Individuals who seek mental health treatment to either improve or enhance their quality of life may be under the impression that they will work one-on-one solely with one therapist or other mental health professional in treatment. Yet, because each client presents to treatment with different symptoms and diagnoses, past experiences, current needs, and individual treatment goals, it can be challenging for one professional to have all the knowledge and expertise they need to address all of these factors by themselves. Thus, with the help of case management, clients can work with a variety of professionals to improve their mental health.
At Wisconsin Wellness, we offer outpatient treatment programs designed to improve the quality of life for individuals and provide long-lasting care in the community. By meeting our clients where they are with the use of individualized care together with case management, we can provide the individuals we serve with the personalized treatment experiences they need to heal from the situations and symptoms that negatively impact their mental health. No matter what an individual may present to treatment, our treatment staff and services can ensure that they can achieve lasting symptom management and thrive in daily life.
What Is Case Management?
To understand the role of case management in effective mental health treatment, it is first important to know what case management is. As stated in the publication Case Management by authors Giardino and De Jesus, “Case management is defined as a health care process in which a professional helps a patient or client develop a plan that coordinates and integrates the support services that the patient/client needs to optimize the healthcare and psychosocial possible goals and outcomes.”
One of the most important things to understand is that the level of care coordination offered in case management is vastly different from what is available when working with a single clinician. Each clinician offers different treatment specialties and expertise when it comes to improving mental health and quality of life. Yet, more often than not, each client enters treatment with a plethora of intersecting concerns. Without working to address each of these concerns through a unique lens and a professional who specializes in using that lens, it can be more challenging to obtain lasting recovery.
Meanwhile, clients receiving care may struggle to keep all of their ducks in a row as they work with different professionals in treatment. Thus, with case management, each client will work directly with a case manager who develops, coordinates, and monitors the client’s treatment plans and outcomes throughout their treatment journey.
Identifying the Role of Case Management in Treatment
Those who may be new to the case management process and the benefits it can offer to treatment and recovery may find a case example to be helpful. For instance, consider an individual who is seeking treatment for addiction, the most severe form of substance use disorder (SUD). Indeed, alcohol and other types of drug addiction often trigger destructive effects on many aspects of a person’s life. As a result, not only will their mental and behavioral health be impaired, but likely also their housing, employment, relationships, and overall quality of life.
Further, as highlighted in Comphrenesive Case Management for Substance Abuse Treatment by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), there are many other common challenges that individuals with addiction may present to treatment with. Some additional challenges include, but are not limited to:
- Polysubstance use: The use of multiple substances in tandem
- Co-occurring mental health disorders: Such as depression and anxiety disorders
- The presence of untreated trauma: Whether early childhood trauma or trauma from substance abuse
- Co-occurring chronic health disorders: Such as liver disease or HIV/AIDS
- Social challenges:
- Chronic homelessness and associated barriers to safe and affordable housing
- Incomplete high school education
- Lack of job skills
- Limited resources, including a lack of health insurance
- Legal challenges:
- Incarceration and repeated arrests
- Costly fines
All of these challenges must be addressed in treatment to enable lasting symptom management and long-term recovery. Yet, no one clinician can be responsible for helping a client navigate all of these challenges. As stated in the aforementioned publication by SAMHSA, “Case management is needed because, in most jurisdictions, services are fragmented and inadequate to meet the needs of [those with addiction].” Thus, case management will provide each client who enters treatment with the comprehensive care that they need to appropriately and successfully address these challenges through the intimate collaboration of a treatment team.
The 6 Core Elements of Case Management
According to the previously mentioned publication titled Case Management, there are six core elements to the case management process. These six core elements include the following.
#1. Client Identification and Eligibility Determination
The case management process begins with an initial meeting between the case manager and the client to determine the client’s eligibility for services. During this meeting, the case manager emphasizes building rapport with the client.
#2. Assessment
The next step of the case management process involves obtaining a thorough and detailed assessment of the client’s overall health. This includes bringing attention to any of the common challenges described above. In addition, it also includes understanding the client’s unique capabilities, access to resources and other care in the community, and goals for treatment to gain a comprehensive understanding of the client.
#3. Care Planning
After a thorough assessment of the client has been obtained, the next step of the case management process is care planning, which also involves goal setting. As described in the publication, care planning encompasses the following:
- “The steps necessary to build a care plan that defines treatment goals,
- Tasks and actions needed to move towards those goals,
- Access to specific services and supports required to achieve the stated goals, and [finally]
- The identification of targeted outcomes that are specific to that [of] the patient/client.”
During care planning, a case manager will connect a client with treatment providers and associated services that the case manager believes will best support their treatment goals. Additionally, the case manager will also work to remove any potential barriers to treatment or other obstacles that may stand in the way of the client’s ability to enhance and improve their quality of life in treatment.
#4. Plan Implementation
Next, plan implementation occurs when a client’s treatment plan is set in motion with the support of a case manager and the treatment participation of a client. This is an ongoing part of the process that will evolve with further collaboration from healthcare professionals.
#5. Plan Monitoring
This element of the case management process is ongoing and consists of seeking feedback and conducting follow-ups with a client and their care team to determine the effectiveness of the client’s treatment plan. With the help of feedback and follow-ups with a client’s care team, a case manager and client can work collaboratively to make adjustments to the client’s treatment plan as they see fit.
Plan monitoring also involves ongoing education and advocacy for a client. As stated in the publication mentioned earlier by SAMHSA, “While a professional conducting therapy may speak out on behalf of a client, case management is dedicated to making services fit clients, rather than making clients fit services.” Such advocacy ensures that a client feels empowered to pursue the services, social supports, and other resources essential to overcoming challenging circumstances and improving quality of life.
#6. Transition and Discharge
Finally, transition and discharge take place when it is determined that a client is prepared to move across the continuum of care – whether step up to a higher level of care or step down to a lower level of care. For instance, an individual in a partial hospitalization program (PHP) may step down to an intensive outpatient program (IOP) or general outpatient program after meeting treatment goals. This phase of the process also involves preparing for expected challenges during these transitions and coming up with a long-term plan for continuing care.
Differences Between Case Management and Other Support Services
Case management differs from other support services in many ways. Simply put, a case manager is responsible for helping individuals access and coordinate external resources that will complement a client’s unique healing journey. On the other hand, other healthcare professionals, like therapists, for example, can guide individuals in accessing internal resources to, ultimately, facilitate healthy behavior change.
It is important to point out that both case managers and therapists play vital roles in the bigger goal of improving mental health and quality of life for clients. In the same way, having one without the other can lead to gaps in treatment and associated treatment outcomes. Still, understanding the differences between case management and other support services can be valuable in helping individuals recognize the specific value of the case management process in treatment.
Providing Truly Personalized Care Plans
One difference between case management and other support services is that case management can provide truly personalized care plans for clients. Many facilities may say that they are committed to providing personalized care yet do not offer case management services. Without a case manager available to assess a client’s comprehensive needs, develop appropriate care plans, coordinate collaborative care, and monitor the client’s progress, certain treatment goals may fall by the wayside.
Meanwhile, with the help of a case manager, a client can rest assured knowing that their care is in the hands of a professional who is dedicated to supporting their healing and recovery. If a specific treatment approach, treatment professional, or intervention is not as effective as a client hoped it would be, they can work with their case manager to actively adjust their care plan. The opportunity to experience truly personalized care with case management is something that sets the process apart from other support services.
Facilitating Communication Between Healthcare Providers
Alongside providing truly personalized care plans for clients, another difference between case management and other support services is the intentionality placed on facilitating communication between professionals and providers. Rather than a client having to relay information about personal challenges or treatment progress over their treatment journey or make appointments themselves, a case manager communicates these things to the care team that is working with the client. This ensures that client care is both organized and comprehensive, working to address the individualized needs of the client without overwhelming them in the process.
Crisis Intervention and Management
Yet another difference between case management and other support services is case management‘s approach to crisis intervention. According to Crisis Intervention by authors Wang and Gupta, “Crisis intervention is a short-term management technique designed to reduce potential permanent damage to an individual affected by a crisis.” When a client is facing a crisis, their case manager is available to assist and support them in whatever way the client needs. This may include providing emotional listening support, though it may also include exploring options for navigating the crisis, identifying helpful community resources, and implementing coping skills for the client.
How Case Managers Support Mental Health in Wisconsin
At Wisconsin Wellness, our case managers support mental health in unique ways. We provide case managers to our clients so that they have a direct line of communication with a professional, specifically the professional responsible for coordinating their care. The case manager will relay any important information from the client to their care team, essentially closing the gap between treatment providers and their clients and providing them with the reassurance they need to be successful in treatment.
Oftentimes, clients enter treatment with many concerns, questions, and intimidations about the process. Thus, a case manager exists as an ally to encourage and empower the client to prioritize their quality of life and strengthen their mental health as they heal. They are there to answer client questions, reassure the client of their progress when they feel defeated or unmotivated, and ensure a successful transition from treatment back into daily life.
Another way that case managers support mental health in Wisconsin is by ensuring that client treatment is both holistic and client-centered. Whereas some facilities only focus on treating a client’s presenting symptoms, case management services are committed to assisting clients in overcoming all obstacles that stand in their way of achieving and sustaining quality of life. A case manager also ensures that both traditional, evidence-based interventions and holistic, complementary treatment approaches are incorporated into a client’s treatment plan to facilitate a well-rounded recovery.
All of these things and more only scratch the surface of how case managers can support mental health in Wisconsin. Yet, one of the most important qualities of case managers is the unconditional support that they provide to clients. Support is key on the journey to mental wellness. With the consistent support of a case manager, clients will have the best chance at securing lasting success and healing in treatment and beyond.
Improving Mental Health at Wisconsin Wellness
Wisconsin Wellness can cater treatment to meet the unique needs of any person seeking to enhance and improve their lives – regardless of the severity of their symptoms. A case manager will support clients as they gain a better understanding of what they want out of their treatment experience.
In addition to case management services, our facility also offers both individual and group therapy interventions, as well as couples and family therapy. Some of the clinical modalities and approaches we use in treatment include:
- Anger management
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Accelerated resolution therapy
- Behavior modification
- Biofeedback
- Breathwork
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
- Internal family systems (IFS) therapy
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)
- Motivational interviewing
- Neurofeedback
- Play therapy
- Rational emotive behavior therapy
- Somatic experiencing
Our goal is to improve mental health for all – children, adolescents, and adults – to make a lasting, positive impact on their quality of life. More often than not, this process will require healing from instances of untreated trauma and other circumstances. As a trauma-informed organization, we are committed to prioritizing the safety and well-being of our clients. To learn more about how we work to improve mental health in Wisconsin, call us today.
Case management is a treatment process led by a case manager who is responsible for assessing, developing, coordinating, and monitoring client care over the course of treatment. They exist as an ally to a client, bridging gaps in communication between a client and their greater care team. There are many benefits to having a case manager in treatment, including being able to adjust a treatment plan as often as necessary and truly personalizing client care. In this way, case managers help improve the quality of life for a client. At Wisconsin Wellness, we provide case management services to those seeking to enhance and improve their mental health. Learn more about our services by calling (920) 404-2100 today.