Many behavioral health professionals find it troublesome to develop clear and concise documents. Assessments, treatment plans, and progress notes take a long time, are ambiguous, and don’t flow. Subsequently, the staff runs into trouble when treating the client and billing for services.
Rather than focus so much on the paperwork, professionals should look at the story the client is trying to tell through their actions and their life. By looking at their lives as a story in a book or a movie, the professional has the foundation for the client’s plan. Since most everyone is familiar with the movie The Wizard of Oz (or its other forms, the Wiz or Wicked), here is a story that shows how Dorothy behaviorally achieves her goals.
Once upon a time, a girl named Dorothy lived in Kansas with her aunt Em and Uncle Henry (family history), along with their farmhands Hunk, Zeke, and Hickory (informal supports). She liked to sing and walk with her dog Toto (hobbies), but she wanted to get away from the troubles caused by her dog going into Ms. Gulch’s yard and decided to run away (problems). But as she tried to do so, a tornado started to touch down (stressor).
While seeking cover, she bumped her head, went into an altered state, and dreamed of a colorful world called Oz (trauma). In Oz, her house hit the Wicked Witch of the East, which created many happy Munchkins (support system) but an evil Wicked Witch of the West (communication conflict). Dorothy felt alone (fears) and only wanted to go back home (goal). Guarded by Glenda, the Good Witch (support), Dorothy was given ruby slippers (intervention) and told to follow the Yellow Brick Road (treatment plan).
While on the road, she was frightened by the animals and characters, but she made friends (objective) with the Scarecrow, the Tinman, and the Cowardly Lion (informal supports). The Wicked Witch of the West tried to poison Dorothy with poppies (stressor), but Glenda stopped this effort by making it snow to wake Dorothy up (intervention). Once at Oz (achievement of goal), Dorothy met with the apparition of the Wizard, who told her and her friends that she could go back to Kansas only if she brought back the broomstick of the Wicked Witch of the West (new objective).
Terrified but brave (stressor), the four companions went to the Witch’s castle (intervention), only to have Dorothy captured by the Witch (stressor). Her friends were able to get into the castle and rescue her (intervention), but they were surrounded by the Witch’s soldiers (stressor). With quick thinking, she took a bucket of water (intervention) and doused the Witch’s broom as she was trying to burn the Scarecrow, and the water made the Witch melt. Thus, Dorothy could get the broomstick (achievement of goal).
When returning to Oz, Dorothy asked to go back to Kansas (assertion skill), only to find the “Wizard” was not who he claimed to be. But he offered her a balloon ride home (intervention) which didn’t pan out. Finally, Glenda (support) told her that the ruby red slippers would take her back if she clicked her heels and said, “There’s no place like home (intervention).” When Dorothy awoke, she was back in her bed, surrounded by her family and farmhands (formal and informal supports), happy to be back in Kansas (achievement of goal).
Praxes provides training and consulting services to agencies that want to improve their treatment planning. For more information, please contact us.
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PRAXES is a nationwide behavioral health software, consulting, and training company. No one in the behavioral health industry has a better reputation, and if you give us the chance, we’ll show you why! At PRAXES, our services improve the efficiency and structure of behavioral health agencies serving children and families nationwide. PRAXES brings over 45 years of administrative and clinical expertise. With more than 100 client companies nationwide, we offer the expertise to advance the quality of behavioral health services. We accomplish these goals through our new clinical decision software, our training of best practices, and helping companies meet regulatory standards. At PRAXES, we believe in being creative and fostering new ways to serve children and their families. Our vision is to empower the families our agencies serve with skills that not only improve their functioning, but help them to thrive in their everyday lives. When you give us the chance, you’ll be connected directly to our friendly staff, so you can expect immediate attention to your inquiry. So, don’t wait, call now!
Dan Thorne has unique perspectives on the field of mental health. As a clinician, he has had over 40 years of experience working with clients in the Southern California area. After obtaining his Bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Irvine, he worked with children in the Orange County Juvenile Hall. Here he honed his earliest techniques on at-risk children. After that, he obtained his Master’s degree in Counseling from California State University, Fullerton.
In the 1990’s, Dan turned his attention to the clinical and administrative side of behavioral health organizations. For three years, he was the Assistant Administrator of Starting Point, a chemical dependency facility in Costa Mesa, CA. In 2001, he took an opportunity to be the Director of Harbor View Community Services Center in Long Beach. When he arrived, the Center had only 80 clients and 13 staff. When he left, there were over 400 clients and 75 staff. Dan created several programs through their contract with the Los Angeles County Departments of Mental Health and Child and Family Services. Under his guidance, Harbor View became one of the leading providers of children’s services in Los Angeles County.
While improving the results of the client’s parents at the Center, Dan reflected on his experiences as a parent. His children themselves had special needs such as mental and intellectual challenges, and Dan knew the toll it takes on the parent. In order to help the child, the parent has to be healthy. From this concept, he created his parenting program. After years of refining it, teaching it to his staff at the Center, and then taking the results and comments from these efforts, he became the developer of the current PRAXES program. It is a culmination of Dan’s personal trials and tribulations as a parent along with empirical results and research of over 40 parenting programs.
Our vision at PRAXES is to advance the strength of parents and caregivers of children with special needs (mental health, intellectual, or physical) through education, support, and empowerment. Thus, they can live healthy and functional lives while caring for the child.
Apogee is a clinical decision software designed to help behavioral health practitioners with their treatment and patient engagement. It provides evidence-based and research-based components. Not only do they consist of elements from such practices as Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Seeking Safety, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Functional Behavior Analysis, but also the Intensive Models for Parents, Youth, and Children.
PRAXES has over 30 years of accreditation experience. We know what it takes to get your organization accredited. Whether it’s Joint Commission, CARF, or COA, our team can provide an evaluation of your current status and review the standards which need improvements. We will assist you with the policies, documentation, and training required to be accredited.
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