ANNOUNCEMENTS

Hello. I am writing to update you on the things that have changed at Beyond Addictions, and the things that are still the same. Changes we have made were prompted by the economy. The Addiction Treatment Industry as a whole was affected with fewer private pay clients and those with insurance wanting to use those benefits. The good news for us is that our Outpatient Treatment Program has continued to do very well, but we have experienced a decrease in requested Counseling Services which necessitated a transition to using mostly consultant counselors. Under the attentive direction of our Program Director, Stacy Lange LCSW, and the integrity and dedication of our counselors Clark Caswell and Terri Weber-Harris, this transition has been very smooth. Stacy and Clark continue to be involved in Beyond Addictions as consultants and both have also started their own private practices. Stacy can be reached for Couples and Family Counseling by calling 503.644.8700 and Clark Caswell for Addiction Counseling and Evaluations at 971.255.1513. Dr. Seppala continues his Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine services here in the Beyond Addictions clinic.

Steve Peterson, LCSW CADC III, moved here from California last year and has been renting space from Beyond Addictions for his own Addiction and Behavior Therapy practice: www.addictionandbehavioraltherapy.com. When we moved to the consultant model, it was perfect to involve Steve in helping with Drug & Alcohol Assessments, facilitating group, family and individual Counseling.

Stephanie, our bookkeeper, has been terrific in helping our clients get reimbursement from their insurance companies. However, we know that in this economy it is important to also be able to offer the ability to accept insurance. We are currently speaking with several Doctors, in Psychiatry and Chronic Pain Management, who do accept Insurance regarding expansion of their practices into the Beyond Addictions clinic. We are also looking for additional Physicians to add to the clinic and when this is accomplished Beyond Addictions would move to the larger space we have across the hall. Because Beyond Addictions provides comprehensive services and has a successful Outpatient Program, we receive a large number of calls from those wishing to use insurance. Yes, we wish the economy had not taken the path it did, but in the midst of that we have come up with creative solutions which provided for a smooth transition to a new model and a new opportunity for clients wishing to use their insurance.

Another response to the economy is a change from mailing our newsletter to sending it out via e-mail. Our mailing list included almost 1,000 names so it has taken us several months to update our list with e-mail addresses. Many have missed our newsletter and we will now be back on our regular monthly schedule. Thank you for the continued opportunity to provide the services we all feel very passionate about. Sincerely, Melinda