A Christian treatment center is a type of drug and alcohol rehabilitation center that uses Christian principles as a foundation for recovering from substance abuse. Each one of these treatment centers takes a different approach. For example, some Christian treatment centers still use medical personnel like doctors to provide relief during the early stages of withdrawal, but they will turn to more Christian-focused principles once the initial physical withdrawal is over. Before going into a Christian facility, it’s wise to learn the pros and cons of choosing this type of treatment.
If you’re strong in your Christian faith, then a Christian treatment center might already be something you know you’re interested in. You should still learn the kind of approach this type of treatment entails though. Let’s have a look at some of the major benefits and drawbacks of the Christian mode of recovery.
Benefits of Christian Recovery
Christian rehabs focus on a relationship with Jesus and the tenants of the Christian faith in order to help people get well. Prayer, meditation, Christian lessons, and even bible study might be a part of recovery in these types of rehabs. The goal isn’t to just get the patient sober. It’s to help them reestablish their faith in God. When you’re in a Christian rehab, you’re going to meet other like-minded people who also have or want to have a strong faith in God.
Naturally, people who have a strong connection to the Christian faith will find it easier to recover in this type of environment. If you’ve had faith in the past but lost it, you may find that a Christian approach to recovery:
- Gives you strength
- Makes you feel comforted
- Helps you meet others to share your faith with
Just like in other rehab centers, you will probably have available counselors who can discuss your issues with you, but the psychiatrist or counselor will have a background in the Christian faith and be both educated in college and likely the ministry as well, giving you an educated, spiritual approach that is doubly helpful if you’re a Christian.
Drawbacks of this Approach
If you aren’t a Christian or have another faith, it may be difficult to benefit from just about anything from the Christian approach, although you will be able to remain sober in this environment because like all other centers, this one will be free of drugs and alcohol. Even if you can’t appreciate the approach in an ongoing way, it’s entirely possible to recover in a Christian substance abuse program.
You don’t have to necessarily even believe in God to get something out of this approach, although if you are an atheist, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to go into a Christian program. If you’re open-minded enough, though, the spiritual aspect alone could give you solid principles for recovery, and you wouldn’t be the first person who went in an atheist and came out a believer.
A Different Way to Recover
If you want to get sober badly enough, you can recover in just about any kind of treatment center that offers you a drug and alcohol free environment, no matter what the approach is. Sometimes people will go to a Christian program because all other programs are full, and there are many people who didn’t believe they’d benefit who actually came out feeling ready to recover on their own terms and stuck with a Christian approach.
Christianity is a loving, understanding way to look at the world, a compassionate way to view other people and the universe we live in. The very fundamental aspects of the treatment approach may reach a lot of people who didn’t think at first that they’d be able to handle a spiritual program. Even if it’s not for you, you might want to learn more about the Christian way of recovery. Many people aren’t ready for it early on, but as they go to more group meetings and talk to other people, they find that in some ways, faith plays a part in all recovery, and so does love, compassion, and belief in something greater ahead, something better.
If you have a strong faith and want to recover from substance abuse, the Christian approach might just be your ticket to freedom. Whenever you’re ready to get started, just give us a call at 844-903-2111. Our knowledgeable and compassionate counselors are always standing by ready to help another person recover.
