The Connecticut Medicaid ABI Waiver program and Cognitive Behavioral Therapists.

It is an ABI waiver program 1 requirement to have a CBT as part of the team. Survivors and families have the right to select their medical and therapeutic providers. If they wish they may change providers at anytime, for any reason and are not required to have one particular provider.

An ABI WAIVER PROGRAM 1 Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) PROVIDERS collects information about behaviors from the client survivor and their support team. They take an approach that addresses dysfunctional emotions, maladaptive behaviors and cognitive processes. They create treatment plans and provide them to the client, family and the support team. Sometimes the treatment plan is implemented by the survivor and sometimes the treatment plan is implemented with the directed team support. 

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a blend of two therapies: cognitive therapy (CT) and behavioral therapy. CT focuses on a person's thoughts and beliefs, and how they influence a person's moods, actions, and aims to help a person's thinking to be healthy. Behavioral therapy focuses on a person's actions and aims to change unhealthy behavior patterns.CBT helps a person focus on his or her current challenges and how to solve them. Both patient and therapist are actively involved in this process. The therapist helps the patient learn how to self identify distorted or unhelpful thinking patterns, recognize and change inaccurate beliefs, relate to others in more positive ways, and change behaviors accordingly.

Some questions when selecting a CBT may include; 

How did you get into the brain injury field?

How were they introduced to the ABI waiver program?

Will they provide you with some references from survivors and families that have worked with them as part of their ABI waiver program team? Call the families and ask them how they feel about the quality of their services. Many times survivors and their families are the best reference.

What degrees do you have and how long have you been in the field?

Do they have experience with creating treatment plans and instructing teams on the best way to help with behaviors?

What system do they use to collect result data?

How do they educate and instruct teams with helping to implement treatment plans?

What are their thoughts about medications and how they are used to treat behaviors?

How do they communication with the team of medical professionals as well as DSS and how often?