Amanda Costa is a Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Substance Abuse at First Step House in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Amanda describes aspects of the position that work well, and others that could use work.
“Overall, I feel very lucky to be in this field. It is a privilege to be part of my clients’ journeys!” -Amanda Costa.
Not all are bad:
- “We serve patients that present with Substance Use Disorders; typically, alcohol use, methamphetamine use, and/or opiate use.”
- “Co-occurring disorder such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder.”
- “Along with treating their substance use and mental health disorders, we also target criminogenic risk factors. These risk factors include pro-criminal attitudes, antisocial companions, antisocial pattern, education/employment, leisure/recreation, family/marital problems, and substance use.”
- “If a client completes the program successfully, it usually spans from 8-12 months. At any given time, I am usually working with 12-15 clients.”
- “These individuals were referred to the First Step House REACH program by their legal entity, usually Adult Probation and Parole.”
- “They are all court ordered to complete the program, and I work closely with their probation officers to ensure their success.”
- “Most of these individuals have a history of homelessness and extensive stays in jail or prison.”
- “It is a goal of mine to build a rapport with each client in the facility, even if they are not on my caseload.”
Things that are working:
- “This story generalizes many other clients who are deemed successful, as we are often known as the program of second chances”
- “A former client returned in October of 2020, the client was angry and continued to break the rules and be disrespectful toward staff. In January, a major shift occurred after this client noticed that staff continued to treat him with respect and care, giving him multiple chances, despite his resistance. The client then stated that it was then that he accepted the program and began to make major changes.”
- “In the beginning, this client always shared that he wanted to be sober, but was unwilling to change any aspect of his life that would allow him to maintain sobriety.”
- “Currently this client is in our outpatient program, working full-time, has safe and stable housing, is in a healthy relationship, and has endless sober support. He has been clean since January l5th, 2021.”
- This client has often thanked the REACH program and states, “you guys have been there for me every step of the way.”
- Amanda states “I look forward to the day he graduates the program, most likely in July 2021, because he is a pillar of the outcomes that we try to attain at First Step House.”
Life is not perfect:
“Another challenge that I have faced this year is bereavement. Multiple clients on my caseload died in 2020 and I have had to utilize EAP services. It is complicated to grieve someone’s death at the same time my other clients are grieving the loss of the same person.”