By Sandy Baker

Drug and alcohol addiction treatment is life-changing. It creates an opportunity where you’ll be able to think clearer, repair relationships, and start dreaming about your future. That said, the prospect of recovery can feel overwhelming to those who have experienced long-term addiction. How do you know what to do to create the life you want?

Working to Build a Strong Path Forward

During treatment, you will work with your therapist individually and in group therapy to build a strong plan for your future. That includes developing core strategies to help you get through stressful periods. You’ll also learn how to care for yourself to reduce the risk of relapse. When you leave treatment, you will face some ups and downs, but you will know exactly what to do if you need help.

You also have time during treatment to think about your needs and goals. Do you want to go back to school? What type of work do you hope to do? Is there a passion you want to work towards?

Your therapist can help you gather your thoughts so you can make wise decisions on how to pursue your goals.

The Right Programs & Support for Your Needs

The Ranch at Dove Tree offers a variety of supportive tools to help you move forward after addition. Some of those tools include the following:

Transitional Living

Our gender-specific transitional living program allows you to live in a beautiful home that’s comfortable and welcoming. It’s a location focused on building your confidence, health, and wellness based on your unique needs. You’ll be surrounded by inspiration and encouragement, and help will be available 24 hours a day if you need it. (Related Article: When Is Transitional Living Beneficial?)

Our program also offers additional services to support your recovery:

• Life skills education
• Peer support group therapy
• Resume and job placement services
• Wellness programs
• Recovery coaching

Though you’ll be living more independently in transitional living, there’s ample support available to keep you on the right path.

Family Therapy

During your time in treatment, you’ll have the opportunity to work through relationship concerns in family therapy. This is a time when you will learn a great deal about your future. For example, you may decide to walk away from some family members who are unable or unwilling to support your efforts to remain sober. On the other hand, you may want to work through difficulties with valuable relationships so that you can better support each other.

Family therapy creates a safe place to talk about difficult subjects and learn to communicate with clarity and compassion. Many people in recovery want to rely on family members when they leave therapy. Yet if those family members do not understand what you’ve accomplished or don’t know how to help, they could hold you back from success. Don’t overlook the importance of family therapy as a component of your path forward. (Related Articles: For Families)

Alumni Support

Alumni of our program receive the very best support. Having a strong community around you to help you through difficult times is so important. That’s why we offer an alumni program that’s versatile and invigorating. There are lots of ways we stay connected with our alumni. Here are a few of them:

• Weekly meetings. This is a fantastic way to simply connect, talk, and support others.
• Recovery Thoughts. This inspirational, supportive tool helps you remain focused on recovery through weekly emails.
• Holiday and summer celebrations. During the summer and winter months, we bring everyone together to connect and give thanks. This is a fantastic way to meet others and feel connected again to your support team.
• Alumni reunions. We have a winter event and an annual event that enables you to connect with others.
• Private social media. Our private, secure Facebook group allows you to remain connected and share whatever questions or needs you have with others who know what you’re facing.

Finding Your Way Forward Takes Just One Step at a Time

It can feel both exciting and overwhelming to know you can embrace life to the fullest again after treatment. You don’t have to go down that path on your own, though. With the help of our dedicated team of professionals and lots of supportive services, you’ll have the resources you need to thrive during this process.