Treatment Programs and Co-Occurring Disorders discussion Questions
Discussion Question #1:
Discuss how you feel treatment programs could better accommodate people with physical, cognitive, and sensory disabilities.
Discussion Question #2:
Alcohol and other drug abuse can worsen psychiatric syndromes or it can mask psychiatric syndromes. What do you believe is the best way to approach a client whom you believe has a co-occurring disorder?
Sample Solution
Discuss how you feel treatment programs could better accommodate people with physical, cognitive, and sensory disabilities.
Question One
Individuals with physical, sensory, and cognitive disabilities often face challenges in accessing adequate treatment compared to those without such disabilities. This disparity arises from the failure of many treatment programs to consider the unique needs of these patients. However, treatment programs have a moral and legal responsibility to ensure that the treatment processes for individuals with disabilities are of the highest quality.
To address this issue, there are several key steps that treatment program developers should take. Firstly, there should be a significant investment in acquiring equipment and facilities that support the treatment of disabled patients, such as elevators, accessible doorknobs, appropriate lighting, and ramps (Myers & Salt, 2013). Secondly, healthcare facilities must eliminate all barriers that hinder the treatment of patients with disabilities. These barriers may include communication barriers, discriminatory practices and policies, attitudinal barriers, and architectural barriers. Healthcare providers should receive comprehensive training on overcoming these barriers and be equipped with the necessary skills to adapt their treatment procedures to accommodate disabled patients.
Moreover, treatment programs should ensure equal participation by all patients, regardless of their disabilities. This means creating an inclusive environment that allows disabled patients to actively engage in their treatment process and have their specific needs and perspectives taken into account. By incorporating these measures, treatment programs can better accommodate individuals with physical, sensory, and cognitive disabilities and provide them with the quality care they deserve.
Alcohol and other drug abuse can worsen psychiatric syndromes or it can mask psychiatric syndromes. What do you believe is the best way to approach a client whom you believe has a co-occurring disorder?
Question two
Working with clients who experience co-occurring disorders presents a significant challenge for mental health professionals. The optimal approach to this situation involves first establishing a strong therapeutic relationship with the client, which enhances their engagement in the treatment process (Sacks, Ries, & Ziedonis, 2013). It is crucial for the client to feel understood and supported, with a sense of optimism regarding their recovery.
Empowering the client is also an effective strategy for achieving positive outcomes, whereby the clinician provides ongoing support and empathetic counseling. Additionally, tailoring motivational enhancement techniques based on the client’s stage of change is a strategic approach in working with individuals with co-occurring disorders. The clinician may also employ contingency management techniques that utilize environmental factors to modify the client’s behavior (Sacks, Ries, & Ziedonis, 2013).
These techniques aim to regulate specific behaviors such as medication adherence, substance abstinence, and active participation in treatment. Cognitive management techniques such as vouchers, prizes, cash incentives, and privileges can be implemented by clinicians as part of contingency management strategies.
References
Myers, P. L., & Salt, N. R. (2013). Becoming an addictions counselor: A comprehensive text.
Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Sacks, S., Ries, R. K., & Ziedonis, D. M. (2013). Substance abuse treatment for persons with co-
occurring disorders. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.
