THE COUNSELORS Library

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HOW DO YOUR ONLINE CHECKS WORK ?

Clients using the "PayPal" payment option may have their purchases electronically deducted from their checking account and will receive a "PayPal" confirmation via e-mail. This information is gathered on an SSL secure server and your data is SSL encrypted. Your payment is processed exactly the same as a check written from your checkbook. Your bank will treat this transaction like any other "check" paid from your account, so you will have your usual checking account record as well.

HOW SOON CAN I EXPECT A RESPONSE ?

E-mail based services ordered through our secure shopping carts are often answered within 24 hours or less. Appointment based services are often scheduled within 24 hours or less. However, factors beyond our control may cause delays. If you don't receive service from a staff member within 72 hours, please call, e-mail or use COMMENTS to report the issue to our office. You may read our "Service Satisfaction Policy" for additional information.

CAN I CHOOSE MY OWN COUNSELOR ?

YES - you may designate a specific counselor on any secure shopping cart order, and in the "Message" section of any "PayPal" order. Whenever possible, we will refer your request to the staff member you have selected. If you don't choose a counselor, or your preferred counselor is not currently available, we will assign services to the best qualified staff member on duty to ensure a timely response.

CAN I SEE OR SPEAK TO MY COUNSELOR ?

YES - you can speak to your counselor directly using our "PHONEcall" appointment service. You may also find one of our counselors has an office near you for "in-person" appointments. Some staff members also offer VIDEO CHAT. But "seeing" your counselor ONLINE is a bit more complicated. If you AND the counselor you choose BOTH have a microphone and camera on your PC, then VIDEO CHAT is certainly possible! There are FREE "video enabled" conferencing applications available today, including some of the current "instant messenger" type services. Keep in mind these applications work best with high speed internet service.

I FEEL ANXIOUS A LOT - DO I NEED A COUNSELOR ?

If you do NOT have panic attacks, and you know what makes you anxious, it's advisable to address the cause of your anxiety yourself. For example, if you worry about your house burning down while you are asleep, then make sure the smoke detectors are functioning properly! However, if you DO experience panic attacks, don't know the cause of your anxiety - or you engage in irrational or compulsive behaviors to alleviate your anxiety, then it's time to call a counselor.

WHAT KIND OF MEDICATION CAN I TAKE FOR DEPRESSION ?

Contrary to popular belief, not all "doctors" can prescribe medication. A doctor of medicine can prescribe medication, but there are "doctors" of other kinds who do not prescribe medication. Some staff members at theCounselors.com may be physicians, and some may hold doctorate level credentials in disciplines other than medicine. For example, someone who has earned a Ph.D. in psychology is afforded the title of "doctor", even if they are not a doctor of medicine. If you feel you need medication, your family physician could be an excellent first resource. They may be able to diagnose or rule out disorders which can mimic the symptoms of depression and other mental illnesses. You might also ask your doctor for referral to a reputable psychiatrist. A psychiatrist is a doctor of medicine who can diagnose or rule out a wide range of mood disorders including Depression, Dysthymia, and Bipolar Affective Disorder. A competent psychiatrist is experienced with many classes of anti-depressants, and can prescribe medication with the efficacy, potency, and potential side effects most appropriate to your particular disorder, needs, and lifestyle.

WHY WON'T MY MENTALLY ILL SPOUSE TAKE MEDICATION ?

Even patients with no mental illness frequently neglect to take medication. Imagine how much more difficult it might be for someone with a disorder which adversely affects their thinking, memory, and concentration. Furthermore, since mental illness often has a measure of fear and social stigma attached to it, the phenomena of "denial" is frequently prevalent. Patients in "denial" are much less likely to comply with their prescribed medication regimen. Finally, while medication can be extremely effective in the treatment of mental illnesses, all medications do have side effects. Some side effects are quite uncomfortable, some involve rather bizarre sexual complications, and some may even be life-threatening. If the patient does not have a clear vision of wellness and a strong desire for recovery, they may be very reluctant to accept these side effects in exchange for the beneficial effects of the medication.

I'M MENTALLY ILL AND ABUSE DRUGS - WHO CAN HELP ME ?

Sadly, a chasm often exists between chemical dependency counselors and mental health professionals. They may be suspicious of one another and often do not speak the same clinical language. A simple example might be drug program staff addressing you as "client" while mental health staff may refer to you as a "consumer". The patient who has problems in both areas may be shuffled from one system to the other, encounter difficulty adapting to different treatment protocols, and have treatment in one area unwittingly undermined by a therapist in the other system. Care of these patients has evolved from sequential treatment to parallel treatment (simultaneous, but separate), and now, finally, to integrated treatment. Look for "Dual Diagnosis", "Dual Disorder", or "MICA" (Mentally Ill Chemically Abusing) programs affiliated with a reputable agency and request an assessment interview. Your county public health department can always help you locate appropriate regional resources.

AM I AN ALCOHOLIC OR DRUG ADDICT ?

A thorough professional assessment of alcohol or drug dependence involves comprehensive evaluation of both objective and subjective information. Presentation, interview, history, family background, and lab results of an individual all contribute to the clinical assessment. Differential diagnosis has evolved over decades, and the current diagnostic criteria can be found in DSM-IV, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual used by professional clinicians. However, you need not be a trained professional to recognize "tolerance", "impairment", or "withdrawal" - three of the most reliable indicators of chemical dependence upon alcohol and other drugs. For example, someone who drinks a case of beer a day shows clear signs of a high "tolerance" for alcohol. A person who gets fired from their job or expelled from school due to their drug use is exhibiting evidence of "impairment". And any individual who gets physically sick when deprived of alcohol or drugs shows symptoms of "withdrawal". If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these signs or symptoms, get help now.

WHAT IS "RAPID DETOX" AND WHERE IS IT AVAILABLE ?

Most folks have heard the term "cold turkey" and seen dramatic recreations of addicts "kicking the habit" on television or in movies. Withdrawal - or "detoxification" - from alcohol and other drugs can involve days or weeks of physical pain and illness, during which time the body's craving for alcohol or drugs can become genuinely life-threatening. The prospect of this torment is sufficient to send most chemically dependent individuals scrambling for a "fix" at the first signs of physical withdrawal. Now a medical treatment of "rapid detox" from addiction to opiates ( like heroin and morphine ) offers new hope for those terrified by the symptoms of withdrawal. Using powerful medications that alter brain chemistry, doctors can dramatically reduce the physical craving, and accelerate the body's detoxification from habitual use of opiates. While the patient is unconscious in a drug-induced sleep, the "receptor" sites of the brain's neurotransmitters are flooded with medication that literally takes the place of chemicals normally released during withdrawal. This controlled process "trains the brain" to function without the opiates it had become so dependent upon in a matter of hours. The patient awakes the next day with little memory of the procedure, and no appreciable craving for narcotics. An aftercare regimen which includes drugs like Naltraxone will provide chemical defense against new drug cravings in the weeks following the "rapid detox" treatment. Sounds great, doesn't it? Well, it may be great for the relative handful of heroin addicts who can afford several thousand dollars for an "experimental" treatment not covered by their medical insurance. But don't expect to find "rapid detox" offered anytime soon at publicly funded treatment facilities, where most heroin addicts seek help. Nor will expensive new medical procedures for alcohol, cocaine, and other drug addictions be readily available to the general public in the foreseeable future. If you're interested in "rapid detox" and have the financial resources necessary, ask your personal physician for help locating a provider. You may also wish to search the internet, starting with our FAST FRIENDS page, for current information on medical treatments. These groundbreaking approaches make headlines, and are popular "talk show" topics, but they remain out of reach to the vast majority of chemically dependent people.

HOW DO I CHALLENGE THE RESULTS OF A DRUG TEST ?

First, consider the possibility that a positive drug test result may be your "wake up" call. If you have a problem and you know it, you now have a chance to do something about it. If you're not sure you have a problem, do yourself a favor and get a professional assessment. If you feel the results were in error, here are a few questions you or your attorney may ask regarding drug testing procedures:

» Was sample collection observed and documented on the collection form ?
» Was sample sealed, initialed, and assigned a code at time of collection ?
» Was legal chain of custody documented at each stage of collection ?
» Does the lab providing the test results have current NIDA certification ?
» For urinalysis, did collection procedure validate the sample temperature ?
» Also for urinalysis, do the test results include a creatinine level validation ?
» Was GCMS or comparable confirmation test performed on the sample ?
» Do you have a prescription for medication that could affect the test ?
» Are the reported metabolites water or fat soluble ? If fat soluble, then.....
» Were follow-up samples collected to challenge or support the original ?
» Has a qualified independent third party expert interpreted test results ?

Sites listed on our FAST FRIENDS page offer additional drug testing information.

MY SPOUSE IS A DRUNK - CAN I HAVE THEM COMMITTED ?

The concept of having someone "committed" is a popular plot device in the movies, but the process in real life is quite complex. In 1995, in Washington state, our staff was involved in an involuntary commitment case that heard ten hours of testimony in open court sessions over two weeks time. The respondent was an alcoholic with a long history of assessment and treatment. At the civil hearing, the court required the petitioner to provide evidence of two hospitalizations for alcohol intoxication in the previous twelve months, two prior failed treatment interventions, proof the respondent posed a threat to physically harm someone OTHER THAN THEMSELF, and a physician's examination statement indicating that the respondent was indeed a practicing alcoholic who required immediate intensive treatment. The respondent's attorney spent many hours cross examining the health care professionals, family members, and friends of the alcoholic who were supporting the commitment petition. The family of the respondent endured weeks of ordeal, after which their alcoholic relative was finally ordered to involuntary treatment - only to be released less than thirty days later, whereupon the individual promptly resumed drinking. Not all cases of "commitment" are this discouraging, but it's important family members have all the facts before embarking on a course of action that may result in pain and disappointment. We always encourage our clients to first consider other alternatives such as voluntary treatment or family intervention. If all else fails, and "commitment" appears the only option, you may call your local county health department to determine who in your community has the authority to investigate and initiate involuntary commitment proceedings. You might also wish to consult your attorney.

WHAT IS A FAMILY INTERVENTION & HOW DOES IT WORK ?

When a loved one has a substance abuse problem and refuses to help themselves, a family intervention is often your best chance of getting help for them - and for yourself. The goal is to address the needs of everyone affected, not just the substance abuser. The intervention generally consists of each participant confronting the individual, expressing their feelings and supporting those feelings with specific instances involving the substance abuser's behavior. The focus is on behavior, not blame. Behavior is learned, and behavior can be changed. The substance abuser is given the opportunity to see that changing behavior is the way to change how loved ones are feeling about them, and treatment can help to change behavior. The key to successful family intervention is planning. Participants usually "script" what they want to say so important points aren't forgotten. Treatment placement and transportation are prearranged, and the substance abuser's bags may even be packed. The plan should be to remove all potential impediments to immediate treatment if the intervention is successful. Chances of success are enhanced when an experienced interventionist facilitates the plan. More information about family intervention is available on our FAST FRIENDS page.

Professionals at theCounselors.com provide online
counseling, coaching, consulting, information and
referral just like you receive in their physical office.
However, online therapy services are not intended
to take the place of traditional face-to-face therapy,
conventional clinical assessment, or treatment.

In a crisis please call "911" for assistance!

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