Counselor’s Desk: Advocating for those who need it most

When someone thinks of a case manager, the first thing that comes to mind is “Oh, all they do is paperwork.” That might be partially true because it does involve a lot of paperwork, but that’s not all there is to being a case manager.

I’m usually the first person our clients see when they are admitted to our program. I’m the first person that they open up to and the first one to hear what’s going on with them. I’m their confidant for the next 30 to 45 minutes.

They are like a soda bottle that have been dropped and shaken up a couple of times. Once you open it and relieve the pressure, you can hear the sigh of relief. So, my first words to them are not “I need you to sign your consent forms.” Often, they are, “How you are doing?” And at the end of the conversation it’s, “Everything is going to be fine.”

As I see many clients enter my office I would often think that you would sometimes have to put yourself in their positions and ask yourself, “How would you want to be perceived or treated if you were sitting in that chair and not behind that desk?”

I have seen some of the most educated and intelligent people. There are some who are court probated and those who have abused alcohol and drugs for a long time. But guess what? They all have one common dominator. They have an ILLNESS and they need HELP.

When a client fist walks through my door, I can sometimes tell something is going on with them and other times it’s hard to tell. My first thought to myself is often, “There’s nothing wrong with him or her.” Then I hear their story. I don’t ask how they got themselves in this situation or why they did this or explain why they shouldn’t have done that. I constantly remind myself of their illness, because they look just like you and I.

Many clients come from various counties here in Alabama. I’ve only encountered a couple from out of state. I try to meet with them on a weekly base to see how they are doing or address any concerns they have.

While I help to ease the process when a client arrives, I also work hard to make sure their discharge is as smooth as possible. It is important for clients to continue with follow-up care with a therapist or a psychiatrist so that they can continue to utilize the techniques and coping skills they have learned within our program.

My co-workers and I work as a team. I see myself as the liaison between our two therapists, nurse and director. We all have one common goal and that is to help the client work toward his/her goal so that they can transition back out into the community to live their lives as normal as possible.

No matter what a client’s state when they come in, my co-workers and I are do our very best to help them reach and maintain the best version of themselves by the time they leave.

Tammy Neal, MSCE, is the case manager for Tombigbee Outreach. For more information about Tombigbee Outreach, call 334-287-2428.