Top 5 Things Lilley Consulting Doesn't Do
The title “Educational Consultant,” “Therapeutic Consultant,” or “Therapeutic Placement Specialist” all still are not completely spot-on with the work that I do. During inquiry calls I often find myself explaining to families the work I do, and how I may be of service to them. Sometimes they are shocked by what I do, and sometimes they are shocked by what I do not do. For me, I know I cannot do it all. So, I try to focus narrowly on what I can do and do that well.
Below are the top 5 things I am often telling families that I do not do. My hopes is that if you happen to stumble upon my website before reaching out to me, this may clear up some of your confusion before you reach out.
I do not work with adolescents. Although I will take the occasional 17 year-10-month old because we are most likely looking ahead to young adult treatment programs. But no, I do not work with a 12, 14, or 16-year-old. If you are calling me to inquire about my service, I will refer you to several professionals that I know personally that do excellent work helping families of adolescents. The typical age of the clients I most often work with are between the ages of 18 - 30, and sometimes older.
I do not do college placements. Although most of my clients are college-aged, and college-interrupted, I do not actually help with college searches, or transfer applications. I leave that to the College Consulting professionals! The closest I get to this is sharing an article of “Questions to ask a Collegiate Recovery Program” for my clients that are exploring moving into extended care placements. If a client of mine is dead set on transferring, I will specifically refer them to a College Consultant I have vetted and trust. Knowing my clients have a checkered academic past, it is important for them to work with professionals who are non-judgmental and understand the importance of taking a break from college to seek mental health or substance abuse treatment. Want to know who I refer to? Ask me.
I do not know resources available for those on Medicaid or no insurance plans. Most, if not all, of the treatment programs I refer to do not accept Medicaid. Beyond that, most programs I work with are not in-network with insurance, so the family would need to be able to pay for treatment and then seek reimbursement. In truth, I will not be able to help you if you have Medicaid. If this is the type of insurance you have, you will want to seek out resources within your local community or state. In fact, there are even some professionals who do what I do, but only for clients with Medicaid.
I do not do parenting coaching. Although I can predict a lot of how your young adult will react, and specifically encourage you to say/do certain things at certain times, that is truly not the hat I wear. The hat I wear is helping you get your young adult into treatment, and being able to recommend the best fitting placements for their needs. Once they enroll, them I transition to more of a case manager role by staying in touch with the clinical team to ensure that, in the end, it is where the young adult client needs to be. If you are wanting parent coaching, I can make a recommendation. Contact me and I’ll tell you who I refer my families to.
I do not do interventions. I do not facilitate them, nor do I attend them for my families. Interventions are meant to be facilitated by trained professionals. I am not a trained interventionist. And, to have an intervention, only people closest to the client that needs to the intervention, are the ones that need to be present. My role is to help connect a family with the most appropriate interventionist. Does your loved one struggling with substance abuse? I can make a recommendation! Does your loved one struggle with psychosis and have no substance use history? I can make a recommendation for a “Mental health Interventionist.” Believe me, they exist! Either way, this is not something I do, but I am happy to connect you to a professional to get this done.
None of this will change. I will not become a Parent Coach. I will not become trained to be an Interventionist. I have no intention of ever working with adolescents. I will continue to only stay in the lane of working with adults! I will continue to refer families to College Consultants, as that is not my area of expertise. And lastly, I could not pretend to become familiar with all the treatment programs that accept Medicaid. I would be a Master of Quantity, not quality in terms of treatment program knowledge. That is not what I’m going for.
If you have a young adult that needs a therapeutic placements, I am your gal.
For questions or comments contact Joanna.
