Here-4-You Counseling

Addiction Therapy for Opioid Patients in Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Dr. Jeffrey J. Rodman firmly believes in FREEDOM FROM ADDICTION and does not believe anyone needs to be on a medication that assists with treatment as a long-term approach to recovery.  For some, a very short-term course of medication assisted treatment may be helpful to overcome initial limiting beliefs related to addiction and withdrawal affects from opioids. Dr. Rodman can help guide you in taking control of your treatment and directing your MAT physician on how to wean you quickly, safely, and effectively so that you can gain complete freedom from addiction and gain your life back.

As needed, Dr. Rodman partners with Addiction Medicine Clinics to provide a comprehensive behavioral and pharmacological therapies approach to treatment. Utilizing medications that include Suboxone and Naltrexone, clients participate in best practices medical treatments through outside providers and behavioral therapies through Dr. Jeffrey J. Rodman at Here-4-You Counseling. Here-4-You Counseling coordinates the care with the Addiction Medicine Physicians so that clients have a seamless experience. A Commitment to both behavioral and pharmacological therapies leads to the best opportunity for recovery.

How Does MAT Help With Opioid Addiction?
MAT helps to reduce withdrawal symptoms, address cravings and provides medical supervision

Why do I also Need Behavioral/Addiction Therapy
Medical evidence indicates that the success of addiction treatment is  largely enhanced if it involves, not only MAT, but also a counseling component. Accordingly, Virginia requires MAT patients to also see a mental health provider and for MAT Doctors to document that in the patient’s medical record. MAT behavioral treatment typically includes:

• An initial assessment of the person's psychosocial needs.
  
• Individual and/or group counseling.
  
• Referrals to services in the community and family supports.
  
• Referrals to self-help (AA, NA, RU, Celebrate Recovery, etc.).
  

Will MAT Work for Me?
A person's experience with the treatment process can vary based on:

• Medical history and substance abuse history.
  
• Complicating factors, such as court involvement, history of trauma, other mental health concerns, and other issues.
  
• The specific opiate or opioid drug being abused.
  
• The physician administering the treatment.
  

Typically, people with extensive histories of relapse and recovery will spend longer periods of time in each of phase of MAT. In some cases, the maintenance phase may last indefinitely. Longer term drug use with prescriptions such as Vicodin or OxyContin and illicit drug use such as heroin will require more attention than drugs such as codeine or tramadol, which tend to have less severe physical withdrawal symptoms.

Because relapse is very common in all forms of substance use disorders, people who relapse at one stage of the process are encouraged to start over. For many people with substance use disorders, relapse is a learning experience that can be built upon to achieve success, as opposed to being viewed as a failure or an inability to recover from their substance use disorder.

Dr. Jeffrey J. Rodman does not offer medication-only treatment but can partner with other MAT Providers as needed.