When making the courageous decision to seek treatment for a drug or alcohol addiction, most people are hyper-focused on the first two phases of recovery: detox and rehab.
But between the end of an intensive rehab program and the start of an independent life of sustained sobriety, many people need continued encouragement and steadfast support. That’s where the transitional care approach of a sober living community can make a world of difference.
With a residential treatment center in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, and an intensive outpatient and sober living facility in Sandy, Utah, our team at Wasatch Recovery Treatment Center is here to help you through every phase of your recovery journey.
Explore the purpose and benefits of sober living, and find out if this long-term recovery program is right for you.
What’s a sober living home?
It takes hard work, dedication, and resilience to go through detox and get sober. In the early days and weeks of recovery that follow, most people experience a period of adjustment that’s full of ups and downs.
Sober living offers a transitional support bridge between intensive addiction treatment and a self-sufficient life of sobriety back in the “real world.” Simply put, it provides a safe, stable, and supervised setting where people in recovery can practice and build on the lessons they learned in rehab.
While a sober living environment doesn’t come with the same structure as an inpatient facility, it provides an immediate and consistent “sober space” that encourages residents to develop healthy coping skills.
For many people in recovery, staying in a sober living home through a precarious period can mean the difference between falling back into old habits or moving forward on the path of sobriety.
How does sober living work?
Unlike intensive inpatient programs, residents of a sober living house aren’t bound to the facility or even to campus — they can come and go with few restrictions, provided they abide by a curfew and adhere to community standards and rules. This means:
- No drugs or alcohol; no violence or overnight guests
- Undergoing random drug and alcohol screenings
- Actively participating in group support meetings
- Engaging in work, school, or an outpatient program
- Managing regular household duties and chores
- Paying guest dues/monthly rent promptly
With household management, clinical supervision, therapeutic assistance, and peer support, sober living promotes accountability and routine for people in recovery. Ultimately, it provides a way to ease back into normal life and return to daily tasks and responsibilities from safe and supportive surroundings
Sober living residents go through phases of increasing independence.
Incoming residents are typically in a restrictive “mental detox” phase. In this phase, the focus is on the basics of living in sobriety, away from triggers. Personal responsibilities are re-established during the reintroduction phase, and independent decision-making is restored during the self-sufficiency phase.
As long as residents follow the rules and stay sober, there’s no time restriction on the length of stay. Some people feel stronger in their sobriety after three to six months of sober living, while others need a year or longer to feel ready for full independence.
Should I consider sober living?
In a sober living community, residents in recovery experience guided independent living as they work toward the common goal of achieving stable sobriety. This invaluable aftercare approach may be used:
- Following a residential treatment program
- During an intensive outpatient program
- In conjunction with a day treatment program
- When maintaining sobriety becomes difficult
Sober living can benefit people from a wide range of backgrounds and circumstances. But for certain people, receiving transitional care and support after rehab isn’t simply beneficial — it’s key to achieving continued sobriety. Sober living can be pivotal for someone who:
- Has relapsed after previous rehab treatment(s)
- Is isolated or doesn’t have a good support system at home
- Doesn’t have a stable home to return to following rehab
- Has a co-occurring mental health disorder like anxiety
- Struggles to cope with triggers, cravings, and urges to use
After assessing the nature and severity of your addiction, treatment needs, and personal circumstances, our team at Wasatch Recovery Treatment Center works with you to determine if sober living is in your best interest.
No matter what your situation, sober living is always a good choice if you have any concerns about staying sober on your own once you finish rehab.
To learn more about the residential treatment, intensive outpatient, and sober living programs at Wasatch Recovery Treatment Center, give us a call today. You can also use our easy online booking tool to schedule a virtual or in-person visit at any time.