Making good and sometimes difficult choices is a significant part of the recovery process and can require practice to master. When it is time to select your sober living facility, it is a choice that requires some research and the investment of time to ensure a good fit and the best results for your future. You are essentially building the foundation to provide support and stability as you build a new life of happiness and sobriety.
As you evaluate the facilities where you wish to live, such as Cherry Hill New Jersey, being sure to honestly consider how you will feel living in each space. Are you comfortable and relaxed when in the facility? Does it feel welcoming and supportive? Do you feel worried or stressed by the atmosphere of any of the homes? All of these are questions that will impact your ability to grow and accept the support and guidance of the other residents in the house. In addition to these more personal feelings or responses to the environments, there are several factors to keep in mind as you review your options.
Does The Home Include The 12-Step Principles?
Support is vital as you make your journey to recovery. 12-step programs are the most proven plan to reach sobriety and remain sober for life. Be sure that the sober living facility offers a form of support and accountability that meets the tenets of a 12-step program to help you learn and live by this proven path to recovery. If the home does not offer support in this manner or has no group focus on recovery and support, it might not be a good fit for you in times of difficulty and struggles with ongoing sobriety.
Is There A Time Limit On Your Stay?
As you well know, each person and their challenges are unique. It is impossible to predict if you will be prepared to live independently in six weeks or six months. If the facility has a time limit on your stay, it can place added pressure on you that will actually make your recovery process more difficult. Select a facility that offers you the ability to determine when you are ready to take the next step in your journey rather than being forced to move on their timetable.
Watch For Common Red Flags
Much like everything in life, you get what you pay for when it comes to the services and quality of a sober living facility. If the home offers a free stay or very, very low cost, be aware that it could be a front for some type of fraudulent practices. These facilities can require a vast amount of information about residents that can then be sold or used to file false insurance claims or other illegal activities. You should also be wary of any sober living home run down and in a state of disrepair. Many Philadelphia, PA homes operate at a low rent per person price by eliminating the cost of maintaining the house or requiring residents to sleep in basements, garages, or outbuildings.
Typically, these facilities offer no community support, activities, or help with the challenges of sober living. In addition, they can place your health and safety at risk. Please tour any facility you are considering as your next home in your journey to sobriety. Picture yourself spending time at the house on a good day. Does it feel like a calm and relaxing place to make progress? Also, consider a day that you imagine to be difficult or challenging. Would you feel safe and supported there on a day that has you worried about slipping back into addiction? Answering these questions honestly will help you select a facility like The Forest that will always feel safe, supportive, and inclusive as you continue your healing.