Online Addiction & Mental Health Treatment
Treatment and access to healthcare is continuously evolving. This is especially true now as the current pandemic has significantly impacted the way people are able to interact with one another.
While in the past treatment has largely been provided in-person, changes in technology have allowed new, innovative approaches to healthcare to become more accessible than ever before.
Advances in technology have created transformative new ways to access healthcare resources and receive treatment at anytime, anywhere in the world. Telehealth tools can be used for more than just general doctor check-ups. There are a variety of resources available that allow people to access treatment online for substance abuse and mental health treatment remotely. Read on to learn more about online addiction and mental health treatment in general and what services we are offering here at Nexus Recovery.
Online Addiction and Mental Health Treatment at Nexus
The epidemic of addiction did not cease because of COVID-19. Those struggling with substance abuse and mental health disorders are now more isolated than ever.
At Nexus Recovery Services we are dedicated to helping those in need of recovery regardless of changing circumstances. It is that dedication, as well as our commitment to the health and safety of our clients, staff, and community, that has led us to introduce our Virtual Addiction and Mental Health Outpatient Treatment Program.
Designed to Meet Our Clients’ Changing Needs
As a boutique treatment provider we insist on providing individualized care and can therefore adapt the level of intensity and support to the changing needs of our clients.
Clients in our Online Outpatient Treatment Program will have access to individual therapy one to three times per week depending on need, a wide variety of group therapies, case management, psychiatric coordination, family coaching, family therapy, and more. Our licensed and experienced clinicians are dedicated to providing the most up-to-date, evidence based care when and where our clients need us most.
While we are able to adapt scheduling based on our clients needs, we understand it may be helpful to see a sample schedule to help you visualize what a typical day in our Online Outpatient Program may look like and therefore have provided a sample schedule below.
While we have COVID-19 safety protocols in place to protect our staff and in-person clients, at Nexus Recovery we do not think that COVID-19 should get in the way of treatment for substance abuse and mental health disorders and therefore have taken advantage of the technologies available to us in order to meet the changing needs of the community we serve.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse or mental health, do not wait. Call us at 888.855.6877 and speak with a recovery advisor today.
What Types of Therapies Do You Offer?
Our licensed clinical team has extensive experience with a number of different evidence-based treatment modalities that they utilize to provide a comprehensive program for our virtual outpatient clients. Some of the modalities incorporated into our group and individual therapies include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Motivational Enhancement Therapy
- Multidimensional Family Therapy
- Trauma-Informed Care
- Eye Movement Desensitization and
Reprocessing (EMDR) - Psychodrama
- Gender-Specific Therapies
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
- Motivational Interviewing
- Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
- Breathworks
- Meditation and Mindfulness
- Family Coaching, Education & Therapy
Our Virtual Family Program
Family involvement in treatment produces better long-term outcomes. Even though the pandemic has forced us to move things virtual for the health and safety of our clients and staff, we wanted to be sure that family work with the family of origin or family of choice was still part of the Nexus Recovery Treatment Program. This is why in addition to weekly family coaching and virtual family therapy available as needed, we have adapted our Family Education Program to move online.
Designed to provide information and support for family members and loved ones of clients attending Nexus Recovery, our Virtual Family Education Mini-Series was created for families to have a safe place to support one another, learn about the process of recovery, gain information about the disease of addiction, ask questions to gain a better understanding about your loved one’s challenges, and learn about how you can begin to take better care of yourself during the treatment and recovery process. Our team will provide information on how addiction impacts the family system both as a whole, and for each individual member. To optimize your loved one’s chances for long-term success and for healthy family dynamics to be restored, all members of the family will need to make adjustments.
For more information about our Virtual Family Program, please give us a call at 888.855.6877.
Alumni & Family Testimonials
“As a parent, therapist and doctoral candidate in Mind-Body Medicine, who has been on the path with my son for over a decade and through many treatment facilities, I can wholeheartedly recommend Nexus. The main reason that Nexus stands out in my experience is that they offer treatment from the heart. They treat families and individuals seeking treatment holistically, considering mind, body, and spirit. Johnnie M. is one of the most loving and non-judgemental individuals I have met working in this field. He is all love and no BS and the people he touches sense it. This kind of perspective and respect for the journey turned out to be the best kind of medicine. I will add that the women who lead the required family portion of the therapeutic treatment are true professionals who skillfully guided my son and me to new levels of vulnerability, trust, and honesty. We are now enjoying the warmest, most stress-free, and unguardedly loving relationship we have had in many years. He is thriving, no longer a slave to his addiction, and I too am a changed and more liberated woman, living without daily fear for my son’s life. I am grateful beyond measure.”
What is Telehealth?
Telehealth is a collection of ways to provide treatment using technology. These services can be provided over the phone or through a computer, allowing patients to remotely access resources related to their healthcare.
While some may feel apprehensive about addressing their healthcare needs remotely, there are a number of benefits associated with this approach:
- Increases access to healthcare services for those who live in remote/rural areas
- Makes accessing treatment easier and more convenient, especially for those who have limited access to transportation, disabilities, or other life responsibilities that make treatment difficult to schedule
- Increases access to medical specialists
- Improves communication and collaboration between health care providers working with patients
- Helps clients independently manage their healthcare needs
The benefits of telehealth are more obvious now in the wake of the COVID pandemic. It allows clients to continue accessing vital services and engage in treatment while practicing social distancing:
- Telehealth allows in-person appointments and assessments to occur remotely, limiting face-to-face interactions that may allow the virus to spread
- Telehealth can help protect at-risk populations from exposure and can provide additional resources to communities that may have otherwise had limited access
- Enables those in quarantine to continue receiving treatment
- Reduces behaviors that could increase risk for exposure to the virus (i.e. taking public transportation to appointments)
How Does Telehealth Work?
There are numerous aspects to telehealth that make accessing services and reviewing your own health records easier than ever.
In many cases, primary care providers have online portals that allow clients to access frequently needed services or information. The ability to request refills of medications, schedule appointments, or review results from tests are just some of the numerous features available.
For any form of treatment, including addiction treatment services, the telehealth services explained below are effective and frequently used.
Virtual appointments: Virtual appointments may take place over the phone or through videoconferencing. Clients are able to meet with doctors, therapists, and other medical professionals easily through online resources. Addiction treatment can still occur virtually, and many groups have moved to online platforms due to the coronavirus. Group therapy and support groups often meet virtually, helping those in need stay connected with the sober community. In addition to supporting social distancing, this allows people to connect immediately with others without having to worry about scheduling time away from work or dealing with the potential stigmas associated with seeking treatment. Virtual appointments allow clients to comfortably access resources from home, on-demand, whenever they are needed.
Collaboration between providers: A team of medical professionals often work together to provide treatment for clients. For those in addiction recovery, a variety of therapists, counselors, and medical professionals collaborate in order to provide effective, individualized treatment. Telehealth makes it easier for providers to connect with other and share valuable information quickly. A client’s medical chart, history, and notes can all be stored in one location and accessed by any member of the treatment team. This ensures that the client’s medications, treatment needs, and other unique factors are shared equally with all members of the treatment team, improving recovery outcomes and reducing the risk of miscommunication.
Personal health apps: A number of treatment programs use personal health apps to help clients take responsibility for their recovery. These apps can help them manage aspects of their recovery, document milestones, and cope with stressors and triggers more effectively. Some common tasks these apps may help with include:
- Tracking diet and exercise
- Managing sleep
- Scheduling reminders for appointments or taking medication
- Recording daily activities
- Practicing mindfulness and meditation
Recovery roadmaps: Another advantage to telehealth is the ability to virtually visualize your recovery before you even start the process. Through the use of apps, virtual check-ins, and other tools, clients can provide data to their healthcare team that helps them better identify their needs in recovery. Using these tools helps providers better understand a client’s individual needs, their struggles, and what approaches to treatment are the most effective. By gathering this data, a more comprehensive, in-depth treatment program can be created and mapped out for clients early in recovery and it can be easily adjusted as changes are needed.
Online Treatment and Addiction
As we move forward with so much still left unknown about how the coronavirus will continue to impact our everyday lives, online treatment, telehealth, and telemedicine will surely become more readily available.
Rates of addiction continue to rise, and treatment options will continue to evolve to support those in need.
Online treatment has proven to be an effective way of providing accessible treatment to those in need while also showing it is a viable way to connect with at-risk communities who may not otherwise have access to these resources. Furthermore, telehealth reduces in-person contact, helping minimizing risk of exposure to the coronavirus.
While there is certainly an argument to be made about the benefits of community, in-person meetings, and physical connections in treatment, virtual treatment programs are transformative in their ability to increase access to treatment resources. Not everyone can afford in-person treatment options whether that be due to time constraints, financial reasons, or other challenges, but telemedicine provides another avenue to access treatment. Not only does it remove barriers, but it can also help clients stay involved in treatment programs longer, further improving recovery outcomes.
References
https://www.cchpca.org/about/about-telehealth
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/telehealth/art-20044878
https://intouchhealth.com/can-telehealth-improve-opioid-abuse-treatment-in-the-united-states/
https://www.asam.org/Quality-Science/covid-19-coronavirus/supporting-access-to-telehealth-for-addiction-services
