Nathan Gist Drug & Alcohol Counseling
Services Offered:
Sober Transport to & from Addiction Treatment Facilities
I assist clients to treatment following an intervention or decision to enter treatment, between treatment programs and care providers, and/or back home from treatment. The period of transition to, between, and from treatment is a highly sensitive and crucial period in successful recovery. I am familiar with the fear and uncertainty associated with the decision to admit oneself, family member, or client to addiction treatment. I’ve been there. I’ve am able to address concerns, allay fears, and impart the knowledge that the client has made the best decision of their lives and that they have the powerful choice to keep making those healthy decisions.
I can accompany you on your journey to or from treatment and help make sure you arrive safely and comfortably!
I offer three basic types of Sober Transport services:
From home/detox/jail to treatment
From treatment to extended care/sober living
From treatment to home
I’ll Take Care of Everything for stress free travel
I will meet the client wherever they are—their home, apartment, hotel, jail, airport, rehab facility, and I will stay by their side until they are safe and comfortable at their desired destination. I will help remind and reinforce the client of their recovery tools if they are tempted toward relapse. I will help the client manage the stress of travel. If having possession of money is triggering for the client, I will gladly pick up anything they need so they can travel without the stress of handling cash. If the client is to be out of treatment for more than 24 hours, I will ensure they get to a 12-step meeting or other mutual support meeting.
I will design and implement a smooth travel itinerary, providing practical support, assistance, understanding and encouragement along the client’s journey to a new care provider. Clients often need assistance traveling and transitioning between care providers. Often, there are pressing matters at home that must be dealt with before moving on to the next destination. This can be a dangerous and stressful time. In this type of situation I will perform all the services covered in “Back Home from Treatment.”
Back Home from Treatment
I will meet the client at discharge from the rehab facility, accompany them on their trip home, and within the first 24 hours after discharge, attend with them their first AA or NA or appropriate group meeting.
I will continue with at least one meeting per day for the duration of our contract. I will go early to the meetings, and stay late, and encourage the client to meet people and get phone numbers for an added level of support. I will jog with them, meditate with them, go to stressful meetings as “advisors,” or whatever the situation calls for. I will work with the client to make their home a clean and sober environment, ensuring that all drugs and alcohol are removed. In addition, I will do my utmost best to see that the client follows through with their recommended discharge and wellness plans.
I aim to make Sober Transport easy on everyone involved. Give me a call! I will take care of arranging flights, rental cars, hotels, and whatever else is necessary to get your self or your loved one safely to their destination. I will always utilize the most economical methods of travel available, unless you request otherwise. I will take care of the logistical details and provide you with a single invoice so you can stay focused on the recovery process.
Sober Companion Services:
As a Sober companion, I am trained in helping individuals to be more productive, healthy and positive members of society and in maintaining sobriety. I can provide a “safe landing” once a treatment program is completed and/or accountability in difficult situations after treatment.
As a Sober companions, I offer indispensable support during challenging times, whether it be early recovery or during life events that could trigger a relapse. I am uniquely adept in relapse prevention methods, coping skills and crisis prevention. In addition, I understand family systems and relationship dynamics, co-occurring disorders, medication risk and management as well as how to maintain healthy boundaries.
As a Sober companion, I can be onsite with clients 24/7 for around-the-clock care whether the situation is a transition from a treatment program, business travel or simply the need for additional support.
Sober Coaching Services:
As a Sober coach, I offer experienced support in the early stages of recovery and are meant for those who do not require 24/7 companionship or intensive care. One-on-one, I help individuals adjust to a healthy lifestyle that is fulfilling and free of addiction with an individualized and collaborative recovery care plan that can be accomplished via phone, online or onsite. The frequency of sessions will vary depending on individual needs.
Specifically sober coaches help identify and address potential challenges in early recovery and help individuals to set short- and long-term recovery goals to support sustainable success. I do this through a combination of mentoring, education, relationship building and problem solving techniques as well as by identifying resources and activities that promote health and wellbeing.
The Common Ground with a Sober Companion/Coach:
Yes, sober companions and sober coaches do have specific differences, particularly the 24/7 help of a companion that is often necessary. But they both offer professional support and advocacy, as well as education in critical life skills, coping with difficult situations and relapse prevention techniques which are all critical to long-term recovery success.
Sober Counseling
For intervention, assessment & referrals to rehab facility
Choosing the right treatment facility, rehab or co-occurring disorder facility can be quite daunting and difficult. From the first call, I am there to help. I assist both individuals seeking help for addiction, mental health issues and the families of those that aren’t yet convinced they need help. I have referred thousands of clients to reputable treatment centers, mental health facilities/hospitals that treat co-occurring issues, reputable professionals and even free resources. Client referrals are made based on a number of variables such as insurance, cost, location, issues and expertise of those I refer to. I do not charge clients for treatment referrals, nor do I accept payment from treatment providers or other professionals for our referrals. I only recommend professional providers, therapists, treatment programs, mental health facilities and others I have come to trust. Recommendations are always based on client-specific needs and situations. Do you or someone you love need help? Call me today.
Initial Contact:
From the moment the phone rings, the initial assessment has begun. The exception to this is when I receive the initial contact from an addiction treatment provider, who will already have a clinical assessment started. Otherwise, the minute a prospective client or their loved one contacts me, I begin asking the questions that will allow me to best assess which services are most appropriate for this individual.
In many cases, a family member will call to arrange for transport services. Often, a treatment facility has directed them to arrange for door-to-door transport for their loved one in order to ensure that they arrive safely to the destination. Other calls we receive are from people who simply need help.
The assessment process begins by determining exactly what type of treatment is needed, which allows me to make informed and appropriate recommendations specific to their needs and where placement is best suited. Some of the details sought in this initial consultation are:
The type of addiction. Is it a substance addiction (drug and/or alcohol), or a process addiction (disordered eating, sex or love addiction, gambling addiction, shopping addiction, among others)
Underlying mental health disorder. We want to determine if there is a co-occurring condition present with the addiction disorder, such as anxiety, depression, and other behavioral disorders.
Physical health limitations. It is important to know if the client has any physical issues that may limit the options for placement, or require special services.
Gender, age, specific preferences. We want to determine which type of treatment setting is best suited for the client according to their age, gender and specific requests. For example, some people prefer a beach setting, others a mountainous setting. Some people want a simple, basic residential setting, where others prefer a lavish, upscale treatment setting.
Much care and concern is taken in order to best match a client to the most effective and desirable addiction treatment facility.
Typically, after the initial call, I can provide a client with three appropriate treatment options that they can follow up with and interview themselves.
What Assessment Methods are Used?
When a prospective client, or their loved one, contacts me for a no-cost consultation, a thorough assessment is undertaken generally over the phone. This process allows me to assess for potential psychological disorders, substance use disorders, physical state, or social concerns. I take a fairly thorough history of trauma, abuse, accidents, injuries, substance use, and nutrition, all of which help determine the most effective services for that individual client.
If it is determined that a more through psychological assessment is desirable, I will then refer the client out for psychiatric assessment and diagnosis to one of the providers I collaborate with.
Insurance Benefits
Typically, during the initial consultation, the question of insurance benefits will come up. I take the client’s insurance information and pass it on to the treatment center that is being considered for the client. In turn, the facility will verify the benefits with the insurer and then inform me of the benefits available to the client, along with an approximation of what could be covered by insurance at their facility.
Benefits available do not guarantee payment, but often give an idea of what might be covered and what might be considered an out-of-pocket expense. I then share the information with the families who wish to use insurance benefits towards treatment and recovery services. At that point, I usually connect family/client directly to treatment facility for further assessment.
Referring Clients to Treatment at Rehab Centers
After the initial consultation with the client and possibly an additional family member or spouse, I place the clients into a residential or outpatient treatment program based on all the information gathered. I partner with many quality addiction treatment facilities. I refer to:
Inpatient residential treatment facilities
Partial hospitalization
Intensive outpatient programs
Intensive workshops
Outpatient individual therapy
Outpatient group therapy
Specialized therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Experiential Therapy, as well as neurofeedback and biofeedback services
I refer clients to the best fit for services based on the issues the client presents with and what they can afford. Residential inpatient facilities cover a wide cost spectrum that can range from as low as $5,000 to $70,000 per month.
I operates worldwide, with services available in most metropolitan centers. Call me for a discreet and cost-free consultation at (415) 671-9545 or email nathan.gist@att.net
I look forward to helping you or your loved one!