Combining Evidence-Based and Complementary Treatments in an Appropriate Way

Many clients participating in treatment for substance use and mental health disorders benefit from a combination of evidence-based and complementary modalities. Clinicians and support staff must balance the various treatment and service options to ensure clients receive effective care. According to Cureus, “[T]he use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is rapidly evolving and growing in the healthcare industry.” The experts at Driftwood Recovery use evidence-based and complementary treatments to provide support for clients struggling with substance use disorder (SUD) and co-occurring mental health issues. 

Common Types of Complementary Alternative Medicine

CAM practices may not always have supportive research proving their usefulness as tools in mental health and addiction recovery. Often, alternative treatments have no, limited, or mixed research regarding their effectiveness in treating specific health conditions. Healthcare professionals may introduce CAM into treatment programs based on anecdotal evidence or past client success. 

According to the previously mentioned article by Cureus, “All therapeutic modalities that are not part of standard medical practice are included in alternative medicine (AM)” and may include: 

• Herbalism 
• Homeopathy 
• Acupuncture 
• Breathing meditation
• Chiropractic medicine
• Yoga
• Progressive relaxation  
• Cupping 
• Sound Bath
• Macrobiotics 
• Hypnosis 

Healthcare professionals use complementary and alternative therapies alongside evidence-based treatments to address various conditions. Driftwood Recovery uses comprehensive assessments and screening tools to determine if a client may benefit from alternative medicine. Clinicians and support staff are responsible for educating clients to ensure they make informed decisions about their care and fully understand the possible benefits and side effects of incorporating alternative medicine. 

The Benefits of Combining Evidence-Based and Complementary Treatments

Alternative medicine has been used for thousands of years by societies around the world. Research has shown mixed to positive results for many of the most popular forms of CAM. According to the International Journal of Health Sciences, integrative medicine “neither rejects conventional medicine nor accepts alternative medicine uncritically” and recognizes “that good medicine should be based in good science, inquiry-driven and open to new paradigms, the use of natural, less invasive interventions whenever possible, the broader concepts of promotion of health and the prevention of illness as well as the treatment of disease.” 

Some of the self-reported health benefits of complementary therapies include: 

• Decreased overall stress 
• Reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety
• Better pain management 
• Increased positivity
• Relief from physical symptoms, including nausea and body aches 

The specific health benefits vary depending on many factors, including the disorder, symptom severity, and treatment plan. Many clients report that the relief provided by complementary treatments lasts for a prolonged period of time. Some individuals may experience the benefits of alternative medicine for weeks or months after the initial therapy session. For example, the positive effects of massage therapy may be cumulative and last for several weeks. 

A Whole-Person Approach to Client Care

Addictive behaviors and mental health disorders are chronic or recurring health issues for many clients. Healthcare workers utilize a range of personalized therapies to support their clients’ healing and skill development. A whole-person approach to client care, addressing emotional, physical, social, spiritual, and environmental factors, increases the effectiveness of treatment programs. CAM therapies are often flexible and easily incorporated into most care plans. Tailored treatment provides the best outcome for many people in recovery. 

Holistic and tailored client care may involve the following: 

• Comprehensive assessments 
• Treatment and aftercare planning 
• Integrative treatments 
• Nutritional counseling or guidance 
• Emotional support 
• Psychoeducation
• Collaboration between healthcare providers 

Client collaboration is an essential part of a whole-person approach to treatment. Clinicians and support staff build strong bonds with clients, assessing their needs and learning their personal preferences. 

How to Appropriately Use Evidence-Based and Complementary Treatments

Some treatments are not suitable for every client. Certain clients may not respond well to traditional therapy or oppose alternative modalities. Staff members at Driftwood Recovery ensure the appropriate use of complementary and evidence-based therapies by doing the following: 

• Adopting a holistic approach while taking into consideration the physical, emotional, and spiritual impact of various modalities 
• Staying informed and updated on the latest breakthroughs in client care 
• Educating clients about their treatment options to ensure they make informed decisions 
• Collaborating with outside healthcare providers to prioritize client safety and comfort 
• Carefully integrating complementary care into treatment and aftercare plans 
• Researching the potential benefits of various complementary treatments for addressing chronic pain or other symptoms

Healthcare professionals have the unique opportunity to introduce clients to valuable alternative therapies they can use during and after treatment. For example, acupuncture may continue to provide emotional and pain relief for clients in long-term recovery. Introducing clients to complementary services promotes overall wellness. 

Evidence-Based and Complementary Treatments at Driftwood Recovery

Driftwood Recovery provides staff with the resources and support to offer clients the following services: 

• Acupuncture 
• Pain Clinic
• Individual and group psychotherapy 

Staff members find practical ways to combine evidence-based and complementary treatments to benefit clients in recovery. 

Balancing evidence-based and complementary therapies allows clinicians and support staff to address a wide range of client symptoms and health concerns in a short period of time. A whole-person approach to treatment ensures clients feel supported, heard, and valued. Complementary therapies often deepen the bonds of trust between clients and clinicians, increasing the effectiveness of evidence-based services, including individual and group therapy. Driftwood Recovery encourages staff members to take advantage of the many modalities available to create well-rounded and comprehensive treatment plans for clients recovering from substance use and mental health disorders. To learn more about our programs and the services we offer, contact our office today at (512) 759-8330.

Healthcare workers benefit from remaining up-to-date on the latest research in addiction recovery and mental health treatment. Studies have shown that “[h]ealth professionals serve as the bridge between patients, the knowledge generated by scientific research, and the policies and practices to implement that knowledge.” Participating in continuing education and monitoring research outcomes allows healthcare workers to develop additional skills and gain insights into client care. Driftwood Recovery encourages staff members to remain current on the latest addiction recovery and mental health research. Staff members benefit from learning about research advances related to their areas of expertise. 

How Does Staying Up-to-Date on the Latest Research Help Clinicians Provide Better Care?

Research is an essential step in creating new healthcare solutions and treatments. Implementing well-researched therapeutic techniques allows healthcare professionals to support clients and discover new treatment methods. Everyone in healthcare plays a role in developing innovative methods of addressing mental health and addiction recovery. 

Staying updated on current research and treatment modalities helps clinicians and support staff provide better care by doing the following: 

• Enhancing general knowledge and ensuring healthcare professionals remain informed of the latest advancements in client care 
• Allowing healthcare professionals to implement more appropriate and effective treatments  
• Ensuring clients receive access to safer and higher-quality care 
• Enabling the care team to make educated decisions regarding client planning and care 

Learning new ways of approaching common challenges in client care improves the overall treatment experience for clinicians, support staff, clients, and their families. 

Where to Locate the Latest Research

Online libraries of free-to-read research articles and studies provide an excellent resource for individuals wanting to stay up-to-date on the latest scientific insights. 

Some trusted sources of studies, reviews, and general healthcare information include: 

• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
• MedlinePlus 
• Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR)
• National Center for Biotechnology (NCBI) 
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• National Library of Medicine (NLM)
• British Medical Journal (BMJ)
• National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA Network)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Helpful research articles can be found in journals published online or available at public libraries and stores. Many experts in mental health write books about cases they encounter, techniques they develop, and research they conduct. Physically published material may be based on older research, depending on how long the publishing process took and whether it was based on decades of research or recent advancements. 

Online books from reputable sources offer excellent information healthcare workers can use to improve their skills and the services provided to clients. Staff must vet e-books to ensure the content creators are qualified to write on the subject. Often, writer information includes links to author bios where healthcare workers can check the author’s education and background. 

How to Recognize a Reliable Source

Healthcare professionals should know how to identify whether a source is potentially reliable. Providing treatment based on untrustworthy sources increases the risk of staff members giving misinformation or disinformation to clients and their loved ones. Professionals are morally obligated to vet their sources and ensure they do not cause emotional or physical harm to the individuals in their care. 

Reliable sources should have the following: 

• Identifiable authors with qualifications that make them knowledgeable in that area of expertise 
• Peer reviewed content 
• Current information that reflects up-to-date scientific knowledge 
• References and citations to support claims in the content
• Transparency regarding potential conflicts of interest 
• Information about how the author gathered and analyzed their data 
• An editorial board or other form of oversight to ensure content accuracy 

Reliable domains for online information may include .gov, .edu, and .org sources. Regardless of the domain, healthcare workers should carefully assess every piece of information before incorporating it into client care. The information should be easily accessible and understood. Complex or convoluted sources may cause people to misunderstand the information, leading to potential misinformation or disinformation. Reliable sources are professional, verifiable, and created by individuals qualified to address those topics. 

When to Incorporate New Techniques Into Client Care

Initial reports of new techniques and strategies for treating mental health disorders are not always a good indication of their efficacy. Professionals should rely on proven and verifiable facts, not anecdotal evidence, when deciding whether to implement new procedures, modalities, or techniques into client care. Research is a starting point for growth and innovation, not an endpoint. Healthcare professionals should not rely solely on their own judgment to determine if they should incorporate something into a client’s treatment plan. Everyone has unconscious biases that may impact how they approach certain subjects.

How Does Driftwood Recovery Ensure Staff Remain Updated on the Latest Research?

Healthcare professionals benefit when the management team provides them with the resources and tools to easily access additional training and educational materials. Driftwood Recovery prioritizes staff training and education to ensure clients receive the best care and support. Continuing training improves services and ensures staff can address client concerns with the most relevant and up-to-date treatments, techniques, and services. Each team member is held to a high standard and taught best practices to create an environment that values teamwork, education, and skill development. 

Being aware of breakthroughs in research surrounding mental health and addiction recovery allows healthcare workers to provide better client care. Every year, new studies and papers showcase updated information about how the mind and body interact. Staying informed about the treatment options and potential connections between feelings, thoughts, and behaviors ensures clinicians and support staff offer clients relevant, effective, and appropriate care. Driftwood Recovery encourages staff to monitor research breakthroughs and stay updated on new trends, treatment options, and resources. Clients and treatment programs benefit when professionals stay informed of the latest information within medical and nonmedical fields. To learn more about how we help clients heal, call us today at (512) 759-8330.

The question of how to best support your loved one in treatment is a common one. Having the desire to help and offer support is strong, especially among family members. This urge is also present among friends and found family, proving that love is not an exclusive concept. Treatment for an addiction, mental health disorder, or condition can be difficult. Those who attempt to undergo treatment with no support are less successful than those with an active support network. However, what type of support you give can also make a difference in your loved one’s treatment and recovery.

That’s why at Driftwood Recovery, care is taken to nurture and strengthen the relationships between those in treatment and their loved ones. If you want to know how to best support your loved one, nothing beats being able to speak with a mental health care professional. There, they can walk you through what healthy and unhealthy support looks like, leaving you able to properly and lovingly support your loved one. 

Treatment is not just a place for an individual to achieve recovery. It is also a place of education about mental health. This foundation learned at a treatment facility can then be applied to other avenues in your life, creating more healthy and wholesome relationships.

To better learn how to best support your loved one, it’s good to know what unhealthy support looks like.

How to Not Support Your Loved One

It’s not unusual to want to support your loved one during treatment. However, there is a right way and a wrong way of going about it. Many people believe that “tough love” is helpful, berating and insulting their loved one in the hopes that they will “shape up.” This is extremely detrimental to a person’s mental health, and this tough attitude can banish the confidence and drive needed to seek and stick with treatment. 

Enabling is another serious problem, especially for those with loved ones recovering from addiction. Never bring prohibited items to your loved ones while they are in treatment. It may not seem like a big deal to you, but these items and substances are prohibited for a very good reason. Sneaking in items that your loved one should not have can trigger a relapse and set back recovery. If you are unsure of what is and isn’t allowed while visiting your loved one, speak to a staff member.

Giving no support at all is perhaps the worst thing you can do. Those in treatment with an active support network achieve successful recovery faster and more smoothly than someone without one. Not interacting with your loved one in treatment can make them feel abandoned and even depressed. After all, why work hard if the people they love won’t acknowledge their accomplishments? Providing healthy support, however, can make all the difference in the world in terms of their drive to succeed. 

Supporting Your Loved One Through the Courageous Family Program

Thankfully, there is a way to learn how to healthily support your loved one while they are in treatment. At Driftwood Recovery, it is strongly believed that the connection between loved ones is important for the healing and recovery process. That is why families of those in treatment have access to the Courageous Family program. This program exists as a way to bridge the gap between clients and their families by promoting healthy relationships and furthering understanding. Running two and a half days each month, this program helps you better support your loved one by:

• Improving communication skills
• Understanding the nature of addiction and other conditions
• Experiencing what treatment is like
• Fostering compassion and understanding for everyone

Utilizing this program also teaches family and friends how to provide healthy support. At Driftwood Recovery, new clients spend their first week with limited contact with loved ones to help them reflect and acclimate to treatment. After this period, clients and their loved ones are encouraged to make regular contact. This is not a place where clients are locked up with no contact. Family and friends are welcome to schedule visits, make phone calls, and send letters. 

If you have a loved one in treatment at Driftwood Recovery, be sure to speak with a staff member. They will help you utilize the Courageous Family program, as well as help you get treatment for yourself. Having a loved one struggling with a condition can be difficult. Individualized and family therapy can help everyone get the help they need for a healthier family unit.

Small Acts That Support Your Loved One

There are many small ways that you can support your loved one in treatment. The easiest of them all is to simply remind them that you love them. Many conditions, such as addiction, carry a lot of shame and stigma. Knowing that you are loved despite it all can give someone the drive they need to stick with treatment.

Staying in contact is another small way to support your loved one. You can write a heartfelt letter or make a phone call. Letters are always appreciated, as they can be kept and reread during times of difficulty. Sometimes, something as simple as a letter urging your loved one not to give up can be enough to keep them focused on treatment. 

Educating other family members about conditions and their treatment is another way to show support. It helps other family members understand their loved one better, as well as de-stigmatize mental health treatment. Being active and involved in a loved one’s recovery shows that you took the time to understand and support them instead of ignoring their journey. This mindset often is what keeps people in recovery and can prevent a relapse. 

The love we hold for each other can be incredibly healing. With this love and support, anything is possible, including recovery.

For those who have loved ones in treatment, it can be hard to know the best way to support them. It’s common to worry about offering the wrong support or doing something that will jeopardize their recovery. It can feel like you are alone, and their success rests solely on your shoulders. That’s why at Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, care is taken to bridge the gap between clients and their loved ones. Those with loved ones in treatment at Driftwood Recovery gain access to compassionate mental health care professionals who offer advice and guidance. If you have a loved one in treatment and want to know how to best support them, call (512) 759-8330 today.

After someone finishes treatment for an addiction and its co-occurring conditions, they can look forward to a variety of alumni programs. These programs are known as aftercare programs. The goal of these is to help clients remain in recovery by providing essential services and opportunities for companionship so they can stay committed to maintaining sobriety. Much like treatment, it takes connecting with others to preserve your recovery.

Treatment facilities such as Driftwood Recovery understand the importance of alumni programs. As a result, clients have opportunities while in treatment to further learn about these programs and how they help them succeed. It’s been proven that alumni programs can prevent relapses as well as improve mental health in general. Like treatment, participating in alumni programs is a voluntary decision. However, the positive results that can come from such programs cannot be understated. 

What Happens in an Alumni Program?

Alumni programs vary from facility to facility. They all, however, share the same goals. These programs strive to provide a place where alumni can find peer support and companionship. It gives alumni a chance to check in with mental health care professionals to keep their recovery on track. Alumni programs also work to celebrate the success of their alumni and offer encouragement when needed. All together, these values and experiences work to help someone maintain their sobriety. 

For the most part, alumni programs involve going to meetings and meet-ups. Meetings allow alumni to speak with peers or a mental health care professional about any concerns they have or difficulties they are experiencing. It’s also a time when mental health care professionals can inform alumni about mentorship opportunities or advancements in mental health care. Meet-ups can involve anything from dinners to bowling or participating in fun activities. Some alumni programs will also feature service as an integral part of recovery. This allows alumni to give back to their communities and inspire others to do the same.

Alumni programs will often have a set schedule that is made weeks to months in advance. Participation is not mandatory but highly recommended due to their effectiveness. Every alumni is welcome to join, even if they are just looking for some sober fun. 

Why Are Alumni Programs So Effective?

There are several reasons why alumni programs keep alumni in recovery. It gives alumni a place where they can find support and encouragement. Isolation is the enemy of recovery, and those without a support network have a higher relapse risk. Alumni programs are also a place for accountability, and alumni can draw wisdom from their peers to make healthy choices.

Another important aspect of alumni programs is the proximity to mental health care professionals. Alumni who find themselves struggling have a way to seek help immediately before a relapse can occur. Sometimes, alumni require further treatment, and that is okay. Being able to regularly touch base makes sure that they are on the right track to recovery. It can sometimes feel overwhelming when learning to maintain your recovery for the first time. Having professionals available to help can reduce a lot of worry and stress. 

Alumni programs are also fun. Americans are often bombarded by advertisements and media depictions that falsely state that you cannot have fun without engaging in substance use. The peer pressure to use can be astronomical and difficult to navigate. Having a place you know that has fun and sober activities allows one to meet their enrichment needs without risking their recovery. Alumni programs are effective because they are flexible, encourage personal growth, and encourage peer connections. After all, who better to understand you and your struggles than a person who has gone through the same struggles as you?

Alumni Programs at Driftwood Recovery

The alumni programs at Driftwood Recovery serve several functions. They maintain the sobriety of clients who have graduated from treatment as well as inspire those currently in treatment. For example, alumni work with the community integration program to prepare current clients for life outside of treatment. By sharing valuable and hard-earned wisdom, alumni help their fellow peers in treatment find success. Even something as simple as encouraging a peer to not give up can inspire someone to continue with their treatment. 

Alumni also meet with a mental health care professional once a month for a mental health check-up. This allows them to bring up any difficulties they are having and receive advice in turn. If something serious is happening that can jeopardize someone’s recovery, the staff at Driftwood Recovery can act quickly. Along with weekly dinners and family support events, alumni can forge healthy relationships with their loved ones and peers.

As mentioned before, alumni programs can also be fun! Alumni at Driftwood Recovery are consistently celebrated for meeting important milestones at a monthly milestone celebration. Events such as renewal retreats and opportunities to give back to the community are other ways in which Driftwood Recovery encourages healing. With a dedicated App, alumni will never have to miss a meeting or event.

Of course, alumni are always encouraged to return for help should they be in need. Sometimes people need more treatment or stumble in their journey, and that is okay. The important thing to remember for alumni is that they will always have a safe place to return to and people who sincerely believe in them. Driftwood Recovery is not just a place to recover. It is also a place to become healthier and happier people. 

A common misconception about mental health care is that clients are left high and dry once treatment is completed. This is not true, as many mental health care facilities utilize aftercare programs to provide services to their clients long after treatment is completed. Perhaps the most well-known of these programs are the alumni programs. These programs connect fellow “graduates” with each other to find understanding, companionship, and encouragement. Here at Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, clients form a strong network with each other. This allows post-treatment clients to create a healthy support network of those who truly understand them. To learn more about the treatment and post-treatment programs at Driftwood Recovery, call today at (512) 759-8330.