Recently I have been networking with residential substance use treatment programs and programs for residential, mental health treatment all over the United States. From programs in California, to Florida, to residential programs in Connecticut, the common theme is that they are seeking trauma therapists to refer their clients or family members of clients to after their programs end.
The level of care provided by these programs allows for intensive focus on substance use recovery or managing mental illness. During stays in these programs, clients will usually have an opportunity to attend a varied amount of daily programming including individual sessions and group sessions. Depending on the program, physical exercise, and opportunities for community connection around meditation, cooking or eating together are often organized. Psychiatric care is usually also coordinated in-house. The full, wrap around services provide a structured, healing space.
But what happens when the program ends? How does one go from have structured, daily therapy and dedicated recovery activities to a hurried life of work and family and maintain their sobriety and community? Or what are the families of clients in recovery doing for their mental health while their loved one is attending a residential program?
An article published in the Journal of Depression and Anxiety links PTSD and childhood trauma to an increased comorbidity of substance abuse.[1] (Link to article) What does this mean for clients? It likely means that, though residential treatment programs create a great foundation for long-term recovery, many clients will require continued, weekly therapy from a trained, trauma-informed therapist once their program completes.
At Nodelman Counseling & Psychotherapy, a Fort Lauderdale mental health therapy office in Wilton Manors, the lead therapist, Jordan Nodelman, LCSW works with clients from a variety of backgrounds, including clients in recovery. Though our practice is not ideally suited for those in active use contemplating change, we are a good fit for those who have been through a treatment program, seeking extended care afterward. The common thread among our clients is that they have lived through some level of trauma in their lives. Those leaving residential treatment in Florida or Virginia often reach out to Jordan, seeking therapy to continue the work they started while in residential care. Having learned the skills needed to maintain sobriety, clients can now get to the work of reconsolidating their painful trauma memories with Jordan so that they are no longer burdensome and threatening a relapse. Combined with skills learned in residential, PHP, or IOP, the result will be a better chance at long-term sobriety.
Those clients who are leaving residential treatment facilities and looking for a therapist in Fort Lauderdale, FL or looking for telehealth in Florida or looking for telehealth in Virginia are a good fit for our services. Though Jordan does not work with clients in active addiction, Jordan does work with clients who have achieved sobriety and are committed to a life of abstinence.
What are some options for working with Jordan and why should you consider weekly therapy after residential treatment?
Because there is a link between childhood trauma and substance abuse for so many clients in recovery, residential treatment often does a tremendous job of allowing clients to safely meet their short-term sobriety goal or mental health goals; however, what Jordan has witnessed is that often harder work is needed to continue to reconsolidate the trauma memories. This work is often best done after the risk of relapse has been minimized through residential programs or IOP work.
One approach is weekly EMDR therapy or weekly counseling to address the trauma memories that may be causing the negative belief systems that have led to past relapses.
Prior to starting this private practice, Jordan worked at a Federally Qualified Healthcare Center. At that center, he worked with clients looking to minimize the impact of their trauma memories who were in recovery from opioid addiction, methamphetamine addiction, alcohol addiction, cannabis addition, stimulant addiction, prescription addiction, alcohol use and other addictions such as pornography, sex and binge eating. Because these clients had done their work in a residential setting or were still in an IOP program and had created a sober living community (like AA, Dharma Recovery, SMART Recovery, or Wellbriety) they were able to focus on EMDR or Brainspotting work with Jordan to success, knowing that they had a support system outside of the weekly therapy space.
What about family members seeking support?
We offer therapy for family members of people facing substance use addiction too. Often when family members are in a residential or IOP program, the family is left to worry, or fret, or work through their own emotions and feelings. Jordan provides support and counseling in Wilton Manors or therapy in Fort Lauderdale or telehealth in Virginia or telehealth in DC for these types of situations.
If you are interested learning more about EMDR in Fort Lauderdale, EMDR in Virginia by Telehealth, virtual EMDR in DC, EMDR or Brainspotting in Florida or Telehealth in Florida, reach out today.
Jordan Nodelman, LCSW provided compassionate care in a judgment free zone. We are LGBTQI+ competent. We have worked with First Responders and also do extensive work with C-Level Executives. Jordan has also done extensive work with high-profile entertainers leaving rehab in Florida, prior to returning to California. He has worked with active entertainers, well known personalities and influencers.
Located in Wilton Manors, the office is safe and tucked away for confidentiality and peace of mind.
This article is Copyrighted by Jordan Nodelman, LCSW. To reproduce please email jordan@jnodelmanlcsw.com
[1] Khoury, L., Tang, Y. L., Bradley, B., Cubells, J. F., & Ressler, K. J. (2010). Substance use, childhood traumatic experience, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in an urban civilian population. Depression and anxiety, 27(12), 1077–1086. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.20751
