Life After Treatment: Sober Support Networks
For those who are struggling to break the cycle of substance abuse in their life, it can be very challenging to find the support that is needed to achieve a full recovery. Often times, all of their closest friends and companions are involved in substance abuse as well. Even if an individual agrees to receive treatment for an addiction, there is a chance for relapse, especially if she or he has no one to support them in their sobriety after treatment comes to an end.
One of the most important aspects of an addiction recovery program is equipping the individual with the necessary tools and skills to maintain their sobriety. United Drug Rehab Group provides a wide variety of support services including professional preparation services where our network of providers works with our clients to help them build a life for themselves after they leave our drug rehab center. These services include classes on resume building, establishing residency, assistance with the job search, as well as counseling and communication skills. Along with the services we offer to help our clients prepare for life after treatment, we also facilitate the creation of sober support networks between individuals in recovery.
What is a sober support network?
A sober support network is a small community of individuals in recovery who are committed to supporting each other in their sobriety. This is a facet of recovery support services, which are, “non clinical services that assist individuals and families to recover from alcohol or drug problems.” These relationships are fostered while in treatment and flourish when our clients rely on each other out in the world. Our clients know that they will always have someone they can call when they are tempted to use, need encouragement to attend a meeting, or would just like someone to hang out with where using won’t be a temptation.
How is a sober support network established?
At United Drug Rehab Group, our network of providers facilitates the creation of sober support networks through two main facets:
- Group Therapy Sessions: Throughout the course of treatment, our clients have many therapeutic options to choose from. Although we offer individual counseling and family services as well, group therapy is the best place to begin to bond with other clients in recovery. Our group therapy sessions are not intended to tell anyone what to do or how to live their life. They are simply an ideal place to learn about the experiences of others and to reflect on the lessons learned. As our clients begin to open up in front of each other, they begin to create a bond through similar shared experiences.
- Offsite Group Activities: After our clients spend the week attending classes and meetings, our network of providers arranges fun outings on the weekends. These options include: kayaking, beach days, paddleboarding, horseback riding, go-karting, bowling, movie nights, shopping trips, and more. These types of activities are designed to foster increased self-reliance, as well as to show our clients that having fun while sober is an important part of recovery. By starting to “hang out” away from our drug rehab center, clients’ friendships will deepen and they will have new friends to hang out with once their addiction treatment program ends.
