Recommendations for THE BASICS

Fred Garcia
Chief, Office of Program Services
State of Washington
Department of Social and Health Services
Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse

“Please accept this letter as a note of congratulations and of appreciation. You are indeed to be congratulated for publishing THE BASICS, Second Edition: A Curriculum for Co-Occurring Psychiatric and Substance Disorders. It is evident that a tremendous amount of work, research, editing, time, and passion were invested in completing this two-volume set. It truly is a tool for the field, a primer, and a sophisticated compilation of the art, science, and practice of treating the patients in the chemical dependency and mental health fields.

Also, sincere appreciation is due for your continuing significant contribution to the treatment of co-occurring substance dependence and mental illness diagnoses. The volumes are rich with tools, techniques, and information for the counselor or therapist. This adds to the literature that is guiding clinical staff all across the nation – a most significant clinical contribution.

Finally, I wish to thank you for your contribution of the publication to the Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse (DASA). I have sent e-mail to our clinical and management staff alerting them of the availability of this resource and this has been met with anticipation and excitement. The volumes have been placed in DASA’s library and will be available for staff to check out. I can assure you these will be used. Thank you very much.”

Kenneth Minkoff M.D. is recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts on the integrated treatment of individuals with co-occurring psychiatric and substance disorders (ICOPSD) or “dual diagnosis.”

“Rhonda, THE BASICS, Second Edition, is a wonderful achievement. I have never seen so much material packed into one piece of work. Great job. I am bringing it with me everywhere.” Ken (email August 11, 2004)

“I am delighted to be able to recommend THE BASICS, Second Edition for clinicians in both the mental health and addiction treatment fields.” (Excerpt from the Foreword of THE BASICS, Second Edition, 2020)

Lindsay E. Freese, M.Ed., MAC, LADC
Professor of Human Service at New Hampshire Technical Institute
Addiction Professional Magazine: What’s Working in Treatment and Prevention, May 2005
“A Co-Occurring Curriculum That’s Worth Its Weight”

“My first response to THE BASICS was to the mere size of it. It’s clear why there are two volumes, and if the adage is true that ‘more is better’ then this 1,200-page curriculum has to be fantastic. And after figuring out how one would use THE BASICS, I would tend to agree.”

Kathy Armstrong, M.Ed., LMHC, CDP, MHP
Co-Occurring Specialist; Spokane Mental Health; Spokane, WA

“Since I have used your material I have seen clients who have had very poor prognoses turn their lives around. They report they like the material because it is simple and to the point. They also like the fact that it is not played down to them, that is we (the staff) believe that they are intelligent people who can handle the educational material. I, as the facilitator, really appreciate your material because you have combined in each lecture both chemical dependency and mental health material. You have blended it in a way that is understandable and easy to present to clients who are many times cognitively impaired.”

Marilyn Wilson, M.A.
Director, Clinical Services; Spokane Mental Health; Spokane, WA

Spokane Mental Health, a non-profit organization, has been one of the leading behavioral health care providers in the Inland Northwest for over 30 years.

“The information is organized in a way that allows group facilitators to present the material in a structured and consistent way and lends itself to cross training of staff. Consumers find the material helpful both in an educational and practical way. The handouts allow each consumer to individualize the material to fit their own experiences and help them learn about how their mental illness and their substance use are connected.”

L. D. Barney, MA, LADC
Co-Occurring Program Specialist
ODMHSAS (Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services)

“THE BASICS has been a core reference and guide for many agencies attempting to integrate treatment for co-occurring disorders in Oklahoma. Their copies are invariably well worn, marked with sticky notes and highlighted throughout, reflecting its value and the frequency with which it is used.”

Benjamin T. Descoteaux, M.Ed., CDP, MHP

Chemical Dependency Professional and Mental Health Professional with Okanogan Behavioral Health Care, a rural community behavioral health care clinic serving all of Okanogan County in Washington State

“THE BASICS has proven to be an invaluable resource. It has become an integral component of my group therapy services by providing comprehensive, practical, and easily understood information in a facilitator-friendly format.”

Lindsay E. Freese, M.Ed., MAC, LADC
Professor of Human Service at New Hampshire Technical Institute
Addiction Professional Magazine: What’s Working in Treatment and Prevention, May 2005
“A Co-Occurring Curriculum That’s Worth Its Weight”

“The curriculum includes ‘Tips to Facilitators’ placed throughout the text regarding recommendations for exactly how to present the materials, augmenting the data with the use of included handouts, and various appendices containing additional topic information as well as hints. These hints pertain to presentation style, such as using visuals, allowing adequate time for the review of handouts, and making generous use of empathy and hope.”

Sean Patrick Humphrey, M.Ed.
McNeil Island Correctional Facility is a medium security adult facility located at Steilacoom, Washington.

“It is a pleasure to use a text that is laid out in such a way as to bring clarity to an often confusing and murky way of life. Rhonda McKillip has incorporated the spirit of the 12 Steps in the recovery phrasing bringing together the three areas of mental illness, chemical dependency, and recovery into a luminescent, coalescent whole. The lessons are laid out with instructions that could be followed not only by the seasoned professional but also by an intern. Rhonda recognizes the tendency of this population to have limited attention and therefore offers work sheets in the back of each lesson that are quick, easy and pertinent.”

Lynne Becker, PhD Licensed Psychologist, Sherman Oaks, CA

“Rhonda…I can’t tell you how valuable I have found using THE BASICS with inpatients and outpatients this last year. As a psychologist, I use THE BASICS in my private practice, our psychiatrists use it at the hospital, and our facilitators use the sets in the group setting. Our psychoeducational groups are facilitated by both professionals and paraprofessionals and all of our group leaders delivered the curriculum easily and effectively. THE BASICS is a powerful tool and group members can join in at any point and benefit. I am giving these six copies I just purchased to therapist friends of mine to start off their New Year and recovery focus the right way!“

Lindsay E. Freese, M.Ed., MAC, LADC
Professor of Human Service at New Hampshire Technical Institute
Addiction Professional Magazine: What’s Working in Treatment and Prevention, May 2005
“A Co-Occurring Curriculum That’s Worth Its Weight”

“There is a clear focus on clinician aptitude given the subject matter, and an emphasis on the need for cross-training between the disciplines of mental health and addiction… “The ‘Master Tips to Professionals’ section at the end of Volume I contains 39 tips. Any treatment professional, regardless of whether he or she is using this particular curriculum in actual treatment, would benefit from the data included within these 39 tips.”

Susan Lang, MPH, OT/L
Consumer Affairs Director, Central Florida Behavioral Health Network (CFBHN)

“THE BASICS is the most complete curriculum for co-occurring disorders that I have seen in my twenty years in the behavioral health field. Both entry level and advanced practitioners will find the handouts and group session formats easy to follow and effective with a variety of audiences.”

Lindsay E. Freese, M.Ed., MAC, LADC
Professor of Human Service at New Hampshire Technical Institute
Addiction Professional Magazine: What’s Working in Treatment and Prevention, May 2005
“A Co-Occurring Curriculum That’s Worth Its Weight”

“Data presentation is based on sound clinical approaches…the author leads you through maintaining appropriate measurable goals and objectives…and participants’ strengths, cultural diversity, diagnosis, functioning level, and severity and acuity of specific disorders are considered…making generous use of empathy and hope. As always the teacher learns more than the student.”

Mark R. Brownlow
Administrator, Spokane Addiction Recovery Centers (SPARC)
SPARC is a non-profit organization providing inpatient, residential, and outpatient treatment services in Spokane, Washington since 1965

“Rhonda McKillip’s THE BASICS is the single most helpful product we have come across to insure consistent client educational information in our inpatient, residential, and outpatient levels of care. I highly recommend THE BASICS, Second Edition to counselors or agencies that work with this population.”

Jay Voigt M.Ed, LPC, CAC III
Co-Occurring Disorder Program Developer

“Ms. McKillip – I am a clinician developing a CDIOP curriculum for CeDAR Center in Aurora, CO. I happened across your “THE BASICS” curriculum and wanted to convey my sincere admiration and respect for your work. The content is so rich yet concrete and applicable by my clients. It is absolutely the best curriculum I have come across in my 10 years as a clinician. Thank you for your hard work. Well done! ”

Lindsay E. Freese, M.Ed., MAC, LADC
Professor of Human Service at New Hampshire Technical Institute
Addiction Professional Magazine: What’s Working in Treatment and Prevention, May 2005
“A Co-Occurring Curriculum That’s Worth Its Weight”

“Each subject starts with a Presentation Guide, which is organized into three segments (Prepare, Present and Practice) and then further broken down into areas pertaining to the professional and the group, subject materials and appendices, handouts and group closure. Data presentation is based on sound clinical approaches such as “stages of readiness for change” theory. In addition, the author leads you through appropriately maintaining measurable goals and objectives. Participants’ strengths, cultural diversity, diagnosis, functioning level, and severity and acuity of specific disorders are considered.”

Margaret Lauzon
Spokane Justice Center; Spokane, Washington

“The group participants are glad that what they are going through has been acknowledged. They can actually learn not only about their chemical dependency issues but their mental health issues and how they interact. Some were afraid of psych meds because they did not know what to expect. When it is explained, they
feel better about what to expect and stop self-medicating with street drugs. This program helps take all the mystery out of a co-occurring disorder and talks in plain language. The way it is set up helps the clinician decide how much to present. The clients say they are finally being heard thanks to your program. In regards to working with this in a corrections setting, I don’t see it as being any different than in the community. The only difference between the people here in the justice system and those in the community is the bars.”

Lindsay E. Freese, M.Ed., MAC, LADC
Professor of Human Service at New Hampshire Technical Institute
Addiction Professional Magazine: What’s Working in Treatment and Prevention, May 2005
“A Co-Occurring Curriculum That’s Worth Its Weight”

“In addition to the usefulness of this curriculum for treatment audiences, I also see value in the area of education. Using this as a classroom text in either addiction or mental health counselor training programs would enable the student to gain not only a significant amount of data on dual diagnosis issues but also a clear sense of how this information is presented in the context of treatment. As always, the teacher learns more than the student, and anyone using this curriculum will learn a great deal even it is used only as a reference.” Professor of Human Services Text Book Recommendation”

Jeff Thomas, MSW, Ed.D.
Executive Director, Family Service Spokane; Spokane, WA

Spokane Family Service Spokane is a private, non-profit agency that provides outpatient mental health services.

“THE BASICS is more valuable and relevant than ever for agencies providing mental health services. THE BASICS has been drawn on heavily by agency clinicians and served as a valuable resource in individual and group work. It is designed to respond to the needs of individuals with co-occurring disorders rather than having to ‘reinvent the wheel’.”

Joan McDevitt
Gus Harrison
Correctional Facility, Michigan

“Rhonda, One of my members said about THE BASICS, “It helps me to ‘parent’ myself [he meant to be kinder].” I love using THE BASICS in a dual diagnosis group. It is very comfortable for me to work with, easy for my population to understand (some with borderline intelligence).”

Kenneth Minkoff, MD is recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts on the integrated treatment of individuals with co-occurring psychiatric and substance disorders (ICOPSD) or “dual diagnosis.”

“This treatment manual by Rhonda McKillip is a welcome and necessary addition to the programmatic armamentarium for integrated treatment of co-occurring disorders. … The availability of this manual will be of great value in promoting integrated treatment programming in both mental health and addiction treatment settings. I am delighted to be able to recommend this work for clinicians in both fields.”

Kathy Armstrong, M.Ed., LMHC, CDP, MHP
Co-Occurring Specialist; Spokane Mental Health; Spokane, WA

“Since I have used your material I have seen clients who have had very poor prognosis turn their lives around. They report they like the material because it simple and to the point. They also like the fact that it is not played down to them, that is we believe that they are intelligent people who can handle the educational material. I as the facilitator, really appreciate your material because you have combined in each lecture both chemical dependency and mental health material. You have blended it in a way that is understandable and easy to present to clients who are many times cognitively impaired. Also, I like the fact that you have been available for consultation and have demonstrated the presentation of the material. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have had the privilege of getting to know you and your material.

I am writing to tell you how much I appreciate the material you have developed. I have worked with the chronically mentally almost 30 years now. It’s been my experience that about 80% of the clients suffer with either substance abuse or addiction. Prior to having access to your material, these were the clients who were falling through the cracks. They would go to mental health facilities and be refused for services because they had addiction problems. Then they would go to Chemical Dependency agencies and be turned away because they were either on medications or their mental illnesses were too severe to address. Your material has stressed the importance of treating both illnesses as primary and also both simultaneously.”

“Hello Rhonda, I met you when you presented for CMHA Peel Region in Ontario, Canada, and I got your book THE BASICS. I was talking with you about getting my CCDP Certification (IC&RC Co-Occurring Disorders Professional) the end of April after my first attempt had failed in December.

It was a bonus when I used THE BASICS as the Study Guide for the exam. I also spent more time on SAMHSA TIP 42 (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration – Treatment Improvement Protocol) after you mentioned it in your training. Now it all made sense! Through that experience, I found a lot of the questions in the exam were more understood…so there was no room for error from guessing or memorizing materials.

I retained more information when it was presented as an application and not theory. I know for sure your book, time, and effort helped me tremendously with my test. I passed the test in April! I am grateful if I can help someone else that may also be struggling to pass the test. Your book was definitely a huge help.

Bottom line, your book is easy to comprehend, uses simple basic language, and is easy to apply when working with the clients. THE BASICS is a must for all counselors to have.

I will carry this gratitude forever and will pass it to others – especially clients – who will benefit from my knowledge, and skills. Your book gave that opportunity to me.”

Theresia Yunta
The Salvation Army
Hope Acres; Glencairn, Ontario

From Rhonda: Theresia, it was such a pleasure meeting you in Ontario. Thank you so much for sharing your experience and success with me. I am equally grateful! Congratulations and the very best of wishes to you. Rhonda