By: Jamelia Hand MHS CADC CODP
I met my dear friend Keitha Bevly 25 years ago, and from the moment we connected, I knew she was special. We worked as “Chemical Dependency Counselors” on the West Side of Chicago. After starting my consulting business years later, I recruited her for a physicians office where I was building out their Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) service. I wasn’t just bringing on a counselor, I was adding someone who would transform the way they cared for patients. Keitha didn’t just do her job; she embodied the kind of support, wisdom, and intuition that make counselors indispensable in opioid addiction treatment.
She was so effective that I brought her on to serve three additional providers, and in each setting, she partnered with me to make a difference. She knew when a patient was on the verge of relapse before they did. She could sense when someone was holding back in a session and had a way of getting them to open up. She understood that recovery isn’t just about medication, it’s about connection, accountability, and guiding patients through the emotional weight of healing.
Keitha passed away last year, and I miss her deeply. But what she taught me about the role of counselors in opioid treatment continues to shape my work. I’ve built and supported numerous outpatient programs, and one truth remains constant: the programs that include dedicated counselors or have strong partnerships with opioid use disorder (OUD) counseling services, consistently outperform those that don’t.
Yet, despite overwhelming evidence that combining Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) with counseling leads to better outcomes, counseling is not a required component of treatment because MAT is a medical intervention. This often leads to programs overlooking the value of counselors. Physicians and program directors who fail to integrate counseling into their models are missing a critical piece of patient care. Here’s why every outpatient opioid treatment program should prioritize counselors.
Counselors Are the Institutional Memory of Treatment Programs
Counselors have been on the front lines long before new regulations, policy shifts, or clinical advancements. They understand the history of patient struggles, the realities of addiction, and the nuances of treatment settings, especially counselors in recovery. Their knowledge is essential to maintaining program integrity and ensuring patients receive consistent care.
They See It All
From early stabilization to long-term recovery, counselors witness every phase of a patient’s journey. They notice when a patient is struggling before it escalates into a crisis. They recognize behavioral cues that may indicate relapse risk, untreated trauma, or emerging mental health concerns. Their ability to detect these issues early helps prevent setbacks and improve patient outcomes.
They Know More About the Patient Than You Do
While physicians and program directors focus on clinical guidelines and treatment protocols, counselors deeply understand patient behavior, social determinants of health, and the personal factors influencing recovery. They know who lacks stable housing, who is dealing with domestic violence, who is struggling with untreated anxiety, and who is at risk of dropping out of care.
They Were There Before and They Will Be There After
Outpatient programs experience turnover at all levels, but counselors provide continuity. They build relationships that create trust, making them essential for patient retention and adherence to treatment plans. Patients often confide in their counselors in ways they might not with their prescriber, allowing for a more holistic approach to care.
Counselors Are Your Early Warning System
They recognize the signs that indicate a patient is heading toward crisis. Whether it’’s disengagement from care, non-adherence to medication, or re-emerging behavioral patterns, counselors can intervene before the situation escalates. Their proactive approach reduces emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and overdose risk.
If a Counselor Is Part of Your Team, You are More Likely to Provide Better Care
Programs that integrate counseling into their MOUD treatment models see better patient engagement, higher retention rates, and improved long-term recovery outcomes. Even when counseling isn’t mandatory, ensuring access to a skilled professional who can provide behavioral interventions, coping strategies, and emotional support enhances every aspect of care.
How Vantage Clinical Consulting Can Help
At Vantage Clinical Consulting, we understand that every treatment program is unique, but one principle remains true, comprehensive care leads to better patient outcomes. We help healthcare providers strengthen their approach to opioid use disorder treatment by:
•Developing program models that integrate counseling services, whether on-site or through strong referral networks. •Training teams on best practices for engaging patients in counseling and addressing barriers to participation.
•Providing compliance guidance to ensure programs align with regulatory and accrediting body requirements while enhancing quality of care.
•Offering strategic partnerships to help providers connect with experienced counselors who specialize in OUD treatment.
If your program doesn’t currently have a dedicated counselor, now is the time to make a change. Let us help you build a treatment model that doesn’t just check boxes but truly transforms lives.
Keitha understood the importance of this work. She knew that medication alone wasn’t enough and that recovery is a process requiring both medical and emotional support. Every program should have someone like her, a counselor who doesn’t just follow protocol but sees the whole person behind the diagnosis.
If you’re ready to strengthen your program, Vantage Clinical Consulting is here to help. Because when you invest in counseling, you’re not just improving patient care, you’re saving lives.
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