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You Finally Decided to Get Help for Addiction. Now What?

By U.S. News & World Report

Admitting you’re in need of help is a challenging view to come by — as is the realization that you can’t do it alone. Still, with the help of a licensed clinician to guide you through this experience, you’ll be able to choose the most appropriate level of treatment that best fits your needs. Whether it’s outpatient, partial care, inpatient, long-term, residential or medical-based detox, you’ll have a number of ways to plan out your treatment plan, making the most of your upcoming experience.

Once the level of care is recommended, what will the course of treatment consist of?

If the level of care recommended is intensive outpatient, for example, what does that mean for you? Will you be in group three to four times a week for three hours each? How many weeks? Will the group be facilitated by a licensed counselor who was specifically trained in addiction and mental health care needs? If you’re in need of medical detoxification, will your discharge plan consist of medically assisted treatment? What longer term treatment services are recommended?

Does the program offer holistic modalities such as recovery yoga, nutritional screening/counseling, mindfulness, art/music therapy, etc.?

Integrating holistic approaches throughout the recovery process not only helps by reducing emotional stress but also for improving upon one’s physical well-being. The holistic approach is vital in regaining your personal balance, as it brings harmony to the individual’s mind and body. Following treatment, most clients choose to continue utilizing holistic methods as a way to maintain a stable environment outside the treatment realm.

Will your treatment consist of evidence-based practices proven to arrive at positive outcomes in an efficient and effective manner ?

From the start, it’s crucial you avoid the one-size-fits-all cookie-cutter approach and instead, immediately recognize the importance of one’s own treatment goals. Throughout the recovery process, there’ll be an overlap with universal struggles that many may benefit from. Nonetheless, with each person’s addiction comes also the individual factors that need to be identified and treated for long-term success. In addition, it’s beneficial to look into whether the counselors specialize in specific treatment orientations such as trauma-informed care or cognitive behavioral therapy to see what’s available.

Are medical and psychiatric services provided on-site?

Well-rounded care of addiction can include psychiatric assessments to identify mental health issues that may or may not be addressed with medication. Certain clients needs medication-assisted treatment in order to cease the intense cravings for certain mood-altering substances. Within the treatment and recovery process, it’s crucial that your care be integrated with a psychiatrist and medical team consulting with your primary counselor.

Does your treatment provider endorse self-help such as AA/NA? Do they encourage participation?

Concurrent with treatment, the retrieval of support and guidance from the self-help community is key. This support comes at a low cost to the participant and can assist in long-term sobriety, as meetings are widespread and offered at convenient times for participants. Long-term sobriety is usually accomplished with the help of AA and NA groups. Attendance of these meetings will be welcomed if and only if the individual obeys the single requirement of the self-help community: to show up.

Is your provider accredited by an outside organization?

The gold-standard of addiction services is The Joint Commission. This accreditation ensures to the client that the best practices are being used and an organization is committed to certain performance standards.

What services are offered for your family to be involved in?

Addiction is a family disease — the family system is greatly impacted when a member within its unit is struggling with addiction. Top-tier programs offer multi-family groups, which consist of both the client and his or her family taking part in group with other clients and their families. Implementing such programs allows for each family to process the changes needed within the family system. This will support their loved ones through their time of need and assist in supporting long-term recovery. Furthermore, parent-family support groups can be available to specifically meet the needs of your family members.

How and where do I get started?

The one question that most want — and need — to know is how they’ll pay for treatment. Will health insurance cover it? How much will each person incur directly? Certain treatment providers offer their clients financial aid support, so it’s important not to let finances be a barrier and instead find out what opportunities there are for assistance. After all, this is an investment in one’s long-term health and well-being.

These are all crucial questions that allow you to arm yourself with knowledge as you navigate your way through your personal road to recovery and wellness. You and your family are worth it!

Roman Petrocelli, MA, LPC is the Clinical Director of Summit Behavioral Health at Florham Park in New Jersey. Roman is a master level clinician with a decade of experience in the field of addiction and mental wellness. He has practical clinical, supervisory, and administrative experience throughout the substance use continuum of care. In 2015, Roman and his staff were recognized nationally for their work on a client-made short film, which featured at-risk youth telling their story of hope and transformation. Roman’s professional philosophy is based on Choice/Reality Therapy, as well as he utilizes expressive art therapy and trauma-informed care. In his spare time, Roman is an avid auto racing enthusiast, enjoys making short-films, and has been known to do stand-up comedy on occasion, especially if it is to raise awareness on mental health and addiction.

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You Finally Decided to Get Help for Addiction. Now What? originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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