There are millions of Americans that suffer from addiction and meet criteria for substance use disorder treatment. Those individuals and their family members have many addiction treatment centers to choose from, some of which are good and others not so much. So, it is important for an individual seeking treatment for addiction, a family member seeking services for their loved one, or a clinical professional making a referral for a client needing treatment to understand the differences between different addiction treatment facilities, and how each facility may meet the clinical needs of the individual suffering.
So, what makes Maryland Addiction Recovery Center standout? What are the differentiators of MARC from other rehabs and addiction treatment facilities? What are important pieces of information to know about MARC to help decide if our services meet the needs of an individual suffering from addiction, substance use disorder, or a co-occurring disorder. Here’s a quick list:
Long-term care that treats addiction as a chronic illness
MARC is a long-term extended care, community reintegration treatment model. We know that addiction is a chronic, progressive illness that can be fatal if left untreated. We also know that addiction is extremely treatable and recovery outcomes are very high if an individual engages in long-term care and recovery support. Treating addiction as a chronic illness, patients stay in MARC’s extended care program for a minimum of 90 days, but on average for between 7 and 8 months, and many stay over a year. During that time, patients step down through a full continuum of care, decreasing in levels of clinical intensity as they demonstrate necessary recovery skills and appropriately reenter society, while creating a life worth living directed by meaning and purpose.
Clinical Expertise
MARC’s clinical team is comprised of 13 full-time clinicians. Our clinical team includes MARC Clinical Director, Dr. Jennifer Richards, PsyD., and 8 master’s level Primary Therapists, several of whom are dually licensed with as a certified alcohol and drug counselor. Each Primary Therapist, many with differing specialties, education, training, and areas of focus, hold a case load. The clinical team also includes specialty clinicians that have a singular area of focus, which are our Family Therapist Arielle Seidler, LCSW-C, who oversees the MARC Family Recovery Program, our Trauma Recovery Specialist, Corinne Burnette, LCSW-C, our Vocational Therapist Kyle Aaron, LCPC, M.ED, and our Collegiate Recovery Specialist, Sarah MacDonald, CSC-AD.
Medical Expertise
At MARC, it is vital to be able to incorporate comprehensive mental health and psychiatric services into our addiction treatment program, so that we can treat patient’s co-occurring disorders concurrently with their addiction. In addition to the many master’s level clinicians at MARC, our team includes two psychiatrists, our Medical Director, Dr. Alfred Forrester, MD, LFAPA, and our Staff Psychiatrist, Dr. Douglas Woodruff, MD, who are on-site between 35-45 hours per week and work in synergy with the clinical team to provide direct care, therapy, and medication management. Additionally, our full-time Nurse Practitioner, LaShanda Roberts, MSN, BSN, RN, FNP-BC, handles all non-acute medical issues for our patients while they are at MARC, somewhat acting as a primary care provider. Medical Services Coordinator Colleen Waterfield also offers support for patients that need singular or on-going support from outside medical professionals, coordinating care and collaboration with our local healthcare community.
Family involvement and engagement throughout the treatment experience
MARC engages and treats a patient’s family concurrently with the identified patient during the entire treatment experience. This occurs through the work of MARC Family Therapist, Arielle Seidler, LCSW-C, and our Family Recovery Program (FRP.) When a patient enters MARC, they begin work with their assigned Primary Therapist, while Arielle begins working with that patient’s family and community of loved ones. This includes family therapy and ongoing education. After some time, each family will be entered into the MARC Family Recovery Program, where they work with a small cohort or group of other families of MARC patients in a virtual group setting, before coming onsite for an extended weekend family intensive therapeutic experience. Afterwards, Arielle continues to work with family members, while coordinating care with a patient’s Primary Therapist.
Trauma-informed Care
We integrate trauma treatment and recovery into MARC programming through the work of Trauma Recovery Specialist Corinne Burnett, LCSW-C. Corinne works in tandem with a patient’s Primary Therapist to incorporate different trauma therapy approaches and modalities for patients in need of additional support. Corinne may work individually with a patient with several different evidence-based trauma-informed therapy approaches or modalities, or may include them in a small, closed trauma-focused group setting. This offers additional avenues of support for patients dealing with trauma or PTSD.
Comprehensive vocational and career support
MARC offers a comprehensive Vocational Program, overseen by Vocational Therapist Kyle Aaron, LCPC, M.Ed. This process offers both basic and advanced skill support and development for any patient entering or reentering the workforce. Every patient that enters treatment is different, with a different history, education, and work experience. Kyle, through individual therapy and counseling and/or group vocational counseling, meets a patient where they are at in terms of their experience or career. This may include basic skill development such as resume building, job search skills, or mock interviews, to help a patient find an “early recovery” job, where Kyle also helps them learn to budget and work on appropriate spending. However, this may also be for a professional with an already established career, who needs additional support as they re-enter their chosen field while new to recovery.
College success
Through our partnership with Caron Treatment Centers, MARC offers the Caron’s College Success™ at Maryland Addiction Recovery Center collegiate recovery program. Collegiate Recovery Specialist Sarah MacDonald, CSC-AD, with support from the College Success team at Caron Treatment Centers, works with young adult patients in need of academic and educational support and creates a roadmap for reentering institutions of higher learning. This may include individuals in need of obtaining a GED, a college student that has failed out or taken a medical leave from a college or university and needs to re-enter the academic setting, or individuals seeking higher education degrees such as a master’s degree. Sarah provides individual support for the patient, while also supporting the patient’s family and working directly with the staff at the chosen institution of higher learning.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
MARC incorporates Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) when appropriate in conjunction with and as part of our comprehensive long-term treatment for patients with opioid use disorders or alcohol use disorders. The value of MAT goes beyond simply a harm reduction approach to keep a person alive, and when incorporated appropriately within the framework of a comprehensive treatment program, can be a vital recovery tool. Utilizing FDA-approved medications such as Naltrexone, Vivitrol, Suboxone, or Sublocade under the ongoing care of one of the MARC psychiatrists, patients utilizing MAT are constantly reevaluated throughout treatment, to ensure a successful transition to recovery and a high quality of life.
If you or someone you know needs help for addiction or co-occurring disorder issues, please give us a call. Maryland Addiction Recovery Center offers the most comprehensive dual diagnosis addiction treatment in the Mid-Atlantic area. If we aren’t the best fit for you or your loved one, we will take the necessary time to work with you to find a treatment center or provider that better fits your needs. Please give us a call at (410) 773-0500 or email our team at info@marylandaddictionrecovery.com. For more information on all of our drug addiction, alcohol addiction and co-occurring disorder services and recovery resources, please visit our web site at www.marylandaddictionrecovery.com.
