Aftercare and Ongoing Recovery

As part of our ongoing commitment to our clients continuous recovery, Liberty House offer all those that complete treatment, one year free aftercare. Aftercare is a vital part of the ongoing process of recovery and encourages clients to stay on track as well as help with their continued growth.

Statistically, it has been proven that those who undergo a full aftercare programme, and continue to engage in 12 step meetings, have a far better chance of remaining clean and sober than those who don’t

Life as a newly sober individual can be daunting and presents a number of challenges. Aftercare assists in the adjustment period and helps our clients to implement what they have learned whilst in treatment, into their daily lives.

The Importance of Aftercare

Firstly, addiction is a chronic-lifetime illness that manifests in the individual’s thinking and personal belief systems. It impacts on every area of their being, physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally. Recovery is not an overnight process and there is no quick fix; it takes time, dedication and work.

When an individual first leaves our care and returns back to their home environment, free from alcohol and drugs, they will look better, feel better and have more self confidence. However, the initial gratitude that they feel for being sober can quickly dwindle as life naturally presents its challenges and stresses. When faced with a situation that they have never previously dealt with sober, they have but one of two options – fall back on their own methods of coping, i.e. drink, drugs or an impulsive behaviour or implement the new healthier methods of coping that they have learned from the treatment process.

During primary care treatment at Liberty House, clients will have the opportunity to address the issues that are underlying their illness through a number of proven treatment modalities, delivered by qualified professionals. This provides them with a firm foundation to recovery. In order that they do not slip backwards and keep moving forwards, it is vital that they do not become complacent or overconfident. Recovery is a life time process that there is no end to… unless you pick up a drink or a drug!

What Happens in Aftercare

Aftercare sessions are held in-house at our residential facility, where the patients undergo their treatment with us. This service is only freely available to those that complete a treatment programme at Liberty House. Facilitated by one of our qualified Counsellors, those attending, will be able to check-in and discuss any issues that may be of a concern to them. The group and the Counsellor present will then be able to assist them in finding a suitable solution and help them to resolve any issues that are worrying them. This is achieved through applying the principles of our recovery programme and by using a number of proven treatment modalities that the Counsellor is proficient in delivering. Furthermore, those that attend aftercare will receive encouragement, support and motivation from their peers with whom they underwent treatment with.

Most of our patients find aftercare a very “grounding” experience. Life can be hectic and it is easy to lose focus. Implementing a newfound design for living is not always easy at first; newly sober and clean individuals cannot afford to rely on their old coping mechanisms and so must apply new and healthier ways of managing their emotions and their lives if they are to stay on track.

The Benefits of Aftercare

Aftercare offers many benefits for those transitioning from active addiction to a clean and sober life. Here are just a few:

• The opportunity to catch up with peers with whom they underwent treatment with.
• Receive guidance and professional intervention from one of our qualified therapists
• The opportunity to learn from others experiences of similar issues and events and how they successfully overcame them
• Receive motivation, inspiration and encouragement from their peers and the therapist present
• A chance to evaluate how they are doing and how they can improve on that
• Provides a confidential and non-judgemental space in which they can share their thoughts, feelings and fears
• Receive solution focused therapy that helps to keep them on track and keep putting their recovery first.
• Continue to learn and grow through sharing, listening and supporting others attending the sessions

Our Aftercare Programme

For all of our clients who complete a primary care treatment programme with us, there is the opportunity to benefit from our 12 months free aftercare sessions. These sessions are held weekly at Primrose Lodge and can be accessed and used as part of a full ongoing programme of recovery. Not taking part in recovery can lead to relapse and undo all the positive work that has been achieved. It is vital for the newly sober and clean individual to stay recovery focused.

We pride ourselves on our continuity of care with our patients. We really want to help make a difference to their lives and to the lives of their loved ones. If you have any questions relating to our free aftercare programme, please call and speak with a member of our team who will be happy to advise.

“Aftercare has been so useful to me, I honestly don’t know how I would have coped without it. The world was a very scary place, sober, at first. Now I am absolutely head over heels in love with my new life!”  Ellis