5 Sober Hobbies for Improved Mental Health and Healing

For those in recovery, sober hobbies are a wonderful way to enrich the mind and connect with others. Part of addiction treatment is finding ways to pass the time in a way that reduces stress and encourages you to stay sober. Sober hobbies fit this role nicely, giving alumni and those still in treatment a healthy outlet for their feelings and emotions.

At Driftwood Recovery, we, too, recognize the importance of sober hobbies. As a result, we work with our clients to help them discover their inner strengths and interests. These factors, along with therapies like art therapy and therapeutic recreation, can help clients choose the right hobbies. However, before we dive into some commonly chosen sober hobbies, we must first understand why hobbies are so important for mental health. 

The Importance of Sober Hobbies

Hobbies allow individuals to express themselves productively and healthily. Studies show that they improve mental and physical health. For those in recovery, sober hobbies can play a bigger role than just being enjoyable. Sober hobbies force alumni to choose what is more important to them. Do they want to be alone and abuse substances, or do they want to enjoy themselves safely with their friends? 

Often, alumni will decide that their money is better spent on gear to further enjoy their hobby than it is on substances. Sober hobbies also take up the time that could be spent in places with common addiction triggers. After all, alumni don’t have time to go to a bar when they have a white water rafting trip scheduled! 

Sober hobbies also provide opportunities for companionship and accountability. Many hobbies are unsafe to engage in while under the influence, and your sober support network will be sure to call you out on it if you try. This safety network and oversight help alumni remain in recovery and resist common triggers that can result in a relapse. 

The sober hobbies available are too numerous to mention, but here are some examples of hobbies typically enjoyed by people in recovery.

#1. Outdoor Sober Hobbies

Going outside is a wonderful way to promote continued recovery. It’s well known that nature has a profound healing effect on the mind and body, so choosing an outdoor activity can assist in physical, spiritual, and mental health. Simply walking through established trails requires little more than proper clothing for the weather and comfortable shoes. 

Those with more time and money can dedicate themselves to other outdoor sober hobbies, such as rock climbing, camping, fishing, and kayaking. Just remember to use proper safety equipment and utilize professional assistance when engaging in strenuous and risky activities.

Gardening is also one of the top sober hobbies for those in recovery. Though gardening takes skill, some beginner-friendly techniques and plants make trying out the hobby easy. It’s easy to start by growing kitchen herbs and progress from there. You don’t need a full garden to gain the peaceful and satisfying benefits of gardening. 

#2. Animal Companions for Sobriety

Animals are known to be good for mental health. Studies have identified that pets reduce stress reactions and anxiety. They also improve mood and social interactions for people who are typically isolated. Animals are incapable of judging people, and many animals provide unconditional love. Some people in recovery choose to get some pets because it helps them remain responsible. Animal-based sober hobbies include horseback riding, dog sports, animal husbandry, and teaching your animal companion tricks. 

#3. Creative Sober Hobbies

Those in treatment may be well aware of what sober hobbies they can pursue that utilize creativity. Art therapy, after all, is a common therapeutic tool in mental health care and treatment facilities. Driftwood Recovery especially utilizes the power of creativity to help clients express themselves and work through difficult emotions. All the creative arts are considered wonderful sober hobbies because they keep you busy and have a tangible result that gives you satisfaction. Examples of creative sober hobbies include painting, sculpting, knitting, writing, reading, dancing, singing, and playing an instrument.

#4. Self-Education as a Hobby

Exercising the mind is a valid hobby that helps many alumni stay busy in recovery. One of the best ways to do so is to pick a topic or type of study and educate yourself. This can be anything from learning a new language, taking a cooking class, or deciding that you want to learn about a topic you enjoy. Libraries, museums, guided tours, and public lectures are all available to those who want to learn something new. All it takes is self-motivation, and if you have the motivation to learn something new, you have the motivation to stay sober. 

#5. Social Sober Hobbies

Some sober hobbies are more social than others. Those who are more introverted will enjoy sober hobbies that take them away from crowds. For others, being around other people is important for their mental health. Social sober hobbies can be anything from joining a book club to volunteering at a charity. 

Others may enjoy social games such as board games or tabletop role-playing games. With so many clubs available online, it’s easy to find one that interests you and encourages you to remain sober. Remember that facilities like Driftwood Recovery will have alumni programs that arrange sober meetups. Programs like these are perhaps the best way to try social sober hobbies and see which ones you like the best.

This is by no means a full list of sober hobbies available. The hobby right for you depends on your physical abilities, energy levels, and time. Driftwood Recovery works to help clients discover the hobbies that give them joy and, thus, continued fulfillment during their recovery journey. Just be open to trying new things during your recovery journey and you’ll always have opportunities available to you.

Sober hobbies are a perfect way to stay active and express yourself during and after treatment. Knowing which hobby is right for you takes time, but there is something for everyone. These hobbies don’t just help clients stay in recovery; they also help build self-esteem and courage. That’s why at Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, clients are encouraged to explore their interests and discover what brings them joy. Then, we work with our clients to help them achieve their goals and pursue their interests. With available therapies such as art therapy and outdoor therapeutic recreation, it’s easy to ignite a continuous spark of joy. To learn more, call Driftwood Recovery today at (512) 759-8330.

Innovation is an integral part of the healthcare profession. Experts are constantly developing new techniques to improve the quality of care. Creating new treatment methods, processes, and policies allows clients to receive more effective treatment. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “In health care in particular, innovations enable us to treat previously incurable diseases or to make better use of scarce resources.” Driftwood Recovery supports staff by encouraging innovation within a structured framework to ensure consistency in treatment quality and client care. 

Why Is Encouraging Innovation Vital to Quality Healthcare?

Innovation encourages people to expand their skill set and overcome challenges using creative problem-solving. Every professional has a unique perspective on their area of expertise. Developing new solutions for problems allows healthcare workers to spend less energy or resources providing high-quality services. For example, offering telehealth treatment can support clients while reducing strain on healthcare programs and staff.  

Innovation is not always easy to implement. According to Future Healthcare Journal, “There are a number of areas that present barriers to innovation in healthcare,” including:

• Balancing privacy and data sharing between relevant departments 
• Lack of community education and client acceptance of innovations 
• Difficulty testing innovations in a clinical setting 

Driftwood Recovery encourages staff innovation by suggesting improvements to current processes, procedures, services, and treatment programs. The management team listens to all staff concerns and suggestions and adopts practical changes whenever possible. Encouraging innovation is essential to quality healthcare because it fosters creativity, skill development, and client engagement. 

Ensuring Clients Have Access to the Most Appropriate Care

Innovation ensures clients have access to the most effective and appropriate care. Healthcare professionals can significantly improve treatment outcomes by discovering new ways to implement therapies and services. Clients participating in treatment for addiction and mental health disorders have significantly benefited from innovative changes in recent decades. New treatments have been developed to allow for personalized care targeting specific disorders or addictive behaviors. Over time, innovations may become adopted into mainstream treatment programs. For example, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy started as an innovative treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and is now commonly used to address multiple forms of trauma, stress, and emotional distress. 

Encouraging Innovation While Maintaining Consistency

Consistent client care ensures better treatment outcomes. Many clients participate in a continuum of care that includes residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, outpatient, and aftercare programs. Healthcare professionals can offer consistent treatment between these levels of care while offering innovative and tailored services.

Professionals provide consistency of treatment by doing the following: 

• Adhering to standardized protocols 
• Using clear communication between professionals 
• Taking advantage of staff retraining 
• Thoroughly documenting client care
• Using evidence-based therapies 
• Ensuring proper medication management 
• Establishing follow-up procedures 
• Promoting collaboration and teamwork
• Educating clients and fostering active engagement in treatment 

Maintaining consistency allows professionals to provide the best possible care to clients in rehabilitation. Individuals in treatment and their loved ones often face fewer challenges in recovery if they participate in a consistent continuum of care. 

Clients Benefit From Consistent Treatment

Healthcare professionals use creativity and skill development to create consistent, innovative methods for treating clients with addiction and mental health disorders. 

A few of the primary benefits of treating clients using innovative techniques include:

• Improved client outcomes 
• Better treatment engagement 
• Increased client satisfaction 
• Stronger trust in the care team
• Increased program retention rates

The treatment programs at Driftwood Recovery ensure a more consistent continuum of care by using tailored treatment services for every stage of treatment. Creating new ways of addressing client symptoms and side effects can improve rehabilitation outcomes. 

Encouraging Innovation at Driftwood Recovery

Healthcare researchers are among the most innovative professionals. According to Cureus, “The United States has ascended to the forefront of medical innovation by investing heavily in research, which has led to novel treatments.” Driftwood Recovery supports innovation and encourages staff to use cutting-edge research when developing client treatment plans. 

Personalized care allows for greater flexibility and adaptability in treatment. Clinicians and support staff at Driftwood Recovery use tailored care to integrate new techniques and services into programs. Clients benefit from trying new therapies and strategies designed to address each client’s unique condition. 

Staff Support One Another in Learning and Professional Growth

Healthcare professionals support innovation through continuing education, cross-training, skill development, and pursuing professional growth. Using personal experiences to develop new ways of identifying and addressing client needs can significantly contribute to innovation in healthcare. According to the previously mentioned article by Future Healthcare Journal, “With appropriate focus, a culture of innovation will help” facilities provide high-quality healthcare. 

Staff at Driftwood Recovery supports one another by sharing ideas, concerns, skills, and experiences. Clinicians pool their knowledge and resources to improve the effectiveness of treatment. Mutual empowerment and support foster an environment of creative problem-solving. 

The healthcare field thrives on innovation. Professionals are consistently creating new treatment strategies and techniques. Clients and experts benefit from the high-quality services developed through continual innovation and professional growth. Every staff member has an opportunity to share their thoughts, experiences, skills, and ideas about how to improve client care. Healthcare professionals can practice these new techniques and treatments using the support and guidance of peers and experts. Collaboration is essential to innovation and allows staff to receive critical feedback and suggestions. Driftwood Recovery encourages staff to use an innovative approach to client care. To learn more about our services and how we create our personalized treatment programs, call us today at (512) 759-8330.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 59.3 million (23.1%) adults in the U.S. experience any mental illness (AMI) or a serious mental illness (SMI). In addition to experiencing one or more mental health disorders, many people face challenges with co-occurring substance use. As noted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), approximately 21.5 million adults in the U.S. have co-occurring mental health disorders and substance use disorder (SUD). Access to mental health relapse prevention is vital to avoiding a mental health relapse. Whether you experience mental health challenges alone or co-occurring SUD, addressing mental health is an important part of maintaining recovery.

At Driftwood Recovery, we know how important connection and community integration are in transitioning into recovery. Making the shift from a structured treatment program to continuing care in recovery can feel daunting. Continuing to heal from dual diagnosis or co-occurring mental health and SUD challenges can further complicate healing. Life is naturally filled with stressors that can impair well-being and increase the risk of relapse. You deserve access to a continuing care network where you can find support and accountability to thrive. 

As a result, we are committed to providing an engaging alumni program with services and resources for mental health relapse prevention. Yet, you may question what is mental health relapse prevention. If you have experienced challenges with SUD, you are likely aware of the prevalence of addiction relapse. However, you may be less familiar with the concept of mental health relapse and mental health relapse prevention. By expanding your awareness of mental health relapse, you can understand the value of mental health relapse prevention in your recovery. 

What Is a Mental Health Relapse?

In general, a mental health relapse occurs when mental health disorder symptoms return after a period of improvement or remission. Moreover, a mental health relapse can also include the worsening of mental health symptoms following recovery. Due to misconceptions about mental health, it can be difficult to recognize the significance of a relapse or the need for treatment. As SAMHSA notes, mental health includes your emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Thus, mental health plays an important role in how you think, feel, and behave.

According to “The Lifetime Prevalence and Factors Associated with Relapse Among Mentally Ill Patients at Jimma University Medical Center, Ethiopia” by Liyew Agenagnew and Chalachew Kassaw, mental health relapse is common in all types of mental health disorders. For example, there is a 52–92% relapse rate for individuals with schizophrenia and 65-73% for those with bipolar disorder. Therefore, it is invaluable to mental health relapse prevention to understand the risk factors for mental health relapse.

Risk Factors for Mental Health Relapse

There are a variety of risk factors that can contribute to a mental health relapse. Risk factors can impede recovery, whether external, internal, or related to behavioral changes. Listed below are some of the risk factors for mental health relapse:

• Stressful life events
• Changes in sleep habits
• Conflict with others
• Poor social support
• Unemployment
• Low income
• Loneliness and isolation
• Stigma
• Co-occurring conditions
• Poor medication adherence
• Lack of community mental health services

Looking at the risk factors for mental health relapse highlights the need for mental health relapse prevention.

Value of Mental Health Relapse Prevention

Reducing or recovering from mental health symptoms is something to take pride in on your recovery journey. However, lasting recovery does not start and end with treatment. Countless factors, including life stressors, can contribute to impeding your mental well-being. As a result, mental health relapse prevention can give you the tools to manage your symptoms in your daily life. With mental health relapse prevention, you can build resilience to life stressors to lead a healthy life in recovery:

• Self-awareness
• Self-monitoring
• Self-care
• Self-determination
• Life satisfaction
• Set and achieve goals

Despite the benefits of mental health relapse prevention, various barriers work to impede sustained recovery.

Dismantling Barriers to Mental Health Relapse Prevention

Barriers to mental health relapse prevention often overlap with risk factors for relapse. For example, many barriers to mental health support are tied to the cost of services, stigma, and poor social support. However, as the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment notes, a better understanding of perceived barriers can help create accessible and integrated services to meet the needs of each individual. The barriers to support can feel daunting, but with continuing care, barriers can be dismantled to support maintaining recovery. Beyond medication management and therapy, support tools can include:

• Nutrition
• Physical activity
• Peer support

Yet, how do you take steps toward better mental health care post-treatment? Through trusted continuing care support in an alumni program, you can build a mental health relapse prevention plan to support you throughout recovery.

Building a Mental Health Relapse Prevention Plan

Creating a mental health relapse prevention plan is an important step toward recognizing your symptoms. When you can recognize your symptoms, you can use tools to manage your symptoms and feel better in your daily life. Your mental health relapse prevention plan should include:

• Monitor mood
• Quality sleep
• Exercise
• Hobbies
• Gratitude
• Reframe thoughts
• Stay connected
• Adaptive coping strategies
• Medication maintenance
• Help-seeking behaviors

With an active alumni program, you can access services and resources to help you build and maintain your relapse prevention plan. Moreover, you can find connections and community among alumni who remind you that you are not alone in your recovery.

Power of Connection for Mental Health at Driftwood Recovery

At Driftwood Recovery, we know a strong alumni program gives you a foundation of connection and community for long-term wellness. Through a peer-driven approach to continuing care, you foster self-efficacy to manage the setbacks and challenges that arise in recovery. We are dedicated to providing a continuing care program built on compassion, support, service, and accountability. Lasting healing does not happen alone, and with a supportive, sober community, you can build a courageous life in recovery.

Addiction relapse is not the only form of relapse that can impede your well-being. Mental health relapse can disrupt your recovery whether you have co-occurring SUD or not. Following treatment, there are various risk factors and barriers that can lead to a mental health relapse, like stigma, financial stressors, and poor social support. Therefore, building a mental health relapse prevention plan is invaluable to symptom management and sustained recovery. With access to an active alumni program in continuing care, you can connect to a sober community and resources to support relapse prevention. At Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to providing a peer-driven approach to recovery post-treatment. Call (512) 759-8330 to learn how alumni can support you.

Group therapy is a commonly used psychotherapy in most mental health care and addiction treatment facilities, especially Driftwood Recovery. It’s effective, safe, and offers an environment of support for those recovering from a wide range of mental health conditions. Despite its effectiveness, not many people know exactly what group therapy entails. Those who do know somewhat about group therapy tend to confuse it with a support group, which is quite different. 

Understanding these differences and what to expect in group therapy helps de-stigmatize mental health care and prepares potential clients for therapies they may participate in. Education doesn’t just prepare a person for treatment; it also prepares them for healing.

Group Therapy vs. Support Groups

On the outside, group therapy and support groups look very similar. Both involve a group of people talking about and sharing their thoughts and experiences. Both can be very helpful in the recovery process. However, there are differences that people should be aware of.

Group therapy is:

• Lead by a mental health care professional, such as a therapist
• Has strict guidelines for establishing and maintaining safety
• Works to heal specific issues and is usually tailored for specific audiences
• Helps clients make changes to their behavior and thinking patterns that improve their lives

Support groups are:

• Lead by volunteers who may or may not have mental health training 
• May have difficulties establishing safety guidelines due to more open and loose organization 
• Has a more generalized and broad approach to support 
• Works to help individuals cope with things they cannot change 

In a nutshell, group therapy is best for clients who are working to overcome a specific issue that they can recover from, such as addiction. This therapy gives them the safety to fully open up and receive legitimate mental health treatment to make positive and lasting changes to their lives. Support groups are great for clients who want generalized support for a difficulty in their life that can’t be changed, such as living with cancer. These groups, however, do provide fantastic support and understanding. Support groups focus more on coping and living well, not clinical mental health care. 

What Is It Like to Participate in Group Therapy?

A licensed mental health care professional always leads group therapy. Think of them like a conductor who helps the group stay on task, mitigate problems, and keep order. The job of this professional is also to ensure that each individual gets the treatment they need to meet their recovery goals. So, if you are worried that group therapy is a “watered-down” treatment, don’t be. Each client will always get the attention they need, such as making sure they feel safe and ensuring they can speak when they want to. 

Group therapy is fairly straightforward. The therapist introduces the topic or content of that day’s discussion and invites clients to participate in an orderly manner. Clients then share their thoughts and experiences on the topic. This process yields a tremendous amount of life experiences and wisdom, which can be used to help other clients in the group heal. 

It’s common for new group members not to want to share at first, and that’s okay. Clients are never forced to share if they don’t feel ready, but they are expected to respect other clients when they speak. The therapist provides direction and continues sharing until the time is up or a stopping point is reached. Clients are encouraged to reflect on what they have heard and shared during group therapy and rest. 

Healing the Soul

There are many reasons why group therapy is so prevalent, especially in holistic treatment plans. Yes, it provides clinical therapy for mental health disorders. But it also provides healing beyond the mind. Group therapy shows clients who may have felt completely alone in their struggles that they are not alone. It teaches them that they deserve compassion, respect, and understanding from others. Group therapy also provides a means of accountability, which encourages clients to work hard at achieving their goals and making healthy choices. It’s not uncommon for timid clients to finish group therapy feeling more confident and strong than when they started. 

Group therapy encourages clients to be more compassionate and nonjudgmental in their beliefs and viewpoints. After all, a small group could have well over a hundred years of combined life experiences. Young or old, these experiences are valuable, showing clients that meaningful change is always possible. Group therapy is wonderful for teaching clients skills such as navigating peer pressure or preventing a relapse. But its biggest value lies in establishing human connections with others, which is necessary for a healthy spirit. 

Group Therapy at Driftwood Recovery

The staff at Driftwood Recovery believes that clients should have access to the best in comprehensive and quality mental health care and addiction treatment. This includes group therapy, which is important to our goal of forging healthier human connections and establishing a robust support network for our clients. We understand that group therapy can be difficult to undergo, as it requires clients to make themselves vulnerable to others. To assist client comfort, we provide plenty of opportunities for therapeutic recreation, rest, and reflection on our beautiful private campus. 

We are committed to providing a safe, private, and secure environment for healing. This includes group therapy. Clients can expect to be treated with respect and compassion with a strict code of conduct that has no place for judgment or belittlement. With such safeguards in place, there’s little reason not to try this effective and efficient therapy for healing. 

Group therapy is an effective and safe form of therapy that helps clients connect with their fellow peers. These connections help clients learn from the mistakes of others, find genuine understanding, and have a way to be held accountable for their actions. Through this, clients find an avenue of healing, peace, and recovery. At Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, we utilize group therapy as an important part of addiction and mental health treatment. With a focus on peer support and mutual encouragement, our clients find a safe and secure environment for change. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction or mental health disorders, don’t wait. Call Driftwood Recovery today at (512) 759-8330. 

High-stress careers, including positions in healthcare, may lead to emotional burnout and high levels of emotional distress. A safe space allows healthcare professionals to gain support and overcome emotional challenges without judgment. Coworkers play an essential role in providing peer support and encouragement during moments of high workplace-related stress. According to Acta Biomedica, “Peer Support gives a chance for personal growth [and] reflection.” Driftwood Recovery has created a safe space for coworkers to empower and encourage one another during moments of emotional crisis. Staff and management have worked together to build a strong support network for individuals struggling to achieve emotional stability in the workplace. 

What Is a Safe Space?

Individuals working in healthcare have a higher risk of experiencing trauma, mental health issues, or emotional distress. A safe space ensures people feel secure, heard, accepted, valued, and supported. Feeling safe with coworkers reduces the risk of emotional burnout or other potential problems. 

Creating a safe space in the workplace involves doing the following: 

• Promoting a culture where staff feel comfortable voicing their thoughts and concerns 
• Practicing empathy by showing understanding and compassion 
• Addressing discrimination and taking immediate action against any bias or harassment
• Establishing clear policies by implementing guidelines prioritizing inclusivity and respect 
• Providing diversity, equity, and inclusion training 
• Promoting a work-life balance to reduce stress
• Modeling inclusive behaviors 
• Encouraging teamwork and mutual support

Healthcare professionals have an ethical obligation to provide clients with a safe space where they can receive appropriate care. The management team at Driftwood Recovery supports clients and staff by establishing routines and guidelines that encourage individuals to treat one another with respect and empathy. 

Why Is It Important to Create a Safe Space for Coworkers?

Professionals who feel safe in the workplace are more likely to share ideas and offer suggestions to coworkers. A safe space improves collaboration. In addition, a comfortable workspace helps individuals focus more fully on their responsibilities, ensuring they provide higher-quality care. Professionals benefit from a strong support structure prioritizing their emotional and physical well-being. Safe workspaces foster stronger professional connections and ensure staff feel comfortable seeking support. 

Driftwood Recovery empowers staff by ensuring they feel safe and secure while on the job. Daily staff meetings allow people to express their thoughts, needs, and feelings without judgment. The management team has an open-door policy that encourages staff members to reach out if they feel something needs to be addressed in the workplace. 

Health Benefits of Creating a Safe Space for Professionals Experiencing Emotional Distress

Working in a safe workspace significantly benefits professionals experiencing emotional distress or chronic stress. The additional emotional and practical support allows individuals to rely on peers and management to help them overcome challenges. 

Some benefits of creating a safe workspace in healthcare include: 

• Enhancing job satisfaction 
• Improving mental health 
• Reducing stress 
• Improving teamwork and collaboration 
• Increasing productivity 
• Reducing staff turnover 
• Ensuring Higher-quality services 
• Reducing workplace conflicts
• Promoting diversity 

A positive work environment promotes creativity, innovation, and cooperation. According to Plos One, “A positive work environment (WE) for healthcare professionals is important for good patient care [. . .],” and “is strongly associated with attracting and retaining healthcare professionals.” People are more likely to remain working in healthcare positions where they feel heard, valued, and respected by coworkers and management. Working in a secure and inclusive environment improves teamwork and ensures clients receive better care. 

Fostering a Diverse and Inclusive Environment

Diversity, equality, and inclusiveness can create a more welcoming space for healthcare professionals and clients. According to the Journal of the National Medical Association, “It is important to have a healthcare workforce which represents the tapestry of our communities as it relates to race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, immigration status, physical disability status, and socioeconomic level to render the best possible care to our diverse patient populations.” Driftwood Recovery treats clients from all backgrounds and walks of life. To create the best outcomes, staff must know how to identify and address their needs. Staff struggling with emotional distress have fewer stressful client interactions if they work in an inclusive environment. 

How Does Driftwood Recovery Create a Safe Space for Coworkers?

Driftwood Recovery ensures staff members uplift and support one another. Coworkers have opportunities to encourage one another during challenging moments. The mutual empowerment of teamwork and collaboration allows staff to build a healthy support network within the workplace. 

Driftwood Recovery creates a safe space for staff by doing the following: 

• Prioritizing open and honest communication 
• Offering regular training 
• Promoting diversity and inclusivity 
• Supporting staff mental health 
• Encouraging a healthy work-life balance 
• Implementing flexible policies 
• Maintaining zero-tolerance policies for coworker or client harassment 
• Fostering opportunities for professional growth 
• Facilitating peer support and mentorship 

Driftwood Recovery also offers a safe physical environment by ensuring staff follow strict safety policies and procedures. Everyone deserves to feel comfortable and safe in their workplace. 

Peer support is an essential part of maintaining positive mental health for individuals working in high-stress positions within healthcare. Clinicians and support staff often face significant stress and challenges at work, leading to potential burnout or mental health issues. A healthy support network and a safe work environment reduce the risk of emotional or physical burnout. Driftwood Recovery offers staff the resources and support they need to feel secure, comfortable, and respected. Staff can rely on each other and the management team to offer guidance and encouragement to anyone struggling with mental health issues. To learn more about how we ensure a safe working environment, call us today at (512) 759-8330.

Some healthcare professionals may struggle to collaborate with coworkers due to various factors. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Healthcare workers face challenging working conditions and high stress levels that can lead to poor mental and physical health.” Identifying and addressing issues affecting staff engagement improves collaboration and reduces workplace-related stress. Driftwood Recovery fosters a collaborative approach to teamwork, ensuring all staff members feel equally supported and respected. 

What Is a Collaborative Approach to Teamwork?

Clients and staff benefit when coworkers use teamwork to create a more collaborative environment. Working together with multiple people with different areas of expertise allows clients to receive more comprehensive care. Integrative services provided by a multidisciplinary team improve treatment outcomes. 

Collaboration between professionals in healthcare generally involves the following: 

• Effective and honest communication 
• Continuous learning and training 
• Frequent meetings to discuss case management 
• Maintaining a patient-centered approach 
• Sharing decision-making 
• Defining roles and responsibilities  

Collaboration is essential for individuals providing addiction recovery and mental health services. Combining the expertise of multiple professionals provides clients with support for their psychological and physical health needs. According to Medicine, “Collaborative Care may significantly improve patient outcomes.” In addition, collaborative care “has been shown to improve access to behavioral health services, deliver patient-centered behavioral and physical health care in the same setting, and improve overall clinical outcomes.” Driftwood Recovery provides staff members with the training and support they need to provide integrative care. Services and programs are designed to allow clinicians to collaborate closely with one another and clients to ensure high-quality care while reducing stress on staff. 

Factors Impacting Teamwork in Healthcare

Integrative client care often requires collaboration between multiple departments and professional teams. Many factors affect how people work with and relate to one another. Individuals in high-stress positions may struggle to connect with coworkers. Clients and staff suffer if professionals fail to develop trust and effective communication. 

Some of the most common factors impacting how well coworkers collaborate include: 

• Chronic stress 
• High caseloads 
• Lack of cross-training 
• Tension between coworkers
• Lack of personal boundaries 

The workplace is a professional environment where everyone deserves to be treated with respect and compassion regardless of personal beliefs or skill level. Fostering a collaborative relationship between staff members reduces miscommunication and ensures everyone receives the support they need to succeed. 

How Does a Collaborative Approach to Teamwork Improve the Workplace?

Collaboration improves teamwork in the workplace by doing the following: 

• Enhancing communication 
• Promoting innovation 
• Clarifying roles and expectations 
• Strengthening relationships 
• Encouraging accountability 
• Improving problem-solving 
• Boosting morale 
• Increasing positivity 

Collaboration allows team members to learn from each other’s experiences and share areas of expertise. Individuals in high-stress positions use these opportunities to improve their skills and manage caseloads more effectively. 

Quick Ways to Improve Teamwork in a Healthcare Setting

Teamwork can take weeks or months to develop naturally between individuals in the same department or program. However, professionals can do a few things to quickly build deeper bonds and cooperation with coworkers. 

Some quick ways people can improve teamwork in a healthcare setting include: 

• Practicing timely, respectful, and clear communication 
• Acknowledging the contributions of coworkers 
• Clearly defining objectives and sharing progress 
• Giving constructive feedback
• Embracing diverse perspectives 
• Focusing on collectively solving challenges 
• Recognizing and celebrating team achievements 

Driftwood Recovery trains every staff member to use these quick and practical tools for developing collaboration and teamwork. Every staff member has valuable insights and skills they can bring to the team. By working together, teams can reduce pressure on individuals and share the caseload. 

How to Foster a Collaborative Approach Each Day

Every day is an opportunity for people to work together to improve their abilities, overcome challenges, and create a positive work environment. Healthcare professionals benefit from fostering collaboration through daily meetings, discussions about cases, and jointly led treatment services. Driftwood Recovery facilitates teamwork by providing staff with opportunities for cross-training and daily check-ins. 

Personalizing client care is one of the ways professionals work together to reduce workplace stress. Clients and coworkers have a better experience when professionals pool their resources and skills to create personalized care plans. In addition, many clients struggling with addiction or mental health issues have better treatment outcomes if they participate in tailored care. 

The Collaborative Approach to Teamwork at Driftwood Recovery

Driftwood Recovery uses teamwork to ensure clients have a positive rehabilitation experience. Everyone benefits when staff take the time to engage with one another and build deeper relationships. Collaboration is one of the most effective ways to ensure positive treatment outcomes.

Teamwork is essential to workplace productivity. According to the Canadian Pharmaceutical Journal, “Teamwork has [. . .] been shown to provide benefits to health care providers, including reducing extra work and increasing job satisfaction.” Driftwood Recovery uses collaborative care and multidisciplinary teams to provide tailored care to clients, ensuring a more positive work environment. 

Individuals working in high-stress environments often face multiple challenges in coping with the pressure caused by client and coworker expectations. A collaborative approach to teamwork can significantly reduce the risk of emotional burnout, miscommunication, or unintentional errors by ensuring staff members work together effectively. Collaborating to provide clients with effective and integrative care reduces pressure on staff and improves treatment quality. Driftwood Recovery has policies in place to encourage teamwork and collaboration between staff. The management team offers additional support and guidance to ensure healthcare professionals feel comfortable speaking up or requesting assistance if they begin to feel overwhelmed. To learn more about how we collaborate to provide optimal care, call us today at (512) 759-8330.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in the U.S., 48.7 million people (17.3%) have substance use disorder (SUD). The prevalence of SUD is staggering, but as SAMHSA notes, 21.3 million (71.0%) adults consider themselves to be in recovery. Although entering recovery is important, maintaining recovery is equally important. Therefore, uncovering and building relapse prevention tools is invaluable to lasting recovery. 

As noted in Addiction Relapse Prevention by Nicholas Guenzel et al., approximately 50% of people relapse within the first 12 weeks post-treatment. The prevalence of relapse early in recovery is tied to early recovery as a vulnerable time as you step down in level of care to build an independent life in recovery. Despite the importance of independence in recovery, it is important to know recovery and relapse prevention tools are not built in isolation. Thus, access to support and services for relapse prevention tools can be the difference between sustained recovery and relapse.

At Driftwood Recovery, we know that making the transition from structured care to ongoing recovery can be overwhelming. Therefore, we are dedicated to providing peer support in our alumni and community integration programs (CIP) to help you recover. With a person-centered model of care and integration, you can reconnect with yourself and others. Moreover, with a community of support in alumni, you can build relapse prevention tools to set the foundation for a meaningful life in recovery.

Yet, you may question how an addiction relapse can happen. What is your risk for addiction relapse? How can you prevent yourself from becoming a statistic for chronic relapse? Deepening your understanding of addiction relapse can provide insight into how relapse happens. Moreover, understanding addiction relapse can help you learn how to build relapse prevention tools.

What Is Addiction Relapse?

Addiction relapse is an unfortunate but common feature of addiction and recovery. In general, addiction relapse occurs when you stop maintaining your goal to reduce or avoid the use of substances. However, addiction relapse is often more complex than returning to the misuse or abuse of a substance or substances. As stated by the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, addiction relapse is a gradual process. Thus, across weeks and months, there is a gradual shift in the way you feel and think about your addiction before you return to misuse or abuse. 

Addiction relapse is not only a gradual process but can be broken into three distinct stages:

• Emotional: Occurs when you do not focus on healing the whole of your parts
  • Only focuses on abstinence 
  • Ineffective emotional, mental, and physical self-care
• Mental: Occurs when you struggle with the desire to use substances
  • Minimizing or glamorizing substance use
• Physical: Occurs when you initiate the misuse or abuse of substances
  • You are no longer in control of your consumption

The stages of relapse highlight the need to recognize risk factors that can contribute to relapse.

Risk Factors for Addiction Relapse

Despite being a chronic relapsing condition, some factors can put you at greater risk for relapse. Some risk factors for addiction relapse include:

• Associating with individuals with active SUD
• Inadequate support
  • Rejection from loved ones
  • Social marginalization
• Easy access to substances 
• Chronic pain
• Unemployment
• Low income
• Housing instability
• Low self-efficacy
• Poor motivation
• Lack of adaptive coping skills

Looking at the risk factors for relapse showcases the need for support and relapse prevention tools.

How Can Relapse Prevention Tools Help?

Everyone’s progress toward recovery and maintenance is unique to them. However, access to relapse prevention tools can provide a foundation to support your specific needs for sustained recovery. Supporting sustained abstinence from substance use is an important aspect of relapse prevention tools. However, relapse prevention tools can also support whole-person healing across multiple domains of your life. Some of the other ways relapse prevention tools can help you include:

• Improve adaptive coping skills
• Increase motivation
• Greater self-efficacy
• Support self-regulation
• Strengthen support network
• Enhance self-awareness
• Build positive self-image
• Enhance self-care

Relapse prevention tools can be invaluable to long-term healing inside and out. Therefore, addressing and dismantling barriers to building relapse prevention tools is vital.

Addressing Barriers to Relapse Prevention Tools

Much like recovery itself, barriers to relapse prevention tools are multifaceted. There are numerous domains, from emotional and cognitive to environmental and social stressors, that can act as barriers to recovery. According to the Canadian Journal of Addiction, some of the barriers to maintaining recovery include:

• Poor awareness and or access to recovery resources
  • Mental and emotional challenges
  • Continuing care services
    • Support groups
    • Employment
• Health challenges
  • Chronic pain
• Cost of support services
• Stigma
• Poor support network
• Unstable housing
• Low income

Looking at the barriers to maintaining recovery highlights the need for tailored relapse prevention tools. A tailored relapse prevention plan can address your specific experiences and needs.

Empowering Healing With a Relapse Prevention Plan

A relapse prevention plan can help you build healthy tools to manage and process challenges that arise during your recovery. Listed below are some strategies that you can explore for your individualized relapse prevention plan:

• Eat nutritious foods
• Build a sleep routine
• Exercise
• Yoga
• Meditation
• Support network
  • Peers
  • Trusted loved ones
• Journaling
• Activities and hobbies
• Short and long-term goals

Through an active alumni program, you can learn how to build relapse prevention tools that match your life.

Building Relapse Prevention Tools at Driftwood Recovery

At Driftwood Recovery, we believe in providing comprehensive alumni services to meet you where you are. In a thriving, sober community, you can find the support you need to address challenges that arise in recovery. Whether you are entering early recovery or have been in recovery for a while, life stressors can impede healing. You can achieve recovery, personal, and professional goals with access to resources like peer support and workshops. An engaged and supportive alumni community gives you space to build tools to reintegrate into your community and lead a courageous life in recovery. 

In recovery, there are life stressors that attempt to impede your recovery. While stressors are a normal part of life, when left to fester, they can increase your risk of relapse. Therefore, access to relapse prevention tools can help address risk factors like low income, psychological stress, and poor social support. Moreover, relapse prevention tools can help you build a relapse prevention plan to reduce barriers to recovery and enhance whole-person healing. Through a relapse prevention plan, you can improve coping skills, increase motivation, and strengthen your support network. At Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive services and resources in a peer-driven alumni program to support sustained recovery. Call us at (512) 759-8330 to learn more today. 

Starting treatment for addiction and other mental health conditions can be both exciting and terrifying. It’s the first step in a healing and self-improvement journey, but it is quite a big step. Many who want to start treatment may hold back because they are unsure of what to do before they start. 

However, having a general idea of what to do and expect can go a long way in reducing anxiety and bolstering confidence. After all, residential treatment can take weeks to months to complete, and you will be away from home the entire time. There’s a lot to do to prepare, but Driftwood Recovery makes the process easier. By following these tips, going into treatment can be seen as a new beginning, not as something to fear. 

Ask the Staff Questions Before Starting Treatment

The goal of every treatment facility is to make the transition to residential treatment as smooth as possible. Before starting treatment, clients will be instructed on things they should and shouldn’t bring. Some facilities will provide some regular-use goods, such as toiletries, while others will ask you to bring your own. It’s important to ask questions to get an idea of what you will need to pack. 

For example, Driftwood Recovery utilizes a lot of exercise and outdoor activities as part of treatment. Because of this, it recommends that clients bring clothes that are appropriate for outdoor weather and comfortable to move around in. Though heels are fine as casual wear, improper footwear can cause injury on activities like rope courses or hikes. 

Some questions you can ask the staff are:

• Are there any objects that I’m not allowed to bring with me?
• I have prescription medications or require medical monitoring; what should I do before starting treatment?
• Does the facility provide toiletries, or should I bring my own?
• What kinds of clothing should I bring?
• Can I bring a tablet, laptop, or other electronic devices? 
• What is your visitation and phone call policy?

Asking these questions can prevent you from accidentally bringing along objects that could be harmful to yourself or other clients. For example, some mouthwash can contain alcohol, which can be hard for a client in alcohol addiction treatment to ignore. 

Things to Do at Home Before Starting Treatment

Residential treatment requires the client to live on campus grounds for a set period. This means they will be away from home through treatment. Though this environment allows clients to focus on treatment with little outside stress or triggers, clients may find themselves worrying. There are several things a client can do before starting treatment to reduce this. 

The first, of course, is to take time away from work or school. Remember, you don’t have to say the exact reason why you need this absence. Simply stating that you need to take care of personal matters is enough. Speak with your academic advisor or boss about taking time off. 

If you live alone, you can arrange to have someone house-sit. Make sure your finances are squared away in terms of maintaining the house while you are gone. Some services, such as the internet, can be paused until you return. Speak with your service providers or a person you trust to manage bills and care for the home. Post offices can hold mail if you need them too. Don’t forget about pets. Many facilities can board pets until you have finished treatment if family or friends cannot watch them while you are gone. If you have children, be sure there is someone you trust who can care for them. 

It’s vital before starting treatment to choose a person or persons you trust to look after your home and make sure bills and any emergencies are addressed. Doing so provides peace of mind and allows you to fully focus on treatment. 

Preparing Yourself for Treatment at Driftwood Recovery

There are several things to keep in mind before starting treatment at Driftwood Recovery. Driftwood Recovery utilizes a holistic treatment philosophy for addiction and other mental health conditions. This means that clients will move their bodies as part of treatment. Remember to pack appropriate clothing and shoes that are easy to move and exercise in. You may also bring along personal comfort items as long as they are not dangerous to yourself or another client. Family photos, favorite books, journals, and important phone numbers are all welcome at Driftwood Recovery. If you are unsure of what to bring, speak to a staff member. 

Driftwood Recovery observes a seven-day reflection period for new clients so they can adjust to life in treatment. After this period, family are free to make appointments to visit their loved ones in treatment. Residential treatment is not a prison, and the staff at Driftwood Recovery work hard to ensure that all clients are comfortable and safe. 

Finally, it’s important to have an aftercare plan. This is a plan created to ensure continued progress and prevent relapse. Driftwood Recovery already has aftercare programs, such as the community integration program and the alumni program. However, you may also want to pursue other means of aftercare, such as continued therapy or support groups. Speaking with the staff at Driftwood Recovery can help you create an aftercare program before you start treatment. That way, you can spend more time focusing on treatment and not worrying about what comes after. 

Starting treatment is much easier when you have a plan in place. So don’t wait to create your treatment plan; reach out to Driftwood Recovery today.

Choosing to start addiction and mental health treatment takes a great deal of courage. Knowing what treatment entails is the first step, but what do you do before starting treatment? Every treatment facility is different, but all of them will help you prepare for treatment. At Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, staff will go over what clients should do to prepare for treatment. Don’t worry; they will make sure that you understand what to do and are always happy to answer any question you may have. So, if you or a loved one is struggling with addiction or any other mental health disorder, don’t wait. Call Driftwood Recovery today at (512) 759-8330. 

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 48.7 million people aged 12 or older (17.3%) had substance use disorder (SUD) in a given year. Despite the prevalence of SUD, many people do not seek treatment due to barriers like a lack of resources and stigma. In particular, stigma can lead to treatment avoidance or even discriminatory policies that impede resources. Therefore, access to recovery education can be an invaluable tool for dismantling stigma to support access to treatment and recovery.

At Driftwood Recovery, we know forming healthy attachments in yourself and with others can turn clinical insight into action. The challenge of stigma can impair your connection to yourself and others. When you feel less than because of internal and external experiences with stigma, it becomes difficult to make healthy choices. If you are overwhelmed by negative thoughts and feelings, there is no space to learn and grow. Therefore, uncovering insight for self-love and understanding starts with opening yourself up to learning and growing. 

Recovery education is an integral part of connection and recovery. Through recovery education, you can build tools that support deeper self-awareness and self-understanding. With greater awareness and understanding, you can connect to yourself and others to foster positive thinking and behavior. Seeking recovery education can be fundamental to resilience post-treatment and maintaining your recovery.

Yet, you may question what recovery education is. How can recovery education dismantle stigma internally and externally? Expanding your awareness of recovery education can offer insight into the importance of recovery education for shifting the way you see yourself and how you engage in the world.

What Is Recovery Education?

According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, health literacy originally encompassed basic literacy skills like reading, writing, and numeracy in a medical context. However, health literacy has shifted and expanded to consider a wide range of individual, social, and cognitive competencies. Today’s health literacy also encompasses recovery education, as addiction can have significant health consequences for you and society. 

Access to health literacy is valuable to the well-being of all individuals. Low health literacy is common among groups like older adults, low education, the socioeconomically disadvantaged, and ethnic minorities. However, health literacy can be particularly beneficial to recovery education as those with SUD and co-occurring conditions often have low health literacy. 

Understanding the Impact of Stigma on Recovery

As the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) notes, stigma is the relationship between an attribute and stereotypes that suggest you have undesirable labels, qualities, and behaviors. Addiction stigma is often coupled with public, structural, and self-stigmatized beliefs. For example, public stigma views those with SUD as more dangerous, unpredictable, and responsible for their disorder. As a result of public stigma, self-stigma often develops and further harms your well-being. For instance, public beliefs contribute to the perpetuation of negative thoughts and self-talk that erodes your self-esteem, self-worth, and self-efficacy. 

Listed below are the different types of stigma:

• Structural
  • Laws, policies, and regulations cause intentional and unintentional discrimination
    • Limits access to opportunities and resources
      • Increases poor physical and psychological health outcomes
• Public stigma
  • Prejudice is formed from stereotypes about a person or group
    • Stereotyping leads to discrimination
  • Views substance use as a choice
    • This leads the public to blame people with SUD for their condition
      • Decreases support for recovery options
• Self-stigma
  • You internalize negative stereotypes about yourself
    • You perceive yourself as flawed, unworthy of love, belonging, and connection
      • Decreases help-seeking behavior

Addiction stigma changes how others see you, how you see yourself, and how you are treated. Moreover, public, self, and structural stigma contribute to isolation from yourself and others. When you feel disconnected from yourself and others, your self-esteem, self-worth, and motivation to maintain recovery erodes. Looking at the impact of stigma on your psychological well-being showcases the importance of recovery education.

The Value of Recovery Education for Reducing Stigma

Some of the tools in treatment and recovery that can help confront and combat stigma include psychoeducational groups. Through psychoeducation, you can gain insight into your disorder and its impact on you and your life. Moreover, psychoeducation in recovery education can also:

• Increase awareness and understanding of maladaptive patterns
• Teach you how to engage in adaptive strategies

Additionally, recovery education tools give you more insight into yourself, which empowers you to take control of your recovery. Moreover, recovery education supports:

• Social inclusion with your loved ones and the wider community
• An environment that encourages understanding, knowledge, and skill development
• Challenges and dismantles stigma
• Establish and achieve life and recovery goals

In addition to psychoeducation, recovery education can also include family education. Through family education, you and your loved ones can gain insight into your SUD and its impact on well-being and relationships to heal the whole family.

Healing the Whole Family With Family Education

Addiction changes the whole family system by disrupting family dynamics, increasing relationship conflict, and fracturing families. Understanding family systems and SUD allows you to explore the impact of SUD on the whole family to heal. Through family education, you and your loved ones can understand each other better and rebuild connections for healthy interdependence and mutual support to thrive in life together. Now, you and your family can foster unity to learn and grow together. 

Finding Recovery Education in Alumni at Driftwood Recovery

At Driftwood Recovery, our alumni family is a peer-driven network designed to support you and your loved ones. With access to post-treatment services and resources, you can be empowered to continue learning and building on skills to live an independent and fulfilling life. Through holistic care, you can heal in mind, body, and spirit as you understand how stigma impacts your recovery. No matter where you are on your recovery journey, a strong alumni program allows you and your family to continue learning, growing, and sharing in sustained recovery.

Stigma increases barriers to information, knowledge, connection, and sustained recovery. However, recovery education like psychoeducation and family education can support self-awareness, self-understanding, independence, mutually supportive relationships, and lasting recovery. Through a peer-driven alumni program, you can access services and resources for education and connection. Supportive relationships are valuable for enhancing self-esteem, self-worth, and adaptive coping. The connections you build with loved ones and peers in alumni work to support health literacy for physical and psychological well-being. Thus, at Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to service, support, compassion, respect, encouragement, and accountability in a vibrant alumni program for a courageous life in sustained recovery. Call us at (512) 759-8330 to learn how recovery education can support your recovery.

Getting a psychiatric evaluation is an important step in receiving the treatment you need for a mental health condition. Psychiatric evaluations can be more than that; they can open up an avenue for relief and understanding for a person who is struggling. However, the positives of this diagnostic tool are often overshadowed by the stigma and misunderstanding of mental health disorders and conditions. For many people, being told that they might benefit from a psychiatric evaluation is akin to being told that they are going to be locked up and have the key thrown away.

The truth is a psychiatric evaluation, much like mental health treatment in general, is quite different than how it is portrayed in popular media. The goal of mental health care is to provide care while respecting the individual who needs it. It’s especially important in mental health care and treatment facilities like Driftwood Recovery, which focus on inspiring healing and self-confidence in their clients. To receive this level of care, everyone begins with a psychiatric evaluation. As you understand exactly what that entails, you may find yourself less afraid and more interested in what this tool could offer you or a loved one. 

Why You Might Need a Psychiatric Evaluation

A psychiatric evaluation is an essential diagnostic tool. Psychiatrists also use psychiatric evaluations to determine if your symptoms stem from physical or psychological causes. Sometimes, a mental health condition can be caused by both. Psychiatrists use the data gathered from a psychiatric evaluation and any additional ordered tests to diagnose and treat any mental health disorders.

If you are already struggling with a diagnosed mental health condition, mental health care facilities will conduct a psychiatric evaluation to determine your current status and make an accurate treatment plan. For those not currently in treatment, a psychiatric evaluation can solve the mystery of why you may suddenly be feeling bad or down. If you struggle with symptoms that persist for over two weeks, it may be time to schedule a psychiatric evaluation. These symptoms can include:

• Lack of sleep or oversleeping
• Persistent feelings of doom, despair, and fear
• A desire to self-harm or thoughts of suicide and death
• Being unable to find the energy to care for essential needs, such as hygiene and eating
• Outbursts of uncontrollable emotions that impact your daily life, such as anger, frustration, and sadness

Experiencing any of these symptoms denotes the need to speak to a psychiatrist immediately or a psychiatric evaluation.

Tips to Prepare Before an Evaluation

A psychiatric evaluation involves answering a lot of questions. Though a psychiatrist won’t rush you, people tend to feel less nervous if they have their thoughts together beforehand. The more information you have before you go into a psychiatric evaluation, the more accurate a diagnosis you will get.

Some tips that will help you prepare are:

• Have your family history ready, as some mental health disorders can be hereditary
• Write down any thoughts and symptoms you are experiencing regarding your mental and physical health
• Have your medical history prepared. Include the medications you take as well as any tests or medical procedures you’ve already had
• Write down questions you’d like to ask the psychiatrist before and after the psychiatric evaluation

What Happens During a Psychiatric Evaluation?

During a psychiatric evaluation, the psychiatrist performs what is known as a clinical interview. This involves asking you questions and recording your answers. Depending on the answers, the psychiatrist may order additional tests to rule out any underlying medical conditions. During the psychiatric evaluation, the psychiatrist will do their best to ensure that you feel safe and comfortable. It’s normal to feel nervous at first, but remember that the psychiatrist is here to help you.

The psychiatrist will ask you questions about your feelings, family history, and any symptoms you are experiencing. Examples include:

• “What was your childhood like?”
• “Do you have difficulty falling or staying asleep?”
• “Has anyone in your family committed suicide?” 

Though some questions can be upsetting, It’s important to be honest during the psychiatric evaluation so the psychiatrist can accurately determine a diagnosis. However, you still have rights during the process, and you are allowed to take the time to gather your thoughts. You will not be judged or belittled during the psychiatric evaluation. The job of the psychiatrist is to evaluate your mental state to see if it matches any known mental health disorders so you can get the treatment you need.

What Happens Next?

After the psychiatric evaluation is completed, the psychiatrist will be able to give you a diagnosis. At Driftwood Recovery, a treatment plan will be created once other assessments are completed. You will continue to work with a psychiatrist during treatment, especially if you require additional medical care or prescription medications. If you feel as though your diagnosis is not accurate, you have the right to seek a second opinion. Once your diagnosis is confirmed, now it’s working with your treatment providers to create a care plan.

Depending on where you receive treatment, your treatment plan may vary. Driftwood Recovery is a holistic-focused treatment facility, so a treatment-plan post psychiatric evaluation will include treatments such as nutritional therapy, therapeutic recreation, and evidence-based psychotherapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). The psychiatrist, along with a time of expert providers, will work with you to create a treatment plan that fulfills your needs and achieves your recovery goals. 

Driftwood Recovery, as a facility, works to make sure all treatments and evaluations are safe, accurate, and effective. That includes psychiatric evaluations and other diagnostic tools. At Driftwood Recovery, you can count on your information being safe and private. It takes one step to start a journey, and in no time at all, you will find that recovery is not as scary as you’d think. 

When providing mental health care, it is important to get an accurate picture of an individual’s mental state. To do so, mental health professionals use what is called a psychiatric evaluation. This allows professionals to give clients a full comprehensive evaluation so they can receive the customized care they need to recover. It may sound scary, but it’s a straightforward procedure that helps countless people get the care they need. That’s why at Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, we use psychiatric evaluations along with other tools to provide the care you need to succeed. To learn more about the process of client evaluation and enrolling, don’t wait. Driftwood Recovery can help. Call (512) 759-8330 today.