The path to recovery begins with dignity and compassion. The CHC/SEK Addiction Treatment Services (ATS) team walks alongside patients every step of the way and offers the support and understanding they need to overcome substance use disorders.
For many, stigma remains a major barrier to seeking help.
“Addiction is classified as a disease because it is a chronic condition that alters brain function and changes an individual’s behavior,” said Vickie Malle, MS, LCAC, Director of Addiction Treatment Services. “Individuals develop this chronic disease due to ongoing compulsive drug use, despite negative and harmful consequences they experience. Acknowledging addiction as a disease helps reduce the ongoing stigma and moral judgment associated with substance use.”
CHC/SEK offers ATS at its Columbus, Fort Scott, Iola, Parsons, and Pittsburg North clinics, with virtual appointments available from other CHC/SEK Kansas locations as needed. The interdisciplinary team includes licensed substance abuse counselors, physicians, nurses, peer mentors, and addiction services social workers. Some team members have a personal perspective on recovery because they’ve experienced it themselves.
“Having a Peer Mentor walk alongside you in recovery is important for a bunch of powerful reasons: they get it, they are able to provide hope, they offer accountability and support with a judgement-free zone, and they help you grow beyond recovery,” said Amber Winebrenner, Peer Mentor.
Personalized Treatment Plans
No two individuals are the same. That’s why the team creates a personalized treatment plan for each patient, helping them uncover the root causes of substance use. The ATS team also works together with the patient’s behavioral health and medical providers to ensure they receive fully integrated care.
“Counselors work at the patient’s pace to build rapport and trust, so patients are comfortable sharing their beliefs and experiences that led them to this juncture in their lives,” said Theresa Grass, LMAC, LMLP. “We work with them to understand how past experiences and upbringing influence perceptions which then impact thoughts, behaviors, and choices. We work collaboratively with the patient to develop treatment goals that they want to work toward. This way we have buy in and commitment to the goals.”
For patients battling opioid or alcohol dependency, CHC/SEK offers Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT). MAT helps reduce the physical symptoms of detoxification and is dispensed by physicians certified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
“Treatment is beneficial, but it is not a cure for addiction,” Malle said. “They learn to gain acceptance and understand underlying issues that have led to their addiction. They also can learn new ways of thinking to assist in changing behaviors, along with identifying and implementing additional coping skills to support prevention of relapse.”
For those facing substance use disorders, the message from the team is, you are not alone, and they are ready to help you reclaim your life.
CHC/SEK is licensed by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) as a Level 1 Outpatient Addiction Treatment Center. Learn more about Addiction Treatment Services.