Month: February 2016

I will be on the radio again in March.

Christopher Gerhart, LLC, MAC, SAPLeave a comment

I just spoke with John Sarna, with 88.3 KABF’s show “It Could Be You” and set a date for another on-air interview, March 30, 2016 from 2-3:00 PM.  The format is part presentation, part discussion and part call-in.  If you type in:  http://www.kabf.org and click on the “Listen Live” link, you can hear it anywhere in the world.

I came up with a short list of topics that I would like to touch on, including the role of substance use in crime, symptoms of sobriety, and meeting challenges.  There are a few others; but, I think we will find plenty to talk about.

So far, my practice has been going well.  I have visited with a number of referral sources and treatment centers and been well received.  I have yet to be kicked out of anyone’s office and nobody has tried to eat me.

I will post a link to that show when I get it posted.  I have asked for a recording of the one I did earlier this month and will post it as soon as I am able.

DOT SAP Evaluations

Christopher Gerhart, LLC, MAC, SAPLeave a comment

One of the areas of my business where I have seen some growth is providing DOT/SAP evaluations.  Quite simply it works like this:

  1.  A person in a safety-sensitive position has a positive drug screen.
  2. They are removed from that position by their employer, fired or suspended.
  3. They are then referred to a person known as a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) for an evaluation.
  4. The evaluation includes an assessment, several screening instruments, developing a treatment plan and referral to a service provider.  At a minimum, a person that violates a substance abuse rule must complete an educational program, usually 9-12 hours in length.
  5. After the client has completed the required program, they are re-evaluated to determine the need, if any, for further services.  At this point a final evaluation is made and a specific recommendation for a testing schedule is made to the employer.

Anyhow, I really like doing these evaluations.  It is kind of like getting a survey done on a boat or a pre-purchase  inspection done on a house in that the person making the assessment is not the person, or agency, providing the service or making the repair.

Tags:  SAP, DOT, Evaluation, Assessment, Huntsville, Madison, Substance Abuse, Counseling, FMCSA, Rule Violation

Reviewing the Situation

Christopher Gerhart, LLC, MAC, SAPLeave a comment

A month into my own business and I am just beginning to be profitable.  I have paid the rent for February and have already had paying customers this month.  The mixture of excitement and terror about making my own way is nearly an addiction of it’s own.

Most of the business I have had so far has come from my online presence and advertising.  When I started laying the groundwork for this venture in November and December, I got myself this website, a facebook account and gmail.  I already had a linked-in page; but, had not done much with it.

I figured out that whenever I post so much as a photograph, I need to tag it with something related to my business using a number of key words such as counselor, substance abuse, North Little Rock.  There is some sort of algorithm that is used to figure out which posts get put on top.  Some of it has to do with the number of views; but, some of it is promoted by meeting certain criteria.

One thing that I need to do is make a youtube video that promotes my business.  I have been told that I have a face for radio, so I may use my daughter’s stuffed animals as prospective clients seeking services.

Anyway, that’s about all for now.  I have to get back to actual work so that I can keep this thing going.