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Bridges Program

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1. What groups does the Bridges Program have?

The groups change several times throughout the year. View a current list of Bridges Program groups.

2. What is case management?

Case management is when our case managers and/or therapists work directly with individuals to provide them with additional help and support that benefit their quality of life.

3. Does the Bridges Program have a waiting list?

No. We do not have a waiting list for treatment at our agency or residential facilities.

4. Can you help with transportation?

Southwest Counseling will provide transportation to clients depending on their needs and the availability of staff.

5. Is the transitions home a lock-down facility?

No. The transitions home is voluntary.

6. How do you get into the transition home?

Individuals who have been diagnosed with a serious and persistent mental illness will be required to complete an application. The treatment team reviews the application and decides appropriateness of admission.

7. What is the Pathways Drop-In Community Center?

The Pathways Drop-In Center offers open activities such as movies, crafts, field trips, holiday dinners, and social dances. The center encourages social interaction and offers leisure and recreational activities.

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Main Questions

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1. What is mental health?

A person who is mentally healthy can generally manage stress, respond appropriately to problems in life, and express emotions in a healthy, productive way. If a person runs into trouble with these sorts of tasks, or has a problem that just can’t be solved, therapy may be a good option to improve mental health.

2. What can I expect at my first appointment?

Plan on spending about two hours at your first appointment. You will be asked to fill out some forms for our agency, including your consent to have treatment at Southwest Counseling Service.

You will meet with a mental health clinician who will complete an assessment with you on the computer. This person will ask you questions about your history and your reasons for coming in for counseling. At the end of the session, you and your clinician will talk about options for treatment and your treatment plan.

3. What is a sliding fee scale?

This is a subsidized fee scale based on gross household income and the number of people in the household. This is offered because we are partially funded by the state.

4. What about confidentiality?

Southwest Counseling Service takes your privacy very seriously, and we work hard to protect your confidentiality. Your information is kept in secure files, and is not shared with anyone without your consent.

There are some exceptions to that, which are legal reasons that your clinician would have to share information about you without your consent. Those include, but are not limited to, a serious medical emergency or threat to life, legally reportable information about child or adult neglect, or if there is a valid court order requiring information.

Sometimes people come to Southwest Counseling Service as a result of a court order or because of legal problems. If that is the case, we will usually have you sign a release of information form allowing us to contact your referral source about your therapy. This is often necessary to let the referral source know that you are attending therapy and how you are progressing.

For more information about all of the limits to confidentiality, as well as information about the employee code of ethics, please view the client information guide.

5. How do I make an appointment?

You can make an appointment by calling any of our offices directly.

6. How much does a drug and alcohol evaluation cost?

The total cost for this evaluation is $240. You may make payment arrangements with the clerical staff if you will not be able to pay in full. Also, please be aware that we will notify referral resources, such as probation, courts, etc., of payment and non-payment.

Finally, if you have had an evaluation or addiction severity index (ASI) assessment done in the past three months, we require a copy, and you have no additional charges against you, or the fees can be reduced. The cost with a previous ASI included is the based on our sliding fee scale.

7. What is residential treatment?

Rosen Recovery, Therapeutic Community, and Women’s Addiction Program are all residential treatment programs where individuals reside in Southwest Counseling Service housing during the substance abuse treatment program. Each program has various lengths of stay ranging from four months to more than one year.

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Mental Health Services / Child, Adolescent & Family Services

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1. What is mental health?

A person who is mentally healthy can generally manage stress, respond appropriately to problems in life, and express emotions in a healthy, productive way. If a person runs into trouble with these sorts of tasks, or has a problem that just can’t be solved, therapy may be a good option to improve mental health.

2. What kinds of mental health treatment are available?

Southwest Counseling Service offers individual therapy, family therapy, couples counseling, and group therapy. We also offer psychiatric medication services. Your mental health clinician will help you determine what form of therapy is going to be the most beneficial.

3. What can I expect at my first appointment?

Plan on spending about two hours at your first appointment. You will be asked to fill out some forms for our agency, including your consent to have treatment at Southwest Counseling Service.

You will meet with a mental health clinician who will complete an assessment with you on the computer. This person will ask you questions about your history and your reasons for coming in for counseling. At the end of the session, you and your clinician will talk about options for treatment and your treatment plan.

4. What if I have a therapist preference?

Talk to your assessment clinician about what you would like to get out of therapy, including the type of person you would like to work with. Many people have therapist preferences, such as preferring to work with a man or a woman or to participate in a particular type of therapy.

Southwest Counseling Service clinicians also have areas of expertise, so you may be referred to a specific person. If you like the person you meet with for your assessment, you can ask to keep working with that person.

5. How long does mental health treatment last?

Mental health treatment is as brief as possible, and your treatment plan is tailored to your needs. Most people do not stay in therapy long-term. For some types of mental health concerns, medication management may be required long-term.

Individual therapy sessions last 50-60 minutes, unless you and your clinician make other arrangements.

6. Does therapy make a difference?

Most people find that therapy makes a difference to them. If you are ready to make changes in your life and willing to work on your treatment plan, you will begin to see positive results.

7. I would like to bring my child in for therapy. What do I do?

Therapy is different for children than it is for adults. It is critical that the parents / caregiver be involved and participate in the child’s treatment. Therapy for children often involves some sort of play.

When talk therapy is used, it will be used at a level that your child can understand. You will be asked to be involved in your child’s therapy, but you may not need to attend every session. Your child’s clinician can talk with you more about the treatment plan.

8. I've seen group therapy on television and that’s not for me. Why is group therapy recommended?

Group therapy doesn't usually look like it does on television. Southwest Counseling Service mental health groups strive to be supportive and help people make progress in improving their mental health. Sometimes it can be very useful to learn from your peers, be supportive and to help them learn from you.

Group therapy is also a great option for meeting with a clinician every week. We offer a variety of mental health groups. Talk with your clinician about which group is right for you and about why group therapy was recommended.

9. How do I make the most of therapy?

Most people enter therapy because something is not going well in their lives. Your therapist will work with you on a treatment plan, and this will usually involve you being willing to participate actively in sessions and to try new skills and behaviors at home. The more effort you can put into your therapy, the more change you can expect to see.

10. How much does therapy cost?

Southwest Counseling Service bills insurance companies, Medicaid, and Medicare. Some companies offer employee assistance programs that provide several free sessions of counseling.

Southwest Counseling Service also operates on a sliding fee scale. The amount you pay for a session will depend on your household income. That is why you will be asked to provide proof of income at your first session. Even if you are covered by insurance, it is important to set up your sliding fees in case you want to participate in therapy that is not covered by your insurance company.

11. What about confidentiality?

Southwest Counseling Service takes your privacy very seriously, and we work hard to protect your confidentiality. Your information is kept in secure files, and is not shared with anyone without your consent.

There are some exceptions to that, which are legal reasons that your clinician would have to share information about you without your consent. Those include, but are not limited to, a serious medical emergency or threat to life, legally reportable information about child or adult neglect, or if there is a valid court order requiring information.

Sometimes people come to Southwest Counseling Service as a result of a court order or because of legal problems. If that is the case, we will usually have you sign a release of information form allowing us to contact your referral source about your therapy. This is often necessary to let the referral source know that you are attending therapy and how you are progressing.

For more information about all of the limits to confidentiality, as well as information about the employee code of ethics, please view the client information guide.

12. What is a sliding fee scale?

This is a subsidized fee scale based on gross household income and the number of people in the household. This is offered because we are partially funded by the state.

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Psychiatric Services

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1. How can I get medication if I don’t have any insurance?

You can apply for patient assistance programs and receive your medications for free, which are available for many psychotropic medications prescribed at Southwest Counseling Service.

2. What happens when I do not show or cancel the day of my appointment with a doctor or nurse?

You will not be able to reschedule. You will be referred to our open access system. Each doctor and nurse has one hour each week of open access time. You must call at 8:00 am the day of to reserve a spot in order to be seen.

3. Who is available at Southwest Counseling for me to see to receive psychiatric services?

We have three doctors who are available on our telepsych system's web camera. They are not here in person, but are the easiest to schedule an appointment with. We also have an advanced practice registered nurse who is here but is not accepting new clients at this time.

4. If I am only seen every couple of months by the nurse or doctor, is there another way to receive medication advice or assistance?

Yes, there is a full time psychiatric case manager and psychiatric clerk who works directly with the nurse and doctors. They take all messages, medication refill requests, and phone calls. They are more readily available and are the liaison between the nurse, doctor, and you the client.

5. What do I do when I need a refill of my medication?

To ensure you don’t run out completely, we ask you give us a week or more notice before you need a refill. This way we are sure to have the refill approved and available for you in timely manner.

6. If I am stable on my medications, do I still need to come in and be seen to obtain refills or remain an active client?

Yes. The State of Wyoming requires that all our client’s be in contact with a nurse, doctor, or case manager every 90 days or their chart is closed and will not be an active client. There is then a long intake process to get back in before a client can be seen again by the doctors or nurse. If a client is closed, or even if the client is still open, but has not been seen in over 3 months, no refills will be given until the intake process has been completed or an appointment is made and attended.

7. What do I do if I lose my medications or my prescriptions?

A call to the case manager or clerk is the first step. Each case will be reviewed accordingly and the proper action will be taken. The case manager or clerk will then contact the client and inform them of the outcome and procedure to follow.

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Psychological Evaluations

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1. How long should I plan to be there for my evaluation?

There will be paperwork required prior to meeting with the psychologist. Once paperwork is completed, your evaluation is generally scheduled for three to four hours, though it may only take an hour depending upon how many tests are being performed. Please call ahead of time if you are concerned about how long your particular appointment will last.

2. What kind of testing will be done?

Psychologists at Southwest Counseling Service can test personality, intelligence, achievement, and memory and answer other types of questions. Each test is different and some require you to fill out forms on your own, some require you to answer questions using a computer, and others involve the psychologist sitting with you at a table while you complete various tasks. The psychologist will gather as much information as possible in the given amount of time to make accurate diagnoses and offer appropriate recommendations.

3. Why did the Social Security Disability Determination Service (SSDDS) refer me for a psychological evaluation? My disability is for a medical problem. I don’t have mental health problems.

SSDDS will most likely request as much information as possible from medical providers. However, they often want information about your memory, intelligence, and mental health functioning as well. In these cases, they contract with Southwest Counseling Service to provide these evaluations.

4. How long will it take to get in, and how long until the results are sent out?

We currently have two psychologists providing a combined total of six to eight evaluations weekly in Rock Springs and Green River. We are usually scheduled out two or three weeks, but will get you in as quickly as possible. Once the testing is completed, your evaluator will score the tests and write up a report. This report will be sent out within two weeks of the date of the evaluation.

5. How much will this cost?

Many of the evaluations done at Southwest Counseling Service are referred by other agencies. Most of these are paid for by the referral source. Evaluations that are court-ordered, self-referred, or for medical purposes, such as pre-surgical, are usually paid for by the individual.

Your insurance will be billed first, but if your insurance does not cover the evaluation, you are responsible to make sure the bill is paid. If you want to bill your insurance, please call your insurance company for pre-approval. Most self-pay evaluations are $450 at this time.

6. Do I need to see a psychiatrist or a psychologist?

These two words can be confusing. If you would like to make an appointment to get medication to treat depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions, you will need to see a psychiatrist.

A psychologist is a counselor or a therapist with a doctoral degree. If you need to have testing, this is the person you will need to see.

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Recovery Services

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1. How much does a drug and alcohol evaluation cost?

The total cost for this evaluation is $240. You may make payment arrangements with the clerical staff if you will not be able to pay in full. Also, please be aware that we will notify referral resources, such as probation, courts, etc., of payment and non-payment.

Finally, if you have had an evaluation or addiction severity index (ASI) assessment done in the past three months, we require a copy, and you have no additional charges against you, or the fees can be reduced. The cost with a previous ASI included is the based on our sliding fee scale.

2. What is a sliding fee scale?

This is a subsidized fee scale based on gross household income and the number of people in the household. This is offered because we are partially funded by the state.

3. What is residential treatment?

Rosen Recovery, Therapeutic Community, and Women’s Addiction Program are all residential treatment programs where individuals reside in Southwest Counseling Service housing during the substance abuse treatment program. Each program has various lengths of stay ranging from four months to more than one year.

4. How long will I be in residential treatment?

Residential treatment programs like Rosen Recovery, Therapeutic Community, and Women’s Addiction Program have different lengths of stay that range from four months to more than one year. All of our residential treatment programs are based on the needs of the individual and their progress through the programs.

5. How much does residential treatment cost?

The cost for residential treatment is based on our sliding fee scale, which is based on gross household income and the number of people in the household. This will be determined at the time of your admission. You will be billed after the completion of treatment. A monthly payment schedule will be arranged with the billing department at the time of discharge.

6. Can you send me an application for treatment?

No. We do not have an application for treatment.

7. How do I get into your treatment programs?

In order to be considered for admission to treatment, we need to perform a drug and alcohol assessment. To set up an appointment for a drug and alcohol assessment, please contact Southwest Counseling Services by calling (307) 352-6677.

8. Do you have a family week?

No. We do not have a family week at this time.

9. What can I bring to residential treatment?

Before entering treatment a packet will be mailed or faxed to individuals defining the items they can bring, and rules and expectations of the program.

10. When can I visit with my family?

Depending on which program, Rosen Recovery, Therapeutic Community, or Women’s Addiction Program, clients are allowed visits with their family weekly. Clients in the Therapeutic Community and Women’s Addiction programs are required to be on support level before they have the privilege of visits with family, except with their children.

11. Can I smoke at the facility?

No. The facility is tobacco free. We also offer tobacco cessation services.

12. Do you have an inpatient treatment program for adolescents?

No. We do not have an inpatient program for adolescents, but we do offer an adolescents' intensive outpatient program.

13. Is your center gender separate or co-ed?

The Therapeutic Community and Women’s Addiction programs are gender separate programs. Rosen Recovery is a co-ed facility.

14. How much money do I need to bring into the program?

You may bring money to provide for necessary hygiene items, phone cards, etc., but it is not required.

15. Do you require a deposit before entering treatment?

No. We do not require a deposit before entering our treatment programs.

16. Is your facility a lock-down facility?

No. Southwest Counseling is not a lock-down facility. Clients may leave treatment at any time should they wish to do so.

17. Do you require a physical and a TB test before entering treatment?

A physical and TB test are not required to be accepted to the treatment facilities.Southwest Counseling Service has a physician’s assistant on staff that will provide services at the time of admission.

18. Can I bring my computer with me to treatment?

No electronics, including computers, cell phones, and electronic games, are allowed in the facility.

19. Do you have a gym and / or exercise equipment at your facility?

Opportunities to exercise are given twice a week.