The Basics
We Care Counseling Center is a substance abuse treatment facility located in the St. Paul suburb of Oakdale, Minnesota. Duane Bertelsen—a chemical dependency counselor and recovering alcoholic—founded We Care in 1991 with the intention to “assist those with chemical addictions learn to help themselves.”
Treatment and Staff
We Care is an outpatient facility and begins their intake process with a chemical assessment. During this evaluation, counselors interview clients about their drug and alcohol history to determine what level of care they need. If it is determined that the client would need detox or residential treatment, they are referred to outside facilities.
The outpatient program runs for eight weeks and consists of group and individual therapy. Clients meet Monday through Thursday for two-hour educational and discussion-based group meetings, with both morning and evening meeting times available. The counselors operate off of an eight-week curriculum that includes relapse prevention, coping skills and triggers. The meetings use CBT and allow each client the time needed to share with the group. Individual sessions are available, but are not required. If the client wishes to have a one-on-one meeting, they are encouraged to come in 30 minutes early or stay after a group meeting for counseling.
The outpatient program is 12-step and abstinence based. Counselors introduce and discuss AA topics and traditions, however no actual step work is done in the We Care treatment program. Attending AA meetings is not required, but strongly encouraged, and clients are steered towards AA groups run by We Care alumni.
We Care does not have dual diagnosis capabilities, but the educational portion of the outpatient program does cover some mental health aspects including anxiety and depression. The staff includes six LADCs.
Extras
We Care offers an aftercare program for clients that lasts for 12 weeks. During the program, clients come in once a week for a two hour meeting. The meetings are very similar to that of the outpatient program with both education and discussion elements, but are more focused on each client’s reintegration into normal life and relapse prevention.
The facility also offers a family program if the client wishes their family members to be involved. Once a month, We Care offers a lecture for family members that covers the effects of drug and alcohol addiction as well as communication strategies. Furthermore, if the family is struggling with the client’s addiction, they can set up individual meetings with a counselor.
In Summary
We Care’s outpatient program may be a great fit for a client who lives in the Oakdale area and who does not need inpatient care. The family program is also a great resource for family members who are struggling with the impact of their loved one’s addiction.
We Care Counseling Center
410 Hayward Ave
Oakdale, MN 55128
We Care Counseling Center Cost: $3,500 (eight weeks). Reach We Care Counseling Center by phone at (651) 777-4233 or by email at nneff@wecarecd.com. Find We Care Counseling Center on Facebook and Google+
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