long-term recovery

Residential Addiction Treatment is a Good Foundation for Long-term Recovery

August 10, 2017 // by Aton Center

The research is pretty clear: 30 days of residential treatment isn’t a cure. In fact, there is no cure for addiction. At AToN, our alumni tell us that our program gives them a solid foundation for their recovery – coping skills, education, and other tools they can use.

But most also recognize that their work has just begun. Following residential treatment, research shows that continued care is imperative to long term success. This is why we focus so much on discharge planning.

Everyone’s plan for continued treatment is personalized, but options include sober living, an intensive outpatient program, sober coaching, individual therapy, and involvement in some kind of community support group such as SMART, 12 Step and/or Refuge Recovery.

Wherever our residents go after they leave, we stress finding a way to create an environment that is supportive of recovery. And the more support our residents can get after they leave, the more we find that they are set up for success – not only in their sobriety, but in pursuing their goals and creating for themselves a life worth living.

Kirsten Helgager, PsyD
Clinical Psychologist
AToN Center 888-535-1516

Commitment to Any Goal Takes Hard Work

May 27, 2017 // by Aton Center

Fantastic article reminding us that commitment to any goal takes hard work, sustained over a period of time; “success is often a result of committing to the fundamentals over and over again.” These “fundamentals” can be applied to any goal including success at work, weight loss, and not surprisingly abstinence from alcohol and/or drugs.

First, one needs to clarify an objective goal like, stay sober for 3 months. Once there is a clearly defined goal you need to identify what are the building blocks needed for success? For example, if your goal is to stay sober for 3 months you may consider 90 meetings in 90 days as one of your building blocks.

Next, pick a visual cue and keep track. There are a variety of visual cues and ways to track your progress.

You can choose to put stickers on a calendar, move paperclips around, or even use an app on your phone. Find a visual cue and way to collect data that appeals to you. Collect data to see if you really are being consistent, this is why apps, fit-bits, and other visual cues are so helpful.

There are apps to track your calories, exercise, mood, meetings attended, days sober, etc. For the above example you could use 90 paper clips much like the author, moving one over after each meeting. This process helps your own investment in your goal, as well as your accountability.

Give it a shot and let us know how it works!

Leslie Sanders, Psy.D
Program Director
AToN Center 888-535-1516

This Again….

August 9, 2016 // by Aton Center

In my work with residents at AToN Center they are often faced with the frustration of having their addiction appear and reappear and re-reappear. This ongoing struggle often leads to a sense of entitlement with the belief that “I should be over with this by now.” The repetition can also evoke strong feelings of despair and they may think “I’ll never get over this thing.” It can lead to wishful thinking that “maybe if enough time goes by that this problem will go away all by itself.”

A point of reflection is the idea that the universe may keep presenting you with a problem until you find the solution. Practicing resiliency and determination in the face of a difficult track record is the exact nature of recovery.

Believing, despite many obstacles in the past, that today can be different and one can do the work to stay clean will help sustain one through the difficult times. The truth is that for everyone who has struggled, there has been someone who has succeeded.

Dr. Chad K. Cox PsyD
AToN Center 888-535-1516

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