Interview

Ce'Ja Counseling Service

I recently went home for the weekend, and therefore decided to interview a treatment professional in that area. I chose to interview Janet Barkowsky, who works at Ce'Ja Counseling Service in Oxford, Pennsylvania. Ce'Ja is licensed by the state for drug and alcohol treatment. This counseling group provides individual, group, couples, and family sessions as necessary.

Type of Agency

Ce'Ja is an outpatient facility that provides a mix of mental health and substance abuse services. This is important because as we have previously learned, dual diagnoses often exist in individuals with substance abuse problems. Therefore, this treatment facility provides a well-rounded experience in order to better deal with all of the issues that may be contributing to the substance abuse, rather than just the substance itself.

In addition, this agency also offers DUI/DWI treatment services. Many of the clients enrolled in these programs are court ordered. This allows them to get the help that they may need in order to control their substance abuse.

Clientele

Ce'Ja serves many clients on an annual basis. Janet Barkowsky did not have a specific figure for me, but did say that they serve a large number of clients every year. This is mostly due to the fact that a large part of their clientele is court-ordered, and therefore do not necessarily stay in the programs as long as one who is there on a voluntary-basis.

Photo Source: www.alcohol.addictionblog.org

Framework

This agency does not follow the 12-step model. Ultimately, this agency works with the clients to educate them about substance abuse, the substances themselves, consequences, and recovery. This educational model aims to give the clients information in order to better understand their substance abuse and/or mental health issues and how they are related. The focus is educating their clientele so that the clients can develop skills to function independently.

Connection to Class

This interview reminded me of many things I have learned throughout the course of our class. Specifically, the concept of dual-diagnoses was especially prominent. Ce'Ja Counseling Services places a large emphasis on the treatment of dual-diagnoses. As we learned in class, this is very common. However, most of the time, individuals with a dual-diagnosis of mental health issues and addiction only receive treatment for the addiction. However, that will not create a lasting solution to the addiction because the mental health issue will not be treated.

Through this interview, it was refreshing to actually encounter an agency that did in fact treat both issues at one time. This agency realizes the importance of treating a dual-diagnosis, and the part that it will play in a client’s recovery.