Ask A Counselor

Mr. Robert Jordan has been in the field of Addiction for eleven years. He studied under Dr. Diane Sherman, PhD and received his Certification of Addiction Counseling in 2013. Robert is a 10 year Naval Veteran originally from New Jersey and settled in Atlanta upon his Naval discharge and proudly calls it home.  Robert is currently a Dean’s List student in Psychology at Grand Canyon University & is the Men’s Program Director at The Extension.

Question #1- I’ve been in and out of AA for 10 years and I’m not really feeling it. Are there any other alternative recovery programs?

Mr. Jordan (Men’s Program Director): There are! The 12-step model of Recovery is obviously the most popular recovery program because of its track record of success but also because it is the most commonplace. Meaning, it is relatively easy to find a free 12-step meeting anywhere. But 12-step is definitely not the only room in the House of Recovery. Nor does it claim to be. SMART Recovery, Secular Organizations for Sobriety, Refuge Recovery, Celebrate Recovery, various other peer support services as well as clinical treatment also find success in treating the root causes of addiction/alcoholism. What all these different paths have in common is a shared goal of a life free from the bondage of addiction built from a foundation of Honesty, Open-mindedness & Willingness. People are wonderfully different and the larger Recovery Community recognizes that one model certainly won’t fit all!

Question #2- My 27 year son has been struggling for a while.  He is not allowed to come back to our house but he called me the other day asking me for $300 to pay for his deposit at a sober living.  I don’t want him to be homeless but I don’t know what to do.

Mr. Jordan (Men’s Program Director): This is a tough one. We know we don’t want to enable our loved ones in their active addiction. And I’m assuming this isn’t the first time he’s asked you for money. But also, we obviously don’t want to see our kids homeless on the streets.  Ask for the name of the Sober Living and contact the Director or House manager. Verify the amount for the deposit and pay the Sober Living directly. Do not give your child the money. Then talk to your son. Tell him that this is a loan and not a gift and that your expectation is that you will be paid back within 30 days of him getting his first paycheck. Recovery can be a long and arduous process, some studies have shown that it takes on average 8 years between an addict first admitting he has a problem and him finally building enough time in sobriety to lift off into responsible adulthood. As hard as this is, remember to practice self-care first!

 

 

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