Walking through the doors of analcohol rehab/detox is the first step in the treatment and rehabilitation of the alcoholic. After the detox most alcoholics need additional treatment/support.
Most insurance companies do not provide coverage beyond the 5 to 7 day standard hospital treatment. This leaves a void in the next step – long-term sobriety.
Many individuals feel they need more treatment because they experienced being ungrounded, and out of balance with life. Many more individuals have no idea that they need a long-term alcohol rehab or extensive treatment center. And still more relapse.
Many alcoholics have denied their alcohol problem for more than a decade, sometimes several decades. The behaviors and beliefs that accompany the addiction to alcohol are well practiced. Changing these well cultivated behaviors requires tremendous support and time.
Little Three Lodge and the Caron Hospital program are two of the most well-known alcohol rehabs in Pennsylvania. They are also the most costly. The Riverbank House prides itself on offering all of the same services as many of these programs, being just as effective and far more (financially) within the reach of the typical American family. Another benefit of the Riverbank House is that it is not coed; it is a men’s long-term alcohol rehab and treatment program.
WhatHappens in a Men’s Alcohol Rehab?
Most alcoholics have been drinking for a long time. They have nurtured the flaws in their personality that support their drinking. Most family, friends and employers would agree that the alcoholic acts irresponsibly. The alcoholic covers up his botched behaviors, his missed appointments, forgotten birthdays and family events. Most of all the alcoholic lies about his consumption of alcohol and hides when and how he drinks. The alcoholic lies and minimizes (to himself) about the impact the alcohol has of his physical and mental well-being.
By default the alcohol rehab must help the alcoholic to get honest with himself and then become responsible and accountable not only for his past but his present behaviors. Therefore an alcohol rehab in Pennsylvania, or any other state must be structured as well as supportive.
The opportunity exists in a men’s alcohol rehab to help each resident re-discover, nourish and nurture those qualities that make for a happy life; patience and tolerance, responsibility and accountability, generosity, and compassion to name a few.
Why the Riverbank House Men’s Alcohol Rehab?
“Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness. This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime.” Page 84 of Alcoholics Anonymous.
The recovery journey is a lifelong. It must be renewed daily. We come to amen’s alcohol rehab to put a stop to our self-destructive behaviors, hoping to end our cycle of addiction, in our isolation from others. The focus at the Riverbank House is on a perspective of a “whole” life – that is why we emphasize the “whole house” versus the halfway house concept. We are not “broken” people. We are not “addicts”. We are people who have parts of us that are broken, we are individuals who have an addiction. The goal of a men’s long-term alcohol rehab is to create a new perspective.
The men’s alcohol rehab community at the Riverbank House uses the Alcoholics Anonymous program’s 12 steps. The 12 steps are a spiritual path. This path is broadened and enriched by additional spiritual practices and principles common to every religion. Yoga, meditation, daily readings, group meetings in AA meetings are requirements in phases one and two.
Initially, in the 30 day program phase, the house member is introduced to the concept and qualities of cooperative community living. The new member is also introduced to the external AA community – there are over 30 meetings (AA and NA) within a few hundred yards of the House.
Upon arrival the new member is introduced to his Recovery Coach who supports him to identify his personal goals, and develop self-monitoring skills as they progress towards these goals. Phase 2 is a continuation and a deepening of the 12 step activities. The fourth step is put the paper with the goal of discovering the causes and conditions of the alcoholic’s destructive behaviors.
But phase 2 is not only about looking into the past in order to discover where we are. Phase 2 also opens the doors to career planning, educational goals, financial planning and life management skills. Most members, before they start, believe they have career and educational plans, they believe they have financial and life management skills. When however, we put these “plans” to paper and take action on these paper plans nearly all this discover there is a lot to learn.
As mentioned above the earlier phases, one and two, have a foundation of developing responsibility and accountability. We learn to “say what we mean, mean what we say and complete what we promise.”
The Riverbank House Men’s Alcohol Rehab is a new beginning. Because of our close proximity we are aware that few Pennsylvania alcohol rehabs offer the same approach – “creating a future”.