Transformations Recovery Clients Only Go To Approved Sober Living Homes

Often, when a person leaves a substance abuse treatment program, the individual is required to find a sober living or halfway house without any type of starting point or maybe the client is provided with a few suggestions from a therapist. Although sober living programs are a vital asset in the recovery process for addicts and alcoholics, most often these places have never been visited or assessed by treatment center staff or the referring therapist, which is a recipe for disaster. If a client is placed into an unskilled or unhealthy environment during recovery, it can prove to be detrimental to the healing process and cause an unfortunate setback, or possible relapse.

The clients at Transformations Treatment Center are only able to reside at one of our preapproved sober living communities. Each halfway house or sober living facility we use has been personally inspected, reviewed and interviewed by us and we have only approved of three particular facilities in the Delray Beach, Florida area. One of our top choices is The Bridge Properties, which is staffed by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Masters Degree in Social Work, the field of addiction as a particular specialty, which is of great benefit to residents.

For these and many other reasons, Transformations differs highly from other centers in the area and we provide our clients with a unique and supportive approach to recovery. The level of expertise and devotion provided by our staff members is an essential important element which allows us to support our clients in the process of building a long lasting foundation for recovery. We at Transformations, provide therapeutic case management and a supplementary level of service, all of which combine to benefit each client we help.

The goal of a sober living facility is to provide transitional housing for recovering addicts and alcoholics that have previously successfully completed an inpatient treatment or rehabilitation program. What is a sober living facility? Typically a sober living facility is a place which provides a supportive, structured environment for those addicts not yet ready to face life in the outside world. The goal of a sober living program is not intended to be a long-term living arrangement, but rather a transitional facility which gives an individual a reasonably priced, clean, structured environment with others that share the same goal of maintaining sobriety.

Sober living programs are a vital asset to a recovery client in that it provides extra support and motivation, and for some it can be the different between success and failure. There are general guidelines and regulation’s within a sober living facility that must be respected and adhered too, if not it affects not only the client, but also others in residence as well. Sober living homes are designed to be a temporary for those just coming out of a rehab/treatment program, prior to reentry into society. Because of how the disease of addiction works, a recovery client often forgets about healthy behavior patterns and may not be fully prepared to deal with the stresses and troubles in the outside world, which is why a sober living home can be so important.

The disease of addiction creates new habitual behaviors which are unhealthy, risky and dangerous and functioning on a normal level may be such a foreign concept to a recovery client that the person is unable to cope. Drug and alcohol treatment programs can go so far and help to lay down the groundwork needed to adopt new behavior patterns, but sometimes a recovering individual needs more. Anybody recovering from addiction is going to need extra compassion, support and understanding while finding new lifestyle choices and adopting healthy coping skills, which is ever present and provided at a sober living facility. Oftentimes, if an addict is returned into an old environment too quickly, all of the work and everything accomplished in rehab will be pushed aside and the person will relapse back into addiction.

In order to avoid falling prey to the urges to engage in substance abuse, a person should check into the services of a sober living facility instead. For many people that have gone through a treatment program, the standard length of stay is 30-days, which for some is not nearly enough time to experience a full recovery. Generally, a 30-day program is adequate time to become clean and sober, but not enough to learn everything there is to know about leading a different lifestyle. People in recovery need extra compassion and nurturing before being able to make a complete reintegration back into society again. Within a sober living facility, a person receives ongoing support and assistance which is crucial to helping make the move back into society safe and successful.

Often a sober living program is set within an apartment like setting or in almost like a group home environment which houses several recovering alcoholics and drug addicts. Many sober living facilities require a person to have already successfully gone through a treatment/rehab program in order to be accepted into the program. There are many beneficial options and services available at a sober living facility which makes it a great place for a recovery client to transition back into society, while learning to abide by a certain set of rules, regulations, guidelines and responsibilities. Sober living homes are offered exclusively for those clients that are not quite ready to go back “home” again, but are in need of extra, specialized, ongoing assistance until ready to face society once again.

Studies have shown time and again that when surrounded by others that share the same goals and mind-set, it is easier for a recovering addict or alcoholic to stay focused on the goal of recovery. In a sober living home, a recovery client is required to be clean and sober at all times and is subjected to random drug and alcohol testing in order to ensure compliance. These practices are done to make sure the integrity of the facility is maintained, as well as make certain the environment is conducive to ongoing recovery. The extra efforts are afforded, to make sure people remain clean and sober not only ensure safety is observed, but is done to make sure nobody is subjected to experiencing a relapse back into addiction either.

Most residents of a sober living home are also required to get a job and/or possibly return to school to continue their education. This requirement ensures all residents are observing constructive behavior and filling pass time with positive activities which do not focus on engaging in substance abuse. By working and going to school, recovering addicts and alcoholics can begin working towards goals and build up self-esteem, both of which are important and makes the person feel good about themselves. Some sober living programs have a strict curfew which must be observed at all times, after curfew there is a head count done to make sure everyone has returned for the day and has not been engaging in drinking or drug use.

When in a sober living home, residents are most likely required to attend ongoing counseling and NA or AA meetings each week to observe ongoing recovery. Often people will go to these meetings as a group, which helps to provide each individual with motivation and support. Depending upon the sober living home and how the resident is progressing, some programs may allow home visits on the weekend which is good because it gives the person time with the family. Though it is common to allow a Friday through Sunday visit, it is not extended to every resident, but rather something to be determined after weighing what is in the person’s best interest and taking the chances of relapse and the home environment into consideration.

Not all sober living programs employ these practices, each facility offers its own unique set of rules and regulations which must be observed and respected. If a person is found to be in possession of drugs or alcohol or intoxicated while in residence or after returning from a weekend pass, it is most likely going to result in grounds for immediate expulsion. It is important for a person to have a clear and concise understanding of what is expected before committing to a facility of this nature. Most sober living programs are less expensive than another trip through rehab so it is in the best interest of those looking to maintain all the hard work and progress made from going through treatment and becoming clean and sober to consider entering into one of these programs.

With the combination of support, guidance and compassion shown to recovering addicts and alcoholics in a sober living home, it is vital to helping the individual maintain recovery. By having the ability to lean on others in the same situation and seeing the struggles each must go through to remain sober, it helps a person to realize that they are not alone. Residents form close bonds of friendship and camaraderie which help to provide motivation and a reaffirmed sense of purpose and meaning. When in a sober living home, a person is able to share experiences, deal with reality and daily life and still have the safety of a sober living environment which removes the temptation to relapse back into addictive behavior patterns.

Though there is going to be pressures, stress, anxiety and problems, each resident will be able to lean on others experiences and wisdom and apply it to their own situation. When provided with a group of supportive individuals it is easier to open up and share during moments of weakness or doubt, which makes it much easier to stay sober and avoid falling prey to the temptation to drink alcohol or use the drug of choice. The transition from treatment into the real world can be overwhelming and frightening to anyone recovering from drug addiction or alcoholism, but going into a sober living home can be just what the person needs to stay on the path to experiencing a full and complete recovery.

Recovering from addiction is not an easy thing to do and for someone that is experiencing ambivalence or hesitation, a sober living environment can be a very beneficial option. Sober living homes are designed to teach a recovering addict or alcoholic about all there is to know about living in the outside world through using real life scenarios and situations to teach the person about what is expected. Recovering addicts or alcoholics can stay at a sober living home for as long as needed, until the person is ready to fully face the outside world and is able to remain sober and strong. When considering all of the options available after completing a rehab/treatment program, a sober living facility can be a welcomed option for those needing a bit more help before getting out on their own.