At Health Care Resource Centers (HCRC), we provide personalized Case Management Services to support each patient’s unique recovery journey. With a compassionate and collaborative approach, our case management team assesses your specific needs, creates a personalized care plan, and coordinates ongoing care to ensure you receive the necessary resources and support.

What to Expect from Case Management Services

In collaboration with your case manager, you’ll develop a tailored action plan that prioritizes the immediate challenges in your life, with a focus on both short-term needs and long-term goals. Through regular progress monitoring and adjustments, your case manager helps address new obstacles as they arise. Acting as an advocate, they connect you with resources that improve your health and overall well-being.

With patient consent, treatment verification and reporting are provided to fulfill legal obligations, including those related to probation, parole, and family court. These services often offer additional benefits in supporting an individual’s legal circumstances.

How Can a Case Manager Support You?

Our case management services are here to assist with any area in which you’re facing challenges or seeking guidance, such as:

• Basic Needs: Access to food, clothing, utilities, and phone services
• Personal Documentation: Assistance obtaining necessary documents
• Public Benefits: Applications for Medicaid, food assistance, and more
• Housing & Home Needs: Access to housing support, furniture, and appliances
• Transportation: Help with local and regional transport solutions
• Education & Employment: Support with educational goals, resume building, and job interviews
• Financial Guidance: Budgeting assistance and money management tools
• Healthcare Access: Links to mental health, medical, and dental care
• Legal Resources: Referrals and support for legal needs
• Community Connection: Linkages to local support groups and community services

Your case manager can make introductions, coordinate appointments, and even accompany you to initial meetings to ensure you feel comfortable and supported.

Who is Eligible?

Case Management Services are available to all HCRC patients as part of our commitment to comprehensive addiction treatment. This service is integrated into our recovery programs to help you address life’s practical challenges alongside your recovery journey.

Get Started with HCRC Today

At HCRC, our Case Management Services are designed to empower you on your journey to lasting recovery by addressing the personal, social, and health challenges that may arise. Our dedicated case managers are here to advocate for you, provide guidance, and ensure you have access to the resources needed to overcome obstacles and achieve your goals. Take the next step toward a healthier, more fulfilling life—contact us today to learn more about our Case Management Services and how we can support your recovery.

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At Health Care Resource Centers (HCRC), we take a comprehensive, holistic approach to opioid addiction treatment. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), counseling in addiction treatment provides people in recovery the skills and confidence they need for success. Counseling changes the ways in which people cope, think, and react. This can look different than what some may have seen in traditional therapy settings.

At HCRC, our specialists strive to capitalize on the strengths and the resiliency of our patients! We utilize a range of assessments and therapeutic relationship-building exercises to learn more about your goals and how we can support you in achieving success—success that goes beyond just healing. As an integral part of each patient’s treatment plan, our counseling services at HCRC include individual, group, and family therapy. We offer goal-oriented counseling as part of our buprenorphine and methadone medication assisted treatment (MAT) programs.

Work With Trained, Certified Addiction Counselors at HCRC 

Individual counseling services at HCRC are provided by trained and certified professionals with extensive experience in opioid treatment and MAT programs. You can expect compassionate, nonjudgmental support throughout your recovery. We offer solution-focused and safe spaces in counseling that focus on the unique objectives of each client for both recovery and rebuilding their lives including: 

• Achieving financial stability and safe, sustainable lifestyles 
• Rebuilding damaged relationships 
• Resolving addiction-related legal issues 
• Stress management 
• Skill-building and career development 
• Effective communication 
• Boundary setting 
• Long-term mental health care 

Individual counseling is an integral element for any meaningful MAT program. Individual counseling is part of every MAT program, and group and family counseling are offered at select locations.

Learn the Science of Addiction

We educate our patients on the science of addiction and describe how mind-altering substances and dependency alter the brain’s chemistry and functions. We also show how addiction-related changes in brain functioning affect people psychologically, spiritually, and emotionally.  

Rejoin Society 

Counseling in MAT also creates an achievable path for rejoining society. Our counselors help patients find opportunities, activities, and careers that leverage and build their talents while minimizing the risk of relapse. Our patients can access additional assistance in: 

• Transportation
• Housing  
• Job search
• Long-term recovery support 

Homelessness and joblessness are major risk factors for substance use disorders (SUDs) and relapse. With individual counseling at HCRC, our patients can reduce these risk factors and keep their recovery on track.  

Individual Counseling for Opioid Addiction 

Also known as private counseling, individual counseling occurs in a one-on-one setting. This gives patients the opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment, retaliation, or rejection. Our counselors create a safe, comfortable space for individuals to open up about their experiences, addiction triggers, and the physical, mental, and emotional challenges of recovery.  
 
Together, our counselors and patients explore possible triggers and causes of addiction, including: 

• Past or recent trauma  
• Feelings of low self-worth 
• Co-occurring mental health disorders 
• Unresolved guilt or grief 
• Negative, early life behavioral conditioning 

Recent and Past Trauma

People who have experienced extreme trauma and live with chronic stress as a result frequently use substances to achieve a sense of “normalcy.” Individual counseling at HCRC helps patients identify why self-medicating offers only temporary results and provides tools to develop healthy coping mechanisms to overcome trauma.

Feelings of Low-Self Worth  

Low self-esteem is a recognized risk factor for addiction. People with chronic feelings of low self-worth often struggle to control automatic negative thoughts and may use substances as a means for suppressing unpleasant feelings. Individual counseling teaches people to view themselves in a positive light, reframe their negative thinking, and adjust their behaviors and decisions accordingly. 

Co-Occurring Disorders 

Many people turn to opioids to alleviate the mental and emotional anguish of undiagnosed and untreated mental health disorders. Also known as co-occurring disorders, these are some conditions that can simultaneously occur with SUDs. They include: 

• Schizophrenia 
• Bipolar disorder 
• General anxiety disorder 
• Major depressive disorder 
• Panic disorder 
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) 

Individual counseling in MAT for opioid addiction aims to reduce the risk of relapse by addressing both substance use and mental health disorders at the same time. 

Unresolved Guilt or Grief 

Unprocessed emotions are often a big reason why some individuals develop addictions. With no imaginable way to work through their emotional pain, they often turn to drugs or alcohol to mute unpleasant or downright overwhelming feelings. In individual counseling, patients can work through the stages of grief, learn to forgive themselves, and process the emotions they feel for others. Our specialized counselors leverage effective, evidence-based techniques such as mindfulness, meditation, journaling, and art therapy to address unprocessed emotions.  
 
For many of our patients, accountability is also a key part of this process. Acknowledging personal roles in negative events and situations helps them correct self-defeating, self-destructive, and generally non-beneficial reactions and behaviors.  

Group Counseling for Opioid Addiction Treatment

 At some treatment centers, patients may also participate in group counseling. Group counseling builds feelings of camaraderie and helps people develop healthy communication and social skills. In group counseling, patients can benefit from the stories and experiences of others. They can also prepare for the social challenges of reentering the world as productive, contributing members of society.  

Explore the Benefits of Family Counseling in Opioid Recovery 

Family counseling plays a valuable role in opioid recovery by involving close friends and family members in the healing process, similar to group counseling. Addiction often affects everyone in the household, damaging important relationships. Family counseling provides a safe environment where individuals can express feelings of anger or sadness, work on rebuilding trust, and learn how to better support their loved one throughout recovery.

Why Counseling is so Important in MAT Treatment

Methadone and buprenorphine address the physical symptoms of opioid withdrawal and craving. However, patients can expect to experience far more than physical challenges as they navigate the long and ongoing road to recovery. Individual counseling makes this road easier by helping people understand the underlying causes of their addictions and develop the right skills and tools for confronting the challenges they’ll invariably face along the way.  

Establish Robust Support Systems 

Success in recovery is largely the result of robust support systems. Although MAT is an excellent starting point, ongoing recovery support is always critical. Counselors function as confidantes for those living with opioid addiction. They listen unobjectively while providing simple, effective, and actionable insights. The work that patients and counselors do in our individual counseling program fosters trust and supports the development of multi-pronged support networks. 

Identifying and Addressing the Underlying Causes of Addiction 

In individual counseling, patients can identify and understand underlying mental health disorders, unprocessed emotions, the lingering effects of trauma, and other causes of and risk factors for addiction. Our counselors recommend a needs-specific range of mental health services for each client, including dual diagnosis treatment, pharmacological interventions, stress management workshops, and more. 

Including Treatment in All Aspects of Life 

Individual counseling reveals addiction and addiction treatment for the lifelong experiences they are. While methadone and buprenorphine make it possible for people to experience withdrawal without experiencing devastating physical symptoms and overwhelming cravings, there are many factors that contribute to addiction. Patients can learn to anticipate, avoid, and deal with these factors as they arise and without relapsing.

Therapy Options at HCRC 

The goals for individual therapy differ for each patient. They include modifying how people think about opioids and other mind-altering substances. Our patients learn to view mind-altering drugs as harmful, rather than helpful. They also learn new and more effective coping mechanisms for dealing with pain, anger, and other challenging experiences and emotions.  
 
In counseling, patients can openly talk about their family issues, trauma, and more while seeking effective and sustainable solutions. 
 
Our counselors specialize in the following: 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) 

Cognitive behavioral therapy helps clients recognize maladaptive behaviors and correct them. It helps put an end to automatic negative thinking, self-defeating actions, and the tendency to self-sabotage by encouraging individuals to think and respond to outside triggers and stressors in new, positive ways.  

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) 

Dialectical behavior therapy teaches strategies for controlling impulsive and harmful behaviors. This evidence-based therapy focuses on helping people build and maintain meaningful and mutually beneficial relationships, understand, process, and accept difficult emotions, and develop increased motivation to participate in rewarding hobbies and activities. It also:

• Promotes a more balanced world view 
• Acknowledges and validates negative experiences 
• Promotes mindfulness and an increased connection to the present moment 

Although DBT and CBT share similar elements, DBT is specially adapted for those who feel emotions intensely. It is a popular counseling option for those with mood disorders, suicidal ideation, and personality disorders. 

Motivational Interviewing (MI) 

Motivational interviewing encourages patients to be accountable for their recoveries. Opioid addiction and the related brain changes make it difficult for patients to establish clear and achievable objectives and meet them. MI helps people overcome self-doubt, feelings of ambivalence, and other barriers to active, effective recovery.  
 
MI leverages and encourages:

• Expressions of empathy 
• Support for self-efficacy 
• Resilience in response to resistance 
• Discrepancies between desires and actions 

MI uses a unique question-and-answer format to encourage self-exploration and change. 

Get MAT Counseling Services in New England 

Individual counseling in New England from HCRC provides comprehensive mental health support for those in opioid treatment in New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. HCRC offers individual counseling at all our New England locations. We also provide family and group counseling at select locations. Medication assisted treatment (MAT) using buprenorphine or methadone can prevent or limit their withdrawal symptoms, cravings, and ongoing substance use so patients can heal emotionally and mentally. 
 
You can count on HCRC to guide you on the path to recovery with an individualized and a needs-specific approach. We consider the health, experiences, and goals of every patient. We know that the recovery process looks different for each person, and we provide the dedicated, customized care that’s necessary for both achieving and maintaining success.

The post Counseling appeared first on HCRC.

Home | Treatment Services

Buprenorphine Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder

Buprenorphine treatment is a type of medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. It uses buprenorphine, a prescription medicine, to ease withdrawal and cravings so daily life feels more stable. At Health Care Resource Centers, you will receive buprenorphine treatment in a structured, office-based program with ongoing support.

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What Is Buprenorphine?

Buprenorphine is a medication used to treat opioid use disorder. It is a partial opioid agonist, so it activates opioid receptors but less than heroin, fentanyl, or many pain pills. This helps reduce cravings and withdrawal without the same intense high.

 

Buprenorphine is found in medications such as Suboxone, Sublocade, and Zubsolv. Some products combine buprenorphine and naloxone to lower the risk of misuse. Your provider will help you choose the form that fits your needs and routine.

Benefits of Buprenorphine Treatment

When used as part of a MAT program, buprenorphine treatment can offer:

Reduced cravings and withdrawal so you feel more stable

Simple dosing, often once or twice a day

Lower overdose risk than uncontrolled opioid use

Better chances of staying in counselling and care

Treatment that fits daily life for many patients

Buprenorphine Treatment at HCRC

At HCRC, you will receive buprenorphine treatment through office-based opioid treatment programs. These OBOT visits feel like regular doctor appointments but follow a clear medication-assisted treatment plan.

 

After an assessment, your provider may prescribe a buprenorphine or buprenorphine/naloxone medication, such as Suboxone. You pick up your medicine at a local pharmacy, take it as directed at home, and return for follow-up visits, so your team can support your progress.

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How Buprenorphine Works in Our Opioid Treatment Programs

In our programs, buprenorphine treatment follows a simple process:

You meet with a provider to review health, substance use, and goals

You and your provider agree on a MAT plan with buprenorphine

You learn when to start, how often to take it, and what to expect

You attend regular visits so your dose and care plan stay safe

Buprenorphine has a ceiling effect, so taking more than prescribed does not create unlimited euphoria. This feature helps lower overdose risk within a medication-assisted treatment plan.

Comparing Buprenorphine and Methadone

Buprenorphine and methadone are both used in opioid treatment programs. Both can reduce cravings and withdrawal and support long-term recovery.

 

• Buprenorphine is a partial agonist with a ceiling effect and is often prescribed in OBOT settings, where you take doses at home
• Methadone is a full agonist and is usually dispensed in specialized clinics, especially early in care

If you are unsure about buprenorphine vs methadone, your provider will review your history and help you choose the option that fits you best.

Recovery Phases of Buprenorphine Treatment

Buprenorphine treatment usually follows several phases in a MAT program:

1

Induction: You start buprenorphine after a short time without opioids to ease early withdrawal

2

Stabilization: Your opioid use decreases, cravings lessen, and you feel steadier

3

Maintenance: You stay on a stable dose for as long as needed for recovery

4

Taper: You and your team may later decide to lower the dose slowly when you are ready

Throughout each phase, you will receive regular check-ins and support to keep care safe and effective.

Who Makes a Good Candidate for Buprenorphine Treatment?

You may be a good fit for buprenorphine treatment if you:

 

 

• Have opioid use disorder and want to reduce or stop use
• Struggle with cravings or withdrawal when you try to stop
• Can follow a treatment plan and attend scheduled visits

 

A medical provider will review your health history, current medicines, and other conditions before starting buprenorphine. Buprenorphine treatment may be a better option than methadone when daily clinic visits are hard or when certain medical issues make methadone less suitable.

Start Buprenorphine Treatment With HCRC

Buprenorphine based medication assisted treatment offers a practical way to treat opioid use disorder and support long-term stability. At Health Care Resource Centers, you will receive OBOT care with buprenorphine, counseling, and regular follow-up, all in a respectful, clinic-style setting. Our team will help you build a clear plan that fits your life and goals.

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Accredited and Trusted Care

All HCRC centers are federally certified, state licensed, and accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). This recognition reflects our commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is buprenorphine treatment?

Buprenorphine treatment uses a regular prescribed dose of buprenorphine, often Suboxone or another buprenorphine/naloxone medicine, as part of a MAT program for opioid use disorder. You also receive support such as counselling and follow-up visits.

How does buprenorphine work for opioid use disorder?

Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist that attaches to the same brain receptors as opioids but activates them less. This helps control cravings and withdrawal so you can focus on recovery and daily life.

What are the side effects of buprenorphine?

Common side effects can include nausea, constipation, headache, or sleep changes, especially when you first start or change doses. Your provider will explain what to watch for and adjust your dose if needed.

How is buprenorphine different from methadone?

Both are used in MAT programs, but buprenorphine is a partial agonist with a ceiling effect and is often prescribed in office-based settings, while methadone is a full agonist usually given in specialized clinics. Your provider can help you decide which option fits you.

How long does buprenorphine treatment last?

There is no single length of time. Some people stay on buprenorphine treatment for several years, while others taper sooner when they feel stable and supported. You and your team decide together.

How do I start a buprenorphine treatment program near me?

Contact a clinic or OBOT provider that offers medication-assisted treatment. You will receive an assessment, learn about buprenorphine treatment, and get clear next steps for starting a MAT program at HCRC or another qualified program.

The post Buprenorphine appeared first on HCRC.

Home | Treatment Services

Methadone Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder

Methadone treatment is a proven medical option for Opioid Use Disorder. It reduces withdrawal symptoms, lowers cravings, and helps you build a stable routine.

At Health Care Resource Centers (HCRC), methadone is part of medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Your plan includes counseling and support, so you are not navigating recovery alone.

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Methadone Treatment at HCRC

HCRC provides structured outpatient methadone treatment for adults with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). Care focuses on safety, consistency, and respect.

Your program may include:

• Individual counseling
• Medical assessment and monitoring
• Case management for practical needs
• Daily dosing, with take-home options when eligible

What Is Methadone?

Methadone is a long-acting opioid medication used to treat OUD. It works more slowly than short-acting opioids and helps keep medication levels steady.

In a licensed treatment program, methadone can:

• Lower cravings
• Reduce withdrawal symptoms
• Support physical stability

At HCRC, methadone is dispensed as a liquid under clinical supervision.

How Methadone Treatment Works

Most people begin with in-person dosing at a methadone clinic. This structure supports safety and steady progress.

Your plan typically includes:

1. A full review of your medical and opioid use history
2. A carefully adjusted starting dose
3. Regular clinic visits for dosing and check-ins

Important: Do not change your dose on your own. Your care team adjusts treatment based on symptoms and progress.

Who Methadone Treatment Is For

Methadone treatment is for adults with OUD, including people who use:

• Heroin or fentanyl
• Prescription opioid medications
• Illicit or non-prescribed opioid pills

It may be a good fit if you have strong cravings, withdrawal symptoms, or difficulty cutting down without support.

How Methadone Eases Withdrawal

Opioid withdrawal can disrupt daily life. Symptoms may include:

• Poor sleep
• Muscle aches
• Anxiety or restlessness
• Stomach cramps, nausea, or diarrhea

Methadone acts on the same brain receptors as other opioids. In a supervised program, it can ease withdrawal and make early recovery more manageable.

Benefits of Methadone Treatment

When used as prescribed, methadone treatment can help you:

• Reduce or stop other opioid use

• Feel steadier by lowering cravings and withdrawal

• Build consistent routines at work, school, and home

• Lower overdose risk compared to unregulated opioid use

Is Methadone Addictive, and Why Is It Prescribed?

Methadone is an opioid, so physical dependence can occur. This is common with many long-term medications.

In a licensed clinic, dosing is supervised by medical professionals. This structured setting improves safety and reduces risks linked to unregulated opioid use.

Advantages of Outpatient Care

Outpatient treatment allows you to live at home while receiving structured care. Many people choose this model because it supports:

• Work, school, and family responsibilities
• Regular counseling and medical oversight
• Long-term stability

As you progress, you may qualify for take-home doses based on safety guidelines.

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What to Expect at a Methadone Clinic

HCRC programs are structured and supportive, with clear steps that guide steady progress.

Your First Visit

You will meet with a clinician to review your health and opioid use history. The team may order tests, explain program guidelines, and outline next steps.

Methadone Maintenance Visits

Early treatment usually involves daily or frequent visits for supervised dosing. As stability improves, visits may decrease according to program rules.

Counseling and Recovery Support

Medication is just one part of care. Individual counseling helps you build coping skills, manage stress, and address mental health concerns that affect recovery.

Risks, Side Effects, and Safety

Methadone is effective but may cause side effects, which often improve over time.

Common side effects may include:

• Sweating
• Drowsiness
• Constipation
• Mild nausea

Serious risks are more likely if you:

• Take more methadone than prescribed
• Use other opioids or unregulated substances
• Mix methadone with alcohol, benzos, or sedatives

For safety:

• Store medication securely
• Tell your team about all medications
• Take methadone exactly as prescribed
• Report side effects or return to opioid use promptly

How Long Does Methadone Treatment Last?

There is no fixed timeline. Some people stay on methadone for months. Others continue for years.

Length of treatment depends on:

• Craving and withdrawal stability
• Mental health and stress levels
• Safety risks, including overdose
• Housing and daily routine
• Personal goals

If tapering is appropriate, your provider will guide a gradual plan to reduce withdrawal and support long-term stability.

Accredited and Trusted Care

All HCRC centers are federally certified, state licensed, and accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). This recognition reflects our commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

Getting Started With Methadone Treatment

Treatment begins with an assessment. Contact HCRC to ask about insurance, costs, and next steps. You will receive clear guidance and a plan tailored to your needs.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is methadone maintenance treatment?

It is long-term, supervised methadone care combined with counseling and monitoring to reduce withdrawal and cravings.

What does methadone do?

Methadone reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings. It works on the same brain receptors as other opioids but acts slowly and steadily, helping you stay stable and focus on recovery.

How long are people on methadone?

Treatment length varies. Some people stay on methadone for months, others for years, based on stability and safety.

How do I get started with methadone treatment near me?

Contact HCRC to schedule an assessment. A team member will explain your options, answer any questions you may have, and help you begin care.

The post Methadone appeared first on HCRC.