Understanding Your Loved One’s Journey at Freedom House

When you’re deeply involved in your loved one’s journey through recovery, understanding their day-to-day experiences at Freedom House can provide reassurance and clarity. Our facility is dedicated to supporting residents with a variety of therapies and activities designed to foster a healthy lifestyle and equip them with the necessary skills to maintain sobriety. We offer a comprehensive approach to addiction treatment, ensuring that your loved one receives the care and support essential for long-term recovery.

Daily Activities and Treatment at Freedom House

At Freedom House, each client receives a personalized treatment plan tailored to their specific needs. These plans consider various factors, including the severity of the addiction, past substance use, and any co-occurring mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety.

Our treatment programs are comprehensive, addressing the unique challenges each client faces during their recovery journey. Clients engage in a mix of individual and group therapy sessions, fostering a supportive environment where they can connect with others facing similar struggles.

We employ a range of therapeutic approaches to aid recovery, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, the Matrix Model, psychoeducation, and motivational interviewing.

Throughout their stay, clients work closely with their treatment team to develop a robust aftercare plan, ensuring they have support in place once they complete their program.

Communication Guidelines During Treatment at Freedom House

At Freedom House, we aim to support our clients in fully engaging with their recovery process. To facilitate this, communication policies are in place during their stay in our residential treatment and housing programs.

Residential Treatment Communication:

• Upon admission into our residential treatment program, clients undergo a 24-hour blackout period where they will not have access to external communications. This allows
  them to settle in and adjust to their new environment without distractions.
• Following this initial period, a 30-day communication blackout is enforced to encourage full engagement with the treatment process. After 30 days, clients may be eligible to
  make up to two phone calls per week, contingent upon their adherence to the treatment plan and overall compliance with program requirements.

Transitional Housing Communication:

• Clients entering our transitional housing program have the opportunity to communicate with family from the day of their arrival. They can coordinate directly with family members for the delivery or pickup of approved personal items.
• No on-site visitation is permitted, ensuring that the focus remains on recovery and reducing potential disruptions.

These communication guidelines are designed to support the therapeutic environment while also keeping family members informed and involved at appropriate stages. In the case of a serious medical emergency, our staff will promptly notify designated family members or emergency contacts.

Your Role in Supporting Recovery at Freedom House

Supporting a loved one through recovery from substance use disorder is crucial and requires compassion, understanding, and active participation.

At Freedom House, we emphasize the importance of family involvement in the recovery process. Family members who are listed in the release of information have the opportunity to contact our therapists directly. These conversations can provide insights into your loved one’s progress and offer guidance on how best to support their journey towards recovery.

Maintaining your own mental health is vital during this period. We encourage family members to seek their own support through therapy, counseling, or peer groups, ensuring that you remain strong and resilient. This not only helps you but also enhances the support you can offer your loved one as they navigate their path to recovery at Freedom House.

Empowering Recovery at Freedom House

At Freedom House, we recognize the crucial role family and friends play in the recovery journey of their loved ones. Your support is vital, but it’s equally important to allow your loved one the space to navigate their recovery independently.

Treatment can be a challenging process that requires significant personal growth and adaptation. It’s natural for those in recovery to face hurdles, especially during the initial stages. As a supporter, balancing your involvement means providing encouragement without removing the necessary challenges that foster resilience and self-reliance. Allowing your loved one to experience and overcome these obstacles is key to their long-term success in recovery.

Gifts and Personal Items at Freedom House

At Freedom House, we appreciate the support families and friends provide through thoughtful gifts and personal items. However, to ensure the well-being and security of all clients, we require all items to be screened by our staff before they are delivered to residents. For ease and to ensure compliance with our policies, please coordinate these deliveries with our administrative team.

Clients are allowed a modest amount of personal belongings to maintain comfort while ensuring a structured living environment. They may keep up to eight pieces of each type of clothing and are expected to manage their laundry weekly. Only two pairs of shoes and a television no larger than 24 inches are permitted. Furthermore, all hygiene products provided or sent must be alcohol-free to ensure the safety and integrity of our recovery environment. Upon arrival, Freedom House will provide basic toiletries to each client to help them settle in comfortably and with dignity.

Transitioning from Freedom House

Freedom House is dedicated to providing a secure and supportive environment that fosters recovery from substance use disorders. As your loved one prepares to leave our facility, they will need your continuous support to adapt to a new, sober lifestyle. Our comprehensive discharge planning includes meetings with your loved one and their counselor to set clear boundaries and expectations for their return to everyday life. This collaborative approach ensures a seamless transition back into the community.

To best support your loved one post-treatment, we encourage patience, involvement, understanding, and supportive interactions. Additionally, Freedom House offers several
post-discharge options tailored to each individual’s progress and needs, including returning home, moving to 3/4 housing, or transitioning to independent living arrangements. These options are determined based on their achievements and the personalized case management plan, aiming to sustain and build upon the recovery journey.

Freedom House Discharge Planning

At Freedom House, we initiate the discharge planning process as soon as your loved one begins their treatment with us. This meticulous planning ensures we address all necessary
areas concerning work, legal matters, and family needs as they prepare to transition from treatment.

Our dedicated staff and therapists collaborate closely to guide patients from our comprehensive treatment programs to ongoing care options, aligning with their personal recovery journey. Our robust Outpatient clinic is available to support continued recovery. We carefully evaluate each individual’s challenges and the environmental factors impacting their sobriety to recommend the most suitable level of outpatient care or sober living arrangements, ensuring a seamless continuation of support and treatment. This structured approach is tailored to facilitate the smoothest possible reintegration into everyday life, supported by a continuum of care that promotes sustained recovery.

Your loved one needs a strong support system at home to stay on the right path and avoid a relapse. This does not mean that you are responsible for your loved one’s
recovery; however, it does mean that your nonjudgmental and loving support can help them to stay on the right track.

Here is a great checklist for preparing to exit rehab

Express to them that you understand recovering from a substance use disorder is no easy feat. Be an active listener when your loved one confides in you about their struggles. Understand that recovery can be a long, complicated process, and try to be as patient as you can with your loved one as they adjust to their new lifestyle without drugs or alcohol.

Encourage healthy behaviors – such as exercising and cooking healthy meals – that can benefit your loved one both physically and mentally and that can distract them from their triggers. Foster a healthy home environment that prohibits access to drugs, alcohol, and related paraphernalia.

It’s important to establish boundaries and help your loved one understand the consequences that will occur should they relapse or fail to respect the boundaries you have in place.

If your loved one has decided to continue with treatment in the form of an aftercare program or recovery meetings, work with them to make travel arrangements to and from these facilities.

Your loved one’s participation in aftercare is critical to their ability to achieve lasting sobriety.

Understanding Relapse Prevention at Freedom House

Relapse in addiction recovery is often seen in a similar light as relapses in other chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension. It indicates a need to reassess and potentially adjust the recovery strategy to better meet your loved one’s needs, particularly in managing triggers and stressful situations.

Key Strategies for Relapse Prevention:

1. Engage in Open Conversations: Regularly discuss the dynamics of relapse with your loved one. Understanding their relapse prevention plan crafted during treatment gives insight into potential triggers and strategies for managing them.
2. Monitor for Warning Signs: Stay vigilant for signs that may indicate a risk of relapse, such as increased stress, changes in behavior, or a return to old habits, which can precede a relapse.
3. Immediate Support Connection: If you suspect a relapse might be imminent, encourage immediate communication with a counselor or support group. Timely intervention can prevent a full relapse and help reinforce recovery efforts.

By maintaining open communication and being proactive in recognizing the signs of relapse, you can play a crucial role in supporting your loved one’s journey toward sustained recovery.

Maintaining Engagement in Recovery at Freedom House

Substance use disorders impact not just the individual but also their friends and family. Active involvement in your loved one’s recovery journey at Freedom House is vital for reinforcing family bonds and enhancing the overall recovery process.

Ways to Stay Involved:

1. Engage in Open Communication: Regular discussions about recovery progress can strengthen trust and mutual understanding, which are crucial for healing and support.
2. Participate in Educational Sessions: While Freedom House does not offer group family therapy, we encourage family members included in the client’s approved contact list to engage with our therapists to gain insights and guidance on supporting their loved one’s recovery journey.
3. Support Through Understanding: Recognize that recovery is a complex process, and your supportive presence can greatly influence your loved one’s motivation and ability to stay on the path to sobriety.

Self-Care for Families at Freedom House

A person’s substance use disorder can also affect their friends, family, and loved ones. Involving yourself in your loved one’s recovery can strengthen your relationship and improve your dynamic.

Family therapy with your loved one can heal conflicts and address unresolved problems that may be causing strain in your relationship, thus putting them at risk for relapse.

Supporting Yourself

Supporting a loved one through recovery at Freedom House requires not only emotional strength but also self-care to maintain your own well-being. It’s essential to take steps to ensure you are also supported throughout this journey.

Key Aspects of Self-Care:

1. Establish Healthy Boundaries: It’s crucial to set and maintain boundaries that protect your emotional and physical well-being. This helps in creating a balanced environment
   where you can support your loved one without compromising your own health.
2. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle: Engage in regular physical activities, eat nutritious foods, and ensure you get adequate rest. Taking care of your body and mind is essential to
   being a resilient support system for your loved one.
3. Seek Support: Recognize that you are not alone in this journey. Participating in support groups such as Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, or other community support systems can provide
   you with the necessary tools and understanding to handle the challenges of addiction recovery.
4. Educate Yourself: Understanding the nature of substance use disorders helps in managing expectations and reduces stress. Knowledge empowers you to provide informed support and to better cope with the recovery process.

By prioritizing your own health and education, you enhance your ability to provide meaningful support, contributing positively to your loved one’s journey toward recovery at Freedom House.