Our Programs
The Court Report Central Programs
The Court Report Central (CRC) program was specifically designed to assist individuals who are unable to access in-patient programs. They maybe refused in-patient treatment for a variety of reasons including that they are on replacement therapy, they have criminal histories for violent offences, or they face the insurmountable problem of trying to access in-patient access from custody. Finally, if they are in custody and trying to access a private program, the cost may be a significant barrier. The CRC program offers assistance for many mental health difficulties, but the program tends to centre around certain difficulties, as follows:
The Substance Abuse Program
Many individuals attempting to secure bail have alcohol/drug problems, with very little understanding of why these problems have developed; whether this be due to underlying complex trauma from childhood abuse, underlying neurodevelopmental problems such as undiagnosed ADHD, which is highly correlated with psychostimulant drug use, or underlying mental health issues which has never been appropriately addressed or in some instances diagnosed. This programs is highly structured and was written and designed by this author following many years working in the drug and alcohol field. The program is aimed at imparting knowledge about why and how drug and alcohol problems develop, and hopefully with knowledge the process of change can begin. Unfortunately, there is little in the community which offers a structured program that examines the dynamics of all the major drug groups, the interactions between drug groups, the consequences resulting from certain substance abuse problems and the problems that can develop in association with certain substances.
The Trauma Program:
This program is frequently delivered following the substance abuse program, because these two problems are typically comorbid with each other. The difficulty is that the timing of this program needs to be carefully considered. If trauma is discussed too early in recovery from active addiction, it invariably results in a relapse. This is a highly structured program which examines the dynamics of trauma but also how this has affected the attachment process, and how this continues to play out in an individual’s life.
The Anger Program:
This is also a structured program and again this is often linked to the first two programs, because anger is frequently comorbid with trauma and also because it often occurs in combination with certain substances such as Crystal Methylamphetamine.
The program anticipates that some individuals will present with a combination of all three problems, in addition to underlying psychiatric issues such as substance induced psychosis. In this situation they need to be assessed to see if they need psychiatric assessment and possible psychotropic medication. Individuals under a CTO are not suitable for the program, and their needs are already being addressed under the CTO.
Participants must have a stable address, and they must be willing to undertake urinalysis, with all results forwarded to Court Report Central. All treatment can be done in person or via AVL or phone. If the client is on Supreme Court bail this will probably be via AVL. The program requires a copy of the bail conditions, and the client signs a form that acknowledges that they will be breached if they do not abide by the program or if they provide positive urine results.
The entry fee into the program is $1,320 and following this is the cost per session of $220 (with Medicare rebate for 10 sessions per year). All treating practitioners are registered psychologists or clinical psychologists. The program is 24 weeks in duration but can be extended to incorporate an aftercare program for individuals not yet sentenced. Psychometric testing is administered to establish a baseline measure and testing is then readministered to examine patterns of change. One of the main barriers to treatment in the community can be that individuals do not turn up for sessions or they terminate treatment early. This problem is almost eradicated with the CRC program, because individuals are under Court orders to comply with treatment.
The Court is notified by the practice manager in writing, if the client breaches the conditions of the program.