“Bill’s Story”– Bill is a recovering drug addict in his mid-thirties. Bill got a court-mandated sentence of three months in a drug and alcohol treatment program. Prior to entering the residential treatment program, Bill served some jail time for drug violations. His story proves that involuntary client placements in addiction treatment work. Bill entered the program he was very reluctantly and resisted the structure and rules.
The decision by the court was very much against Bill’s will and he did not see the need for change. It was difficult for Bill’s therapist as she tried her best to deal with his addictive behaviors. Through months of treatment like cognitive behavioral therapy and solution-focused therapy, Bill’s therapist saw a willingness to change in his behavior. The therapist focused on strengthening Bill’s self-esteem through exploring his own coping mechanisms, skills, and competencies. Bill’s family participated in his recovery and treatment program as well.
Involuntary Client Placements Start the Ball Rolling
When the three-month sentence came to an end, Bill decided to remain in the program an additional three months. He expressed to his therapist that his time in the program had made a difference in his life. It seemed that Bill’s involuntary client placements psychotherapy turned out to be very effective in his recovery and substance abuse treatment. By the end of his six months stay, Bill became a positive role model to the rest of his peers.
He accomplished many goals he and his therapist set out. He maintained his sobriety, took risks in relationships, trusted others, and learned that others do not define him. It seemed that Bill’s involuntary time soon became voluntary, as he began to see a growth in himself and he had the treatment program to thank for that. This is only one of the many success stories of involuntary client placements that were treated effectively for their addiction.
Working with involuntary clients such as Bill can be a challenge for even the most skillful clinician. Involuntary client placements often present with resistant and reluctant behaviors, which can create difficulty in developing a therapeutic relationship. Typically, involuntary clients would not choose to be in the presence of a counselor or therapist, if given the choice. These clients will most likely appear resistant to discussing personal issues and are unwilling to change. Most of the training available to clinicians does not provide adequate measures to deal with resistant clients. Most clinicians are trained to work with voluntary clients, those who seek counseling and are motivated to change. When clinicians work in such fields as treatment programs, clinics, and prison settings, it is likely they will encounter involuntary client placements.
Great Results Often Occur with Involuntary Client Placements
Why did Bill end up with such a good result when he was initially so resistant to the involuntary placement? Because he got effective treatment. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), family support, and use of alcohol-sensitizing drugs may be effective tools to actually treat the causes of drug abuse. For Bill, this may have been the first time in his life where he received actual help for the causes underlying his drug problem instead of punishment.
Bill is not alone in his appreciation of the extra help. A 2005 study indicated that once patients are forced to enter an involuntary program, on their release they end up more likely to utilize such support structures as follow-up outpatient services, residential services, and psychotropic medications than patients who did not receive involuntary client placements. Like Bill, these patients may have never received such services before, but once they did, they valued the benefits of involuntary client placements.
It’s important not to lose sight of the objective of an involuntary client placement. Such placements are made to help the individual who either is incapable or unwilling to reach out for help get the actual help they need.
Morningside Recovery Has a Program For Every Client
Treatment offers a safe place to address issues of motivation, replace self-destructive behaviors with constructive and rewarding activities, and improve thought-processing abilities. It is the hope that with effective treatment and time, these involuntary client placements begin to feel the benefits of psychotherapy, and be able to rejoin society as contributing members, not as a drag on an already highly strained system. No matter how you get to Morningside Recovery, we have the therapists to help you recover. Call 855-631-2135.
