Intentional, inclusive practices meet client needs

It takes intentional planning to meet the needs of 50,000 individuals each year who represent different backgrounds, cultures, experiences, and challenges. When all of these factors impact how each person may respond to therapy, a versatile treatment toolkit and attentive listening help Rosecrance counselors guide clients toward their path to lasting recovery.

Relationships are the most important building block for Rosecrance staff as they seek to touch each client’s life. Over time, thoughtful questions help team members develop a better understanding of clients’ experiences. Staff can use this information to identify risk factors, as well as the existing strengths that can be advantages, and interventions that are likely to be effective.

Through the relationship-building process, Rosecrance staff are encouraged to exercise cultural humility—knowing they may not be the experts in every client’s background and demonstrating a willingness to learn more about the individual. This may mean formal training or simply conversations in which the client provides new perspectives.

“There are issues that affect recovery no matter what someone’s culture or experience is,” said Brenda Iliff, Vice President of Clinical Services at Rosecrance Jackson Centers. “Our goal is to welcome each person who walks through our doors and introduce them to the hope of recovery. That happens best when we walk alongside clients and show sensitivity to their personal story.”

Rosecrance is committed to developing an inclusive culture. Seminars throughout the year provide opportunities to learn more about various topics, and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee develops educational resources for use throughout the organization. All staff take cultural awareness and competency training at hire, and recent educational opportunities have focused on Native American culture, veterans, and the LGBTQ population.

Individualized treatment programs provide the foundation for recovery in numerous ways. Clinicians have a range of interventions within key frameworks that they match to each person’s situation. For example, therapeutic activities are important to emotional regulation, so clients are encouraged to find recreational experiences that fit their interests, whether it is art, music, sports, meditation, or another activity.

“We want people to learn lifelong recovery principles that fit in any situation,” Iliff said. “Not every intervention will work with every client, so that is why we expose them to many different experiences and train our clinicians to understand which ones are most effective with any individual.”