Sober Transitions

Something to brag about :)

It's always nice to be appreciated. Thank you Bill, for the opportunity to come alongside The Menninger Clinic!

(excerpted from an email June, 2008)

The young man in question ended up readmitting here so your services were not needed.  I was however, very impressed with the response of Monique and the front office staff in getting me connected to her when I told the person answering the phone the urgency of the situation.  It’s things like these that keep me coming back as well as referring others to you.  Many thanks.   

Bill Mackey, LCSW, CSAT

 The Menninger Clinic

 

Bridging the Gap

Hired Power's Personal Recovery Assistants provides a service that "bridges the gap" between the addict and their needs.  Many addicts who take the first step and admit they have a problem, often find themselves using again.  It is not easy to stop "cold turkey".  There is a gap between admitting and actually participating in the treatment process.  There is also a gap between participating in the treatment process and actually living in recovery.  See the Hired Power Model-Road to Recovery "Bridging the Gap" for details.

Hired Power Model: "Road to Recovery, Bridging the Gaps"

Hired Power:  Model for Transition Recovery “Road to Recovery, Bridging the Gaps”

1.  Engaging and Achieving abstinene (Transition)

• Admitting addiction and abuse of drugs and alcohol
• Detoxing, stopping cold turkey,

GAP

·         Denial, procrastination, laziness, peer pressure, breaking habits, social groups,cravings

·         Lack of resources, motivation

Bridge:  Certified Personal Recovery Assistant

·         Has experienced addiction and is in recovery

·         Relates familiar experiences and feelings

·         Encouragement to move to the next step

·         Engagement in recovery lifestyle

·         Trusted partner

2.  Learning Recovery Skills and Relapse Prevention (Transition)

• Treatment Experience
• AA, NA, Treatment Centers
• Therapists, Treatment providers
• Learning new coping skills, tools

GAP

·         Lack experience applying new coping tools

·         Fighting the cravings

·         Unforseen Triggers, and Barriers to recovery

·         Lack of social support

·         Isolation

Bridge:  Certified Personal Recovery Assistant

·         Has experienced addiction and is in recovery

·         Relates familiar experiences and feelings

·         Encouragement to move to the next step

·         Engagement in recovery lifestyle

·         Trusted partner

·         Liason between addict, treatment team, family, community resources

·         Helps identify barriers and triggers

·         Helps create a solution utilizing experience and treatment team

  3.  Recovery Lifestyle (Gaps filled)

·         Applying new coping skills to everyday life

·         Recognizing barriers, and triggers as they arise

·         Developing a new sense of self over time as life events are radically changed

·         Becoming self reliant, and self sustaining, not relying on others

·         Developing new sets of social groups

Once an addict decides to make the change, there are countless options they could follow to recover and maintain a sober lifestyle.  No matter what the recovery process is, however a transition or transformation is taking place.  Psychologists and theorists describe transition as significant life events - changes to the individual’s role or environment that require radical restructuring of the individual’s view of themselves and their world.  Addicts who are used to coping with life while under the influence experience a radical change in their view of themselves and their environment when they decide to live a sober lifestyle.  Addicts sometimes admit they have a problem but are psychologically in denial that they need help.  This can prevent a transition due to procrastination, lack of motivation.  Moreover, while learning and experiencing the tools and techniques to live in recovery is necessary to make a total transformation, the reality of practicing them in real life situations on a daily basis for the rest of the addicts life is extra challenging.  Current treatment models provide the tools or “medicine” for addicts, however unlike taking medicine most of the treatment requires the addict to know when, where, how and why to apply the tools for treatments in order to practice a recovery lifestyle.

Current studies indicate that addicts very rarely stop “cold turkey” for the rest of their life without a relapse ranging from minor to life threatening or fatal consequences.  Studies also show that the longer an addict stays in recovery up to five years, they are more likely to remain in recovery for the rest of their lives.  It has also been found that even after extensive treatment in treatment centers that addicts go home and relapse within the first 90 days. Relapse Prevention theory indicates there are certain triggers and barriers that must be recognized while in recovery.  Only then addicts can know what their challenges are and overcome them.

The Hired Power Model of transition recovery was founded as a result of recognizing the need for many addicts to have constant intensive support during the transition to and from treatment.  By providing support through a CPRA, addicts learn from someone who has been where they are and has made it through the transition.  A Hired Power CPRA is there to mentor addicts through the next step and teach them which tools to use and also teach them when, where, how and why to use them.  Though therapy and treatment give an addict tested tried and true methods of recovery, new coping skills and transitions take time to settle in. 

Hired Power’s CPRA’s assist the client in recognizing their triggers and barriers and mentor them through creating a strategy to face them and minimize their impact on the client.  Thus, “bridging the gaps” and increasing the amount of time an addict is in recovery giving them a better chance of living a lifetime in recovery. 

Nanette Zumwalt- Industry Profile

Industry Profile: Nanette Zumwalt

— By Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen

Nanette Zumwalt is the new owner/president/CEO of Hired Power, an addiction industry liaison used by leaders in the entertainment management industry and by corporate executives, whether it is a therapist in a local town, an intervention, residential treatment option or individual daily support such as a Personal Recovery Assistant.

By providing one on one support, Hired Power Transition Recovery Services provides a unique and innovative approach to working with the impaired professional, says Nanette, who has extensive experience in the therapeutic field.

"The most important focus is on our ability to support artists, managers, agents, their families and other members of their teams during transition times or high risk times such as returning home from treatment, returning to the road or attending activities and events that include old patterns and behaviors," she says. "I am able to link people with the services they need."

As a leading consultant in the addiction field, Nanette creates a bridge between the struggles of addiction and living in recovery. Through her knowledge of connecting resources, she is able to provide the necessary tools to increase the efficacy of treatment for addiction. Hired Power addresses the needs of people in all phases of recovery by recognizing the importance of personal assistance in facing the world without drugs or alcohol.

Nanette began her work in mental health and addiction treatment as a teenager. She worked with a local non-profit organization providing "therapy through theatre," being part of a peer counseling group that also did plays and workshops on drug, alcohol and date rape issues. After returning from college at Arizona State University, she began working with an adolescent detox treatment center in Orange, Calif. There she developed her skills working with young patients and families as they struggled with the consequences of drug abuse and addiction.

Nanette then went to work for a psychiatric hospital working again with youth and their families, providing educational groups and workshops on parenting skills, daily living skills and addiction education. Soon she took her skills to the community. Nanette began working for the hospital as a community liaison, creating awareness of local resources for mental health and addiction services. She began to facilitate the connection between professionals and families finding local and national treatment for both adolescents and adults. This work took her to an organization that provided schools and wilderness programs for "out of control" teenagers allowed for a solid base of awareness of treatment centers, programs, schools and professionals for youth, adults and their families.

Nanette has toured and visited more than 200 treatment provider campuses across the country and internationally. As a leading consultant to the addiction field, she continues to work with these and many professionals creating interventions and treatment plans for clients and families. Throughout her work Nanette recognized the gap in treatment services, the transition process. Clients and families continued to struggle with the recovery process as they attempted to return home from treatment, often times leading to the necessity of additional treatment interventions and placements. In 2004 Nanette began her work with Hired Power Inc. continuing to develop the concept for the need of transition services.

Nanette has been and continues to be involved with a number of professional associations such as: Association of Intervention Specialists (2005- 2006), California Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (2005-2006), National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs affiliate (2000-2006), Orange County Board of Supervisors Mental Health Adult Services Committee Chairman (2001), Orange County Mental Health Association Advisory Board (1996-2001) and Folie A Duex Auxiliary- Founder and President (1998-2002).

She has spoken about staying clean and sober on the road at the 2005 Billboard Touring Conference and at other industry events. Her articles have appeared in the IAAM magazine (June 2005), Counselor Magazine (August 2005) and Recovery Today (September 2005).

Nanette can be reached at: 877 hired pwr or 877 447-3379; e-mail: nzumwalt@hiredpower.com

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Who are CPRA's

Certified Personal Recovery Assistant (CPRA)

A Certified Personal Recovery Assistant is a professional individual who is qualified to provide guidance, support and mentoring to people struggling with addiction and mental health issues, in the home or on the road. This certification was created to address the growing concern around the need to distinguish between a professional service and individuals offering similar services. 

Hired Power Certified Personal Recovery Assistant’s, work as a member of a clinical team to create a solid foundation of recovery in the client’s home environment. This team includes a Hired Power case manager, a treatment coordinator, the CPRA and the client themselves. The team is essential in developing a solid transition plan for the client.  The specific duty of a CPRA is to provide guidance, mentoring and support to the client as they apply the information learned in early recovery into a daily living plan. 

CPRA’s are not licensed to carryout therapy, counseling, diagnosis or treatment of any kind.  By completing the Hired Power certification requirements the Personal Recovery Assistant is a competent professional who can be trusted to carry out the duties of living with clients, maintaining professional relationships, coordinating clinical supervision with the case manager and treatment coordinator. This environment supports a positive therapeutic relationship that will benefit the client. See www.hpcpra.com for more details.