“We’re in this Together” was the theme Thursday as mental health and human services professionals from Blair County underwent training to improve the treatment of behavioral health problems and addiction.The workshop focused on involving both clients and their families in mental health treatment in order to obtain better outcomes.
Dr David Loveland, from UPMC’s Community Care Behavioral Health Program in Pittsburgh led the sessions. His program emphasizes behavioral coaching techniques to be used by mental health professionals.
“We teach them how to inspire people to come in and work on their goals for their future, not necessarily the past, not on the fact that you’re an addict but actually that you’re a parent who wants to be a great parent, that you have a career waiting for you, you have goals you’re not achieving now,” he explained.
Dr Loveland says counselors can’t educate people through their addiction, and can’t cure the disease, they can just help empower people to manage their addictions.