ALCOHOL AND CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY ASSESSMENT
The first step towards recovery for a woman with alcohol or chemical dependency is admitting she needs help. But sometimes, it takes the support of a family member, friend, employer or health care professional to lead her gently towards the path. Whether a woman decides she needs treatment on her own, or with the help of someone who cares about her future, the first step is typically a call to one of our assessment counselors to learn about the chemical dependency assessment process.
Initial questions typically are:
- How long is the program?
- How much will it cost?
- How do you get the woman here?
The answers to these questions are easily answered by an Assessment and Referral Counselor (ARC). Once it is established that a woman needing alcohol and chemical dependency treatment is receptive to visiting Residence XII and meeting with an ARC, an appointment for chemical dependency assessment is established for a two-hour interview. Residence XII’s Assessment and Referral Counselors are available 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday – Friday. Call: 425.823.8844 or 800.776.5944
Residence XII’s programs are individualized based on the needs of each woman. Rather than just focusing on a woman’s alcohol or drug use history, we provide a comprehensive assessment of all issues that may affect her recovery. Our chemical dependency assessment includes the following areas:
Medical Concerns and Issues – This includes information about any diagnosis, treatment or medication the woman is currently taking.
Employment History – What is her past employment history, current employment situation and goals she may have for future employment.
Drug/Alcohol History – What is her drug of choice, how often she is using, how long she has been using, etc.
Legal Issues or Concerns – Is she seeking treatment for legal reasons ie. DUI, child welfare, employment issues or other legal proceedings.
Family History – This includes information about her family’s history of alcohol, drug and mental health issues.
Current Family Environment – Is her family supportive of her seeking treatment or are there family issues that may impact her recovery process?
Support Systems In Place – When she leaves Residence XII who will be part of her support system? Will she have a system that will help with her recovery?
Mental Health History – This includes both past mental health issues and treatment as well as her current state of mental health. Is she depressed, anxious, etc.?
Defining The Appropriate Program – During assessment we will determine whether Residential Treatment or Intensive Outpatient Treatment is best for the woman. If we feel that we are not the best fit, we will make a referral to other treatment facilities that we feel would better suit her treatment needs.
Financial Options – Most of our women are funded through insurance or self-pay. Residence XII does have a limited scholarship program for women who might not otherwise be able to financially afford our program.
Choosing a Start Date – Treatment at Residence XII is voluntary. That means a woman must be open and ready to come to us to help her with recovery. For women, many factors can influence whether or not they are ready to come immediately or would rather wait for a future date. Each woman determines the appropriate date for entry in conjunction with her Assessment and Referral Counselor.
THE FEAR OF BEING IN TREATMENT
Various fears and concerns can sometimes cause a strong barrier for a woman needing treatment for alcohol and chemical dependency. The biggest fear is that of the unknown. “What ifs” and “How?” are the common threads that tie these legitimate and scary fears together. At Residence XII, our counselors are compassionate, sensitive and well trained to help each woman verbalize these fears and suggest ways to help her manage them.
COMMON FEARS AND CONCERNS
- Fear of the unknown – “What will it be like there?” “How am I going to feel?”
- Financial fears – “How will I pay my bills while I’m not working?” “What if I lose my job?”
- Shame – “What if someone finds out I’m in treatment, like my neighbor, school district or employer?” “What if they find out I’m an alcoholic?”
- Disclosure – “How will I talk to my children or family about this?” “How can I explain it to my boss?”
- New relationships – “How will I get along with all those other women?” “What if I can’t get along or relate to them?”
- Family fears – “How will my spouse or partner manage without me?” “Who will take care of my children?”
Once the assessment is finished, each woman and her family are given a packet of information on what to expect at Residence XII and are taken on a tour of our Seattle area facility. Seeing the warm environment and sense of community we have created at Residence XII usually helps to eliminate some of the fears associated with seeking help. We understand that this may be one of the most difficult decisions a woman will ever have to make. That’s why, even if she doesn’t decide to enter our program immediately, we try to stay in touch and offer her the support she needs should she decide to do so in the future.
Residence XII’s Assessment and Referral Counselors are available 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday – Friday. Call: 425.823.8844 or 800.776.5944