Trauma-Related Counseling
Mental health problems—specifically those
related to trauma or domestic violence—may
co-occur with substance abuse. Mental health
screenings and assessments in substance
abuse treatment facilities can help identify
clients who are experiencing mental health
problems related to trauma.
Mental Health Screenings and Trauma-Related
Counseling in Substance Abuse Treatment
Facilities, a report from SAMHSA’s National
Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment
Services (N-SSATS), provides data.
Screening and assessments. More than
half (62 percent) of facilities provided brief
mental health screenings that could be used
to identify clients in need of trauma services.
However, less than half (42 percent) provided
full diagnostic mental health assessments.
Trauma-related counseling. Facilities that
primarily focused on a mix of mental health
and substance abuse treatment services were
more likely to report using trauma counseling
"always or often" (30 percent) than were
treatment facilities with a primary focus on
general health care (26 percent), mental health
(25 percent), or substance abuse (16 percent).
Domestic violence. Facilities operated by
tribal governments were more likely than other
types of facilities to offer domestic violence
services (55 percent).
Download the full report from SAMHSA’s
website.