If between sessions you need to reach me, please call the office for routine issues (level 1), or my urgent care number ( for level 2 or 3 issues).
If I do not respond to an urgent call within one hour, please contact me again. For a level 2 or 3 issue, you are advised to go to the nearest emergency room or call 911. A list of support system phone numbers are on the back of each appointment card, and the last number is my urgent care number.
Level 1 Care: When should I call the office?
When....
Level 2 Care: When should I seek special services?
When...
Recommends:
Level 3 Care: When should I seek emergency services?
When....
If I do not respond to an urgent call within one hour, please contact me again. For a level 2 or 3 issue, you are advised to go to the nearest emergency room or call 911. A list of support system phone numbers are on the back of each appointment card, and the last number is my urgent care number.
Level 1 Care: When should I call the office?
When....
- Problems seem to be increasing,
- You have a noticeable increase or decrease in sleep,
- Your individual warning signs of relapse or regression are observed,
- You need to cancel or reschedule a session, or
- You feel unsafe in your stability.
- Call the office,
- Call your sponsor or mentor, and/or
- Call those persons who are on your support system.
Level 2 Care: When should I seek special services?
When...
- Relapsing into an abused substance. You never know how your body will react to a relapse.
- Feeling very depressed, hopeless.
- Experiencing thoughts of self-harm (e.g., suicide, cutting, self-punishing, etc.)
- Experiencing thoughts of harming others (e.g., fighting, punishing, depriving another, killing someone)
Recommends:
- For those relapsing into substance abuse, call the nearest detoxification center to see if an admission is advisable. If you are experiencing a medical emergency from your use or withdrawal, you need to go to the emergency room or call 911.
- For those experiencing thoughts of harm to self or others, go to your nearest emergency room or call 911.
- For those who depression is worsening, you may wish to page me, go to the nearest emergency room, call a helpline, or call 911. Phone numbers for those support systems are provided on the back of your appointment card.
Level 3 Care: When should I seek emergency services?
When....
- Relapsing into substance abuse and are experiencing an overdose, unusual reaction, or are concerned the substances may be adulterated (i.e., tampered, changed, etc.).
- You are hearing voices that others don't hear.
- When those voices are telling you negative things about others (e.g., harming or hurting).
- You are seeing things others don't see (e.g., spirits, demons, bugs, dead people, etc.).
- You are experiencing thoughts of harm to self or others and have immediate access to items that could be used to cause harm.
- Call 911, request an ambulance, and tell them about your problems.
- Get to the nearest Emergency Room, and tell them about your problems.