So, you’ve completed your intake. Here you can find some further information that may be useful while waiting for your first appointment.
If you are not yet signed up to a Drug ARM program and would like to be, please contact our Intake Service or learn more about our Programs.
From this page you can:
If you would like to access additional Drug ARM intake resources including our resource pack, online support group, SMS updates or check in calls please contact our Intake Service and we will be happy to provide you with those supports.
Feeling tense, stressed, and worried at certain times when under pressure is a normal human response. Everybody feels anxious from time to time. Anxiety becomes a problem when it is intense and prolonged, and when it starts to get in the way of day-to-day functioning. Here are some exercises for managing anxiety from Beyond Blue:
Slow breathing
Progressive muscle relaxation
Stay in the present moment
Anxiety can make your thoughts live in a terrible future that hasn’t happened yet. Try to bring yourself back to where you are. Meditation can help.
Other activities:
We all feel low sometimes but if these sad feelings stay for more than 2 weeks it might be a sign of depression. Some tips for managing depression include:
For more information on these tips, check out the following site:
Want to check-in on your mental health?
If you want to see where you’re at on your mental health journey and to better understand if you need support, head over and take Beyond Blue’s mental health check-in.
A good sleep supports good mental and physical health, though many of us don’t feel we’re getting the quality sleep we need. Follow these tips for a more restful night:
For more tips on how to get a good night’s sleep, or to access sleepcasts or meditations, visit headspace
To book an appointment with Drug ARM you will need to complete an Intake Assessment over the phone which will take approx 30 minutes. You will be asked some questions about you and your health that help a Drug ARM Intake Worker determine what treatment program you need. Intake Assessment phone calls are not recorded.
If an appointment is available in the next month, you will be offered an appointment time and booked in to a program by the Drug ARM Intake Worker during that call.
If the treatment program does not have any available appointments you will be asked if you want to be placed on a wait list. Wait times for appointments vary between programs and locations. Being placed on the wait list may be due to an existing waitlist for that service or due to your availability. You can ask the Intake Worker how long the waitlist is before completing your Intake Assessment.
If you choose to join the waitlist, you will have a variety of support options available to you. These include a resource pack that can be mailed or emailed to you, attending an online support group run by Drug ARM or having a Drug ARM worker call and check in on you from time to time. You can choose some or all of these options. You can also choose to not use any waitlist resources.
When an appointment becomes available, an Intake Worker will call you and book an appointment for you. It is important to tell Drug ARM if there is a change to any of your contact details so we can contact you if an appointment becomes available.
While waiting for your appointment, you will have a variety of support options available to you. These include a resource pack that can be mailed or emailed to you, attending an online support group run by Drug ARM or having a Drug ARM worker call and check in on you from time to time. You can choose some or all of these options. You can also choose to not use any intake resources.
If you choose to not use any options and then change your mind, please contact our Intake Service and we will be happy to provide you with supports.
When an appointment becomes available, an Intake Worker will call you and book an appointment for you. It is important to tell Drug ARM if there is a change to any of your contact details so we can contact you if an appointment becomes available.
If you permanently relocate you will need to advise Drug ARM that you have moved. If you have moved to a location where Drug ARM has a service, you can talk to an Intake Worker about joining a new waitlist closer to where you live. In some instances you may be able to access an appointment sooner if there is a smaller waiting list or no waiting list in your new area.
In some areas, Drug ARM offers support groups that do not require enrolment. You can learn more about these by calling our Intake Service on 07 3620 8880.
Here are some crisis lines if you feel like you need to talk to someone sooner:
Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Family Drug Support: 1300 368 186
Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 649 467
Alcohol & Drug Information Service: 1800 177 833
Drug ARM will usually not tell anyone your personal information without you (or your guardian) saying it’s okay unless we think you may harm yourself or others, we think someone might be harming a child, or we receive a court order. Sometimes we disclose some de-identified information for statistical purposes however this cannot be traced back to you. We do not disclose your information to your family, friends or services such as Child Safety or Corrections unless you ask us to.
Yes. If an appointment is not available immediately, Drug ARM is able to provide a letter of support to you outlining that you have requested a session and are on the wait list.
For a letter of support, contact the Intake Team on 07 3620 8880.
What happens in a session?
When you first meet with your counsellor, they will ask you about what you would like to gain from the program.
Together, led by you, your counsellor will help you put a plan in place for your time together.
To do this, your counsellor may ask you questions about yourself and your life. You do not have to answer any question you do not want to.
If you aren’t sure what your goals are – that’s fine! Sometimes over the course of a few weeks the goals will become clearer as you begin to talk with your counsellor about options.
You are welcome to talk about any issue with your counsellor. It does not always have to be about alcohol or other drug use. Your counsellor can help you understand Drug ARM’s Privacy Policy and your rights as a client of Drug ARM.
From time to time, you and your counsellor may agree to set some ‘homework’ for you to do between sessions.
How long is my session?
Counselling sessions are usually 50 to 60 minutes long.
How long does the counselling program go for?
Our Creating Options and Community and Family Support Services offer up to 12 weekly sessions. You can attend as many or as few of these sessions as needed over a one-year period. We also provide ongoing support.
How long does the Day Program go for?
Our Day Program is a twelve-week program running daily on Monday, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9am to 2.30pm.
Who is my counsellor?
Depending on the program, you may see one or two counsellors. In the Creating Options and Day Programs, your counsellor will have a tertiary qualification or significant experience working with alcohol, other drug and mental health concerns. In the Community and Family Support Service, you will see two counsellors who are in a senior placement program (similar in experience to a medical residency program) supported by a senior alcohol and other drug specialist supervisor.
Do I have to stop using alcohol or other drugs?
No, though we ask that you try to avoid using drugs before a session.
Can I bring my phone?
Yes.
Can I smoke cigarettes?
Yes, you may smoke before or after a session.
What if I change my mind?
That is fine. Please let us know as soon as possible so we can update our records. You are welcome to re-enrol in a program at any time.
We bring compassionate people together to change lives.
| 01 | Case Worker - Rockhampton |
| 02 | Case Worker - Maryborough |
| 03 | Clinical Worker - Moranbah |
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1300 656 800
Intake Service
(07) 3620 8880
