Who are considered Impaired Professionals?
Impaired Professionals. Who are they, and what does that term mean? Well, first off, it’s a term I can’t personally stand as it is suggestive of an ongoing impaired state of mind when it really is about a specific moment in time. It is defined in the treatment world as any professional who is seeking help for a substance abuse problem. Impaired Professional have traditionally attended “diversion programs” which permitted them to keep their professional licenses. With that avenue no longer available, the professional often needs to seek outpatient therapy as part of their recovery/restitution.
No one- doctors, lawyers, therapists, pharmacists, surgeons, C-Suite executives, business owners, community leaders, clergy – no one, are immune from a substance use problem. You are in a high-stress work environment and often the quickest way to some relief is a cocktail, a smoke, or a pill. Over time, this behavior can lead to abuse, or addiction of the substance.
The Professional Consequences of a Night on the Town
It just takes one time of getting behind the wheel after drinking too much to incur legal consequences such as a DUI. When that happens, it can feel like the whole world is crashing in on you. Your professional license may be on review for disciplinary action. You are concerned about not only your livelihood but that of your staff should you lose your license. You feel a tremendous amount of responsibility and overwhelm. You hope to “just” get probation, but the stress of this new worry is really overwhelming. You want help, but you are concerned about your reputation and you’re not sure how someone else will understand.
A DUI does NOT have to mean the end of your professional career!
At Coaching Through Chaos, we provide confidential, caring, non-judgmental counseling to help you sort through the problems that overwhelm you. Whether it’s alcoholism, drug abuse (legal and illicit), we have experience and knowledge in these areas that may help you look at the problem from a different perspective. We understand that by the time you make it to our office, you may have already tried to give it up yourself, or have sought out help previously. We know that for some people, getting recovery from addiction is a process they engage in over time. For our addicted professions, there is that heavier layer of fear and the potential loss of the career you worked so hard for looming over you.
Addiction or Just Too Much? It Doesn’t Matter, we won’t judge, just help.
We want to help support you to be able to focus on what’s necessary as you begin the process of recovery. We respect how you have built your career and we want to help you feel emotionally strong enough to not only keep your license and job but also strong enough to fight for it as needed. We understand that you are not perfect but may live under the veil of perceived perfection. Lately though, you feel like a fraud and are feeling anxious, mortified and fearful that you could lose everything you’ve worked so hard for. We want to help you accept where your life is at and restore it to your intended path to keep you on the road to success.
Let Us Help YOU
This is a solvable problem and does not have to end your career. Persons who have been deemed as Impaired Professionals often feel so isolated, we want you to know there are ways to get back to the career you love – with confidence and without stigma. Our clients often are able to continue working with their business is minimally impacted by their circumstances.
Our Record Speaks for Itself
Dr. Colleen Mullen has been working with impaired professionals for well over a decade now. She was the Director of Rehab Services at The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center and her work with addicted CEO’s was featured in this FORTUNE Magazine article in 2015. Marcus Byrd, is a Nationally Certified Addiction Specialist. We both have many years of experience and are passionate about helping our clients overcome the obstacles that have gotten in the way of their career path.
Call today for an appointment! (619) 881-0051 ext. 700
What we offer:
Individual Counseling: We have extensive experience working with persons through their recovery process. We work from the harm reduction model, meeting our client where they need to be. We recognize that different people have different needs. We will tailor our work to your specific needs. As of March 20, 2020 we are offering telementalhealth – this means we can start the process over a video-call service while you are in the comfort of your home or office. There are times when we can even come to you.
Individual Assessment for court hearings: An assessment to determine if a substance use or addiction problem is present is often requested by the court or your attorney. The Assessment is involves industry-standard screening and assessment tools. The cost of this service is $950.00 (this does not include any court appearance costs).
Relationship Counseling: When there is a substance use problem, it often becomes a point of contention in a relationship.Add to that a DUI or a threat of professional license suspension, that stress increases between partners exponentially. We help couples manage those emotions, learn how to accept the circumstance for what it is and learn how to re-establish trust and support each other. If your substance use has been a point of contention at home, we can help both you and your partner start to untangle the mess that addiction leaves in your love life. Understanding, Straight-talk, Compassion and healing is what we can help you with as you build the skills to conquer your addiction.
Expert Testimony: Both Dr. Colleen Mullen, Psy.D., LMFT and Marcus Byrd are available for expert testimony as needed. Cost: $600/hour (plus travel time travel time) with a 3 hour minimum.
Questions? Need more info? Want to get in this week? Call now for an appointment or to schedule a 15-minute phone consult to see if you’d like to work with us. (619) 881-0051.
Currently providing Telehealth services. You can be in the comfort of your own home while you receive the support, emotional exploration, insight and coping skills to face your addiction head on!