Why We Have Treatment Plans
Clients entering treatment programs are often attempting to determine the best course of action of where to go next and what to focus their priorities on. Setting attainable goals can provide the clients with not only what they want their future to look like but also the steps needed to take in order to be able to reach those goals. The treatment plan is created with the client’s input in order to ensure the goals are connected to areas of focus that relate specifically to the client. Treatment planning allows for the client to be able to see the progress or lack thereof that has been made in their treatment.
The treatment plan that is created at the beginning of treatment for the client and is reviewed and updated throughout the client’s time in treatment in order to accurately reflect the client’s focus areas as they progress through their treatment. The treatment plan allows for the client and their clinician to be able to work in conjunction with one another as the target dates are set in intervals that can be monitored as a check-in for both client/clinician.
The variations in treatment plans are present specifically referencing substance use to the different substances used/abused by the client, level of intoxication, level of care, interpersonal skills/struggles, and spirituality. The variance in treatment plans is needed in order to adapt to the populations that are being served. Treatment plan uniformity would suggest that all clients who enter substance use treatment facilities are entering for the same reasons and under the same pretenses which is not the case. The motivation whether it be internal or external varies from client to client.
How Treatment Plans Vary
The variations in treatment plans can be seen in different forms. The length of time between the review of the specific goal can be different based on the presentation of the client. The number of goals and interventions can change based on the level of care, or the amount of time the goal will take to achieve. The target dates will be similar for certain aspects of the treatment plan that are requirements for all clients however, there are certain goals present in the treatment plan that will be specifically tailored towards the client.
The level of care plays a vital role in the formation of the treatment plan. When a client enters treatment at the detox level of care, the treatment plan goals would be suited to be able to be completed in a shorter time frame in comparison to a client entering treatment for long term residential as the time allotted for a residential client would allow for a greater amount of goals to be completed simply due to the time the client would be spending in treatment.
If clients are prescribed and taking medications, medication compliance would be present in the treatment plan. If there are co-occurring mental health and substance issues these will be addressed in the treatment plan according to the diagnosis present.
The treatment plan is a document that is typically created after an assessment has been completed with the client that allows the clinician to gather information and insight into the client. Depending on the information presented in the assessment will govern the target areas for the treatment plan and the structure in which it is composed. Clients’ level of self-disclosure and reliability in the information can hinder the clinician’s ability to make an accurate determination on the goals for the client in conjunction with the areas that the client would like to improve in as well.
Typical Treatment Plan
The treatment plan would typically consist of program required goals for all clients as well as specific goals that were voiced by the client that they would like to achieve.
For example, at Coalition Recovery, all clients complete a biopsychosocial assessment in the first 5-10 days. They are all asked to submit randomly to urine analysis 3 times per week. Depending on the level of care, clients are asked to attend group and individual sessions as well as 4 outside recovery-oriented support group meetings (AA, NA, CA, Etc.). Clients are recommended to seek sponsorship as a natural support system outside of their formal treatment to help increase their sober support network. Clients all complete a relapse prevention plan towards the end of their treatment in conjunction with weekly relapse prevention groups to acquire the coping skills, supportive contacts, and steps to take to help prevent a future relapse from occurring.
With these required areas of the treatment plan being covered, the remaining areas of the treatment plan consist of areas that the client personally feels are in need of improvement. This could encompass the regulation of emotions, acquiring improved life skills, conflict within family, anxiety, depression, dependency/codependency, etc. The target dates for these goals to be accomplished are constructed with the client’s personal situation and what is a realistic and attainable date for these goals to be completed.
Wrapping It Up
Treatment planning is an essential aspect of the formal treatment process as this document follows the client throughout their time in treatment. This document changes as the progress or regression a client may make. Every 30 days the document is reviewed and updated to denote whether the goal has been completed, whether they’ve progressed, and what steps are being taken for the client to complete the goal if it has not yet been completed. This document serves as a way for both the client and the clinician to be held accountable for the interventions, sessions, and activities that were established to create an environment for the client to be successful in their treatment and furthering their recovery process.
