Linda Lane Devlin
Success on line coaching & Interventions on demand, Canada
Title: Interventionists approach to “the right treatment†for dual diagnosed patients
Biography
Biography: Linda Lane Devlin
Abstract
10 million Americans have a dual diagnosis and a disturbing percentage receive no treatment at all, while others receive
treatment for only their addiction or mental illness. To be eff ective, a treatment program for co-occurring disorders should
integrate treatment for both. But without an intervention, many dually diagnosis individuals may never get the help they need.
Th e symptoms can be so disturbing that alcohol or drug abuse may seem like the only way to cope. One of the things that are
so diffi cult to treat is that it is hard to know where certain symptoms are coming from, if a dual diagnosis patient is suff ering
from depression, there’s no way to initially know whether the drug addiction or the individual’s mental illness is causing the
problem. Treating both the mental illness at the same time, all under “one roof ” has been a very successful method of treatment
and interventions can prevent the life-threatening consequences of drug and alcohol abuse. Th e intervention specialist must
recognize the boundaries and limitations of one’s own competencies and not off er services or use techniques outside of these
professional competencies. Th e intervention specialist recognizes the eff ect of physical and mental impairment and makes the
best suited treatment options to guide the process. It is also very eff ective to include case management principles of inclusion
with mental health practitioners. When thoughts and perceptions are altered by mental illness, it’s easy to neglect patients own
care. Depression can make you feel that your life isn’t worth saving, while anxiety may drive you away from contact with others.