Ryan Rienzo

CNS 771 CG
Assignment 6.3
June 15th, 2015
Community Agency Project

Agency Name
The Carrier Clinic
Agency Mission
The mission of the Carrier Clinic is to inspire hope & recovery
through expert treatment, education, compassionate care, and
outstanding service. They have a vision that by providing
compassionate care they can shape the future of behavioral health.
Organizational structure/ Description of Personnel
The organization is composed of several different types of health
care professionals, all with power in different departments and
divisions. At the head of the organization structure is the president and
CEO, under his direction are the medical staff and treatment team.
There is a highly accredited medical staff that assists in patient
recover. The medical staff is comprised of a chief medical officer,
Clinical psychiatrist on the acute care unit, clinical psychiatrist in the
admissions department, clinical director of adolescent services, clinical
psychiatrist of older adult services, clinical psychiatrist on the

adolescent unit, and a clinical psychiatrist who specializes in

electroconvulsive therapy.
The treatment team is composed of varying professionals all with
important roles and responsibilities. Psychiatrists and advanced
practice registered nurses work collaboratively to provide the highest
level of care. The nursing staff is assisted in providing care by mental
health technicians and mental health counselors. There are also clinical
case managers, allied counselors, residential counselors, and
addictions counselors. For emergency situations there are crisis
intervention specialists on staff. There are occupational therapists and
physical therapists that are also part of the treatment team.
Financial Structure
The Carrier Clinic accepts most insurances and a majority of
insurance companies will cover treatment at the clinic. For those who
qualify, the clinic offers financial support so that care can be provided
to as many people as possible. Day-to-day financial concerns are
managed by the Financial Counseling Department.
Clientele Served
The Carrier Clinic provides short-term, acute-care hospitalization
for psychiatric illness and substance abuse. The clinic serves
populations from all different socioeconomic backgrounds and
ethnicities. Carrier offers services for adolescents ages 13-18, adults
ages 18-65, and older adults 60 years old and older. Common

presenting problems and diagnoses include substance abuse,

depression, anxiety, stress, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia,
schizoaffective disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Services Offered
Psychiatric inpatient hospitalization programs include Adolescent
Psychiatric and Dual Diagnosis, General Adult Psychiatric and Dual
Diagnosis, Psychiatric Acute Care, Older Adult Psychiatric and Dual
Diagnosis. Treatment services include Individual, family and group
therapy, psychiatric consultation, family education, medication
evaluations and management, social training groups, pre-vocational
training, cognitive screening, grief and loss recovery groups and crisis
intervention.
How does the agency market its services?
The agency markets its services via the Internet, brochures
located throughout the community, referrals and testimonials, events
and free groups.
The persons Current Work Experiences
The professional I interviewed is an addictions counselor. Her job
duties include working with the patient and their family to educate
them about substance abuse and the impact that it can have on the
individual. The ultimate goal is to create a stable environment for the

patient while improving their overall functioning. She is a Licensed

Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor, which are strongly preferred by
the Carrier Clinic. Prior to working at the clinic she had to have two
years experience in addictions and Co-Occurring disorders.
Degree of job satisfaction and Sources of Frustration
The professional explained that being an addictions counselor is
not always easy. It takes a lost of patience and empathy, however
overall she greatly enjoys her career. She finds it truly rewarding to
help others through their difficult times. Her favorite part of her job is
seeing clients overcome their challenges and graduate from the
program. With that being said, she explained how it can be frustrating
or disappointing when clients she feels are highly capable drop out of
the program or relapse. She stressed the importance of self-care, and
feels that it is extremely important to prevent burnout.