Northern California SUD
Substance Use Disorders Telehealth

Addiction Treatment During COVID-19 Social Distancing

For those with a substance use disorder (drugs or alcohol) – the potentials for relapse are greatly increased with the additional stress of sheltering in place. With COVID-19 ‘stay home‘ orders still active – mental health treatment with addiction recovery (dual diagnosis) has become more important than ever.

Recent peer reviewed studies indicate that telehealth sessions are an important tool in treating both drug abuse and alcoholism. With recent advances in legislation – telehealth counseling and therapy has become a viable alternative for addiction treatment support during COVID-19 quarantines.

Julie Brand-Lockshin, CADC-II, ICADC

Executive Director at A WISE Retreat

Ms. Brand provides Telehealth Addiction Counseling at A WISE Retreat.

Julie is an Internationally board-certified Addiction Specialist, a Drug and Alcohol Interventionist, a Domestic Violence Counselor and an ACEs educator and advocate (Adverse Childhood Experiences ACEs). She is a warm and empathetic counselor with more than 20 years of experience who possesses sophisticated inter-personal skills that are difficult to find these days.

Although she is trained in various modalities, Julie favors CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) as well as Motivational interviewing.

Contact Us for Telehealth Counseling Info

Online Therapy During Coronavirus Quarantine Saves Lives

Among the disastrous results of today’s corona virus pandemic that we are all facing – such as death, sickness, job-loss and shortage of food – there are other challenges that we are NOT all facing.

A ‘hidden’ epidemic: The ever-present existence of drug and alcohol addiction.

Those in addiction recovery have worked very hard to establish successful routines. The current disruption in routine alone puts those in recovery at a high risk for relapsing; or worse. How to survive “social distancing” and “shelter in place”? 

Social Distancing Addiction Recovery Mental Health

The mixture of the added stress and loneliness of social distancing  – plus the stress being in addiction recovery – is a perfect recipe for catastrophic results.

Although social distancing saves lives, for those fighting the disease of addiction – isolation can have negative side effects.

Negative emotions arising during social distancing can include feelings of loneliness, boredom, anxiety and depression.

• For recovering addicts – these types of negative emotions often lead to thoughts of using.
• Thoughts of using triggers cravings.
• Cravings, when unresolved, can lead to thoughts of hopelessness.
• And in some cases, this can lead to thoughts of suicide.

Telehealth Addiction Counseling Benefits

Today’s technology has changed the face of recovery and is right on time. Telehealth Counseling and Self-help meetings are all at your fingertips, with a touch of a button on your cell phone, tablet or PC you can get the help you need, anytime anywhere.

A WISE Retreat is proud to join the team of essential healthcare workers by providing specialized care to those suffering from the disease of drug and alcohol addiction.

During Covid-19, we will provide telehealth counseling services at fraction of the average cost.

Contact Us for Telehealth Counseling Info

Telehealth Substance Use Disorder Treatment

• SUPPORT Act Expands Telehealth Treatment for Substance Use Disorders: 

In a rare bipartisan and bicameral compromise, Congress has passed the “Substance Use Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act,” shortened to the “SUPPORT Act.” The bill was signed by President Trump on October 24, 2018.  With the broad aim of improving access to addiction treatment and addressing the opioid epidemic, the Act attempts to tackle the epidemic from multiple angles, including via telehealth and telemedicine.

• Use of Telemedicine in Addiction Treatment: 

Telemedicine services increase access to service and can provide valuable support when patients are outside of the therapeutic setting and making decisions to use or not use addictive substances.

• Telemedicine-delivered treatment for substance use disorders: 

Most studies suggested telemedicine interventions were associated with high patient satisfaction and are an effective alternative, especially when access to treatment is otherwise limited.

A WISE Retreat – We Treat the Whole Person

In addition to medications and therapy, our addiction treatment philosophy is to treat the Whole Person using holistic methodology.

Addiction is not a moral failing, therefore we never shame or blame our clients. Instead we teach our clients self-efficacy, self-control, self-confidence and motivate them to change their behaviors and their lives.

Our clients benefit from art therapy, mindfulness and meditation, wellness nutrition education, family therapy and addiction recovery exercise for wellness.

We Encourage Addiction Recovery Support Options

Although A WISE Retreat is not based on a traditional 12-step program, our clients experience AA and NA meetings. Many individuals find the 12-Step Approach in AA and NA to be very helpful.

We also encourage our clients to explore alternative peer support group options.

Addiction recovery is not ‘one size fits all’. Some individuals may benefit greatly from the AA 12 Step model. Others may not find that AA or NA are helpful. At A WISE Retreat, we make certain that our clients are familiar with self-help support group options.

Alternatives to 12 Step addiction recovery reject a view of ‘helplessness’ regarding addiction.

Instead, alternative peer support addiction recovery groups see individuals as having adequate power within themselves to overcome addictions. This view is evident in the language of alternative addiction self-help organizations. Phrases such as “empowering our sober selves,” “saving our selves,” and “self-management and recovery” are emphasized.

Clients at A WISE Retreat also attend one LifeRing Recovery meeting a week – as well as one SMART Recovery meeting a week.

WISE – We Inspire, Support and Empower

Our local Northern California service area includes San Francisco, Bay Area, East Bay, Concord, Benicia, Berkeley, Walnut Creek, San Mateo, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Silicon Valley, Menlo Park and San Jose.

 If you are dealing with a drug abuse or alcohol use disorder – welcome to A Wise Retreat evidence-based whole person addiction treatment.

A WISE Retreat is a private and very affordable residential addiction treatment facility exclusively for men.

We have limited admissions for a few select clients and provide individualized, whole person dual diagnosis addiction treatment.

A WISE Retreat Rehab for Men specializes in integrative evidence-based dual diagnosis treatment. We treat men suffering from both substance use disorders as well as mental health issues.

Our Power Recovery Treatment Program combines traditional western medicine and mindfulness. In our addiction recovery Wellness Program, we focus on health, nutrition, exercise and life balance.

• Our resident to staff ratio is ideal for recovery.
• Our team of professional addiction specialists and staff members treat the whole person.
• We utilize the best evidence-based methodologies available.
• Our staff are some of the most compassionate, highly skilled recovery professionals located on the West Coast.

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Photo Copyright: Marek Uliasz