Living Sober is a nonclinical program that provides transitional support for people beginning their recovery journey for the first time, as well as for those who are stepping down from a higher level of care and want to give themselves the best chance for success.
Our three-phased approach provides increasing independence and is a safe place to explore the many facets of a healthy life of sobriety. The program focuses on 12-Step immersion with a structure reflecting the 12 Steps first developed by Alcoholics Anonymous. Each day begins with a beach reading and meditation. Each week the group focuses on a particular Step-themed topic such as “Acceptance,” “Hope for Change,” “Courage to Keep Going,” Humility,” or “Willingness to Change.”
Each week also features 12-Step-themed questions discussed by the group such as “How is ‘making amends’ committing to a continuous process of change?” and “Why is only changing your behavior not sufficient to repair the damage you’ve caused?” and “In what ways have I seen any changes in my life as a result of prayer and meditation?”
Participants learn to go through a daily inventory, contemplating questions such as “What have I done to be of service?” and “Have I been resentful, selfish, dishonest, or afraid?” and “What have I done today about which I feel positive?” and others.
There is also training on getting and working with a sponsor as this is an essential element of the 12-Step process. The intense 12-Step immersion provides the spiritual foundation for the more practical and vocational elements of the curriculum. The Living Sober program also emphasizes essential life skills such as financial and employment issues and health and wellness.
It’s all part of a sophisticated recovery plan that goes well beyond abstinence from drugs and alcohol. Solid financial planning and fiscal responsibility are important skills to possess on the recovery journey as overwhelming money problems are one of the many contributors common to relapse.
At Living Sober, clients learn to keep an eye on where their money goes, how to use bank accounts, and how to organize their financial records in a meaningful way. Many people in early recovery are on a tight budget and possibly without a job as a consequence of their disease.
It’s important not to succumb to “retail therapy,” i.e. buying things you cannot afford to feel better psychologically. The solution: If you find yourself reaching for your credit card to feel good, take part in other activities that give you the same feeling but won’t ruin your budget. It’s not always going to be easy with special sales and doorbusters staring you in the face at times. At Living Sober, you will learn why it is often better to save your money instead.
Another important element of the Living Sober curriculum is helping clients find employment. The job search as part of your new life in recovery can be just as intimidating as organizing your finances. At Living Sober, there are sessions on how to write a resume, prepare for a job interview, improve your skill set, and also how to handle prejudice and stigmatization.
Living Sober even offers sessions on how to succeed in a job and become worthy of promotion once you successfully applied for a position. At the same time, it’s important not to burn yourself out. Manage your energy carefully: no promotion is worth a relapse.
Also part of the curriculum is how to navigate health and dental insurance. During their stay, Living Sober clients learn to understand the different types of insurance and what benefits they offer.
We’re furthermore putting a lot of emphasis on physical fitness and how to stick to a healthy diet. We offer yoga sessions and provide access to a first-class recovery gym. Exercise increases overall health and a person’s sense of well-being. It increases the production of the brain's feel-good neurotransmitters known as endorphins. It’s a healthy way to feel good and endorphins reduce the negative effects of stress to boot.
Clients learn how to adopt a healthy diet and how to prepare nutritious meals. Finally, Living Sober offers help with improving personal relationships—especially with family members.
The Living Sober curriculum is the foundation of a program that goes far beyond the concept of a conventional recovery residence typically only providing a transitional living space.
With over 30 years of experience in sober living, we created a program providing a structured transition back to a life of independence, free from substance misuse.
For more information about our services, call (561) 279-1037.