Aftercare-ful
Anyone that has a heart attack and almost dies requires significant medical attention right away. But they don’t simply get that medical attention, and then just move on. They may have to change their diet; they may have to take medications. Almost certainly, they do follow-up medical appointments to make sure that they are recovering and are becoming well again. This is no different with alcoholism and drug addiction treatment.
They say that treatment is discovery and that aftercare is recovery. Treatment is but a brief opportunity to learn where our problem thinking lives and what we need to do to remain clean and sober. Treatment is not an end; it is just the beginning.
Rocky Mountain understands that everything clients learn in treatment will only work if graduates put the tools they learned to use in their daily lives, and to ensure this happens clients must have a strong, specific and clear aftercare plan. To accomplish this, Rocky Mountain has a full-time Case Manager who works with each client to craft an individualized aftercare plan that meets their unique needs. This may include sober living, 12 Step Meetings, group and one-on-one therapy, vocational counseling, mental health counseling, fitness and nutrition planning, and a variety of other services. Rocky Mountain also provides weekly aftercare groups, which graduates are encouraged to attend.
It has been almost 7 years now since I graduated from Rocky Mountain Treatment Center. I know that even after that long period of time, if I were in a crisis of faith or sobriety, I could plug into their aftercare network. Whether I ever need to use it or not, that is an amazingly wonderful thing. Rocky Mountain makes sure that I will never have to struggle alone ever again.
I will close by saying that our whole life is nothing but an aftercare plan. Let us never forget that there is still no cure for alcoholism and addiction. But through the use of aftercare services with an aftercare philosophy, I can be well nonetheless. Good aftercare ensures a better life and future. Be aftercare-ful at all times.Thank you Jim James A. Francetich is a freelance writer and author. The opinions expressed are solely of the author and do not represent any community based recovery programs, private or public entities or any governmental agencies.