Christian residential treatment centers take a strong, faith-based approach to the recovery process. The goal of these programs is to connect people with a higher power, develop their sense of responsibility, and given them the life skills that they need for achieving long-term success in their lives. This treatment is comparable to other forms of treatment in that it is designed to promote lifelong recovery. The primary difference is that participants will be encouraged to use a number of Christian-based resources, including the Bible, to learn how to resist temptation, avoid relapse, and take full advantage of the freely given gift of forgiveness.
One of the most important parts of all addiction treatment plans is the development of new coping skills. Patients must learn how to face everyday stresses and temptations without choosing to use alcohol or drugs to numb or modify their emotions. The good news is that beyond addressing substance abuse, Christian residential treatment aims to help clients achieve self-sufficiency, along with balanced and financially stable lives. This multi-pronged process includes elements such as developing healthy social skills, practicing good stress management, and engaging in practical life planning. With this additional assistance, patients can avoid damaging relationships, limit the triggers that often lead to substance abuse, and become functioning and contributing members of society.
Learning To Accept Responsibility For Choices And Consequences
The faith-based method of drug and alcohol treatment can actually be quite liberating for patients. This manner of approaching substance abuse enables to move beyond the mistakes of their past by accepting responsibility for behaviors that cause them personal harm, and behaviors that have been harmful to others. This prevents negative emotions such as guilt, self-blame, and hopelessness from sidelining the recovery process. It also empowers participants by giving them the keys to controlling their own lives. Through recovery, study, and prayer, participants can learn how to start shaping their lives. They can also learn:
- The power of forgiveness (forgiving themselves and others)
- The importance of being consistent in good decision-making
- The benefits of making daily, life-affirming choices
- The satisfaction of choosing lifestyles that allow them to help others
When people suffer from addiction and addictive behaviors, it is not uncommon for these individuals to let everything apart from their addictions fall by the wayside. They stop paying to their general welfare and their own self-care in many instances. They also have a hard time practicing financial responsibility, maintaining healthy relationships, and engaging in effective communication. Fortunately, these are all issues that life skills training can help substance abusers overcome.
Understanding The Benefits Of Life Skills Training
The first and most important step in life skills training is learning how to admit the need for help. It’s not possible for people to overcome substance abuse until they are willing to admit that they have a problem. This is actually the first step in committing to and successfully completing any rehabilitative program. During life skills training, program participants will additionally gain strategies that will enable them to:
- Resist temptation and avoid relapse
- Take the recovery process one easy and manageable step at a time
- Make decisions without being influenced or pressured by their peers
- Communicate with friends and family in positive and healthy ways
- Establish personal boundaries and maintain them
- View themselves through the loving and forgiving eyes of Christ
People are encouraged to master these basic skills by reading scripture and reconnecting with God through prayer. Over time, these new life-affirming habits will allow recovering addicts to start repairing the relationships that they’ve broken in the past by asking for forgiveness, and by exhibiting their heartfelt commitment to change. Programs like these are ideal for those who want the benefit of a higher power as they embark on one of the most challenging yet rewarding journeys of their lives.
Why Life Skills Training Is So Important In Faith-Based Recovery Programs
Equipping people to deal with the natural challenges of life eliminates the pervasive sense of hopelessness and worthlessness that plagues many drug and alcohol users. When people discover the value that Christ sees in them, they often become better able to see this value in themselves. Understanding their worth, and having the tools to establish and maintain a positive outlook can poise people for long-term success. To meet the spiritual and physical needs of those who participate in this treatment, Christian residential programs offer:
- Workshops
- Individual and group counseling
- Bible-based devotions
- Fitness activities
- Job training
- Goal-setting classes
- Short and long-term life planning activities
How Christian Rehabs Integrate Faith With Traditional Therapy
Traditional therapies focus on a person’s mental health and well-being by using counseling to overcome the issues that brought on the illness. Christian rehabs use the addict’s faith as a booster in recovery. Learning from the scriptures gives them the advantage of putting their confidence in a higher power than themselves. Christian faith is about recognizing our own weaknesses as a human, and our need for being saved from them. Alcoholism is a weakness that only God can help them overcome.
For those who consider themselves Christian, they know how important their savior is to recovering from any kind of illness, including alcoholic addiction. Healing can then take place clinically and spiritually as they seek forgiveness for losing their way in their Christian walk. By adding faith-based services, they reinforce their bond with their Lord and find the inner strength they need to overcome alcoholism. Tackling their problems is a day-to-day thing, so putting trust in our savior will make or break the success of the program.
What types of faith-based services do Christian alcohol rehabs offer?
Christian rehab centers vary in the services they provide with their programs. Most, however, will place a heavy focus on worship services and bible studies. Christians believe building a successful recovery begins with reconnecting with our Lord and savior. By attending a church service, 1-2 times a week, you can keep faith alive. This increases the chances of beating alcoholic addiction. The closer you can come to God, the more likely you’ll gain his strength for avoiding temptations. Prayer sessions add an even larger advantage by trusting in the higher power.
Bible studies are usually in a group setting with the other participants at the center. Using scriptures, they’ll help you seek knowledge about the situations that brought you to the addiction problem. Plus, you can become familiar with scripture passages that speak about issues related to your addiction. You’ll also learn patience, understanding and how to get right with God once more. Individual studies will reinforce the lessons you were previously taught in those meetings.
Discover the Power of Recovering With Other Believers
Even the strongest Christian cannot get through life alone. As a Christian, you are encouraged to spend time with other believers. This can help lift you up during times of hardship. Right now, you need to lean on the support of counselors as well as the other people in your program who can all provide you with encouragement, Christ-Centered advice and compassion. Seeing that other people who share your faith also struggle with addiction helps you to overcome feelings of shame. It also embraces the life that is possible through self-acceptance. In fact, your group counseling sessions are one of the first places where you can begin to practice talking about your addiction with openness and honesty while learning how to apply your spiritual beliefs toward healing.
Whether you choose to participate in a 30-day program or one that is longer, the goal of this process will be helping you to achieve lifelong health and sobriety. Faith-based counselors work hard to lead people to the healing and restorative power of God. By learning to both accept and give forgiveness, it often becomes much easier to move out of dark and self-defeating patterns, and into a far more powerful and productive space. As such, not only do participants frequently complete this type of treatment with long-term success, but many of these same individuals also immerse themselves in highly rewarding careers and volunteer opportunities that allow them to help others. If you are ready to change your life for the better, we can help. Call us now at 844-903-2111.
