Continuum of Care
It might seem like treatment for a substance use disorder is a two-step process: detoxification and rehabilitation.
That idea is subtly reinforced by the fact that both of those steps often take place in a residential treatment center. So it is easy enough to think of the whole process as happening within the walls of that treatment center.
You start treatment when you arrive, and your treatment ends when you leave, right?
Well, not exactly. There is an important third step—and given the prevalence of relapse among the newly sober—that’s a very good thing.
What is this third step? At Wooded Glen Recovery Center, we call it our “continuum of care”. It is intended to give you the best chance of maintaining your hard-won sobriety—and to give you a logical next step in the event that you do experience a relapse.
Care You Can Count On
We won’t sugarcoat it: the early days of recovery can be difficult. After all, a substance use disorder is a disease of the brain that can be managed but can’t be cured. So the risk of relapse is always going to be present, but the tug of old habits can be particularly strong in the early going.
During the rehabilitation portion of your treatment—which will likely include both group and individual therapy—you will get to talk about challenges you anticipate, and you will learn strategies for addressing those challenges when they arrive. But while you are still in the treatment center, those hypothetical situations can seem manageable in a way they might not if and when they become your reality.
And that is why the idea of a continuum of care is so important.
Components of the Continuum
As we have noted, the purpose of the continuum of care is to support your ongoing sobriety once you have left residential treatment. Wooded Glen Recovery Center does this in a number of ways.
For example, we offer a family program because we understand that a substance use disorder affects more than just the individual who is struggling with drugs or alcohol. Family bonds may have been frayed or even broken due to the behavior of the person in the grips of a substance use disorder. It is only natural that family members might feel a range of intense emotions—anger, anxiety, frustration, and more—that might make it difficult to effectively support a person in recovery.
The family program covers several topics and issues including:
- How to help a loved one stay sober
- How to handle situations or behaviors that might put a loved one at increased risk of relapse
- Avoiding codependency and identifying enabling behaviors
- Managing stress through self-care
- Communicating in a healthier, more effective way
- Rebuilding trust and connections among family members
Additional Aftercare
We also provide resources and recommendations as a person’s time in residential treatment comes to an end. For example, we can refer individuals to 12-Step groups (or other recovery group options) so that they start their recovery journey with a supportive community in place.
We can also make recommendations and referrals for ongoing mental health care and provide connections to other community resources that may prove helpful. Those additional resources might include intensive outpatient programs that provide a smoother transition back to independent living or sober living homes in which all residents are individuals in recovery.
Equally importantly, a person who has undergone treatment at Wooded Glen Recovery Center will have ongoing access to alumni groups and events—as well as the comfort of knowing that a recovery specialist is never more than a phone call away.
And in the event of a relapse? The best option for a person who has relapsed is to return to residential treatment. That might seem counterintuitive because it may seem as though a relapse means that treatment didn’t “work.” But while a relapse is a setback, it is not an indication that treatment is ineffective. Returning to treatment gives you and your care providers an opportunity to fine-tune your treatment plan so that you can restart your recovery. As part of our continuum of care commitment, you can be confident that we will never give up on you—and you shouldn’t give up on yourself either.
Let’s Get Started
Struggling with drugs or alcohol can be a very isolating experience, and it can be hard to believe that anyone or anything can truly help. But real, effective, evidence-based help is available at Wooded Glen Recovery Center. We will help you regain your sobriety, identify and address co-occurring mental health disorders, and provide the continuum of care we have outlined here. We will listen to you and personalize your treatment plan for your unique needs. The time to get started on getting and staying sober is right now.