Addiction robs us of many things, including relationships. Learning to trust and accept help from others is vital to sobriety. Rebuilding connections and finding a strong support system through a peer recovery community removes the isolation that addiction brings and helps an individual to be successful in their recovery and life. Together, we can overcome what we were incapable of achieving alone.
As addicts, many of us think that no one can possibly understand what it’s like. That other people just “don’t get it” because they haven’t been there. But at Step, we have. Step’s Peer Recovery Support Model means individuals will always be around others who have been where they are, who relate to what they’re going through, and who can show them that recovery is possible.
While community is important for everyone, it is vital for those in recovery from the disease of addiction. When starting the recovery process, it’s easiest to trust and feel inspired by those who have been where you are. Knowing the people around you understand your struggle helps break down the walls of isolation that addiction brings. Overcoming addiction is made possible through a peer recovery community.
The Step brotherhood strengthens residents’ will for sobriety by giving them a sense of purpose—a strong community of men with shared experiences who are all working together toward a common goal. It’s the accountability to each other that increases our men’s motivation, reduces the shame of addiction, and teaches them the value of community in their recovery beyond Step.
Together, we can stay sober better than any one of us can alone.
Phase One:
Residents build their foundation and develop healthy daily routines, placing recovery in the forefront of their priorities. In addition to meeting weekly with their RSM, residents receive employment education and coaching from Step’s Career Counselor and obtain a full-time, tax-paying job. Moving out of ‘survival mode’, residents begin to build confidence and are provided the impetus to continue their journey.
Phase Two:
Residents develop a recovery plan and address outstanding responsibilities including financial and legal matters. Specific, attainable, and measurable goals are set; with men clearly defining what they would like to accomplish. RSMs continue to provide examples of challenges they personally faced while working to rebuild their lives in the program, ways they overcame obstacles, and provide hope as living proof that these milestones are possible. As residents progress, they meet regularly with the Career Counselor to receive guidance in obtaining a transitional, higher paying job to support their financial goals and security moving forward.
Phase Three:
Residents begin transition planning, budgeting for future costs and living expenses, and identifying outside support and resources. At this stage of the program, men begin seeking career path employment, continue working the 12 Steps with their sponsor, establish a home group meeting (AA, NA, CA) in the community, and implement the necessary coping mechanisms to defend against triggers that may lead to relapse.
Phase Four:
Residents move into one of Step’s Sober Living Homes which provides additional time in a safe, structured environment. Sober Home residents continue to meet with their RSM and are held accountable, but with additional freedoms to prepare for independence beyond Step. Phase IV residents continue to participate in programming at the Primary Facility and begin taking on leadership roles in small groups and peer recovery activities.
