Initial Evaluation Appointment:
This is a 60 mins face-to-face interview that will allow the doctor to form a professional opinion and propose a treatment plan.
Medication Management Session:
This is a 15 min face to face session for managing medications and minimal psychotherapy.
Targeted Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents:
Indicated to educate children and their guardians on the child’s diagnosis and medication treatment or to address family problems. This type of therapy is different than child psychotherapy, which Dr. Vamvakas’ practice does not offer.
Short-Term Focused Psychotherapy for Adults:
This approach may be indicated for adults who wish to acquire better understanding of themselves and their relationships.
Induction Phase:
Patients who wish to switch from use of opioids to Suboxone start with a 24 hour abstinence from opioids after which Dr. Vamvakas based on the Initial Evaluation prescribes Suboxone. There follow 2 brief session the following 2 days (total of 3 consecutive days) during which Suboxone dosage is adjusted to suppress all opioid withdrawal symptoms.
Stabilization Phase:
It typically lasts 6 weeks and consists of 3 sessions during which abstinence from all narcotic drugs is solidified and craving for opioids is addressed.
Maintenance Phase:
It consists of ongoing scheduled 4-weekly sessions with the purpose of maintaining abstinence and promoting recovery.
Recovery from addiction:
Treatment with Suboxone is only an adjunct to the main recovery effort and is achieved through a complete re-orientation of one's goals and priorities, and ever improving self-understading. Dr. Vamvakas will assist this process with minimal psychotherapy techniques. Involvement with Narcotics Anonymous and 12 Step Recovery is an indispensable tool toward the goal of Recovery from addiction.