What is Relapse?
Dr. Heran defines relapse as “the abandonment of a recovery-based program.” When clients abandon their program and relapse prevention skills, they are putting themselves at greater risk for picking up their drug of choice.
How Does Relapse Prevention Work?
At Providence Treatment, we affirm each client’s involvement in a 12-Step program of recovery. 12-Step programs provide a design for living that brings joy and contentment. We also offer group therapy on relapse prevention strategies, facilitated by therapists who are intimately aware of the danger of relapse. Our therapists also help our clients manage recovery and maintain participation in a recovery program while cultivating daily practices such as mindfulness meditation, 10th Step Inventory, and supporting other members of the program.
Relapse occurs all too often. At Providence Treatment, we include a relapse prevention safety plan with each client. Each plan identifies triggers and warning signs, people, places and things that may lead to a relapse and finally identify aspects of the client’s personality/character, which may promote relapse behaviors.