goals

Exposure Outings During Residential Treatment

April 2, 2018 // by Aton Center

Residential treatment can oftentimes feel like a “bubble.” Because our residents are under 24 hour supervision and accompanied every time they leave campus – along with the healing that takes place in treatment – we can underestimate the strength of our addiction. An important part of AToN’s treatment includes our weekend exposure sessions. Every Friday, residents review their anticipated triggers for the weekend and discuss how they plan on coping.

On Saturday and Sunday, our residents are taken off campus with our staff with the purpose of exposing them to the outside world and to safely practice their coping skills. Our residents particularly enjoy our dinner out, where they are taken to a fine restaurant and are exposed to wine lists on their table and are in view of the restaurant bar. Many of our residents have been surprised by the strength of these triggers and have the opportunity to cope with their staff and peers as support.

On Monday mornings, residents discuss how they managed their triggers and cravings that occurred over the weekend. In particular, it is highlighted which obstacles emerged that were not anticipated! It could be a family concern that erupted over the weekend, or the smell of marijuana as they are in the restaurant parking lot. If indicated in our resident’s treatment plan, we also provide individualized exposure sessions to assist our residents in their life after treatment.

We take all opportunities to prepare our residents for life outside of residential treatment in order to help them live a life with higher purpose moving forward. If you or a loved one needs assistance, please don’t hesitate to call AToN Center for help.

Cassandra Cannon, Ph.D.
Clinical Director
AToN Center 888-535-1516

5 Ways To Get And Stay Sober in 2018

January 7, 2018 // by Aton Center

1. Get Motivated! Building internal motivation is critical for long-term sobriety. You have to want to be sober. One simple tool to help increase motivation is a Cost Benefit Analysis. Try making a list of the benefits and costs of using a substance. Alternatively, what are the benefits and costs of NOT using the same substance?

2. Be Honest with Yourself. Reflect on how your life is going and if you are where you want to be. Areas to look at include your relationships with family and friends, your career, and your current living situation. Ask yourself, “is this where I want to be in life?” If not, what is impeding you from getting there. How do you envision your life?

3. Start Small. Set one small goal like calling a treatment center to get information or going to a meeting.

4. Be Persistent. The old adage, anything worth having is worth working for, is true. Recovery is not easy, don’t expect it to be. Yes, it will get easier with time, but there will always be challenging moments. Determination to follow through may be things like going to an online meeting, holding yourself accountable, and/or getting treatment.

5. Have Fun! Seek out new activities that you enjoy and surround yourself with people that support you.

Happy New Year- may it be happy, healthy and prosperous!

Dr. Sanders & The AToN Center Team
888-535-1516

Affirmations

August 15, 2017 // by Aton Center

Affirmations are like self-commands that we give ourselves daily. They are assertions that something exists and is true.

For an affirmation to work it needs to be in the present tense, positive and specific. The affirmation above is one of my favorite quotes and is applicable to many perceived accomplishments.

Paul Aguirre
CD Counselor
AToN Center 888-535-1516

Living a Balanced Life

July 23, 2017 // by Aton Center

An addictive personality refers to a particular set of personality traits that make an individual predisposed to addictions. People who are substance dependent are characterized by: A physical or psychological dependency that negatively affects their quality of life.

They are frequently connected with substance abuse; however, people with addictive personalities are also highly at risk of becoming addicted to gambling, food, pornography, exercise, work, and codependency.

At AToN Center we look at the affected person as a whole. Living a balanced life is something we teach individuals. We look at cross addictions and lifestyle changes that may need to accompany getting clean and sober. With creating a balanced life we also work on building awareness of values, goals, priorities and putting together an optimal weekly schedule to reflect the changes made in early recovery in order to practice and form new healthy habits.

It’s truly a joy to work with individuals that embrace this process and learn to enjoy life as apposed to avoiding it with substances or behavioral addictions.

Kristin Colton, CATC II
Certified Addiction Counselor
AToN Center 888-535-1516

AToN Center’s 6 Foundations of Recovery

January 8, 2017 // by Aton Center

In an effort to eliminate the presence of self-destructive and maladaptive behaviors, we subscribe to these basic principles:

AToN Center’s 6 Foundations of Recovery:

1. Maintain motivation: AToN Center believes that motivation can be built rather than it needing to already exist prior to entering treatment. Building motivation makes a significant difference when facing the temptations to leave treatment, discontinue IOP, or cease going to meetings. Having the motivation to adhere to structure can assist in the prevention of relapse.

2. Cope with craving: Cravings will only last for a period of time and therefore, developing the capacity to wait through them contributes to experiencing cravings less frequently and less intensely.

3. Manage emotions: Emotional flooding is a trigger for relapse. Applying CBT principles like thought records assist clients in identifying irrational thought patterns and emotional responses. Utilizing these tools can assist clients in developing the ability to manage their emotions effectively.

4. Nurture healthy relationships: Assertiveness training and developing communication skills are important components of the recovery process. AToN Center encourages the building of relationships that will aide in our client’s recovery, while taking a hard look at the ones that aren’t. Solid relationships are helpful to a clients’ overall recovery.

5. Balance your life: Balancing physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual components assist in maintaining recovery. Being out of balance contributes to relapse, and therefore it is important that clients recognize how to care for themselves in each of these areas.

6. Live with a higher purpose: Being of service and getting “out of self” allows clients the opportunity to give back, while also developing a sense of purpose and esteem.

AToN Center Addiction Treatment Center San Diego 888-535-1516

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