“It’s about you. It’s about now.”
Addiction Recovery Coaching is very different to other treatment programmes. It’s more personal, yet it’s not about heavy counselling sessions or about digging up pain from the past. It’s a one-on-one interaction which focuses on the now. It’s about how you can take practical steps now to beat your addiction and build a better life. Read more .
Finding new ways to express our worth
Addiction is a spiritual disease that attacks the addict on every level. Clients are therefore encouraged to become involved in various other activities and explore other interests in order to establish an identity outside of the drug or addict culture. These essential activities help clients acquire a sense of responsibly and commitment, improve self-esteem and develop a sense of achievement. The range of activities are varied and are always expanding.
Finding your way
The aim of SHARP is to give clients the necessary skills to live happy and productive lives in the community. In order to facilitate the transition from institution to normal living, clients are allowed to leave the Centre for several hours a week. During this time out they are required to establish connections with recovering addicts in the community and to work on their often damaged relationships with family. They are also encouraged to explore hobbies, part-time work or study opportunities. A carefully planned schedule is drawn up each week to facilitate this process and avoid boredom or last-minute planning.
The importance of relaxation and exercise
Long-term addiction affects physical health, fitness and general wellbeing, so physical activity and wellbeing exercises are another key focus of the SHARP programme. A thirty minute exercise period is provided every morning. At SHARP we try include a variety of interesting wellbeing activities – such as meditation, yoga and dance. Clients are also encouraged to pursue these activities on their own - to join local gyms or become involved in sports or recreational activities that they enjoy. In our Inspiration programme, we aim to provide clients with access and information to activities in their communities.
Sustaining the change and maintaining our recovery
To maintain a lasting and meaningful recovery it is essential that clients attend an aftercare programme. Once clients return to their home environment it can be very challenging to sustain the changes that have been made in treatment. Regular contact with treatment staff or self-help groups can help facilitate this transition. Clients attend counselling sessions with their focal counsellors once a week for six weeks after leaving SHARP and are strongly encouraged to become active members of the NA, AA and/or CA Fellowships.
Taking recovery to the rest of the family
SHARP Treatment Centre recognises addiction as a family or systems disease and every effort is made to include the family in treatment. Counsellors will provide families with weekly updates and families are asked to attend conferences with treatment staff. In addition, SHARP facilitates regular family days, allowing families to discuss their own experience of living with an addict as well as receive vital education on the nature of addiction and recovery. An essential ingredient of the family days is the communication group that is held with clients and their family. It is often the first real opportunity that people have to share their thoughts and feelings and can be a catalyst for meaningful change.
Learning more about ourselves and our recovery
It is essential to have an in-depth understanding of the process of addiction as well as the process of recovery in order to maintain recovery. Clients attend a morning lecture every day and three afternoon workshops per week. In these sessions a wide range of topics are covered including; relapse prevention, spirituality, cross addiction, anger management and family systems. Here clients can take the information and apply it to their own personal recovery. They are given written and verbal assignments to facilitate this process. In addition to general addiction education, clients are taken through the 12 Steps of Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Cocaine Anonymous (CA) and complete written assignments on each of the steps.
Making your recovery the most meaningful experience it can be
Clients are required to attend two individual counselling sessions per week. During these sessions they are encouraged to explore issues they do not feel able to discuss in group therapy or to discuss issues important to them in more depth. Clients are in treatment for thirteen weeks, which means there is time for a meaningful relationship to develop with their focal counsellor. This relationship assists in the development of trust and enhances the treatment experience.
Compassion and empathy in an environment of respect and acceptance
Group therapy is widely recognised as a successful method of therapy wherein clients can share their addictions, allowing them to better deal with them. Group therapy takes place every morning and the focus of these sessions is to identify and process any issues that may prevent the development of meaningful recovery. The emphasis is on clients taking responsibility for their recovery. Group therapy is facilitated by qualified and experienced counselling staff, who ensure that an environment of respect and acceptance prevails and it provides a safe and nurturing space to work through individual difficulties.
