Below are more details on the various elements Talbott Recovery incorporates into each of our client’s dual diagnosis treatment program plans for the successful recovery from substance abuse.
Treatment Planning
During the assessment process for our clients, members of Talbott Recovery staff (with patient approval) will contact family members, friends, healthcare providers and referents to collect key collateral data for integration into the patient’s treatment plan. In our experience, patients (including those presenting with psychiatric co-morbidity) respond better to treatment, medications and recovery when every aspect of their lives has been addressed in the development of their substance abuse recovery treatment plan.
Upon completion of a patient’s assessment, the treatment team, led by the attending physician, develops an individual treatment plan for each patient and meets regularly to review each patient’s progress and to update treatment goals. The clinical case manager works closely with each patient, Family Counselor and the family to ensure the treatment plan is meeting the patient’s changing needs. Soon after treatment begins, the patient’s continuing care coordinator will begin the process of identifying a patient’s discharge needs.
Family Program
The Family Services Department at Talbott Recovery provides patients and families with support and education on the disease of addiction, cross addiction, and the often-unrecognized impact on the family that substance abuse generates. The Family Program is designed to assess the family’s needs, educate the family about chemical dependence, and offer ongoing family support during and/or after the patient’s treatment.
The family program is the first step many addicted families make towards healing. Once a patient is admitted to Talbott Recovery, a family counselor is assigned to respond to any questions or concerns. That family therapist works both at a distance and close up with our families when they attend the family program.
The family program consists of approximately five family sessions and a family workshop during treatment. The family workshop is a three-day educational and supportive experience. The workshop provides education on the disease of addiction and cross addiction and offers an opportunity to address questions and concerns. For more details about the Family Program and a sample schedule, please click here to visit the addiction family therapy section of this website.
Mirror Image Phase
Mirror Image is an addiction treatment innovation created and first implemented by Talbott Recovery founder, G. Douglas Talbott, M.D. Mornings, five days a week, Talbott Recovery Mirror Image patients go to other treatment facilities in the Atlanta area and work with newly admitted alcoholics and addicts at that facility.
The purpose is to assist Talbott Recovery patients in overcoming the myopia that often accompanies the disease of addiction – patients can see the effects of the disease of addiction in others but are unable to see those same affects in themselves.
Patients consistently report that their experience in Mirror Image has a profound effect on their recoveries. Mirror Image patients return to Talbott Recovery for afternoon groups and appointments with physicians and clinicians.
Continuing Care
Talbott Recovery is committed to helping our substance abuse recovery patients and their families build a long term, self-sustaining recovery. The Talbott Recovery continuing care process assists patients and families to develop a program of recovery and a support system that will provide a solid foundation to achieve that goal after they leave our facility.
At Talbott, we believe that continuing care actually begins prior to patients arriving to our substance abuse recovery programs. Whoever refers a particular patient to Talbott Recovery becomes the starting point for communication with our treatment team and continuing care coordinator. This begins a process of communication that our coordinators build on throughout the course of treatment.
- Serve as the referent liaison with our referral sources and the clinical treatment team
- Gather collateral information and provide written and verbal updates to referents
- Assist the patient with any work, licensure or legal issues
- Participate in the multi-disciplinary treatment team to assess patient’s progress
- Identify unresolved treatment issues to be included in discharge planning
- Plan Extended Therapeutic Leaves (ETL) for the patients prior to discharge
- Establish a clinical team to assist with patient’s long term recovery post-discharge
Return Visits
The leadership at Talbott Recovery, working together with former substance abuse recovery patients, developed the Return Visit program. Alumni speak of the significant number of important new friendships they make with other patients while at Talbott Recovery. They also speak of the confidence and trust they developed with Talbott Recovery staff. Mostly, they speak of how they want to “reconnect” with friends and staff on a regular basis.
Responding to this feedback, Talbott Recovery developed our Return Visit program which has become very popular and well-attended. Patients include Return Visits as a component of their aftercare.
Return Visit is:
- A time to come back to Talbott Recovery to help “recharge recovery batteries”
- A time to meet and “catch up with” old roommates and “domemates”
- A time to “reconnect” with Talbott Recovery staff who have been important to the patient and to his/her recovery
- A time to remember and recommit to the foundation for recovery they began to build for themselves while in treatment
- A time to offer hope, encouragement and support to current Talbott Recovery patients
Patients are encouraged to plan their recovery around revisits to the Talbott Recovery campus. We have learned that the patients who take the time to return to us have a markedly increased recovery rate. Addiction is a disease that we forget we have. The return visits remind us to tend to ourselves and our recovery program.
Learn more about our dual diagnosis addiction treatment program.
