1. ALL ABOUT RECOVERY
Desert Sun Column
01/26/2015
JamesBarry M.S., LAADC,CADCII
Counselor-OutpatientServices
LGBTQ Specialist
Questions:
1: How longhas Betty Ford Centerhad an outpatientprogram?
[I’mthrowingthisinas a ‘plant’sowe can talkaboutthe new LA outpatientprogram.I’ll basically
answerthisone.]
2: How do you determine whogoes to the outpatientprogram and who goesto inpatient?
Patientsare assessedpriortoadmissionthroughthe Admissionsdepartmentregardingtheirpersonal
situationandthe bestfitfor theirpresentingneeds.Some factorsmayinclude proximitythe BettyFord
CampusinRancho Mirage,acuity of chemical dependency,andstressorsrelatedtopatientscase.Once
a patientisadmittedtothe Intensive OutpatientLevel of care,additional patientinformationis
gatheredfromclinical staff andprimarycounselortoassure thata plan isindividualizedtomeetthe
presentingneedsof the patient.

2. 3: What doesa typical outpatientsessioninclude?
Some treatmentmilieusdirectpatientstofollowastandardizedapproach,where the curriculumfor
each patientisthe same,andpatientsare askedto meetpre-Ourtreatmentplansare absolutely
individualized,andnotone size fitsall.
In the overview of asession,patient’sarrive tothe program, check-inwithstaff,andare askedtojournal
abouttheirday. Followingthis,patientswill attendaneducationalsessionbasedonarevolving8week
curriculumontopicsfrom Relapse Preventiontomindfulnessandhealthyboundaries.Patientswill also
attendlecturesona varietyof recoveryrelatedtopics.Patientsare offeredYogaandmindfulnessalong
withmeditationtechniquesaspartof the curriculumandthe opportunitytocritique theirexperience
weekly.Also,apatientmaybe givenanassignmentbasedontheirpresentingissuesandwillbe askedto
presentthe assignmentndbe opentofeedbackfromthe groupof peerpatients.The processfocus
approach inour groupinteractionisan opportunitytoexplorethe here andnow,toownone’sfeelings,
and to re-visitthe feelingsof belongingtoa supportive groupinasafe and non-threatening
environment.A varietyof experiential andinteractive exercisesandscenariosare exploredinthe small
group.
4. What happensif someone inthe outpatientprogram usesdrugs or alcohol? Do you test people?
Althoughapatientusingdrugsor alcohol isnota frequentoccurrence,slipsandrelapse,mayinitially
representdifficulty inutilizingnewcopingmechanismsbeinglearnedinthe contextof the IOPprogram,
as drugs andalcohol have beenthe “knee jerk”reactionfora quickrepairof difficultfeelingsor
situations,onlytofindthatthe drugor alcohol use actuallycomplicatesthe issues athand.

3. Patientsatthislevel of care are subjecttostressorsona dailybasisthatsomeone atan inpatientlevelof
care may avoiddue tothe highlystructurednature of the treatment.Patientsatthe IOPlevel of care are
intreatmentseveral nightsaweekfor3-4 hoursa night,ultimatelyreturningtotheiroutsidelivesand
facingall the stimulationandstressorsof everydaylife.Patientsare assessedonthe nature of the
relapse,andmaybe more tightlymonitoredandaskedtopresenta“relapse autopsy”tobetter
understandwhathappenedandtoprocessinthe therapeuticgroup,optingfora learningexperience,
rather thana punitive experience.Thisisnotto suggestthatrelapse isnota seriousissue,yetinthe
contextof a treatmentenvironment,patientsafetyand educationare importantfactors.If chronicity
presents,thanthe logical choice maybe to recommendahigherlevelof care such as Inpatient,asthe
structure of the Intensive Outpatientprogrammaynotbe the bestfitforthe patient.
5. Are all the patientsin the same group or do you have special groups?
--whatelse wouldwe like toemphasize?