FAQ's

10 Questions about the Creative Care experience

 

1. How long will I or my loved one need to stay in treatment?

Creative Care requires a minimum stay of thirty days. Most people recovering from dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders require more time in a residential setting due to the complexity of the issues being addressed. Each individual is unique. They will be assessed and given their own treatment plan. An optimal recommended minimum stay is sixty to ninety days for the following reasons:

Objectives in the first thirty days of residential treatment:

  • Detoxification from alcohol and drugs
  • Stabilization of mood and psychological symptoms
  • Begin to improve self-care: sleep, nutrition, exercise
  • Full psychiatric, psychological assessments and diagnosis
  • Family history, education and initial family sessions
  • Establish therapeutic relationship to create safety for deep work
  • Assess psychosocial stressors: employment, school, legal, etc.
  • Complete step 1 of a 12 step program

Objectives in the second month of residential treatment:

  • To complete the detoxification process
  • Mood stabilization and affect regulation
  • Improved self care and establish regimen
  • Understanding of diagnosis and symptoms
  • Increased insight in to interpersonal and family dynamics.
  • Understanding of underlying causes of addictive behavior
  • Intensive family and/or couple therapy
  • Deeper therapeutic work dealing with core issues
  • Development and implementation of an action plan to address psychosocial stressors
  • Complete steps 2 and 3 of a 12 step program
  • Time away from Creative Care with a sponsor or family

Objectives in the third month of residential treatment:

  • Maintenance of detoxification and self-administered medication management
  • Stabilization of mood and affect, no self harm behaviors
  • Independent and self initiated self care regimen
  • Understanding and actively engaged in core work
  • Have establish a recovery plan, a relapse prevention plan
  • Be entrenched in a 12 step process and working with a sponsor in the community
  • Intensive family therapy and improved relationships/communication
  • Transitioning back into the community, work, school, daily life

When the above objectives are reached, a client is fully prepared to transition from the residential program to a less structured setting which may include a sober living home, out patient therapy or other options depending on each person’s individual needs. Creative care will provide continuity of care to safeguard the gains made in treatment.

 

2. How do I know what level of care I need - can I do this as an outpatient?

The level of treatment will be determined by the admissions coordinator based on discussions with the client and family. But here are some signs that indicate the client needs to spend time in residence: 

  • The person has tried to stop addictive behavior on his/her own and cannot.
  •  The person requires detoxification in a safe setting.
  •  The person needs therapy more than once a week to sustain stability.
  • The person needs psychiatric assessment, stabilization and a structured environment.

Call one of our intake counselors at 800-832-3280 and let us help you figure out your level of need and your next move.

 

3. How much does it cost and do you take insurance?

Insurance can often help offset, and, occasionally, completely cover the cost of receiving treatment at our facility. We have specialists who verify and help apply insurance coverage to costs for chemical dependency and dual diagnoses treatment. Our Admissions Specialists will contact your insurance carrier and process requests to see what level of care is part of your or your loved one's coverage. While all intensive health care is costly, Creative Care's prices are well below market value for the Malibu area - by two or three times. Considering our remarkable location, amenities, and excellent staff to client ratios, we feel we are offering a premier facility and program at a reasonable cost.

 

4. How often will I be seeing a doctor?

How often a client will see a physician depends upon our initial physical and psychological assessment.  Clients in need of detoxification will see a doctor up to three times a week. Clients in need of psychiatric stabilization also often need to see a doctor from one to three times a week.

 

5. Can my family be involved?

Family work is determined by the therapist and the treatment team and is tailored to meet the client’s needs. Interaction with the family could start immediately, or not until the second month. These sessions could be comprised of couples or whole families, meetings with the Dr., group sessions, and 12 step meetings. Supportive families are always encouraged to learn as much as possible about the treatment their loved one is receiving.

 

6. Do you do detoxification?

Detoxification is done here at Creative Care under the supervision of a doctor and a nurse who specialize in this process.

 

7. Will there be groups specifically for the co-occuring disorder that I have?

Your treatment plan will be designed specifically to meet your needs. Our groups are small, intensive and process oriented, focusing on co-occurring disorders. We have a variety of specialty groups including 12-step, trauma, women’s and men’s, grief, spirituality and expressive arts.

 

8. What is the average age of your patients?

Our patients range from 18 year olds to people in their 70’s, but the average age tends to be in the 30’s and 40’s.

 

9. Will I have my own room?

We do have private rooms, but at this time no particular room is promised to any one client. Rooms are designated by the program director taking into account the needs of the clients and the circumstances at the time of admittance. 

 

10. What makes Creative Care Treatment different and how long have you been in business?

Creative Care has been in business for 21 years. From the beginning our dual diagnosis was leading edge and we continue to evolve it with new therapies and modalities. Our ability to successfully treat addiction and co-occurring disorders simultaneously is what makes us different. We believe deeply in our treatment methods and have stayed focused over the years on what we do best.