What To Expect When You Visit Oasis Behavioral Health & Addiction Services

Thank you for considering Oasis Behavioral Health & Addiction Services for your counseling, psychiatric, and substance use treatment service needs. We offer a vast array of services to help you meet your treatment goals. Follows are some frequently asked questions regarding receipt of services here and what to expect as you continue your journey to wellness here with us.
Q: How can treatment help me? I usually deal with my problems on my own.
A: A number of benefits are available from the therapies we offer, whether it be talk therapy, group therapy, medication / supplement therapy, or a combination of treatments. Providers provide support and clinical skills to help you work through problems and cope with stressful emotions. Medications and supplements can help rebalance neurotransmitters, chemical messengers in the brain that may become out of balance when we experience stress. Everyone goes through difficult times in life and while you may have successfully navigated issues previously, there is no shame in seeking extra support when you need it. In fact, seeking help from professionals is indicative of strength in your own self-awareness.

Q: Why do people go to therapy or treatment and is it right for me?
A: People have all sorts of motives for seeking treatment. Many people we see are struggling with substance use, often feeling as though they have lost control. Others are coping with major life changes, such as death, divorce, job changes, etc. Still, many people we see are experiencing anxiety, depression, insomnia, or mood swings, often with no obvious cause. Our goal is simply to help you meet your goals. Whether you are seeking to abstain from or gain control of substance use, abolish feelings of low self-esteem, or improve communication with people in your life, we will help you find and meet your individual vision of success.
Q: Do you accept health insurance?

A: Yes, we currently accept all commercial insurance plans with out-of-network benefits (OON) benefits. To determine if your policy covers treatment you can call the phone number on the back of your insurance card. Be sure to ask your insurance provider about your mental health benefits, if there is a limit on the amount of sessions per year, whether a referral is required from your primary care physician, what your deductible is, what your copayments/coinsurance payments are and whether our-of-network providers are covered. Feel free to contact us directly with any questions regarding insurance coverage.
We also accept cash payments for those who do not have insurance or for those whose insurance does not cover treatment. We offer a sliding fee scale for those whose treatment would cause financial hardship. Please contact us for more information. 
Aetna, Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield.
Q: Will anyone find out about my treatment?
A: No, your treatment will be completely confidential in accordance with HIPAA and Federal Rule 42 CFR. Trust is perhaps the most important piece of therapy and, as such, we take your confidentiality very seriously. We will further review confidentiality at your first session.
Q: What can I expect on my first visit?
A: Please arrive to your first appointment at least 30 minutes early. This time will be needed for your to complete intake paperwork and for us to run and verify your insurance coverage (if applicable). If you’d like, we can send your paperwork to print out and complete prior to your session to help save time. Once you enter the practitioner’s office, you can expect extensive time to be taken to get to know you and your unique situation. Together we will come up with a plan in which you are the captain of your treatment. We will go over all potential interventions including psychotherapy, medication, and non-medication alternatives, when appropriate.
Q: What is a psychiatrist?
A: A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has had at least four years of additional training after medical school in the field of psychiatry, specializing in the diagnosing and treatment of mental illness.
Q: What is a psychiatric nurse practitioner?
A: The psychiatric nurse practitioner, or mental health nurse practitioner, is a masters or doctorate level prepared advanced practice nurse who is trained to perform a wide range of mental health services. The psychiatric nurse practitioner does many of the same things that the psychiatrist does, such as diagnosing mental illness, prescribing medication and providing therapeutic counseling to individuals and families with psychiatric disorders.

Q: What happens when I meet with a mental health prescriber?
A: thorough evaluation of your general health, including your emotional health, will be conducted. Please bring information about all medications that you are currently taking, including prescription, over the counter, supplements and herbals. Also provide information about any psychiatric medications you have taken in the past. During the evaluation, you will be asked to provide information about your and your family’s medical and psychiatric history. It is important to provide your clinician with information regarding any of your medical conditions, including history of seizures, head injuries, alcohol or substance use, allergies and eating disorders, as these can impact medication treatment. If you have had prior psychiatric treatment, please bring a copy of your past outpatient/inpatient psychiatric records with you to the appointment. If at the end of the evaluation, the prescriber thinks medication may be beneficial, he/she will discuss the specific recommendations with you and provide education on the possible side effects and instructions for taking the medication. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss any concerns you may have. If you decide on medication therapy, a follow up appointment will be scheduled to discuss how well the medication is working and if any modifications are needed.

Many people do best when medication management is combined with psychotherapy. Therefore, psychotherapy may also be recommended along with medications.
Non- medication modalities, such as nutritional counseling, nutritional supplementation, and psychotherapeutic counseling are available as alternatives to medication therapy, when appropriate, and may also be used as adjunct treatments along with medication therapy.
You and your provider will collaboratively decide on an individualized treatment plan to meet your specific needs. This plan will be reviewed and revised as needed, as you progress through your treatment program.
Q: What is Medication Assisted Treatment?
A: Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) utilizes medications along with counseling and behavioral therapies to provide a holistic approach to substance use disorder treatment. Research reveals that medication and therapy combined can successfully treat substance use disorders for some people struggling with addiction and may help sustain recovery.
Medications help to normalize brain chemistry, block the euphoric effects of alcohol and opioids, decrease physiological cravings, and normalize body functions without the negative effects of the abused drug. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the medications used in MAT for the treatment of substance use disorders. Medications are chosen to meet the clinical needs of the individual.
The goal of MAT is to obtain recovery and the ability to obtain a self- directed life. This treatment approach has been shown to improve patient survival, increase retention in treatment, decrease illicit opiate use, decrease criminal activity in people with substance use disorders, increase the person’s ability to obtain and maintain employment and improve birth outcomes among pregnant women who have substance use disorders. Unfortunately, despite the research evidence, MAT is significantly underutilized due to many misconceptions amongst health care professionals and the community.

Q: What can I expect participating in counseling or psychotherapy?
A: Psychotherapy simply refers to the treatment of mental and emotional issues through psychological and psychosocial means. For many, we offer medication and non-medication alternatives in addition to psychotherapy as a biological piece of a full and dynamic treatment plan. In psychotherapy you can expect to take a role as leader in the relationship between you and your therapist. Your goals are our goals, and we want to help you meet them. Without judgement, your therapist will listen attentively to help understand what you are going through. While we never give directives, we may offer advice, alternate perspectives, or skills to cope with difficult emotional states. Because each person is completely unique, the type of talk therapies used may vary. In general, you can expect an eclectic therapeutic approach that is client-centered, affirming, strength-based, and compassionate. We utilize several clinical modalities, all of which are evidenced-based interventions, incorporating pieces of Dialectical and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies (DBT and CBT), types of talk therapies that are skill based and structured, Motivational Interviewing and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (MI and ACT). These therapies aim to increase motivation or readiness in making behavioral changes while accepting certain life situations. Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), a cognitive skill-based therapy focuses on mindfulness as a means to promote relaxation and general focus. Strategic and Structured-family therapies are used primarily in couples and family therapy. In general, we believe it is the positive, healthy relationship between the client (clients) and therapist, characterized by complete trust and non-judgement, that heals and helps best of all.
Q: What issues can therapy help with?
A: Therapy can help with a vast array of mental health, emotional, and relationship-related issues. Mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder, depression or major depressive disorder, as well as anxiety-related issues such as generalized anxiety (GAD), social anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) can be effectively treated. Furthermore, therapy can help immensely with insomnia, stress, anger, and irritability in addition to issues with attention or impulse control, as found in such conditions as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiance disorder (ODD) and other behavioral disorders. Moreover, therapy can be a very effective tool in the treatment of addiction or substance use disorders, as well as family and couples issues.
Q: What if I have more questions or would like more information?
A: Contact us! We love hearing from potential clients. No matter what your question may be, big or small, we encourage you to call, email, or visit us at our office. We are here to help!