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As medication assisted treatment becomes more prevalent, it’s important to remember naltrexone is meant to assist, not replace therapy professionals.
What You’ll Discover:
- The role therapists play in helping patients get medications for alcohol use disorder.
- Why even the most effective medications can’t replicate the benefits of a therapist.
- How Choose Your Horizon is helping therapists utilize MAT modalities.
Many alcohol use disorder (AUD) counselors will agree that having treatment options is a very good thing. Each person is different. What works for one person may not be an effective approach at all for another. But whether or not medication is used, having a therapist at your side makes the process easier.
When medication-assisted treatments (MAT) for substance use disorders were first developed in the 1960s, the idea was never to replace clinicians. In fact, it was recognized that clinicians needed to be involved to ensure the MAT modalities were used safely and effectively. That’s why Choose Your Horizon has our own team of highly qualified clinicians.
Medications are a tool to help in the recovery process and make it much easier for some patients to reach remission and stick with their sobriety. When a person is taking Naltrexone we always support the involvement of an irreplaceable therapist for a few very good reasons.
Referrals From Therapists Carry Weight Because They Know Their Patients Best
While licensed therapists, counselors and social workers can’t prescribe medications like naltrexone, they can make referrals for the people that they are working with. These clinicians have close relationships with their clients. They know their struggles, a lot about their daily lives and what therapies have already been tried.
If naltrexone or another medication could help, a person’s therapist is the first to know. When our medical team at Choose Your Horizon receives a referral from a therapist we give it a lot of merit, and so does the patient.
Therapists and counselors can also help monitor patients to ensure safety and effectiveness of the medications that are used. Because they have a relationship with the patient prior to medication being administered, the therapist or counselor has a very good idea of how a patient is reacting. It can help reaffirm what the patient is experiencing and verifying that it’s an effective treatment protocol.
Medications Aren’t a Substitute For a Caring, Trained Professional That Addresses the Reason Behind Alcohol Use
Naltrexone can help with the physical aspects of chronic alcohol consumption like cravings, but there are still mental and emotional aspects that need to be addressed in many cases. Therapists and counselors address the “why” part of an alcohol use disorder.
For all of us, there’s a “why” behind our drinking. Even if alcohol consumption doesn’t appear to be problematic or meet the criteria for an alcohol use disorder the reason for it could be unhealthy or harmful.
For example, someone with a social anxiety disorder may consume alcohol as a way to overcome their fear of judgement and use it as a way to mask their uneasiness. It can quickly lead to a binge drinking session that puts the person at risk and leaves them feeling more anxious about their social behavior afterwards. A therapist is needed to help a person in this situation recognize their anxiety and how they can cope with it in a healthier way while naltrexone helps them overcome the physical urge to drink next time they attend a social event.
Medication-assisted treatment that’s paired with therapist support is a powerful combination for combating alcohol use disorder from all angles.
At Choose Your Horizon We’re Partners, Not Competitors
Some telehealth platforms may want to compete with therapists, but Choose Your Horizon isn’t one of them. We truly care about patients and improving the mental health crisis in America. We see ourselves as part of the solution, part of the healing ecosystem - not the sole savior.
We recognize that therapists around the country play a crucial role in the process as well. The Choose Your Horizon Connect Program was created in order to bring medication-assisted treatments together with therapists as a part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
We invite all clinicians to join us in providing modern collaborative care that helps more people. As a part of the Connect Program you’ll be able to consult with our team about medications, refer clients and work with new clients that need your help.
If you’re a therapist who is interested in learning more, get started today to request a free demo with one of our co-founders.
If you are a patient who is interested in naltrexone medication-assisted treatment the first step is taking the Alcohol Use Assessment to determine if it’s a possible solution. From there our team can help you through the process of being evaluated, getting a prescription and finding a therapist that can help you on your journey to regaining control over your drinking.
