How to Continue Supporting Your Clients During a Pandemic

It seemed to happen overnight: one day in March I was attending a Twelve Step recovery meeting and receiving my twenty-two-year sobriety chip. The next, the whole country screeched to a halt: meetings were cancelled, recovery centers closed their doors, and counselors and clients alike were fearful and at a loss. “Now what?” we wondered.

Many professionals in the field are struggling right now, trying to figure out how to help our clients through this pandemic, especially when we may also be struggling ourselves. Many of the things we and our clients do to keep from feeling hopeless were torn away from us after COVID-19 interrupted our lives. Even after two decades of sobriety and my work with numerous addiction treatment centers, it still takes daily ongoing work for me to feel both hopeful and grounded in my recovery, so I know exactly what many clients are going through right now.

It is a well-known fact that isolating can be especially detrimental for people in addiction recovery (Juergens, 2020), and yet that is exactly what we have been asked to do. People in recovery need outside support to keep from succumbing to addictive impulses, whether it is checking in with therapists or clinicians or chatting over coffee with friends. Without positive social connections, people in recovery are more likely to become depressed, which makes it harder to stay sober and easier to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol. For counselors and other leaders who are also struggling with addiction, there may be an added layer of shame, because we know people are looking to us for guidance. It is important to remember, however, that clients are looking for the exact same things we are—connection and hope—and we are still capable of providing it to them.

All therapists and counselors should be driving this point home. Connection is critical for maintaining sobriety, and we should be aware of all the new options for connecting so we can pass them on to others. Therapists should also feel comfortable asking questions such as:

• “Do you have an aftercare plan in place?”
• “Have you met any obstacles in following your aftercare plan?”
• “Can you stay in touch with therapists and clinicians through phone or video?”
• “Are you able to secure medication-assisted treatment, if applicable?”
• “Are you reaching out to family members, friends, and/or other support systems?”

Clients may not be aware of all the options available to them or how severely they are isolating themselves from their communities. Counselors need to be able to assess clients’ degrees of isolation so they can offer help and guidance.

Counselors should also be particularly sensitive to the needs of the dual-diagnosed among us (American Addiction Centers, 2021). Now is not the time to drift away from medications, and a reminder or an extra phone call or text from therapists or doctors would be helpful for many. I personally reached out to my own therapist, whom I have not seen regularly in over a year. I needed to feel a connection to her and let myself know that she is on the other end of the phone, just in case.

People in recovery need outside support to keep from succumbing to addictive impulses, whether it is checking in with therapists or clinicians or chatting over coffee with friends.

The following are some of the many things recovery professionals can be advising their clients to do during this difficult time.

Entering Treatment

Some people who are struggling may feel that this is an unsafe or simply an inopportune time to enter addiction treatment. Unfortunately, addiction does not stop for COVID-19 or any other crisis. In fact, the additional emotional stressors that have accompanied this pandemic might mean that not entering treatment could be even more dangerous. There are options available for beginning outpatient and even inpatient treatment right now (Addiction Center, 2021), so the first step is to encourage all who reach out to take the critical first step.

Aftercare Plans

Do not let the current crisis derail clients’ plans for leaving treatment. Recovery meetings are still available virtually (SAMHSA, n.d.). While the experience is not exactly the same, it is still a medium for community and support while social distancing. There are also plenty of options for individual counseling sessions, which can be held online or on the phone (Meraji & Hodges, 2020). Clients can even still enter sober living homes, provided they and the other residents are following proper social distancing protocols. Adjustments will almost certainly be necessary, and you can help guide your clients down the right path, but there is no reason for clients to drop their recovery plans and supports altogether.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

In response to COVID-19, the federal government has relaxed restrictions for medication-assisted treatment (MAT; Partnership to End Addiction, 2020), enabling OTP centers to expand their take-home treatment options. Clients may qualify for a larger than usual supply to take home, limiting the necessity of going into public places. Check in with your clients to see how you can modify their treatment plans to make them safer and more accessible during the pandemic.

This time of isolation can cause fear, stress, and depression—all triggers for people in addiction recovery (Tagliareni, 2020). As professionals we need to remind our clients that it is still possible (and vitally important) to manage their stressors and triggers just as they would have before the pandemic. The methods of obtaining treatment and counseling have certainly changed, but they are still there, and that should give us all hope for seeing the pandemic through with our recovery intact.

References

• Addiction Center. (2021). Addiction stops for nothing, not even coronavirus. Retrieved from https://www.addictioncenter.com/covid-19/
• American Addiction Centers. (2021). Co-occurring disorder and dual diagnosis treatment guide. Retrieved from https://americanaddictioncenters.org/co-occurring-disorders
• Juergens, J. (2020). The effects of isolation on addiction. Retrieved from https://www.addictioncenter.com/community/isolation-addiction/
• Meraji, S. M., & Hodges, L. (2020). How to get therapy when you can’t leave the house. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2020/04/03/826726628/how-to-get-therapy-when-you-cant-leave-the-house
• Partnership to End Addiction. (2020). Federal government eases restrictions on addiction treatment in response to coronavirus. Retrieved from https://drugfree.org/learn/drug-and-alcohol-news/federal-government-eases-restrictions-on-addiction-treatment-in-response-to-coronavirus/
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (n.d.). Your recovery is important: Virtual recovery resources. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/virtual-recovery-resources.pdf
• Tagliareni, S. (2020). Relapse triggers. Retrieved from https://www.drugrehab.com/recovery/triggers/

Catherine Collins

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Catherine Collins joined Spectrum Health Systems and its subsidiary, the New England Recovery Center (NERC), as the regional business development liaison in 2019. She is responsible for promoting NERC services, maintaining business relationships, and working with local hospitals, clinicians, and other referral sources to help facilitate admission to NERC for their patients. Collins has an extensive background in addiction treatment, having worked with facilities across New England, including Tharros House, a men’s sober house in Lexington, Massachusetts. She has seen firsthand how addiction affects communities and is dedicated to her work in making sure that everyone who needs treatment is able to receive it. She can be reached at [email protected].

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