22 A Day Counseling
COVID 19
Hello and best wishes to you and your loved ones. I hope this message finds everyone well and healthy. In an effort to keep everyone that way, I have decided to temporally close the office to patients. I did not come to this decision lightly. I am a firm believer in face to face contact for not only therapy but also healthy social interaction. It seems that in today society far to often individuals rely impersonal, technology based communication. Every where I look, I see groups of people all looking down at their phone. Families at dinner not talking to each other but communicating with people who are not with them. Direct eye contact is becoming a thing of the past. Having said that my next comments are going to come as a surprise. I have made the decision to transfer my psychotherapy practice to Telemedicine.
So, what is telemedicine? Telemedicine is a way for me to provide AODA counseling and mental health therapy to patients without being in the same physical location. Telemedicine is an online service where I will open a secure, HIPPA compliant video chat session. I will send you a link at the time of your session. You click the link I provide, and it will open the video chat session. You can use any type of device that has a camera and a speaker. This would include most cell phones, laptops, tables, and some desk top computers. You can conduct your session from any location you choose within the state of Wisconsin. In session I will be in a private location out of sight and hearing range of other people, same as if you were in the office. We will then be able to see and talk to each other over the telemedicine chat session. This will allow therapy sessions to go uninterrupted during the Corona virus Pandemic. I see this as the best option available to continue psychotherapy services at this point in time while holding true to my philosophy of promoting the health and well-being of my patients. This is not a long-term solution. Once COVID 19 is no longer a threat, counseling services will return to normal at the office location.
I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you and hope you find this an acceptable resolution to continue your addictions counseling or mental health therapy during this unprecedented time for our community. Paul Roadt Psychotherapist, L.C.S.W, C.S.A.C
22 A Day Counseling
2211 East Clairemont Ave.
Suite 2
Eau Claire, WI 54701

Phone 715-598-1865
Fax 715-598-1866

Paul was very committed during his time as a Marine. He achieved the rank of Sergeant in 3 years and 3 months, which would be considered quite a fast time to earn this rank in the military. Paul served one combat deployment to Iraq, where he earned combat decorations for Valor during combat operations. Once he returned state side from his deployment, he found that he was always angry and fighting people for little to no reason. He knew something was wrong. He attempted to find help through the naval doctors, which resulted in being designated as non-deployable status, simply because he sought mental health treatment. Paul decided that there had to be a better way for veteran’s mental health to be addressed. He noticed many of the people in his unit whom had deployed to Iraq were now self medicating. Their self medication included a combination of alcohol, drugs, anger and adrenaline. It was at this time that Paul decided he would pursue a career in drug and alcohol counseling to allow him to help veterans find effective and healthy ways to address their mental health, rather than utilizing substances to mask their emotions.

Upon his honorable discharge from the Marine Corps, he attended the Chippewa Valley Technical College and received his Associates Degree in Alcohol and Other Drugs of Abuse (AODA). During his time achieving this degree, he completed an internship in a minimum security prison trying to help people with very diverse backgrounds find a new path. He then transferred to the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire to obtain his Bachelors Degree in Social Work. This degree taught him that through making enough noise, systems can change. During this time, Paul’s passion for Veterans Mental health was reinvigorated. As an undergraduate student, he conducted a independent research study looking into how to best help returning veterans experience reintegration in a smooth and effective manner. This was a great experience for Paul. He felt connected to the veterans and felt that this is what he needed to be doing. After graduation, Paul continued to work with both minimum and medium security prisoners. He often focused his work with individuals around anger management, cognitive behavioral therapy, behavioral modification and addictions treatment. He was then accepted to the University of Wisconsin Madison into the Masters of Clinical Social Work program, focusing on mental health. It was at this time that he developed greater counseling skills and focused much of his skill development specifically on helping treat those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

He found that the same struggles veterans may have are commonly shared by others in specific professions, greater than in the general population. These professions include first responders, law enforcement, emergency dispatchers and the department of correction, where employees may be routinely or repeatedly subjected to great amounts of trauma and carry the same stigma of seeking treatment. A stigma that simply isn’t true. Here at 22 A Day Counseling, we invite all people who have experienced trauma to come and see us (those who have served and those who have not). We take a different approach to how we treat and interact with patients, because Paul has lived in the unique culture and environments that have caused the trauma. You will never be judged here for what you did, what you saw, or what you didn’t do. Here you are welcomed and accepted for who you are. Whether you are just returning home, starting a new career or have lived this repeated exposure for twenty years things can, and will, get better.

Paul Roadt L.C.S.W., C.S.A.C.

22 A Day Counseling
2211 East Clairemont Ave.
Suite 2
Eau Claire, WI 54701

22 A Day Counseling.

I am often asked why I chose 22 A Day Counseling for the name of my private practice. The answer is a simple one and one that is very near and dear to me. According to the 2012 Department of Veterans Affairs Suicide Data Report, on average 22 American Veterans commit suicide a day. I am shocked and saddened by this figure. The Department of Veteran Affairs has one of the worlds most advanced medical systems which leaves we wondering, how could so many veterans not be receiving the mental health care they desperately need and have earned? I myself have experienced the gaps in coverage and delays is services that happen with the VA. I turned to civilian care for my mental health, where I felt misunderstood and judged. I decided that it is my post military mission to provide mental health care to the underserved population of veterans, first responders, correctional employees and their families. This does not mean that I don’t like nor want to work with people outside of this population. I enjoy working with all people. However, I chose the name 22 A Day Counseling so veterans and first responders would know they too have a home and safe place to seek treatment while not turning away other clients with an overt name that would make the civilian population not feel welcome.

Paul Roadt

https://www.va.gov/opa/docs/Suicide-Data-Report-2012-final.pdf