Steve Martorano 
The Behavioral Corner is produced in partnership with Retreat Behavioral Health -- where healing happens.

The Behavioral Corner 

Hi, and welcome. I'm Steve Martorano, and this is the Behavioral Corner; you're invited to hang with us as we've discussed the ways we live today, the choices we make, the things we do, and how they affect our health and wellbeing. So you're on the corner, the Behavioral Corner. Please hang around a while.

Steve Martorano 
Hey, everybody, how are you doing? Welcome again to the Behavioral Corner with me, your host, Steve Martorano. What do we do on the Corner? Well, we hang out with corners or four, right? Yeah, hang on the corner. We talk about what kinds of things. I'd like to say this is a podcast about everything because everything at the end of the day affects our behavioral health, mentally, physically, spiritually, and the whole enchilada here on the Behavioral Corner. The Corner is made possible by our great partners Retreat Behavioral Health. You'll hear more about them coming up. But we reached out to them not only doing great financial support, and, you know, and every other way they support us, but they are an endless font of just terrific people who know what they're talking about when we talk about mental health, and certainly substance abuse recovery. And that's the case today, September's National Recovery Month. It's a month every year when we step back and take a look at the one thing about the topic that I don't think really gets enough attention. And that's people get better. People get better from a host of ailments that look daunting and they are always life threatening. And sometimes, you're so dark that there's no way out. But the truth of the matter is, in terms of both mental health and substance abuse recovery, millions and millions of people do recover. So that's what Recovery Month is all about. That's what we're doing here on the corner, a bunch of episodes in September, where we take a look at the many paths to recovery from both substance abuse and mental health issues and the treatments that are available. And finally, what are we actually talking about when we speak of recovery? To that end, we welcome Ben Champion to the program. Ben, thank you so much. Ben is, as I said, one of the other resources for Retreat is with Retreat Behavioral Health in a specific area of concern for us today, and that is their outpatient treatment facilities. Ben, thanks for joining us on the Corner.

Ben Champion 
Absolutely.

Steve Martorano 
Again, congratulations, you come in second, unfortunately, second, in the coolest name of any guests we've ever had. Ben Champion, as they told you earlier, should really be on a box of cereal, such a cool name. So congratulations. Unfortunately, way back when we interviewed a great woman who herself is in long-term recovery, her name was Nikki Soda. S. O. D. A. Right? So you got to give us a little nudge to Champion. Anyway, Ben, thanks for joining us. We are going to talk about recovery we're going to talk about in the context of the treatment available in an outpatient setting. We'll get to that in a second. But Ben, fill us in on you. Tell us a little about your background.

Ben Champion 
So I am an alumnus of Retreat Behavioral Health. I came through in 2016. I'm blessed this has six years of continuous sobriety. And ever since I went in as a client, I've stuck around Retreat, and now I am employed and running their outpatients.

Steve Martorano 
Yeah, it's so it's fantastic. And you and you've done a lot of things during that period of time. Congratulations, by the way, over the six years, and it's great. For those of you who may not know, Retreat Behavioral Health has a world-class reputation and has had it for many years in the Substance Abuse and treatment field. Further, they have often had to deal with mental health issues in that context. But they created a separate unit as it were division, Synergy Mental Health Services, and they deal exclusively with mental health issues. And in other words, you need to be abusing substances to avail yourself of Retreat's Synergy programs. Ben is now in the outpatient arena. So let's begin at the beginning. What is "OP" as its referred to and how does it different from residential treatment?

Ben Champion 
Outpatient treatment, you can come technically off the streets, you can reach out to us, and we can make a determination to see what the proper fit for you is. But outpatients a place that is less restrictive than an inpatient setting. Of course, you can come and go, but it's also a place where you get to learn about yourself and also utilize those skills that you learned while programming and use them in the real world as well, and it gives you a real-time In view of what you're learning and what you need to work on. So I always found that outpatient really helps those who are on that in-between moment of do I really need inpatient or outpatient? Hitting outpatient first really helps you clarify what your needs are and how they can be met and we can determine that at a better accuracy, you know, at an outpatient level to help determine where you need to be.

Steve Martorano 
I guess one...in one sense, it's easier for people who want to take that most crucial step and get the help that first step. If they can do it in the context of, "Well, I don't have to go anyplace for 28 days or more six months." So it's sort of getting your feet wet. Is it work the other way around as well as do people who've gone through a residential program think they need additional treatment? Can they become an outpatient? 

Ben Champion 
Oh, absolutely. So in many places like our own, most people go into a residential setting, detox residential, and their aftercare plan, which stayed developed with their case management team, is most likely designed to give those people an opportunity to go into an outpatient setting to again, grow further on the skills and techniques they learned to help their recovery at an inpatient setting. Again, it gives them that real-time chance to practice.

Steve Martorano 
Yeah, it seemed to me a layperson would go, wow, let me take that one. That's the easy one. I go after work, or I go, you know, when I don't have any classes or when I feel like it. I mean, there must be a lot of misconceptions about what outpatient therapy is all about. What are some that come to mind?

Ben Champion 
Are they exactly what you are stating in the sense that people believe that there is a more free nature and outpatient setting? Again, you have different levels of outpatient, you have an intensive program, an intensive outpatient program, and then you have a general outpatient program. So a lot of people's misconception going into it is, I believe, I only need X amount of help. And that's where the professionals that we're surrounded by can come in and help those people really understand what the level of severity of their alcohol where mental health is, and how we can produce a plan to help them better understand and grow from that.

Steve Martorano 
Yeah, we're sort of in the golden age now because of the "University of Google" for people to self-diagnose.

Ben Champion 
Absolutely.

Steve Martorano 
Let me just go Google what's bothering me. And then I'll go tell them what I need. It doesn't often work like that. You mentioned levels of outpatient therapy, and you said, intensive outpatient. What is that? 

Ben Champion 
Yes. So we have intensive outpatient, which is a more structured program, designed for nine plus hours a week for clients to be in a structured group setting. For myself, I went through an IOP program. And what it really helped me with is structure, not only the moments I was in there, but structuring my day and having a routine to base my life around, especially in the early recovery routine, is a huge thing for all of us.

Steve Martorano 
Is it often the case that people will enter into an intensive outpatient setting and then move up into a residential situation? Is it work like that?

Ben Champion 
There are times like that, again, if somebody comes in, and they may not be ready for this level of care, the IOP level care where even general outpatient, we can help make that determination and get them set up at an inpatient level with hopes that they can kind of detox get themselves calm, and they can come back to us at a level where they're ready.

Steve Martorano 
I guess another misconception that comes to my mind, and I've heard this over the years. There's "Oh, yeah, those outpatient things. That's for guys they get DUIs." And the court said, You got to go get treatment, or you're going to jail. It's so much more than that. But...but that's also a misconception, right?

Ben Champion 
Yes. There are many times when people, unfortunately, who get DUIs found themselves in legal trouble, were inpatient would really help them understand what their issues are. A lot of people come to the outpatient setting, like you said, just to take care of the problem to get the courts off their backs, or whatever it is. And there are people that can go through that system and do it that way. But more often than not, you'll find that there's a history of issues that cause that DUI, whatever accident. So there's more investigating that needs to be done. And the patient needs to really look inside themselves and say, "Hey, is this a trend I'm going towards?"

Steve Martorano 
During the process, when the clinicians are at the intake point or evaluating the person. How mindful are they of getting this person in the right kind of program that will help whatever is ailing them but won't so disrupt their lives as to make the problem even worse? Is that part of what OP is about to get the person that really needs that kind of care rather than take them out of their setting completely?

Ben Champion 
Absolutely. I think, especially with my team down in Florida, we definitely take care of patients and want to meet I'm where they're at, with the expectation that they acknowledge that we are professionals and we are going to look out for their best interest. But we also have to like use it to make accommodations because we can't disrupt somebody's full life that may set them back further. So we really take time to really understand the patient before they come in, try to make sure we can adequately take care of their needs on the basis that they're coming to us. And then that's where our therapists come into play and say, "Hey, maybe this assessment needs a little more detail until then." 

Steve Martorano 
Yeah, it's a fine line, I know. It's because you want to give them the care that they absolutely need. You've got to be mindful of some of these people I know, you know, this, some of these people are the sole support of their families. It's hard to get mom out of the house when there may be children involved. So, outpatient is for that person. And again, all in the service of recovery. It couldn't be clearer to me, but people, you know, these people think, "Outpatient? That's for me!" It sounds like part time something, you know,

Ben Champion 
Yeah. So a lot of people jump at the word outpatient and think, oh, I can not fully put myself in the recovery world yet. And just, you know, take a taste of it. So not everybody yet knows where I'm at. And unfortunately, that sometimes hinders a lot of people. And other times, it helps people to fully understand where they need to be and see that there are caring people in the world who really want to help them through this pain.

Steve Martorano 
Yeah. Well, you've been there done that, as you said, six years now sober. Can you easily spot that person that's sitting in front of you going, "Far out three days a week? Piece of cake." Can you...you can see that, can't you?

Ben Champion 
Absolutely, we see it daily. And the beautiful thing about the people we're surrounded with and we work with is that they see it also, and we take care of those. We meet them where they're at, but we also acknowledge that we have a little more understanding and knowledge. And we try to meet them where they're at and also guide them by using the knowledge that they have as well. Yeah,

Steve Martorano 
Yeah, you're right. You don't want to blow them out completely. You want to make sure they understand what we're trying to get you where you need to be. Sorry, let's talk about some specifics here. What types of disorders do Retreat in their outpatient facilities deal with, and in addition to which, what kinds of treatments are available? So let's start with the disorders. You're not dealing with severe schizophrenia or...

Ben Champion 
We do have some that come to us with those diagnoses. Again, that's up to our clinical team. Our clinical team really does a great job of ensuring that every client can meet the criteria needed, that they will be a proper fit, and that we're able to give them the care they need, especially at that outpatient level.

Steve Martorano 
But I mentioned something like schizophrenia. You are not a psych hospital. As you said, you come and go in an outpatient situation. And even in a residential setting. You can't. You're not there against your will. You're there because you volunteered to be there. So give me some of the mood disorders you guys treat in an outpatient setting. I mean, can you really treat somebody as an outpatient? who's suffering from depression? Deep depression?

Ben Champion 
I think you can, I think if you have the right team in place. You have the right barriers if the patient acts a certain way. I think if the team itself surrounds the patient fully understands the patient, you can handle it. But then again, that's where a therapist's compassion really comes into play, where they can admit, "Hey, this may be a little much for us. We want to put you in the right setting." And sometimes, especially with major depression, you want to make sure that you can constantly be in touch with that patient with that client to ensure their safety.

Steve Martorano 
With regard to substance abuse disorders, again, I asked the question that a lot of people say to me, "Steve, is come on really, if you got a serious drug or alcohol disorder, can that really be treated on an outpatient?" How do you measure in terms of that? I mean, you drug test in an outpatient situation?

Ben Champion 
Absolutely. We drug test patients, fentanyl tests, unfortunately, now that has to be a separate test because that's so prolific...

Steve Martorano 
There's a separate test just for fentanyl in there.

Ben Champion 
Yes, yes, they had to come up with a new test just to test for fentanyl, unfortunately. So we do test for all those items. And even when you come in for an eval, we will test you to make sure what you're reporting to us matches up with what the toxicology is. Because we want to show again your safety because a lot of people, as you said, outpatient is a lot easier to get into. And maybe I don't have to tell as much of the truth. So we ensure that you know, we get your ways on people, which is a urine analysis to confirm that they are truly coming into us for what they say and that there's no risk for them to go into a withdrawal of any sort.

Steve Martorano 
Ben Champion is our guest. He's with Retreat Behavioral Health in their West Palm Beach facility. He is now involved in their outpatient therapy programs. Are there situations where it's unfortunate because there's still stigma attached to admitting you have a mental or substance abuse issue? It Is it often the case that people will choose an outpatient setting as a cover? In other words, it'll be easier to hide this. Do they do that? And is it a mistake?

Ben Champion 
Absolutely, People will come to an outpatient setting in fear of going into a population, you know, 100 plus people. So they'll definitely come to an outpatient setting, hoping to blend in, hoping to fly under the radar. And for some people that is very understandable depending on your job and, and things of that nature. But for most of us, it's a mechanism to defend ourselves from telling the real truth and the whole truth. Because once we're at an outpatient setting, we kind of get decide when we come and go. So we can be as truthful or nontruth as we want. Compared to an inpatient setting where it's where you're finally admitting, "Okay, I have a problem that needs to take a major break from this substance to handle."

Steve Martorano 
so what somebody's identified that they're not feeling right, their lives are being negatively impacted by one thing or another, and they look for help, and they wind up in front of someone like you what sort of treat after the diagnosis is made. And after a plan is put in place? What can they expect in terms of treatments? What sort of stuff do you guys do?

Ben Champion 
So we do a lot of individual therapy, once we get them in, you know, depending on his mental health or substance abuse, we always offer individual therapy as well. And thankfully, each one of our therapists can specialize in a different technique or a different way of therapy, EMDR, cognitive behavioral therapy. A lot of our therapists have different techniques and different special abilities that they can lend to help people.

Steve Martorano 
So these are the evidence-based kinds of treatments that you would find at any residential office...

Ben Champion 
Absolutely. 

Steve Martorano 
...that's as well. So on any given day, when you're an outpatient, you go in for some therapy. We're not talking about a group that sits around as we see on television or in movies. We're like an AAA meeting or any support group meeting. You're in the trenches with these people working. I'm surprised to hear that guys also offer individual counseling. Is that often, most often, the case, or do most people get their therapy in groups?

Ben Champion 
Most people get them in groups. Each site for us is individualized, and you know, the type of therapy they offer. But in most contracts, thankfully, it is offered as part of the program that they get individual therapy. And from what I found, maybe individual therapy might not be the same as you do at a private practice. But it helps the client start understanding the importance of that one-on-one time with a therapist and learning how to open up to an individual.

Steve Martorano 
Ben how often do people arrive for outpatient therapy who...who have already been diagnosed by maybe their primary care physician or psychiatrist or somebody? And how often do you guys have to make that determination of what's happening?

Ben Champion 
I would say it's a 50/50 split from what we've seen right now. Like we were talking about earlier, a lot of people are hopping on Google at this time to self-diagnose. Alright, so we are getting more of an influx of that due to social media, which is a pro and con. The pro of it is more people are seeking help. The con is whether people are truly seeking help for their beneficial needs or because it's a popular trend nowadays.

Steve Martorano 
How did you guys handle outpatient therapy during the pandemic, dude? Oh, virtually,

Ben Champion 
Yep, we went to Zoom. And to be honest, it went really, really smoothly. A lot of the younger population really surprised a lot of us by being connected and really engaging in it. And it was a very, very cool thing for not only us to see but our therapists to say, "Hey, this 20-year-old has kept his phone focus for the last three hours." So it was a really, really bright spot for us all.

Steve Martorano 
Whenever I hear people say, well, something's lost contact, body language. I recognize that as real. I made my career for a lot of years. When I did this, what you and I are doing, but the person was sitting across the console from me, there was a certain more intimate contact there. I agree with you. I think young people have been in front of screens often enough now. All the cues are there. They get it, right?

Ben Champion 
The biggest thing between Zoom and in-person, especially when you break it down to individual programs substance such as substance abuse and mental health. Mental health is more of a body language-driven approach. Most people with mental health, they hide things in their facial expressions. I know for myself that my anxiety flares up. It's my legs shaking. So the pros with telehealth are, yes, we can connect with more people at a farther reach. But the con is also you miss that one-on-one interpersonal relationship where somebody can really read you, not only the words coming out your mouth like her body language and especially in mental health. That's a big thing. It understands somebody's body language.

Steve Martorano 
How long were you in outpatient therapy?

Ben Champion 
Hey, I was blessed. I got to stay almost a little bit over a year...

Steve Martorano 
As an outpatient?

Ben Champion 
Yep. I went through the whole PHP, which lasted about a month. Then that's a step-down level. You go to an IOP, which is intensive outpatient -- did that prior for about three, or four months. And then you got your general outpatient, which is usually a two-day-a-week program, almost like a check-in, you're back in reality in the real world, but you still have that connection point to work on things with your therapist.

Steve Martorano 
Yeah, it's a great point to remind us. I say this so many times to people with regards to getting well, or in this case, we're talking about recovering. It's a process. It's a process that's made up of many different components. Outpatient therapy is certainly a huge one. A huge one. Finally, since the length of these things is based upon the, you know, the individual, is there anything you can tell us about who best qualifies for this? If somebody's sitting out there going? "Well, I don't know. Do I need residential therapy?" Do you think it sort of fits the mold, if that's the case, for OP?

Ben Champion 
I think those who fit the mold are those who are starting that soul searching, those who are starting to ask the questions that we all ask. Is this becoming a problem for me? Am I harming my family? Or if we start looking more at the daily activities we go through, and we notice that we're not the same person we thought we were. That's a good time, I think, for a lot of people to reach out to an outpatient program, and say, "Hey, this may be the beginning of something." At the end of the day, it will do no harm to ask for help. All I can do is do positive for you. So I would say to anybody who's sitting there just wondering what the next step is, we're, how do I recover? Feel free to reach out to us. All of us care and want to help. And we understand that we understand is a hard decision for anybody to admit that they need help.

Steve Martorano 
Yeah. Yeah. Well, Ben, you know, it's an interesting topic. And thanks for clearing up all the misconceptions, because I know you agree that too many people go. That's fast and easy. I'll do that. Nothing that lasts a long time is fast and easy. I ask that we're going to ask everybody this during our National Recovery Month programs. When we talk about recovery. What are we speaking of? I know it's different for different people. But in general, when can people, yourself included, when can you confidently say I'm in recovery, I'm recovering?

Ben Champion 
I think as you said, for each person, there is a place that we hit for myself. It was the achievement of having my family back in my life, in the sense that when I would reach out to them, it was not for money, where to help it was because I cared again. I think each person crosses that it could be a relationship that we're getting back, it could be the job that we're studying at. Or it could be that happiness in our hearts. That's finally back. So I think each person takes that journey themselves. But I think the best thing is, once you put down that drink, or once you give yourself that chance to take that first step. You got to be proud of yourself and pat yourself on the back. Because there are plenty of people out there still wondering what the first step is.

Steve Martorano 
Yes, a great way to put it. Lots of people mistake being in recovery with the notion of having recovered. You can lead a whole healthy, well-adjusted and happy life and still be depressed every now and then. We still have anxiety issues.

Ben Champion 
I think it's a daily reprieve thing. You know, I think it's something every day we work on. We can be in recovery for 20-30 years, but every day matters what we do and how we act.

Steve Martorano 
Yeah. Well, Ben, thanks so much. You've been through a lot yourself. I know that. I'm always fascinated by folks who then decide, you know, I feel great about what's happened to me. I think I'll...I think I'll try to help others. When did you when did that moment occurred for you like, this is what I want to do.

Ben Champion 
Um, it's been in my life ever since I was a child. I was adopted from Honduras as a baby. And my mother, always since I was younger, said you're gonna go into a field somewhere in your life that helps others. And I think I'm blessed that I had to go through these trials and tribulations of alcoholism. So now I get to help people that truly understand, and I truly have the heart to help.

Steve Martorano 
Yeah, you got where you're supposed to go. It took a little...

Ben Champion 
It took a little side adventure.

Steve Martorano 
A couple of bumps along the way. Ben Champion from Retreat Behavioral Health and their outpatient programs. By the way, everything you hear...anything you hear on this program, whether it relates directly to Retreat or not, if you call Retreat or go to their website, you'll...you'll find...I think you'll find some answers. I know if you call Retreat someone will answer the phone, which is a refreshing change in our life. Ben, thanks so much. I know we crossed paths several years back during an outdoor event for Retreat. I'm glad to get you one on one like this. 

Ben Champion 
Absolutely. It's a pleasure. 

Steve Martorano 
It's been too real...real informational for us. Thanks so much. Thank you all. Don't forget to LISTEN, FOLLOW, do the whole nine yards to Behavioral Corner, and we'll catch you next time.

Synergy Health Programs 
Millions of Americans are negatively affected daily by their mental health. Retreat has served the community for over ten years, offering comprehensive mental health programming through our mental health division, Synergy Health Programs. To learn more about Synergy, please reach out today at 855-802-6600. 

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