INITIAL TELEPHONE CONTACT

Life Returning operates the telephone 7 days a week and are usually available between 7am and 9pm. Any calls outside these hours are recorded on voicemail and responded to as quickly as possible. Your call is always answered by one of their carefully selected volunteers. If appropriate, an interview is arranged, normally within 48 hours.

Life Returning knows that the first call can be the hardest and an immediate response is essential for any future recovery plans and strategies. Their objective is to meet people as soon as possible.

Approximately 50% of callers are ringing on behalf of a partner or family member. In these cases they ask the caller to try and persuade the individual to contact them. If that is not successful they are more than happy to meet the caller and other concerned parties to discuss their options.

INITIAL MEETING AND PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT

Life Returning meets the individual experiencing Alcohol and Other Drugs risky behaviour (with a family member, partner or friend if requested). The individual is encouraged to outline their habit with the emphasis on honesty. The meeting is totally confidential and at this stage no notes are taken. The objective of the first meeting is to ascertain the level of the person’s habit and try to highlight whether they are facing a dependency issue or a risky habit situation (for instance, binge drinking or drinking to cope with stress). Normally, if a trust is formed at the first meeting, both Life Returning and the individual will have an idea of a short term plan.

Many of the people that meet them for the first time comment that Life Returning’s approach to alcohol and other drugs behaviour is very different to other primary healthcare agencies. They are encouraged that they are meeting people who possess strong life experience to date, are non-judgmental and are willing to directly confront the situation. Honesty is a two-way process, and we believe is important to gain the trust and respect of the person we are trying to help. Clients are also relieved to know we are prepared to support them through every stage of their recovery.

The preliminary assessment normally produces the following result: an initial assessment of the level of the habit, an indication of the individual’s motivation to change, a request to seek help from Life Returning and consideration of any other practical options such as detox and rehab.

Many people at this stage of contact are in what we call contemplative mode (thinking about it) and we make it clear that they are very welcome to contact us at any time in the future and talk again.

RECOVERY OPTIONS

Following the person’s preliminary assessment and a request for further support Life Returning will present a list of recovery options. The individual will be asked what they are prepared to consider as recovery options. Factors to be taken into consideration will be the level of the dependency, employment status, health conditions, domestic and accommodation situation, legal status and whether the individual belongs to a private health fund or will be using the NSW Health system.

Life Returning explains recovery models such as 12 Step programmes (AA and NA), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), clinical detoxification, rehabilitation units and outreach recovery programmes and support services. Importantly, Life Returning emphasise the importance of a client’s personal choice and individual motivations to reach their own specific goals. 

When appropriate, they recommend that clients consider seeing a Clinical Psychologist and we will help them to organise Mental Health Management Plans.

Life Returning’s objective is to give the individual an accurate and comprehensive set of options and then to help that person to enter their recovery path of choice.

The website section entitled ‘What We Do’ highlights Life Returning’s involvement and commitment to a person’s alcohol and other drugs recovery.

HOME WITHRAWAL

Under very special circumstances, Life Returning is prepared to consider facilitating a home withdrawal process. When a person wishes to withdraw from their drug of choice within a home environment, Life Returning will consider specific factors to decide whether it is a viable, low-risk option.

Factors that are considered include:

• Clinical supervision from a General Practitioner

• Family member, partner or friend (s) is with the individual at all times for a number of days

• Daily visits and follow-ups by a Life Returning Case Manager

• Any required medications to be distributed by the home carer

• Regular Random Drug testing as appropriate

• Individual counselling and optional attendance at Group Meetings

• Formulation of a long-term recovery plan through Life Returning or in conjunction with another chosen programme, e.g. residential rehab, including sessions with a Clinical Psychologist if appropriate

• A consideration of critical issues such as employment status and the impact of a change in lifestyle factors

SPECIAL OUTREACH SERVICES (SOS)

Life Returning's Outreach Care and Support Services involves offering an individual a Support Manager who will be their initial point of contact, and will guide them through all the stages of recovery. Much of the work and time is involved post-detox, where their experience can help them to maintain their motivation to reach their personal goals. This applies in both abstinence and reduction situations, and may include many months where they collaborate in restructuring an individual’s whole lifestyle without their habit. 

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

From the day Life Returning began they quickly identified that many of their clients were experiencing mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, lack of confidence and low self- esteem, which had compounded their alcohol and other drugs risky behaviours. 

Life Returning were very fortunate to meet a Clinical Psychologist who had an interest, experience and empathy in the relationships between mental health issues and addiction. Life Returning learnt about comorbidity and dual diagnosis and we made it a high priority that, when appropriate, our recovery programmes should run parallel with psychological treatment. 

With the help of the Mental Health Management Plan (an amazing Government Health Initiative) Life Returning can recommend to our clients, with a GP referral, have 6 initial sessions and then a possible additional 4 sessions with our carefully selected Clinical Psychologist at no cost.

The result of this approach towards the dual issue of addiction and mental health treatment has proven highly effective.