Season 2, Episode 6
Host(s): Dr. Larry Force, Andrew O’Grady, Elisa Gwilliam
Guest(s): Wendy Keller: clinical social worker and founder of Behavioral Health Services of the Hudson Valley
The INTERSECTIONS Exchange team is joined by Wendy Keller (LCSW) to discuss recovery from the perspective of clinical practitioners. Along with Andrew O’Grady and Dr. Larry Force, Keller shares her thoughts on changes in recovery treatment throughout the pandemic and the necessity of peer and family support for successful recovery.
Topics Discussed
- Merging of regulatory bodies for mental health and addiction in New York state
- Transitions in treatment modes during the pandemic
- Wendy Keller’s observations of changes over time in the clinical mental health field
- “Fluency” in the mental health system
- Abstinence versus harm reduction
- Natural and medication-assisted recovery
- Innovative uses of technology
- Role of the family in addiction and recovery
Resources
- Behavioral Health Services of the Hudson Valley
- How do I tell someone I have a problem with drugs or alcohol?
- I feel alone and want to use or drink
- I’m afraid no one will help me with my sobriety
- How do I tell my parents I have an addiction?
Key Quote(s)
- “By the time somebody develops any kind of substance use disorder, the families are fully invested in their enabling and oftentimes dysfunctional patterns. If you don’t get a hold of the family and the other systems that a person struggling with a substance use disorder interfaces with, their chances of success are slim.” – Wendy Keller
- “None of us are looking to become hologram therapists with everything web-based, but we can’t act as though it doesn’t exist or it can’t add support.” – Dr. Larry Force
- “Let’s find what works in the middle from how we provide therapy, whether it’s all online or all in-person, there’s got to be something in the middle…find something that works going forward.” – Andrew O’Grady
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