Substance Use and Mental Health Treatment Plan

When you notice signs of substance use or mental health problems in your loved one, your first instinct is probably to try to find help for them. Often, family members become frustrated because they just don’t know what to do or where to turn. Having an advocate for your loved one’s substance and mental health treatment plan can make all the difference in their success in recovery.

What Is Recovery?

You may have heard some terms that are confusing as you seek out help for your loved one. A substance use treatment plan will help guide your loved one toward recovery from a substance use disorder. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) explains that recovery is a process of change through which your loved one will improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and work toward reaching their full potential.

SAMHSA outlines four major dimensions important to the support of recovery:

• Health—when your loved one is able to overcome or manage their addiction and their symptoms and able to make informed healthy choices for their physical and mental well-being.
• Purpose—the individual in recovery can conduct meaningful daily activities and has the independence and resources to participate in society in a meaningful way.
• Home—your loved one knows they have a safe and stable place to live.
• Community—the relationships and social networks that your family members offer as you provide support, love, and hope.

A Champion for Your Loved One’s Recovery

It is through your loved one’s relationships and social networks that they are most often able to continue through a successful recovery. As a family, you will become champions of their recovery even as you may also experience stress, guilt, anger, fear, and a sense of loss because of their substance problem. Knowing where to start, how to find a qualified provider, and how to begin the steps toward recovery can be crucial for your family member’s health and well-being.

Tailored Treatment

One of the key points to remember is that there is no “one size fits all” substance use treatment plan. An effective treatment and recovery program must be flexible and tailored to the specific needs of the individual who is addicted. Every situation has its own complexities. You want to be sure that the addiction treatment program takes into consideration any co-occurring conditions as well, including mental health, social issues, and physical health challenges.

What You Can Do

The first thing to understand is that if you have noticed issues with a family member that is affecting their health, work, relationships, social functioning, or safety , you are not overreacting in wanting to get treatment for them. If an individual is using drugs or appears to be addicted to alcohol and continues to use those substances even after their problems have become obvious, then it is important that you reach out for help. A few steps you can take include:

• Learning all you can about the signs of substance abuse and how it affects your loved one as well as the rest of your family.
• Observe the individual’s behavior and take note of the issues you see. Gather similar observations from other family members and friends. This will be good information for an addiction treatment professional to have when you seek advice or take your loved one for an evaluation.
• Contact a substance treatment professional who can help you, your loved one, and your family. Share your observations and concerns honestly and directly. Provide as much information as you can about the quantity and frequency of alcohol or drug use as well as the negative consequences you have witnessed.

How We Can Help

A team of professionals with the experience and expertise to manage complex family systems dealing with substance use and mental health disorders can help you make decisions and avoid some of the common mistakes families make when trying to seek help for a loved one. R&A will advocate for you and your loved one by answering your questions, reviewing your situation, and helping you develop and execute a plan that can support your loved one establish and maintain recovery. We will act as case managers and interface with all treatment providers to help alleviate the stress you are feeling and ensure that your family has the best possible outcome.  

Trying to keep up with the responsibilities of seeing your family member through the appropriate steps of addiction treatment can be confusing and exhausting. A professional case management team will help you get the support you need while developing a tailored and effective treatment plan for your loved one.

At R&A Therapeutic Partners, our professional concierge-level crisis and case management team will:

• Make appropriate referrals to medical, educational, psychiatric, psychological, and social services.
• Step in whenever necessary with crisis prevention and stabilization services.
• Coordinate and monitor the services your loved one receives from other professionals.
• Involve the individual and help them become responsible for their own behavioral and mental health management.
• Help your loved one develop healthy coping skills and learn effective stress management techniques.
• Assist the individual to find and maintain the supportive housing they may need.
• Work with them to provide the necessary support so they can learn how to solve everyday life problems.

Contact R&A Therapeutic Partners for Help

At R&A Therapeutic Partners, we offer the tailored treatment your loved one needs to overcome their substance use and mental health problems and gain control of their life again. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we want you to stay safe and healthy, so we offer telehealth and in-office therapy services for your continued well-being.

Please contact the Miami therapeutic consultants Raymond Estefania and Ana Moreno for help with your recovery from addiction to drugs or alcohol or management of mental health issues. Call R&A Therapeutic Partners at 786-452-7352 to schedule your appointment.

At R&A Therapeutic Partners Raymond Estefania and Ana Moreno specialize in substance use and mental health disorder evaluations, treatment, intervention and therapeutic/educational consulting for clients throughout the greater South Florida area, as well as nationally and internationally. For more resources and information please visit Therapeutic-Partners.com or on Facebook.