The primary goal of an intervention is to get the addicted individual to seek the help they need.

This phase begins for the addicted individual or family members when problems start happening as a result of the identified persons use of alcohol, drugs, or other mood altering behaviors. Despite these natural interventions the addicted individual usually needs more help to see the nature of their disease and the impact it is having on their lives. When family and friends become concerned enough to seek professional help, East Coast Recovery Services is there.

ECRS consults with the family and friends of the addicted individual to develop an assessment and determine a strategy for a more formalized intervention process. Working closely with the participants, ECRS staff helps them prepare for and practice intervention techniques that can help the addicted individual seek the appropriate level of care. ECRS facilitates interventions, updates assessments for all involved parties and makes recommendations for next steps. If acute treatment is needed, ECRS will advocate for all so they get the most out of any treatment proscribed.

If you would like to learn more about our Intervention services click here, call 610-621-5223 or email [email protected].

When the addicted individual consents to treatment, East Coast Recovery Services (ECRS) works to place that person in a facility that bests meets their needs. Once there, the addict/alcoholic can examine their drinking/using patterns with a clear mind and in a safe environment. Family members also gain a better understanding of the disease and learn how to be supportive in their interaction with the addicted loved one.

Placement of the addicted individual can set the stage for ongoing recovery. All too often the addicted individual will be under-served due to their own resistance, resistance from family members, resistance from insurance companies, or lack of financial resources. For those for whom resources are not an issue, addicted individuals can be forced by family into levels of care that may protect them from some of the natural consequences of their addiction. ECRS founder, Brian Halstead, CADC, CIP, has been assessing and treating addicted individuals and their families for over 23 years. This experience combined with his familiarity with different treatment facilities enables him to make the most appropriate recommendations for care.

Types of Acute Care

Some individuals will require medical detoxification and/or stabilization. This requires a hospital setting or a treatment facility that has a specialized detox unit.

Most often, the addicted individual needs to be removed from their living environment to remain safe. There are instances where intensive outpatient care is chosen, however, the outcomes are not as promising as when a 28-31 day inpatient treatment program is completed.

Intensive outpatient treatment usually consist of 3 hour sessions 3 times per week and may or may not include the family.

During Acute Care

ECRS advocates for the patient and family and works with the facility's clinical team to ensure that treatment is effective. Progress and Treatment Reports are obtained from the primary and/or family counselors and we communicate with the patient and designated family member on a regular basis throughout their stay.

ECRS collaborates with clinical teams on the recommendations for the Recovery Plan in Phase III. These recommendations can include an extended inpatient facility, halfway house, sober living environment, or returning home to structured outpatient care.

Sometimes family and friends are in need of more education and help than is provided by treatment facilities. ECRS provides counseling, workshops and individualized education at our office in addition to the resources we make available online.

Leaving Acute Care

Before leaving treatment, ECRS works with the patient and family on a Transition Plan that identifies expectations, communication issues and boundary needs. We make sure the patient has a Plan of Safety for the first week out of treatment.

The primary goal in Phase III is to help the person in recovery as well as the family transition from a lifestyle that supports the disease process to one that supports the recovery process. Key elements to success in this phase include a structured plan focused on the fundamentals of recovery including identifying and intervening on relapse behaviors, building a strong support system and personal accountability.

In Phase III, ECRS develops a Recovery Plan that all parties agree to follow and be held accountable to. The recovering person may move through progressively less restrictive environments such as extended inpatient facilities, halfway or sober living houses, or return home directly after acute care. Wherever they go, ECRS maintains a strong and constant presence.

It is imperative to develop a strong support group that helps one look at how addiction has distorted their thinking process, feelings, and perceptions and in turn, impact the belief system. Distorted thinking, feelings and perceptions may have been in place since childhood. In such cases professional support along with a strong peer support can determine how much a person will struggle in their recovery process. Although it is always the individual's choice whether or not they utilize others for help, ECRS can improve the prognosis by utilizing trained staff that knows when to help and when not to.

Throughout this and the following Phases, ECRS clients will have regularly scheduled contact with staff via phone sessions and/or video conferencing, and office visits for individual and group counseling, peer support groups and workshops. We maintain collateral contacts (family, friends, employers, coworkers, sponsors, etc.,) to maintain accountability and help the recovering person look at things that may otherwise be missed.

At the outset of Phase IV, East Coast Recovery Services (ECRS) reviews the individual's and family's progress with the Recovery Plan developed in Phase II. Our Recovery Care Specialists continue to help those involved integrate recovery behaviors into their everyday lives.

Relapse Intervention skills are further developed and shared with family, friends and the support group.

Although this issue can be the center of controversy for some, looking at Spiritual Principles and learning how to utilize them can make the recovery process easier and more fulfilling. The Spiritual Principles of the Twelve Steps are honesty, hope, faith, courage, integrity, willingness, humility, compassion, justice, perseverance, spiritual awareness and service. Spirituality can be obtained without any affiliation to organized religion.

East Coast Recovery Services (ECRS) begins Phase V with a review of the client's and family's abilities to stay focused on the development of appropriate recovery behaviors. We assess and prioritize the changes everyone needs to make in order to support continued recovery.

It is commonplace for recovering addicts, alcoholics, codependents, and those habitually engaged in mood altering behaviors to set their sights high once they begin to achieve freedom from their addictive and harmful behaviors. So often, the pain of awakening to the wreckage of the past drives recovering people into a rigorous course of action designed to fix the past and make up for lost time. This drive often masquerades as ambition and making amends when in reality, it is being fueled by the remnants of compulsive addictive behavior. Unbeknownst to the recovering person, they are setting themselves up to fail, even while their support group applauds their hard work and effort.

The outcome is usually that the effort, if the goal is achieved, fails to produce the desired results. In other instances, the recovering person completely misses their target, leaving him or her feeling like a failure once again - setting him or her up for the relapse process and other unhealthy behavior.

By being honest with their support group and all involved, clients begin to recognize the issues that are or will become barriers to recovery. Most of these issues are ignored in active addiction and can continue to be ignored in recovery until they become a crisis. Part of recovery is learning to deal with problems before the crisis mode.

The ECRS Recovery Coach along with the recovering person's support group helps individuals create a Personal Development Plan that identifies goals and defines the action steps required to achieve them. Our Coaches help you remove obstacles without creating new ones. With the obstacles out of your way, you can begin achieving the goals that have been elusive to you and creating a life you love.

The Personal Development Plan focuses on the following areas:

• 12-Step Work
• Interventions
• Codependency
• Conflict Resolution
• Spirituality
• Intimacy
• Communication
• Personal Organization
• Relationships
• Motivation
  
  

A Recovery Coach should not be confused with a 12-step sponsor, therapist, or counselor. A Recovery Coach compliments the efforts of these people. He or she does not replace them, but rather encourages the action to follow the suggestions offered by each.