The Lifelong Quest For Sobriety…The Ultimate Hero’s Journey—Part 1

Guest Blogger and long-time Council friend, Bob W. presents Part 1 of a series dealing with Alcoholism and Addiction from a Mystical, Mythological Perspective, reflecting Bob’s scholarly work as a PhD. in mythological studies.

For those of us who suffer from the incurable disease of alcoholism, in all its forms, whether the compulsive consumption of various mind-numbing substances or the penchant for aberrant, dangerous behaviors, the quest for sobriety – physical, emotional, and psychological sobriety – is a life-long exercise.  Our genetic make-up or our early life traumas doom us to a lifetime of dealing with this disease.

But the quest for sobriety, a deep seated commitment to pursue the multitudinous avenues to change our behavior, can make for a life of true joy and contentment, despite the remnants of the disease that never go away.  In point of fact, our life in sobriety can turn out to be measurably better than that for those who have never experienced this disease.

This is what is to be explored in these notes….for it is clear to the thousands of us who are successfully traversing this path that the life of an ongoing quest for sobriety has no rival in the experience of man.

The pursuit of sobriety is truly a spiritual quest…not unlike the quest for the Holy Grail by Percival and Gawain and the Knights of the Round Table.  The commitment to do whatever it takes to achieve and maintain a sober state, the acceptance of our powerlessness to deal with all that happens around us, the embrace of the processes to connect with a higher power in and around us, and the will to deal with people, places and things in a commitment to service, sets us out on a quest to connect with the world in a truly glorious manner.

The Journey is one of choices and discovery…and it mirrors the idea of a Hero’s Journey in very close parallel.  From the calling to cross the threshold, a meeting room threshold or a line in the sand signifying the initial commitment, to the journey through an underworld of discoveries and realizations, to the gradual awakening of what the pursuit of sobriety can bring, this Journey is real, personal for each and every one of us, and mythic in its ramifications for us and those around us.

So this note, the first of many, begins a mythic quest of understanding for all of us…what are the elements of a truly deep seated quest for sobriety that will allow for a lifetime of joy and contentment we may never have experienced before, one whose energies and characteristics might resemble the majestic quests of mythology.

Relapse & Renewal Clinic’s Key to Success: Recovery Support Consultants

New sobriety can be a challenging and lonely time. Even after inpatient treatment or attendance of Twelve Step meetings, resisting relapse can be difficult without proper guidance. The Council on Recovery’s Relapse & Renewal Clinic provides that guidance and personalized one-on-one assistance through its innovative use of Recovery Support Consultants.

Continue reading “Relapse & Renewal Clinic’s Key to Success: Recovery Support Consultants” →

Relapse & Renewal Clinic’s Call-Center Answers 500-Pound Phone

Struggling against relapse and the fear of reaching out for help can make the phone feel like it weighs 500 pounds. Fortunately, the call-center at the Relapse & Renewal Clinic™ is staffed by licensed addiction and recovery therapists who are trained to be both compassionate and helpful, and provide immediate help to those in need.

“By listening carefully, asking the right questions, and respecting the caller’s situation, we can assess their needs and suggest the best course of action,” says Lori Fiester, LCSW and Director of The Council on Recovery’s Center for Recovering Families. “For some people, the solution will be the Relapse & Renewal Clinic. For others, it might be our Healing Choices IOP program, or a referral to a residential treatment facility or sober living arrangement. The point is, we want to do what’s best for each person who reaches out to us for help.”

For those people referred to the Relapse & Renewal Clinic, they’ll find a comprehensive outpatient program that combines support, education, group therapy, and personalized treatment to prevent back-sliding (or slipping) and strengthen the desire to stay sober. The intensive four-week program, which includes one-on-one assistance from a Recovery Support Consultant, gives participants sufficient time to practice sobriety skills and better connect with the local recovery community.

The Relapse & Renewal Clinic is an alternative to residential treatment or sober-living facilities when such approaches may not be necessary or affordable. The Clinic is open to all adults, regardless of length of sobriety or number of relapses.

The Relapse & Renewal Clinic is located at The Council on Recovery, 303 Jackson Hill Street, Houston, TX 77007. For more information call 281-200-9290 or visit www.councilonrecovery.org #RelapseandRenewal

Enthusiastic Response to Relapse & Renewal Clinic™ Launch

The Council on Recovery’s Relapse & Renewal Clinic™ officially launched January 3rd but, already, a strong and enthusiastic response is confirming the importance of its groundbreaking approach to helping alcoholics and addicts stay sober.

“The response has been great,” says Lori Fiester, LCSW and Director of The Council on Recovery’s Center for Recovering Families. “In just a couple of days, we’ve received many calls from people struggling with their sobriety and at risk of relapse. The Relapse & Renewal Clinic is one of the most important sources of help we can offer them.”

The Relapse & Renewal Clinic is a comprehensive outpatient program that combines support, education, group therapy, and personalized treatment to prevent back-sliding (or slipping) and strengthen the desire to stay sober. The intensive four-week program, which includes one-on-one assistance from a Recovery Support Consultant, gives participants sufficient time to practice sobriety skills and better connect with the local recovery community.
The Relapse & Renewal Clinic is an alternative to residential treatment or sober-living facilities when such approaches may not be necessary or affordable. The Clinic is open to all adults, regardless of length of sobriety or number of relapses.
The Relapse & Renewal Clinic is located at The Council on Recovery, 303 Jackson Hill Street, Houston, TX 77007. For more information call 281-200-9290 or visit www.councilonrecovery.org #RelapseandRenewal

The Council on Recovery Launches Houston’s First Relapse & Renewal Clinic

The Council on Recovery has launched Houston’s first Relapse & Renewal Clinic™, a revolutionary program to save the lives of alcoholics and drug addicts who are struggling with sobriety, even after completing inpatient rehab or participating in 12-Step groups.

Relapse & Renewal Clinic
The Council on Recovery’s Relapse & Renewal Clinic

“People often get out of treatment and enter 12-Step groups only to find they’ve still got the compulsion to drink or use,” says Mel Taylor, President & CEO of The Council on Recovery. “Over 65 percent of them relapse within their first year of sobriety. Relapse devastates lives, shatters hopes, and is sometimes deadly. It’s a huge cost to society and our healthcare system.”

The Relapse & Renewal Clinic is a comprehensive outpatient program that combines support, education, group therapy, and personalized treatment to prevent back-sliding (or slipping) and strengthen the desire to stay sober. The intensive four-week program gives participants sufficient time to practice sobriety skills and better connect with the local recovery community.

A groundbreaking feature of the Relapse & Renewal Clinic is its use of Recovery Support Consultants to provide direct one-on-one assistance. Each Consultant is trained in relapse prevention and sobriety support, and also an active member of Houston’s recovery community. They guide Clinic participants by encouraging attendance of 12-Step meetings, helping them navigate recovery resources, and being a reliable, understanding person to contact at times of struggle or potential relapse.

The Clinic also serves those who have been sober a while (sometimes years), but find themselves struggling against relapse, or what some in the mental health community call “pre-lapse”. “Our program anticipates these struggles and provides immediate solutions for both preventing relapse and renewing confidence in sobriety,” says Lori Fiester, LCSW and Director of The Council on Recovery’s Center for Recovering Families.

“The key advantage is that participants don’t have to start over in the treatment process, but rather engage in their recovery where they are,” Fiester says. “We don’t focus on negatives, like shame of relapse, but instead take the time to explore deeper issues within sobriety that need attention. This instills resiliency and self-care that build healing and strength. And, whenever possible, we involve the entire family in the recovery process. In this way, the program both saves lives and heals families.”

The Relapse & Renewal Clinic is an alternative to residential treatment or sober-living facilities when such approaches may not be necessary or affordable. The Clinic is open to all adults, regardless of length of sobriety or number of relapses.

The Relapse & Renewal Clinic is located at The Council on Recovery, 303 Jackson Hill Street, Houston, TX 77007. For more information call 281-200-9290 or visit www.councilonrecovery.org #RelapseandRenewal