Did you know that one out of every two people with a serious mental illness will have a substance use disorder at some point in their lives? According to the World Health Organization, alcohol claims more lives each year than AIDS, violence and tuberculosis.
Community Reach Center takes an evidence-based, multidisciplinary approach to substance abuse treatment that combines medication, psychological, educational, and community-based services to address the needs of clients and their families. Treatment is available at any of the Center's outpatient offices, located in Brighton, Broomfield, Commerce City, Northglenn, Thornton, and Westminster.
A care team is assembled based on each client's individual needs, and may include any or all of the following:
- Team leader
- Case manager
- Substance abuse specialist
- Counselor
- Physician/psychiatrist
- Nurse
- Vocational counselor
- Housing specialist
- Criminal justice specialist
Qualified counselors with knowledge of the interplay between mental health and substance use meet regularly with their clients and offer practical assistance with daily needs and living skills, and support them through the five stages of change necessary to establish the client's individual path to recovery and sobriety.
Stages of Change:
Pre-Contemplation
Individuals in the pre-contemplation stage of change are not thinking about changing their drinking behavior or drug use. They may not see it as a problem, or they think that others who point out the problem are exaggerating.
Contemplation
Individuals in this stage of change are willing to consider the possibility that they have a problem, and the possibility offers hope for change. People at this stage are often quite interested in learning about alcoholism and treatment. With the help of a mental health therapist, individuals in the contemplation stage learn to do a risk/reward analysis that considers the pros and cons of their behavior, and the pros and cons of change.
Preparation
You recognize your problems with use and are beginning to take necessary steps to change your use. Your therapist will help you develop the motivation to reduce substance use and to participate in other recovery-oriented solutions.
Action
Your therapist will help you acquire skills and supports for managing symptoms of both your mental illness and substance addiction. You will begin to anticipate problems and pitfalls and design concrete solutions that will become part of your ongoing treatment plan.
Maintenance
Your therapist will help you develop strategies and access community-based resources for maintaining abstinence and recovery.