aftercare

What to do after rehab

What to do after rehab

 It took courage to admit you have a problem with drugs or alcohol.  Entering treatment might also have been scary.  Give yourself a pat on the back for making those tough decisions.  Maybe you went to a residential facility and then continued with outpatient services.  Or, perhaps you chose a non-residential facility and are now finished with the program.  After completing an outpatient treatment like Centered Recovery Programs, what happens next? 

What Is Aftercare and Why Does It Matter?

Aftercare is a plan that you and your therapist create to help you with long-term sobriety.  Keeping yourself connected to a sober support system increases your chances of maintaining the sobriety you worked so hard to achieve.  Research shows that the longer a person receives treatment, the better the long-term outcome for sobriety.  In one study, researchers found that between 23% and 48% of clients had maintained sobriety at 12 months post-treatment. 

What Are My Options?

 My 3-year-old granddaughter once asked about dinner, “What are my options?”  I was amazed by her insight at such a young age.  She knew she had a choice.  You also have a choice.  Creating a plan that fits your needs is far more reachable than if someone else makes it for you.  There are several things you can do for an aftercare plan that include support groups, books, web-based resources, or peer support.  This is not an all-inclusive list.  If you are nearing the end of your outpatient, talk with your therapist to help you decide what would be best for you. 

Types of Aftercare Support

  1. Support Groups – Centered Recovery Programs offers two free support groups at the Roswell location and one at the Marietta location which are open to the public. They are Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1-2 PM, at 1250 Upper Hembree Road, Suite E, Roswell; and Saturdays 12-1 PM, at 1000 Piedmont Road, Marietta. 

      Alcoholics Anonymous meeting locator (https://www.aa.org/)

      Narcotics Anonymous meeting locator (https://www.na.org/meetingsearch/)

      SMART Recovery meeting locator (https://www.smartrecoverytest.org/local/)

      Celebrate Recovery meeting locator (https://locator.crgroups.info/)

  1. Facebook Group – Centered Recovery Programs has an exclusive Facebook group for alumni called BWYFA (Be where your feet are).
  2. Web-Based Resources :

www.centeredrecoveryprograms.com – our website has blogs, articles, and videos to help keep you involved.

www.mindful.org – a wealth of meditation, inspiration, and guidance.

Anything on Youtube by Jon Kabat-Zinn.

  1. Books – Reading material to supplement what you learned in treatment can be an excellent refresher or add to your knowledge.  Below are a few favorites of Centered Recovery Programs.

The Inside Out Revolution by Michael Neill

Clarity by Jamie Smart

Victim of Thought by Jill Whalen

10 Minute Mindfulness by SJ Scott

I Hope I Screw This Up by Kyle Cease

Anything by Jon Kabat Zinn or Dan Siegel

  1. Peer-Support – MAP Peer Recovery Support provides guidance and encouragement that compliments a client’s aftercare plan.  You can read more about MAP here (https://www.centeredrecoveryprograms.com/blog/centered-recovery-now-offers-map-care-solutions-for-clients/)

Your therapist will help you develop an aftercare plan that is right for you.  Centered Recovery Programs is dedicated to helping you flourish.  Your success is our success!

 References

Mohammad, A., Irizarry, K.J., Shub, R.N. and Sarkar, A. (2017) Addiction Treatment Aftercare Out- come Study. Open Journal of Psychiatry, 7, 51-60. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ojpsych.2017.71005

Susan Sanchez, MS, MSW Student