working with vulnerable populations often experience emotional burnout unless they practice self-care. Directing compassion to clients and coworkers can reduce workplace stress and help healthcare workers feel more comfortable setting healthy work-life boundaries. Showing kindness to others can inspire, motivate, and uplift. Self-compassion and self-care improve the quality of treatment healthcare workers provide to clients and their families.

Clients come from all backgrounds and walks of life. Driftwood Recovery has policies and procedures in place to ensure clients and their loved ones have access to compassionate and evidence-based treatment. Compassionate care provides clients with the best possible treatment outcomes. Healthcare workers must work together to create an environment where clients feel safe and supported. The client-clinician relationship is integral to long-term recovery from substance abuse and mental health disorders. Driftwood Recovery provides staff with the resources and training to ensure they provide clients with the best treatment services. Healthcare professionals also have an opportunity to learn and grow during every interaction with clients. To learn more about how we support clients, call us today at (512) 759-8330.

According to Addiction Relapse Prevention by Nicholas Guenzel and Dennis McChargue, approximately 50% of people relapse within the first 12 weeks after treatment. The high prevalence of addiction relapse following treatment highlights the importance of support in early recovery. Early recovery is a vulnerable time when your ability to maintain recovery is tested. Therefore, access to support tools like a crisis plan can be invaluable to sustained recovery.

At Driftwood Recovery, we know how important community integration and support are to recovery. With a person-centered model of community integration, you can reconnect and use tools like a crisis plan to execute life goals. Through community integration, you can find support and accountability to live a life committed to healing the whole self. Thus, learning how to build a crisis plan can help you overcome challenges in early recovery and thrive.

Yet, you may still question what a crisis plan means in addiction recovery. You may be aware of or familiar with a crisis plan in the context of suicide prevention. Similarly, an addiction crisis plan is designed to support you in those moments when you are your most vulnerable.

What Is a Crisis Plan?

As noted in “Crisis Plans in Mental Health” by Christine Cassivi et al., although there is no single definition of a crisis, it can typically be tied to psychological distress. Thus, a crisis is a subjective event in which you feel like you are not in control. A crisis also highlights that you lack the necessary resources or coping skills to deal with the crisis. As a result, a crisis plan is built in collaboration with your clinician to prevent or resolve future crises.

There are several different types of crisis plans, such as the joint crisis plan and safety plan. Each type of crisis plan focuses on different psychopathological crises like bipolar disorder and suicide prevention. Despite the specific pathology that different types of crisis plans follow, each crisis plan has the same general objective.

A crisis plan helps you identify triggers and find interventions to prevent or manage a crisis. Understanding your triggers and ways to prevent or manage them can support your mental well-being. Thus, the importance of mental well-being in a crisis plan speaks to the value of whole-person healing beyond treatment.

The Value of a Crisis Plan After Treatment

It is not that difficult to feel untouchable or invulnerable to relapse, especially in early recovery. The haze of early recovery can make you feel like you can conquer anything. Feeling confident in your sobriety can be a powerful and beautiful thing in recovery. However, assuming you no longer need to consider relapse is a disservice to all the work you have done.

The stresses and other types of crises that can contribute to a relapse crisis are often unexpected. Thus, having a crisis plan can give you a roadmap that helps you figure out how to get your life back on track. Moreover, having a crisis plan can help you feel more relaxed and prepared for any crisis. Further, one of the objectives of a crisis plan is to understand your triggers.

Deeper awareness of triggers can help you identify the root stressors that contribute to your symptoms. With more insight into yourself, you can utilize all your resources to move forward in recovery. Now you can learn how to build a proper crisis plan to help you sustain recovery throughout your life.

Ways to Build a Crisis Plan

A crisis plan is not a one-size-fits-all plan but rather a dynamic map to support your psychological well-being. As a result, your crisis plan will always be unique to you and your specific needs to work through a crisis. Your crisis plan will be built on finding and understanding what types of support would be helpful for you to prevent and or manage a crisis. Listed below are some of the important elements found in building a recovery crisis plan:

Building a healthy support network
- Who do you want to share your crisis plan with
- What do you need from your trusted friends, family, and peers
  - This can include your typical responsibilities like childcare and housework
Understanding what it looks like when you are feeling well
Knowing how you feel when you are in crisis
Clear communication about your needs
- What coping tools do you want to use or not use

With a crisis plan in place, you cannot only work through a crisis but also learn how to live beyond it. Your crisis plan can help you better understand the support tools you need to build and achieve goals to lead a fulfilling life in long-term recovery.

Planning for Your Future: Learning to Thrive Beyond Crisis

As stated in “My Wellbeing Plan” from the National Health Service (NHS), a crisis can make it difficult to think about the future. Yet, building a plan to address challenges in recovery can support recovery by taking small steps every day. Even when you think it feels pointless or small, making a plan supports finding meaning and purpose in your recovery life. Recovery is a multifaceted process in which a crisis plan supports the deepening of self-awareness and understanding of yourself through your connections.

Building a Healing Foundation at Driftwood Recovery

Here at Driftwood Recovery, we believe an alumni program is vital to reintegration into everyday life. Through alumni, you have access to resources and peer support to build an independent life in sustained recovery. With a crisis plan, you can expand your understanding and your trusted loved ones’ understanding of your needs. Thus, at Driftwood Recovery, we are committed to providing an alumni program built on the value of community integration. With community integration, you can foster the connection and accountability you need to thrive.

The excitement in early recovery can cloud your alertness to the dangers of relapse. In your new independence, it is easier to convince yourself that you are not at risk for relapse. While confidence in your recovery is wonderful, relapse is still possible if you stop doing the work. Therefore, building a crisis plan is an important tool in your recovery toolbox. With a crisis plan, you can understand your triggers and build a roadmap that helps you prevent and manage the life stressors that contribute to crisis situations. At Driftwood Recovery, we are committed to community integration and providing countless resources through alumni to support connection and accountability for sustained recovery. Call us at (512) 759-8330 today.

Treatment myths can be a factor in why some choose not to seek treatment for their conditions. These myths mostly stem from two different sources. One source comes from the depictions of mental health care facilities in media and popular culture. The other comes from how mental health care was handled in the past. There are people still alive today who remember when lobotomies were used as a method of treatment. Times have changed, and there is now a focus on providing inclusive and compassionate treatment. Despite this shift, some negative treatment myths persist.

At Driftwood Recovery, care is taken to debunk these treatment myths by upholding values of transparency, honesty, and compassion. Clients who enroll at Driftwood Recovery can expect comfort and safety during their treatment. Sometimes, a treatment facility being a good example of quality care is enough to debunk these treatment myths. For some who need help, they may need further convincing.

To do so, we can start by examining some common treatment myths and debunking them with the truth.

Debunking Treatment Myths Surrounding Care

Many treatment myths center around treatment and how mental health care facilities operate. One of the most widely spread myths out there is that mental health care facilities are akin to prisons. Some believe that clients cannot leave and have no say over their treatment and care. Clients within are at the mercy of uncaring staff that will always abuse and treat them poorly.

These particular treatment myths are often perpetuated by media, which can depict treatment facilities as places needing to be escaped from by the protagonist. However, these can be debunked by a few simple truths. One is that enrollment in a treatment facility is a strictly voluntary decision. Nobody can force anyone into treatment if they don’t want to go. Even in cases of court-ordered rehab, a person can still refuse treatment.

It’s highly recommended, of course, that people seek treatment when they need it. Forced treatment, though, never works and only will cause further psychological harm. Clients are also free to leave treatment whenever they like. At Driftwood Recovery, clients have the right to stop treatment at any time. Family and friends are also allowed to visit their loved ones in treatment after an adjustment period has ended. This allows clients to settle into treatment without interruptions, allowing them to better receive visitors after they have had time to stabilize.

The idea that mental health care providers will harm you for fun is another myth. Of course, there will always be mean and abusive people. However, there are several safeguards in place to protect clients and reinforce their rights. Mental healthcare providers enter the field because they want to help people heal and recover. They would not spend years in specialized training if they genuinely hated the clients they wanted to help.

Debunking Treatment Myths About Recovery

Some treatment myths around recovery can prevent people from trying to seek help. These myths are self-defeating and only serve to keep those struggling with their conditions in a constant state of misery. Letting go of these treatment myths allows someone to seek the help they need with a renewed sense of hope.

One myth is that some conditions are too severe to be helped. This is not true, as the only time a person cannot be helped is if they are no longer alive. Many mental health care and addiction treatment facilities will specialize in specific conditions to better focus their resources. For example, a few conditions that clients at Driftwood Recovery can receive treatment for are fibromyalgia pain and heroin addiction. Calling any treatment facility will give you advice on where to go to get the treatment you need. You can also search the online treatment facility finder. This tool uses filters that can help you find the facilities that can meet your personal needs.

Another serious myth is that you will relapse regardless of what you do. The truth is that a relapse can happen, but care is taken to teach clients how to prevent them before they leave treatment. By avoiding personal triggers, setting boundaries, and practicing healthy coping skills, alumni can navigate their lives in such a way that they can avoid relapses.

It’s a fact that you can succeed in your treatment and recovery. You just need to acknowledge that you need help and be receptive to professional treatment.

Putting Your Fears to Rest

These treatment myths are purveying enough in society that it can be difficult to know the truth from fiction. People who need and are considering help can find out the truth by simply asking for it. Treatment facilities can be easily contacted by phone and email. Tours can be scheduled for those who wish to visit the facility. Potential clients are always welcome to ask questions and observe for themselves how these facilities operate. Speaking with real treatment providers can banish the treatment myths that are holding you back from care.

There is one last myth to discuss: the myth that once you finish treatment, you are left high and dry. The truth is that recovery continues after treatment by utilizing aftercare and alumni programs. At Driftwood Recovery, clients have a community they can always draw support and encouragement from. It’s common for alumni to forge long-lasting friendships with each other. With this level of support and companionship, it’s easy to see why Driftwood Recovery alumni are so successful.

Don’t allow yourself to be scared away from treatments that can improve or even save your life. By showing others that treatment is safe and effective, you become living proof that recovery is possible for anyone.

One of the many barriers preventing people from seeking help for their mental health is misinformation. Stigma and inaccurate portrayals in media have done a lot of damage by making life-saving treatment sound threatening and scary. The truth is that mental health care facilities value client rights and comfort, and the staff works hard to provide a supportive environment. At Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, clients can expect quality and compassionate treatment for their mental health care needs. Everyone deserves to feel safe, especially when seeking and receiving help. If you or a loved one is struggling with their mental health, don’t wait. Ask about treatment at Driftwood Recovery today at (512) 759-8330.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), seven in ten and two in three adults consider themselves to be in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) and other mental health disorders respectively. In the process of recovering, you uncover strengths, talents, coping skills, and the ability to lead a self-directed life. Thus, recovery is about more than abstaining from using substances in your life. Recovery is a dynamic process of change in which you discover hope. With hope, you can build the belief and tools you need to overcome challenges and lead a courageous life in recovery. Therefore, the recovery process highlights the need to understand the value of recovery milestones.

At Driftwood Recovery, we believe celebrating recovery milestones is integral to sustained recovery as it turns clinical insight into action. With recovery milestones, you can recognize the work you have put into your personal growth and change. Moreover, recovery milestones support the changes in thinking that have contributed to building resilience and healing. Thus, we are committed to providing a vibrant alumni program in which you can truly celebrate your recovery milestones.

Yet, you may question what recovery milestones are. How can an alumni program support maintaining your recovery by celebrating recovery milestones? Deepening your understanding of the value of recovery milestones can give you insight into the benefits of recovery milestones for long-term healing.

Celebration: Understanding the Value of Recovery Milestones

Throughout life, you celebrate many important events, holidays, and milestones like weddings, graduations, heritage months, birthdays, and anniversaries. Yet, celebrating milestones is not confined to dates marked on a calendar. As noted in “The Importance of Celebrating Milestones” from Maryville University, milestones come in all shapes and sizes. Whether you survived finals week, completed a project, or got out of bed, accomplishing something difficult for you should be celebrated. When you celebrate big, medium, and small milestones, they remind you that you are capable of doing difficult things.

The accomplishment of small goals drives you forward and encourages you to accomplish bigger goals. Thus, celebrating recovery milestones can be invaluable to sustained recovery. Recovery is a lifelong process, and the road from substance use to sobriety and long-term recovery can feel overwhelming. Sometimes, the challenge of overcoming addiction can feel like there is a giant, unmovable mountain that keeps growing as you climb it. However, with recovery milestones, you can see and celebrate those markers of progress in treatment and beyond. Listed below are some of the ways celebrating recovery milestones can support your well-being and recovery:

Boost confidence
Sustain motivation
Reinforce commitment to recovery
Improve self-esteem
Reinforce resilience to relapse
Empowers self-awareness and agency
- Reflection and gratitude
Support the power of community support

Setting realistic and attainable recovery milestones supports whole-person healing in every wellness domain. Yet, how can you celebrate your recovery and recovery milestones?

Ways to Celebrate Your Recovery Milestones

Celebrating recovery milestones is more than the anniversary of your sobriety. Rather, recovery milestones can encompass regularly going to therapy sessions, effectively using adaptive coping skills, getting a job, returning to school, and repairing relationships. There is a wide range of recovery milestones, from small to large, that you can and should celebrate. Some of the ways you can celebrate your recovery milestones include:

Sharing your successes with peers
Include your loved one in your celebration
- Go out to eat
- Host a sober birthday party
Creating a milestone journal
Make a reflection journal
Engage in self-care
Volunteer work
Build a tradition to celebrate each year
- Take a trip
- Go hiking
- Plant a tree
Express gratitude to those who have supported you
- Send a message
- Spend time with them
- Give them a meaningful gift

Looking at ways you can celebrate your recovery milestones highlights the importance of community in recovery.

Celebrating Recovery: Finding Gratitude for Sustained Recovery

Reflecting on your achievements and the people supporting you through your recovery is impactful. In particular, practicing gratitude during recovery milestones is invaluable to sustaining recovery. As the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) states, gratitude is one of the greatest contributing factors to overall happiness and well-being. With gratitude, you can improve happiness, hope, social connection, and motivation for self-improvement and positive change. Listed below are some of the ways you can practice gratitude:

Reflect on the positive little and big things
Allow yourself to enjoy those positive experiences
Keep a gratitude journal
Express gratitude to others
Meditate

The practice of gratitude further showcases celebrating recovery milestones as valuable to supporting psychological well-being.

Disrupting Self-Stigma by Celebrating Recovery Milestones

One of the many challenges of SUD and recovery is the sense of shame and guilt you may feel from stigma. Public, structural, and self-stigma can contribute to difficulties in seeking treatment and maintaining recovery. In particular, self-stigma can lead to negative self-beliefs, impairing important components of well-being like self-esteem, motivation, and hope. However, celebrating recovery milestones can help dismantle negative self-beliefs to foster healthier thinking and behavior patterns. Although public and structural stigma cannot be changed overnight, celebrating recovery milestones can help you believe in yourself again.

Learning How to Celebrate You at Driftwood Recovery

At Driftwood Recovery, we recognize that connection and community in a vibrant alumni program are vital to sustained recovery. Thus, celebrating recovery milestones is one of the ways you can engage in connection and community for healing. Through recovery milestones, you foster and build upon a foundation of community in your peers and loved ones. Therefore, we are dedicated to providing resources like the Driftwood App to share your milestones with others and milestone dinners in our alumni program. With recovery milestones in our alumni program, you are reminded that you are not alone and recovery is something to take pride in and celebrate.

Recovery is a lifelong process that has highs and lows along the way. It is most often during the low periods that cravings and triggers can erode your resilience and put you at risk for relapse. Moreover, SUD and recovery stigma can increase self-stigma. Internalized stigma can increase negative self-beliefs and impair your self-esteem to overcome challenges and avoid maladaptive coping strategies. However, celebrating recovery milestones can empower you to overcome challenges throughout your recovery journey. By celebrating recovery milestones, you can grow and sustain your confidence and motivation for recovery. Therefore, at Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to providing an alumni program that supports celebrating recovery milestones for long-term recovery. Call (512) 759-8330 to start celebrating your recovery today.

Knowing when to seek help can make a difference in your quality of life. This is especially true for those who are struggling with various conditions. People don’t seek help for several reasons. For some, their conditions become their new “normal,” which makes it difficult to know when they do need help. In other cases, many are taught to only seek help in the most dire of circumstances. This thought process causes many people who could get help to struggle unnecessarily until they deem it “worthy” to seek help.

The truth of the matter is that it’s always okay to seek help for a mental health disorder, no matter how mild or severe the symptoms. As a human being, you deserve to be helped. Driftwood Recovery makes it easy to seek help by providing treatment for a wide variety of conditions. The goal of this is to improve the lives of as many people as possible so they can live fulfilling and happy lives.

Though people can seek help at any time they like, it can be hard to know when to seek help if they don’t believe they need it. Understanding the common signs of when a person should seek help for a mental health disorder can be helpful not just for the individual, but for their loved ones as well.

Signs That It’s Time to Seek Help

Many people live with a mental health disorder without being aware that there is a problem. A person struggling with depression may brush away their symptoms of just having multiple “off” days. Someone struggling with the aftereffects of trauma may believe that they just need to drink more alcohol so they can sleep at night. That’s why it’s important to be aware of the specific signs that may indicate a need for help. Here are a few questions to ask yourself. Answering yes to any is a sign to seek help.

Time: Did you start feeling sad one day and still feel sad, even after several weeks? Do you have a hard time remembering the last time you felt normal, relaxed, or safe?
Escalation: Do your symptoms feel like they are getting consistently worse? Does it feel like you need to increase your substance use to feel normal? Are you unable to participate socially, perform work, or maintain other responsibilities without great personal distress?
Health: Are you experiencing heart and/or gut troubles with no clear explanation? Does it seem like you have little or too much energy? Are you sleeping too much or too little? Do you feel sick or pained after not using substances for a while?
Social: Do your loved ones or acquaintances express concern over your health or mental state? Are you having a hard time enjoying activities and hobbies you previously loved? Do you feel isolated or unable to connect with others?

Ways to Seek Help for a Mental Health Disorder

There are many ways a person can seek help for a mental health disorder. By far, the most common way is to call a mental health care or addiction treatment facility. These are places staffed by mental health care professionals who can find you the help you need. Some of these places specialize in treating specific disorders, addictions, or even types of people. There are online databases for treatment facilities that can give you a good idea of what is available in your area.

If you struggle with using phones, it’s also acceptable to use email to seek help. Most mental health care and addiction treatment facilities have websites with built-in email web forms. It allows potential clients to jot down their questions and send them quickly. A response will come to your email within a few business days.

It’s always okay to have an advocate when you seek help. Advocates can give you the courage you need to take that first step. Sometimes, they can even speak for you if you are unable to do so yourself. Just know that a mental health care professional will ask for identifying and sensitive information related to your mental health. If you choose to use an advocate to help you, you must be prepared for them to hear such information.

Finding Help at Driftwood Recovery

Driftwood Recovery makes it easy for clients to seek help. With compassionate and patient staff, clients are kept informed every step of the way. Understanding is key to trust, and the staff at Driftwood Recovery keep clients informed of their rights and options. Nobody at Driftwood Recovery would ever belittle or judge a client for their experiences. It’s a safe place to find healing, growth, and encouragement.

Many conditions are treated at Driftwood Recovery, offering comprehensive and quality care to all who need it. It’s encouraged to contact the Driftwood Recovery team to ask questions, communicate your needs, or even set up a time to visit the facility. Seeking help and treatment is a big step, so the Driftwood Recovery team makes the process as simple and easy as possible.

Remember, it’s okay to seek help, no matter what you are struggling with. It can be hard to admit that you need help, but part of the healing process is learning to trust others to help you. By seeking help yourself, you may be demonstrating how to do so for others who are also in need of help.

Knowing when to seek help can be difficult for many people. As a society, we are taught to hide what troubles us for fear of being judged and belittled. The truth is that anyone at any time is allowed to seek help if they feel they need it, no matter how small or big their struggle. Here at Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, clients can receive the help they need with compassion and respect. Seeking help is made easy, as Driftwood Recovery is staffed by mental health care professionals specializing in many unique fields. If you or a loved one is worried about their mental health, don’t wait; seek help today by calling (512) 759-8330.

Clinicians and support staff at treatment facilities are responsible for speaking up and addressing issues impacting client or worker safety. Most individuals in healthcare are mandated reporters who must contact law enforcement or other agencies if they notice something affecting the safety of individuals or the community. According to the Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open, “Reporting laws that currently exist in the United States are written to protect individuals and the public.” Driftwood Recovery understands the importance of speaking up to management, coworkers, and even law enforcement when necessary to protect the safety of clients and staff members.

Clinicians Are Mandatory Reporters

Psychologists, psychiatrists, and other clinicians are mandatory reporters and must inform law enforcement if they believe a person presents a danger to themselves or others. Studies have shown that “mandatory reporting laws establish a legally enforceable duty for those who have contact with vulnerable populations to report to state and local authorities when mistreatment or abuse of those populations is suspected or confirmed.” Clients in treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) may hesitate to build trust with the care team if they worry about revealing potentially illegal activities. The care team is critical in creating a supportive environment while ensuring that clients, their loved ones, and staff remain safe.

Some people have a higher risk of experiencing abuse. The vulnerable individuals covered under most mandatory reporting laws include:

Children
Elderly
Disabled individuals

Staff members in healthcare settings are legally required to make reports if they feel someone is in danger or has been abused. The specific laws vary from state to state, and the clinician must remain current on the latest mandatory reporting regulations. Driftwood Recovery educates all staff members on the importance of following local and federal laws. In addition, management has created comprehensive guidelines and policies regarding when and how to report potential issues related to client or worker safety.

Recognizing When Speaking Up Protects Clients and Staff

Clinicians must also speak up and bring concerns to management if they notice policies or procedures within treatment programs that may potentially harm clients or healthcare workers. In some cases, clinicians may need to talk to management about concerning events they witness during the course of a typical workday. Determining when to speak up is not always easy. Some people may feel uncertain about whether something is their responsibility to follow up on. Driftwood Recovery encourages staff members to discuss concerns with their supervisors.

Everyday Situations Where Speaking Up Is Necessary

Healthcare workers often experience situations where clients are going through emotionally distressing events. Ensuring those moments remain safe for everyone involved takes knowledge and experience. Being able to anticipate situations that may cause stress or tension ensures staff members know when to reach out for help or speak up about potential safety issues. Below are three situations where a staff member should address the problem with their supervisor or other appropriate individuals.

#1. Harassment Involving Clients or Coworkers

Employee or client harassment is often subjective and covers a wide range of behaviors. What one person may experience as harassment, someone else may find distressing. The subjective nature of physical, verbal, or sexual harassment makes it difficult for people to know when to speak up and report the problem.

According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), “Harassment is unwelcome conduct that is based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, or pregnancy), national origin, older age (beginning at age 40), disability, or genetic information (including family medical history) . . . Offensive conduct may include, but is not limited to, offensive jokes, slurs, epithets or name calling, physical assaults or threats, intimidation, ridicule or mockery, insults or put-downs, offensive objects or pictures, and interference with work performance.”

Not all unwanted behaviors are considered illegal. For example, isolated events, petty behavior, or simple annoyances are not generally considered harassment. Anyone can become the subject of harassment.

#2. Speaking Up If a Client Is a Danger to Themselves or Others

Some clients recovering from substance abuse experience periods of suicidal ideation or self-harming behaviors due to co-occurring mental health disorders. Clients who are a danger to themselves or others need access to higher levels of care. To keep everyone safe, clinicians must report the issue to their supervisors and any appropriate authorities.

#3. Safety Issues In the Workplace

Some workplaces may experience safety issues caused by human error, policy lapse, or miscommunication. Identifying and addressing potential problems in policy and workplace communication is essential to ensuring the safety of clients and staff members. Driftwood Recovery encourages staff to speak up if they notice something improper in the workplace. Every day, the leadership team connects with clinicians and support staff to ensure they feel comfortable saying something if they encounter a problem or concern.

Clinicians and support staff working in addiction recovery programs have an ethical obligation to address safety issues noticed within the workplace. Clients, their families, and coworkers rely on staff to recognize signs of a potential safety concern and report it promptly and appropriately. In some cases, reporting safety issues may involve law enforcement or other authorities. Even seemingly minor safety concerns are important to mention. The management team at Driftwood Recovery expects staff members to speak up and address issues as quickly as possible, following program policies and procedures. To learn more about our programs and how we ensure client safety during treatment, call our office today at (512) 759-8330.

Traditional ideas about recovery often focus on abstinence. Although abstinence is important to recovery, there are a variety of other components that contribute to healing. Abstinence alone does not account for the roots of your distress. Thus, to address and respond to the roots of your challenges, a continuum of care is vital to the recovery process.

Through treatment, you have learned that an attachment approach considers the whole person. As noted in “Holistic-Based Recovery Services” from the Recovery Research Institute, holistic healing considers your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Therefore, through the continuum of care, you can be empowered to find and maintain balance across all aspects of your life for lasting recovery.

At Driftwood Recovery, we believe finding the right level of care for you is vital to meeting you where you are on your recovery journey. Our ability to meet you where you are can help you build a continuum of care that addresses your individual needs. Whether you are entering early recovery or have been in recovery for a few years, there is a path for you.

However, you may question what is the continuum of care. What does the continuum of care look like beyond treatment?

Exploring the Continuum of Care Model

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the continuum of care is a treatment system that addresses your specific needs. In the continuum of care, you are placed at an appropriate level of care that you can step up or down from as needed. Thus, the continuum of care acknowledges that there is no one level or way to approach recovery. Moreover, as Parents Lead states, a continuum of care model recognizes multiple opportunities to address behavioral health challenges. Listed below are the components of a continuum of care model:

Promotion: Strategies that support behavioral health and resilience in challenges
Prevention: Resources are provided before the potential onset of a disorder
Treatment: A diverse array of services are provided to treat SUD and other behavioral health disorders
Recovery: Services support your ability to live a productive life within your community

The continuum of care model highlights the value of moving through rather than in a treatment program. Thus, a flexible program provides the space to thrive in treatment and build a life in recovery.

The Value of a Continuum of Care in Recovery

A continuum of care is invaluable in the recovery process as it gives you access to support in your moment of need. Through the dynamic process of recovery, the opportunity for triggers and cravings is always possible. However, you do not have to spend your life feeling like you are walking a tightrope between sobriety and relapse. Therefore, through therapeutic interventions offered in a continuum of care, you have access to resources that can bridge care before, during, and after treatment for effective recovery maintenance.

As the Alcohol Research: Current Reviews states, a continuum of care can support the promotion of extended recovery through treatment interventions like:

Recovery management checkups
Technology-based outreach
- Texting and smartphone app programs
Recovery activities
Mutual support groups

Despite the benefits of a continuum of care, there are some barriers to care. Increasing your understanding of barriers in a continuum of care can help you learn how to lower those barriers for your long-term well-being.

Understanding Barriers to a Continuum of Care

There have been gaps in treatment that contribute to identifying SUD as a chronic relapsing disorder. Although Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment notes that the continuum of care is not a linear process, insight can still be gained. Looking at the stages of recovery in the continuum of care can provide insight into how to dismantle those barriers. Listed below are some stages and barriers of the continuum of care after treatment:

Recovery maintenance: Stability to sustain and refine strategies for problem-solving
- Barriers to continuing care:
  - Lack of proactive encouragement in aftercare services
  - Early exit from treatment reduces referrals for aftercare
  - Geographical isolation from continuing care service locations
Recovery citizenship: The rediscovery of your authentic self, reconnection of family, and establishing a new social contract with your community and culture
- Barriers to continuing care:
  - Disconnecting from your recovery community
    - Disengaged from community activities and service opportunities

Despite the challenges of barriers to the continuum of care beyond treatment, sustained recovery is still possible.

Supporting Low Barriers to Care in Recovery

Through the dedication of clinicians, staff, and clients, barriers to the continuum of care can be lowered to support lasting recovery. Moreover, as SAMHSA notes, low-barrier models of care can support engagement and retention throughout the recovery process. A low-barrier model of care works by putting you at the center of planning and decision-making in your recovery. Listed below are the principles and components of low barriers used to support your recovery across the continuum of care:

Person-centered care
Harm reduction
Meeting you where you are
Flexibility in how you receive services
Comprehensive services
Trauma-informed care
Culturally responsive and inclusive

With lower barriers of care, you have access to a robust range of tools to support your recovery journey.

Empowering Sustained Healing in Alumni at Driftwood Recovery

At Driftwood Recovery, we know how important the support of the community is to recovery. Without community support, you can be left feeling alone in your recovery, which opens the door to relapse. Therefore, we are dedicated to providing a peer-driven network in our alumni and community integration program. With mutual support in a vibrant recovery community, you can learn and grow. You can learn and grow from a place of compassion, respect, and accountability. Through a continuum of care, you are reminded that recovery does not happen alone. Lasting recovery happens in collaboration with your community.

Recovery is about more than abstaining from using substances. Without a whole-person approach, you can lose connection with the supportive resources and social network that reminds you that you are not alone. Moreover, disconnection from support services after treatment can increase your risk for relapse and greater psychological distress. However, engaging in an alumni program with an active continuum of care can foster the tools needed to continue to thrive. Through a continuum of care, you can find the compassion, motivation, and accountability you need to meet the challenges of recovery, like cravings. Therefore, at Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to providing a strong alumni community built on connection for lasting recovery. Call us at (512) 759-8330 to learn more.

The first step most clients take when beginning addiction treatment is medical detox. Movies and other popular media often depict medical detox incorrectly, where uncaring staff leave clients alone to suffer through withdrawal. Actual medical detox differs greatly. It’s a safe process performed by compassionate medical professionals while working closely with their clients. Medical detox has allowed many clients the support they need to recover from addiction.

However, medical detox is not often discussed, leaving many to wonder what happens during the process. Knowledge of what medical detox is doesn’t just aid those considering treatment. It also helps society understand and care for those who need help. By understanding the process, we can further understand why medical detox is so important, and what to expect should you or a loved one require it.

Why Is a Medical Detox Necessary?

When a person struggles with addiction, it changes the chemistry in their brain. The brain being constantly bathed in chemicals from substances will begin to expect it as part of its normal functions. When the brain cannot get these substances, it causes withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms vary from substance to substance, but all withdrawal symptoms are uncomfortable and even distressing. In some cases, some substances, such as opioids, can cause withdrawal symptoms severe enough to cause medical emergencies.

A client cannot focus on treatment or recovery if they have to constantly fight through withdrawal symptoms. Many times, a person will simply use substances again instead of dealing with painful withdrawal symptoms. This causes a constant cycle of distress that can demotivate someone into giving up before their recovery journey can even begin. Medical detox helps by stopping this cycle and providing professional medical oversight. Without this service, a client has to struggle, sometimes for a long time without success, to break the cycle. Medical detox doesn’t just allow recovery to happen faster. It also allows for the recovery process to happen in the first place.

What Happens in Medical Detox?

Medical detox begins with a client being assessed. The assessment process will determine what the client needs for a successful detox. As mentioned before, addictive substances vary greatly. Their potency, withdrawal symptoms, and lasting effects depend on the specific substance. Once this has been determined, the client will then stay in a facility staffed by medical professionals who are trained to provide speedy and compassionate care. These facilities are designed to be comfortable, as fighting withdrawal symptoms is hard work. The bonus is that there will always be a medical professional nearby in case of an emergency.

During medical detox, clients are often prescribed medication. These medications are there to assist the detox process and reduce the symptoms of withdrawal. Note that medical detox addresses acute (medically significant) withdrawal symptoms and not the psychological effects of detox, such as cravings. Psychological effects are dealt with in further treatment and therapy.

The length of time that the medical detox takes depends on several factors. Of course, the specific substance being used can determine the length needed for detox, but there are other factors besides that. How the substance was taken, such as injected or inhaled, can extend the detox process. It also matters in how long the substances were used, how often they were used, and the last time they were used. A client’s sex, age, and medical history also play a role in the process. How long a person stays in medical detox varies, but the average is between three to ten days long.

The Driftwood Recovery Approach

Driftwood Recovery has a high standard for how medical detox is conducted on campus as part of its residential treatment program. Clients can expect the usual compassion and respect that comes with treatment at Driftwood Recovery. However, clients can also expect privacy alongside comfort and safety. By receiving treatment on a beautiful and secure campus, clients can relax and focus on what they must do to recover instead of struggling alone.

Driftwood Recovery takes a holistic approach to its treatments, which includes medical detox. This allows clients to have access to skills and tools that make the detox process as comfortable as possible. Yoga and other activities are used to reduce stress and allow clients to focus on healing. Clients are fed nutritious meals prepared by an in-house licensed chef designed to provide the strength they need to recover. They also participate in outdoor activities and exercise to focus their minds and create healthy habits.

Medical detox is hard work, so clients are given plenty of time to rest. Part of that includes enjoying the healing power of nature, allowing clients to connect with something stronger than addiction. Clients aren’t simply left alone, as family is very important at Driftwood Recovery. Visits from loved ones can give clients the encouragement they need to overcome anything, including addiction. The courageous family program involves the family in the treatment process, bringing loved ones closer together.

There is nothing to fear while receiving medical detox at Driftwood Recovery. The staff genuinely cares about each client, working hard so they can succeed in recovering from addiction. Each client is treated with understanding and compassion and has a firm say in their treatment. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, the first step is to detox. For those in need of help, Driftwood Recovery will meet your needs and those of your loved ones. So don’t wait to get help; reach out today.

Those who are struggling with addiction will often require a medical detox before they can begin treatment. This process can seem scary at first, especially for those who have medical trauma. However, it’s a safe process overseen by medical professionals who can provide a more comfortable detox process. Here at Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, clients can undergo their medical detox in safety, comfort, and privacy. Clients can expect to be treated with compassion and respect during the detox process, as judgment and shame are not welcome at Driftwood Recovery. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, call (512) 759-8330 today to learn more about the addiction treatment and medical detox process.

The treatment of substance use disorder (SUD) requires the collaboration of multiple departments and clinicians. Multiple staff members are responsible for ensuring clients access effective and appropriate treatment. According to Medicine, “Several randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that Collaborative Care increases access to mental health care and is more effective and cost efficient than the current standard of care for treating common mental illnesses” and substance abuse. Driftwood Recovery encourages staff members to share their expertise and cross-train to fill gaps in client support. Collaborating with coworkers is essential to high-quality treatment programs.

Collaboration Between Coworkers Creates a More Consistent Treatment Experience

Collaborating with coworkers ensures consistent client care and reduces strain on any one person or department. Sharing the workload and providing emotional or professional support throughout the workday helps staff remain focused and encourages teamwork. Driftwood Recovery understands that people work better when they have a shared goal and work together. Staff members may begin to feel physically or emotionally drained if they take on too much work during the week. Collaborating ensures team members recognize when to step in and lighten the load or provide helpful advice for a coworker.

Collaboration between staff members at Driftwood Recovery improves the treatment experience for clients and clinicians by doing the following:

Ensuring everyone has access to the resources, skills, and expertise to accommodate client needs
Providing staff with opportunities to learn new skills from coworkers
Reducing miscommunication and human error by ensuring everyone works with the same information

Effective communication between staff members is essential to ensuring treatment programs provide the best support to clients. Studies have shown that “[t]he significance of communication in the clinical setting is its quality to improve patient outcomes . . . Communication errors are a major cause of adverse events in the clinical setting.” Driftwood Recovery facilitates effective communication and collaboration through mandatory staff meetings and other policies.

Every Department Must Work Together

Staff members often feel more confident in their abilities if each department works together to create a cohesive client experience. Collaboration improves treatment outcomes for clients recovering from substance abuse and mental health disorders. According to Current Psychiatry Reports, “Collaborative care models (CCM) provide a pragmatic strategy to deliver integrated mental health and general medical care . . . CCMs are a team-based, multicomponent intervention . . . improving coordination of patient care through organizational leadership support, evidence-based provider decision-making, and clinical information systems as well as engaging patients in their care.” Teamwork fosters a compassionate and respectful environment where clients and staff feel comfortable trusting and engaging with one another.

Driftwood Recovery Makes Collaborating With Coworkers Easy

Collaboration is easy when it is an expected part of the workplace experience. Driftwood Recovery encourages staff to communicate their needs throughout each shift to ensure no one feels unheard or isolated. The workplace is a positive community where people can rely on one another for support, insights, and expert advice. Collaboration is one of the critical values practiced by every staff member.

Driftwood Recovery helps clinicians collaborate by doing the following:

Implementing an open-door policy with management to make sure every employee feels heard and valued
Ensuring every staff member has the chance to provide feedback on facility policies and guidelines
Encouraging an integrative approach to treatment between coworkers

Every department and individual has unique strengths and skills. Treatment programs work more smoothly when coworkers share those tools and resources.

Routine Check-Ins and Daily Facility Meetings

Daily staff meetings take place before the start of treatment to ensure everyone is on the same page. Staff members meet to share information, insights, and treatment goals to facilitate a smoother experience for clients and their loved ones. Daily check-ins make it easier for clinicians to engage with coworkers from other departments, relay information, and share ideas. Frequent communication ensures appropriate treatment for clients and allows clinicians to grow their skill set.

Collaborating With Coworkers Reduces Miscommunication and Improves the Effectiveness of Treatment

Increased communication is one of the most important aspects of collaboration between coworkers. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), “Effective teamwork has a positive effect on health care, and is associated with:

Reduced length of stay.
Higher rates of quality care.
Better patient outcomes.
A greater ability to meet family member needs.
Improved patient experience with care scores.
Lower rates of nurse turnover.

Clients and staff members are safer, and treatment outcomes are generally more positive when healthcare workers take the time to practice effective communication.

How Does Collaboration Benefit Clients and Clinicians?

Collaboration in a healthcare setting ensures that all services are complementary and people cooperate during client care. Clinicians and support staff work together to determine creative ways to overcome problems, establish care plans, and engage clients in recovery. Studies have shown that “[e]ffective teams are characterized by trust, respect, and collaboration.” Driftwood Recovery has built collaboration into the policies and procedures of each program to ensure everyone feels supported and valued.

People in treatment have better experiences and outcomes when the care team collaborates closely to ensure programs are cohesive and address all their needs. Rehabilitation programs involve creating a bond of trust with clients and developing deep connections. Guiding clients through their recovery journey is more manageable if clinicians work together and maintain consistent treatment between departments. Driftwood Recovery supports collaboration between individual staff members and various departments. Every staff member checks in daily with co-workers and management to ensure they have the tools and resources to create a safe and supportive treatment environment. To learn more about our programs and the care team at Driftwood Recovery, call us today at (512) 759-8330.