A contact in the USA sent me this. We don't have the BHT designation here but we have lots of these high quality people working in Cntres across Canada
Rehab's Secret Weapon the BHT:
4 Ways Behavioral Health Technicians Impact Recovery Often overlooked is what a BHT does for those in a drug treatment center to achieve success in their sobriety and to make the stay in rehab a good experience. These Behavioral Health Technicians are the ones involved day in and day out through the recovery process.
Their role as employees for the rehab programs is to help the clinical staff day in and day out with the clients’ treatment plan, assist in administering medications, in daily activities, and to observe and report behaviors. But their roles are underestimated. The BHT's are highly hands on and are the ones around when the treatment centers clinical and executive staff are not.
Theses off the books relationships can foster positivity and encouragement for those in this early stage of recovery. Let’s uncover 4 ways that Behavior Health Tech's make a difference. The Importance of Behavioral Health Technicians First Hand Experience: The Tech's, at they are often called, have mostly been there and done that.
Majority of the BHT's have been once been in the clients’ shoes and are in recovery themselves. Most BHT’s are hired after achieving at minimum one-year sobriety because the Techs are at the front lines of addiction treatment. They are that gap between a medical or clinical staff who may not have struggled with addiction. The BHT's know what the addict is thinking and feeling because they did it themselves. What better way to offer comfort when down or be able to identify discomfort or an itch to go use? Relate-ability:
Those who are in the treatment program have a defense and sometimes an annoyance towards the clinical team. The Tech's on the other hand are seen as almost one of them. The Techs are there at night when they are lonely. The Techs see them outside of the centers in the housing and know them on a more personal level. This makes them easy to relate to. Easy to open up to and share experiences with, sometimes even more so than with the therapist or in group. Many clients can see themselves getting to that level of sobriety. It gives them hope and a desire to do better. Often these Techs are close in age to those in recovery, have been to the same places, and may even know the same people. This again even deepens the respect towards the staff of BHT's.
Eagerness to Succeed: Many of the Tech's have come a long way to get to this point in their lives. This may be a job they longed for and striven to obtain. These BHT's have the fire and motivation to work hard. They have a passion to succeed. They have a deep want to do good, to be noticed, and be a total asset to the treatment center who gives them a chance. Being at one point an addict this type of position only before seemed impossible or unheard of.
Now, once employed, most Tech's will not let you down. They will be on time accountable and highly eager to do their job and do it right. This not only benefits the program but is infectious to the attitude of the clients. Willingness to Help the Clients: In recovery the goal is to get to a point where you can give back and help others with their recovery. What better way to actively do so and be compensated?!?! Therefore, by hiring a BHT that has been through a recovery program you are getting someone who truly will put forward the effort to help every single person in the rehab to succeed. They will share their pointers and tips for success.
The Tech's will be motivational in nature. They will speak good of sobriety and share the miracle that they experienced to be there talking to them today. By no means am I saying that every single Behavioral Health Technician is a God sent. They have their bad days too and the risk of relapse is always a side effect, but for the most part these Techs are where recovery starts.
They are the ones saying good night and good morning to the clients. They ask about the clients’ day, often checking in on how they are feeling or asking what’s the matter. These gestures may seem minor but to someone away from home lonely and battling addiction, it can make a world of a difference.
The BHT is truly the secret weapon in a drug rehab program!
Phone: (561) 376-8130 Email: [email protected]
