Sober living is a recovery option for those who have completed primary treatment for a substance use issue. Sober living is not just a temporary home but a lifestyle. Residential life teaches those in recovery how to function in the regular world without having to turn to drugs or alcohol. The main goal of all sober living facilities is to promote accountability and community for those in recovery.
How Sober Living Works
After intake, primary treatment, and drug and alcohol detox, individuals in recovery addicts are encouraged to enter a sober living home. By making the choice to stay, they are giving themselves a different and healthy life experience. It is one free from potential triggering stressors and temptations to use drugs or alcohol.
First, residents will go through an assessment. Some of the topic they’ll be expected to talk about honestly include:
- Responsibilities at work
- Home life
- Criminal background
- Existing medications
- Length of sobriety
- Plans for ongoing treatment
Questions vary based on the type of house and their operations, but ultimately the sober living residence wants to get a clear depiction of your history in addition to your goals for sober living. Intake specialists will do their best to help individuals find the right program for them.
What to Expect in a Sober Living House
Often, sober living homes have a house manager who runs daily operations and oversees residents. However, as the need for sober living develops, more homes are adding to their services to provide the best care. Some sober living homes employ a complete staff so that residents will have assistance at all times.
Overnight managers create an added benefit. All residents have support if and when they need it if they’re experiencing cravings or other challenges. An overnight manager ensures that they will have support to turn to. On-site staff may not be medical professionals, but they know the ins and outs of addiction and recovery.
Sober living homes have higher than average success rates when compared to other options. Maintaining sobriety can be problematic due to the biological components of chemical dependency. Then, after primary treatment, clients are often released after approximately thirty days of being clean and sober. This leaves residual addiction urges the opportunity to grow.
The peaceful and orderly environment of a sober living home requires adherence to house rules. Random drug testing keeps residents focused on the goal of staying sober. It is also the central element of sober living’s purpose for existence.
Day-to-Day Life in Sober Living
Sobriety relies on structure, routines, and rules in order to eliminate outside influences and seclusion. Those moments can trigger a relapse, so day-to-day life in sober living requires a schedule. Sober living encourages routines that place importance on treatment for both addiction and other mental health illnesses.
Daily life may require residents to participate in house activities, chores, or group activities. Homes may permit residents to leave for work or school. But often, addiction therapy, twelve-step meeting attendance, and participation in a house activity (like a holistic treatment) are incremented parts of daily life. Residents must abide by the curfew and strict visitor policy.
Day-to-day life is organized with a variety of activities and treatments. However, an emphasis on self-care, healing, and sobriety are the permanent aspects of daily life. Residents learn how to live healthily in preparation for leaving sober living.
Sober Living at Westwind Recovery®
The best thing that sober living homes do is that they provide residents with hope for the future. Through therapy, residents’ thought processes will change for the better. While the prospect of not having the crutch of drugs or alcohol may have been daunting, sober living introduces people to a new way of life.
Psychotherapy, career counseling, life coaching, and goal setting are tools that help residents look to the future with excitement, not fear. Sober living teaches residents how to be present and how to thrive in their new life.
Learn more about Westwind Recovery®’s sober living housing by connecting with our team.
Dr. Deena is the Chief Clinical Officer of Westwind Recovery®, an award-winning outpatient treatment center in Los Angeles where she oversees the clinical and administrative program and treatment methods. Dr. Deena is a doctor of psychology and licensed clinical social worker since 1993. LCSW #20628. Originally from the East Coast, Dr. Deena has worked running treatment centers, worked as a therapist in psychiatric hospitals as well as school settings and currently has a thriving private practice in the LA area. Dr. Deena has appeared regularly on the Dr. Phil Show as an expert since 2003. She has also been featured on many other TV shows, podcasts and has contributed to written publications as well as podcasts.
