SAP Evaluation 

Mary Geiger, LCPC, LMFT, LAC, SAP (Substance Abuse Professional)  provides Department of Transportation (DOT) Substance Abuse Professional Services for individuals or organizations involved with the following industries.
  • FAA - Federal Aviation Administration
  • FRA - Federal Railroad Administration
  • FTA - Federal Transit Administration
  • PHMSA - Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
  • USCG - United States Coast Guard
  • FMCSA - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
If you have had a violation that resulted in your removal from duty you must undergo a face to face evaluation from a DOT qualified Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) unless you opt to find employment outside the transportation industry. A positive drug test or a refusal to test is just two things that can result in a DOT violation. Once a violation is established you have the opportunity to see an SAP. The SAP's responsibility is to protect the public. At the point you opt to see the SAP a violation has already been established. The SAP is required to refer you to treatment, education or a combination of both as well as a follow-up plan for testing. The following is a brief summary of the steps involved when seeing an SAP. 
  1. The SAP must conduct a face to face evaluation of the employee and will recommend treatment, education or some combination of both. 
  2. The SAP will send a copy of the report and recommendation to your employer. 
  3. The SAP is required to monitor your progress in the recommended treatment or education program. 
  4. If the employee is compliant with the treatment or education program he will then schedule a follow-up evaluation.
  5. As a result of the follow-up evaluation the SAP will report to the employer that the employee has been compliant or non-compliant with recommendations. 
  6. If the SAP reports that the employee has been compliant then the employer can determine whether to allow a return to duty test for the employee. It is the employer's prerogative whether to take the employee back. If the employee has not been compliant they can't return to safety sensitive work. 
  7. If accepted back, or if hired by a new DOT regulated employer, the employee must complete a drug testing per SAP recommendations and implemented by the employer. 
Please contact me if you have questions or to schedule an SAP evaluation. In most cases an appointment can be scheduled within 48 hours. 

EMDR  (EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION AND REPROSSESSING


EMDR TherapyEye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy has been thoroughly researched as an effective treatment for trauma and other distressing life experiences. EMDR Therapy can be used to treat a variety of issues to include:
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Sexual assault
  • Domestic violence
  • Grief and loss
EMDR Therapy is recognized by many organizations as an effective therapy for these issues. These organizations include the World Health Organization, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense (DoD), and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
For more information please visit: https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a comprehensive approach to therapy that integrates elements of psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, interpersonal, experiential, and body-centered therapies to maximize treatment effects. EMDR psychotherapy uses a structured protocol for the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and related past experiences that trigger emotions, beliefs, sensations, that are no longer serving the health of the client.

Preparing for you EMDR Session - Preparation for EMDR includes history taking, an assessment of the client’s readiness for EMDR, and development of a treatment plan. Client and therapist identify possible targets for EMDR processing. These include recent distressing events, current situations that elicit emotional disturbance, related historical incidents, and the development of specific skills and behaviors that will be needed by the client in future situations.
Overcoming Negative Beliefs About Self - Once a target is identified the client identifying the most vivid visual image related to the memory (if available), a negative belief about self, related emotions and body sensations. The client also identifies a preferred positive belief.
EMDR therapy involves the use of bilateral stimulation through:
  • Eye movements
  • Buzzers
  • Tones
  • Taps
During this time the client attends to past memories, present triggers, or anticipated future experiences. Clients generally experience the emergence of insight or new associations.
After EMDR Processing - After EMDR processing, clients generally report that the emotional distress related to the memory has been eliminated, or greatly decreased, and that they have gained important cognitive insights. Importantly, these emotional and cognitive changes usually result in behavioral and personal change that is reinforced through structured treatment.

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