Brief (one week) intensive recovery education course
How would the principles of self-empowering recovery apply in your own life? This course consists of 14 one-on-one sessions (90 minutes each), plus five additional 60-90 minute sessions of holistic healing, recovery coaching, or other professional services. Course can be adapted to other lengths of time.
The initial session focuses on reviewing the history of your addiction problems and any related problems. Sessions 2-13 cover chapters from Sex, Drugs, Gambling & Chocolate: A Workbook for Overcoming Addictions, by Dr. Horvath (Chapter summaries here). These sessions focus primarily on the questions and exercises at the end of each chapter, which apply the Chapter’s concepts to your own life. Session 14 summarizes your work and completes the preparations for returning to daily life.
Each day also includes a holistic healing session of your choice (options include acupuncture, massage, guided meditation, yoga, hypnosis, and many others), a recovery coaching session, or another professional service. Additional reading material may be included (e.g., Controlling Your Drinking: Tools to Make Moderation Work for You, by Miller & Munoz; 7 Tools to Beat Addiction, by Peele). These books are available from us (or bring your own copies).
We recommend that you read workbook chapters in advance of each session, so that the session can be devoted to completing the questions at the end of the chapter. Chapter 1 does not have questions at the end. Chapter 1 can be read here.
This course is normally taught Monday through Friday. The orientation and concluding sessions are conducted by our Clinical Coordinator (Abbe Long, MS), who will also oversee any details related to your stay. Chapter sessions are conducted by our psychologists and our relapse prevention counselors. You may select your treatment team if you wish. Additional sessions or services are available.
Your evenings are free to enjoy all that San Diego has to offer. SMART Recovery meetings are held in our waiting room most weeknights. This educational course is NOT addiction treatment. If you are ever asked (on a job application, license application or other document) if you have ever attended addiction treatment, you can truthfully answer that you have not.
Monday
9:00 Orientation and Introduction
10:30 Break
11:00 Chapter 2 (defining addiction, building confidence to change it)
12:30 lunch (on your own)
1:00 or 1:30 Holistic healing, recovery coaching, or other professional service
3:00 Chapter 3 (understanding why you got involved with this substance/activity)
4:30 Close for the day
Tuesday
9:00 Chapter 4 (identifying why you stay involved)
10:30 Break
11:00 Chapter 5 (identifying the problems caused by your addictive behaviors)
12:30 lunch (on your own)
1:00 or 1:30 Holistic healing, recovery coaching, or other professional service
3:00 Chapter 6 (identifying the new coping skills you will need, and how to develop them; SMART Recovery)
4:30 Close for the day
Wednesday
9:00 Chapter 7 (recognizing that you have choices about your behavior, choosing moderation or abstinence)
10:30 Break
11:00 Chapter 8 (how to identify craving)
12:30 lunch (on your own)
1:00 or 1:30 Holistic healing, recovery coaching, or other professional service
3:00 Chapter 9 (understanding craving)
4:30 Close for the day
Thursday
9:00 Chapter 10 (how to cope with craving)
10:30 Break
11:00 Chapter 11 (developing other satisfactions in life)
12:30 lunch (on your own)
1:00 or 1:30 Holistic healing, recovery coaching, or other professional service
3:00 Chapter 12 (how to develop a new, better life)
4:30 Close for the day
Friday
9:00 Chapter 13 (following through until full success occurs)
10:30 Break
11:00 Concluding session
12:30 lunch (on your own)
1:00 or 1:30 Holistic healing, recovery coaching, or other professional service
3:00 Close for the day
Followup:
12 phone calls, one per week, 10-15 minutes each, with one or more staff of your choice
Course fee: $7,200
Accommodations:
1) You can arrange your own accommodations. We recommend either the Sheraton La Jolla or the Marriott Residence Inn La Jolla, both of which are walking distance to our offices. Also within walking distance are three grocery stores (Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Ralphs), a dozen restaurants, FedEx Office and Staples, 16 movie screens (4 at Landmark Theatres), a rental car agency, and many additional stores and services.
2) You can stay in one of our sober living homes ($125 or $215 per night). Meals and the 10 minute drive to the office are included. Abstinence is a requirement of living in these homes. They are not suitable if you are planning to practice moderation while here.
Practical Recovery is the leader in collaborative addiction care. Together we create the recovery plan needed to address your unique concerns and situation.
