UNDERSTANDING ASSESSMENTS

In developing a recovery plan, careful assessment and evaluation are essential to creating a customized program of concierge services for each client’s needs. At Skills in the Key of Life, we utilize a number of assessment tools to help determine the nature of the addiction or disorder so we can assist each client in establishing a pathway to recovery. Specific instruments help us to determine if further assessment is warranted, the nature and the extent of the client’s abuse (addiction or disorder), whether the client has a mental disorder, what types of traumatic experiences a client has had and what the consequences are, and treatment-related factors that impact the client’s response to interventions. The following assessment tools provide a complete biopsychosocial assessment:

• Personal consultation. This initial meeting, which can take place in-person or by phone, gives us the chance to get to know a little more about the client and why treatment is being sought.
• Assessment and Screening. Understanding the extent and nature of a client’s alcohol/drug abuse or addiction (eating disorders, and co-occurring disorders) and its interaction with other life areas, is essential for a detailed diagnosis, appropriate case management, and successful treatment.
• Motivational interviewing. Goal-oriented counseling helps the client resolve any hesitation he/she might feel in seeking recovery.
• Family history. This can provide us with your family’s history with addiction or other disorders which can introduce genetic pre-disposition. This tool helps to form a genogram of the client’s relationships, community resources, and resources the client has not recognized.
• Medical or Physical history. Understanding your physical and/or medical history is important to developing a plan that will work for you and the proper treatment facility.
• Psychological testing. Psychological tests are used to assess cognitive and emotional functioning, if necessary.
• Interests and desires assessment. Setting educational and career goals that match one’s interests can play a large role in a client’s long-term wholeness.

From the moment the phone rings clinical assessment has begun. The exception to this is when we receive the initial contact from an addiction treatment provider, who will already have a clinical assessment started. Otherwise, the minute a prospective client or their loved one contacts us we begin asking the questions that will allow us to best assess which LSK services are most appropriate for this individual.

In many cases, a family member will call to arrange for transport services. Often, a treatment facility has directed them to arrange for door-to-door transport for their loved one in order to ensure that they arrive safely to the destination. Other calls we receive are from people who simply need help.

The assessment process begins by determining exactly what type of treatment is needed, which allows us to make clinical recommendations specific to their needs and where placement is best suited. Some of the details sought in this initial consultation are:

• The type of addiction. Is it a substance addiction (drug and/or alcohol), or a process addiction (disordered eating, sex or love addiction, gambling addiction, shopping addiction, among others) Underlying mental health disorder. We want to determine if there is a co-occurring condition present with the addiction disorder, such as anxiety, depression, and other behavioral disorders.
• Physical health  limitations. It is important to know if the client has any physical issues that may limit the options for placement, or require special services.

• Gender, age, specific preferences. We want to determine which type of clinical treatment setting is best suited for the client according to their age, gender and specific requests. For example, some people prefer a beach setting, others a mountainous setting. Some people want a simple, basic residential setting, where others prefer a lavish, upscale treatment setting.

REFERRING CLIENTS TO TREATMENT - ACUTE TREATMENT SERVICES

After the initial consultation with the client and possibly an additional family member or spouse, we place the clients into a residential or outpatient treatment program based on all the information gathered. We partner with many quality addiction treatment facilities. We refer to: 

• Inpatient residential treatment facilities
• Partial hospitalization
• Intensive outpatient programs
• Intensive workshops
• Outpatient individual therapy
• Outpatient group therapy
• Specialized therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Experiential Therapy, as well as neurofeedback and biofeedback services

To learn more about how an assessment can help your loved one start on the pathway to recovery, contact Skills in the Key of Life today.

Are you ready to take the next steps to Recover you Life? Contact Us Today