The Lifelong Quest For Sobriety…The Ultimate Hero’s Journey—Part 26

Guest Blogger and long-time Council friend, Bob W. presents Part 26 of a series dealing with Alcoholism and Addiction from a Mystical, Mythological Perspective, reflecting Bob’s scholarly work as a Ph.D. in mythological studies.

In 1773, a curate of the Church of England based in Buckinghamshire, named John Newton, wrote Amazing Grace, a spiritual hymn that is widely recognized as one of the most powerful in the World. Newton wrote this in his 48th year, but his earlier life was anything but spiritual.  He spent much of this 20’s and 30’s in virtually all aspects of the slave trade, from capture and acquisition in the interior of Africa through distribution and sales in colonial America and elsewhere.  He was also known as a uniquely rough and profane man to those who met him.

A series of events in his 30’s resulted in a profound conversion and he became a well regarded minister of the Church.  The primary words of the song are magical:

Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found.
T’was blind but now I see.

T’was Grace that taught my heart to fear
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Grace can be defined, as per Webster, as “the favor of God,” or a “divine assistance for regeneration.”  Every time I hear this song it strikes my heart as what the process of recovery has meant to me.  For once I accepted that there was a higher power to whom I could turn over my life and be guided in my everyday activities, the fears that had ruled my life from first consciousness became manageable.

Many of us have had alcohol and addiction bottoms of horrendous magnitude, truly evil actions and intentions stretched over decades.  But think about the activities in which Newton must have trafficked…capturing whole families from ancient communities, transporting them in chains and deplorable conditions halfway around the world, and then selling them to slave masters to be used as chattel for the rest of their lives. How hard must that heart have been to make such decisions…and how beautiful that he could have been so thoroughly relieved of such a dark mantle of human depravity through the gift of grace.

…and how wonderful is it that all of us could have been blessed with the same gift of grace….

Recovery Coaches Help Guide the Way to Lasting Sobriety

Recovery Coach 1Even after thirty days in residential rehab or a couple months in intensive outpatient treatment, most newly sober alcoholics and addicts still find it difficult to sustain their sobriety without help. A recovery coach can play a vital role in providing that help, creating a close relationship with the newly sober peer to guide them onto the path of long-term sobriety.

Empathy, experience and empowerment are essential qualities for a recovery coach to possess, and are necessary qualifications for doing the job successfully. The recovery coach supports and guides an individual who has the desire to start or has already begun their journey to recovery.

Recovery coaches receive 46-hours of intensive training at The Council on Recovery and are certified providers, but the role of a recovery coach can often be difficult to define or differentiate from other recovery specialists. Coaches can be role models, resource brokers, support systems, spiritual guides, financial coaches and much more. It is important to note, however, that, while recovery coaches can be many things, they are not licensed clinicians or doctors.

Recovery coaches are ideally in recovery themselves, so they have the shared experience necessary to help individuals battling addiction. They freely share the “recovery capital” they have personally accumulated which includes the same internal and external assets or resources necessary for an individual to obtain and sustain recovery.

By closely assisting individuals in discovering their own personal recovery capital, recovery coaches instill a sense of hope, relationship with a higher power, skills, goals, and self-efficacy. Recovery coaches work as “peers” in recovery helping the newly sober create connections with the recovery community or support groups, social and family networks, jobs, education and housing. Obtaining and improving recovery is a vital component when working with peers in recovery.

Because of the close nature of the relationship between recovery coaches and the people with whom they work, they can empower, encourage, and praise their peers, while helping them set goals and stay motivated to achieve them. This close relationship, however, has some clearly defined personal and ethical boundaries that must be maintained by the recovery coaches in the interests of all parties.

Recovery Coaches are not therapists, counselors, clinicians, or doctors and they do not engage in the diagnosis or treatment of addiction. While they can encourage their peers to attend Twelve Step meetings and read recovery-oriented literature, recovery coaches do not dictate peer behaviors or assign tasks outside the purview of accepted recovery activities. Under no circumstances are recovery coaches supposed to give or lend money to their peers, nor provide food, housing or other resources. They can, however, guide their peers to community resources and social welfare organizations that may be able to help.

In the following interview, Cynthia Branch, Recovery Support Services Coordinator and Recovery Coach Trainer at The Council on Recovery, shed light upon what it means to be a recovery coach.

Q: In your own words, what is a recovery coach?
A: A recovery coach is a person with lived experience of an addiction to substances, alcohol or anything that alters the mind. We help, encourage and empower individuals who want to change their lives and stop using. Coaches are relatable to them, so what we say holds more depth and weight because we have been there, done that. We also help them navigate systems. Recovery coaches are resource brokers meaning we provide individuals with resource referrals.

Q: What are the key differences between a recovery coach and clinicians or sponsors?
A: To my knowledge, clinicians focus on the past and what happened, while acutely getting them to stop using. Sponsors focus on the twelve steps and total abstinence. Recovery coaches meet individuals where they are and are able to assist them on their chosen path to recovery.

Q: Do you have to be in recovery to become a recovery coach?
A: Ideally, yes.

Q: When do you think it is important for a peer to begin working with a recovery coach?
A: Whenever the peers are ready.

Q: How long do peers work with their recovery coaches?
A: It can last up to five years, but with different programs and entities it may be 2-3 years.

Q: What are some challenges that a coach may encounter with their peer?
A: Housing, transportation and beds for treatment.

Q: What advice would you give someone who is interested in becoming a coach?
A: Remain open-minded. Everyone’s path is different. Who am I to negate what works and doesn’t work for someone?

Q: Are recovery coaches possible for individuals with financial concerns?
A: Yes. We are also resource brokers, so we are always able to point them in the right different. Some of us have been trained as financial coaches as well.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a recovery coach, The Council on Recovery offers a 46-hour training program, which provides a comprehensive overview of the purpose and roles of Recovery Coaching while giving participants the tools and resources necessary to provide recovery support services to their peers. Addiction is a dark place, but there are ways out. As a recovery coach, you will know how to support and guide your peers on their path to recovery. Join us and help save lives.

The next upcoming training program is July 11-13, 16, & 17. Visit our website for information and how to apply.

This guest blog post was written by Tyler Odom, Marketing & Communications Intern at The Council. She is currently a senior at the University of Houston.

The Council on Recovery Receives Grant from Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund

 

GRB Shelter 2

The Council on Recovery is pleased to announce that it has received a $375,000 grant from the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund to provide additional services to hurricane victims. The Fund was established by Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, and is administered by the Greater Houston Community Foundation. The Council was one of only 27 non-profit organizations to share in the fourth round of grants totaling $42.3 million. The Council will use the funds to provide support for individuals and families by affected substance abuse and mental health disorders who are still struggling to recover more than six months after the hurricane hit the coast of Texas.

In the aftermath of the storm, The Council was among the mental health “First Responders”, deploying dozens of its counselors to the mass shelters at the George R. Brown Convention Center and the NRG Center. It was also instrumental in arranging Twelve Step meetings for residents in those facilities.

“Since the hurricane, we’ve continuously provided help to both flood victims and those whose lives were disrupted by the storm,” says Mel Taylor, President & CEO of The Council. “The trauma people experienced precipitated or compounded many addiction and mental health issues that we still deal with every day,” Taylor says, “This funding will allow us to remain the starting point for people who need help.”

The Council on Recovery will provide direct services across its broad spectrum of behavioral health and substance abuse programs to individuals affected by Hurricane Harvey. Services such as assessment, evaluation, intensive education, clinical treatment, case management, and recovery support will be expanded beyond current capacity.

“Our slogan is ‘You Know Someone Who Needs Us’,” Taylor says, “and Hurricane Harvey amplified that message across the Houston area. Thanks to the generous grant from the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, we’ll continue to meet the vital needs of our community with commitment and compassion.”

The Lifelong Quest For Sobriety…The Ultimate Hero’s Journey—Part 25

Guest Blogger and long-time Council friend, Bob W. presents Part 25 of a series dealing with Alcoholism and Addiction from a Mystical, Mythological Perspective, reflecting Bob’s scholarly work as a Ph.D. in mythological studies.

There is an Old English tale called Beowulf, set in the Early Middle Ages in Scandanavia.  It is a mythic story about a warrior of that name, called to help the Danish king Hrothgar whose palace is under attack by the monster Grendel.  Beowulf image for Bob Wagner post 25Beowulf defeats Grendel in an epic battle using only his bare hands. There is much rejoicing and celebration, but soon Grendel’s Mother hears of the death of her son and attacks the castle. This monster is much more powerful than Grendel, but, in an even more difficult battle, Beowulf finally defeats her and saves Hrothgar’s kingdom.

In this story, I am reminded that, for many of us alcoholics and addicts, our lifelong journey to Sobriety really does have two parts.  The first is getting sober, just stopping the consumption of alcohol or drugs or the high risk behavior patterns that have the same effect.  We have to stop it all completely and work with those in the Fellowships to help us achieve some semblance of a sober life that can last for more than a few days or weeks.  This first step is usually achieved with some success in a matter of months or a few years.

But like Beowulf’s second battle against Grendel’s Mother, the second part of our journey can be much, much harder.  For, after achieving that first level of sobriety, we have to deal with all those elements of ourselves that influenced and facilitated the descent into alcoholism in the first place. We must explore the deep core of who we are and what might have happened to us in our early lives to create the trauma that craved the medicating toxic substances or behaviors. These explorations might be especially difficult and not without much personal suffering.

In Beowulf, the hero must venture down into Grendel’s Mother’s lair, in a deep and dark cavern under a lake. The battle with her is particularly difficult, with much back and forth of Beowulf gaining the upper hand and then losing it. Beowulf finally wins using the monster’s own sword, but in dismembering her body and that of Grendel, this sword is dissolved by the toxic blood of the monsters.  Beowulf returns to the surface with only the hilt of the sword and the dismembered monster heads to reveal to Hrothgar and his subjects his true victory over the monsters.

For many of us, these images conjure up our own journeys down into some latent darkness and our own titanic battles with demons, core remembrances that seem like evil forces within us.  The disparate nature of these things and their ability to derail our quest for sanity and serenity can be real and present…maybe on an ongoing basis in our journeys to sobriety. Our initial victories may not seem to have the finality that is present in this epic story.

But, with the help of the Fellowships to which we attach ourselves, we learn how to deal with them day by day by day by day…and eventually we begin to take their power away.  The ultimate effect becomes much more lasting and the victories of Beowulf over Grendel and his Mother do begin to represent that of our own successes. We can eventually present the dismembered heads of our own demons to our peers in recovery with a sense of satisfaction and serenity.

 

 

Council’s 2017 Quality Outcomes Report Shows High Program Effectiveness & Client Satisfaction

The Council on Recovery’s 2017 Outcomes Management Report summarizes the continuously high effectiveness of our programs and services for those adversely affected by alcohol, drugs and related issues. It also reports impressive client satisfaction among the more than 60,000 people we served.

Infographic Outcomes 2017
© 2018, The Council on Recovery

For more information or to receive a copy of the complete report, please contact the report’s author, Jessica Davison, at jdavison@councilonrecovery.org or use the Contact Us form.

Adolescent Alcohol Abuse: The Growing Problem, How to Talk to Teens About It, & What Parents Can Do to Stop It

Teens Drinking 1Guest Blog by Dr. Susan Delaney, Director of Adolescent Services at The Council on Recovery’s Center for Recovering Families

The Data Behind the Teen Alcohol Problem

Despite the overwhelming media coverage of the opioid epidemic and the drug addiction crisis, most parents are surprised to learn that alcohol is currently the drug of choice among U.S. teens aged 12 -18 years.  Once kids enter high school the usage rates increase dramatically:  In a recent study, 75% of adolescents report having had an alcoholic drink by the 12th grade.

Susan Delaney Headshot 2
Dr. Susan Delaney

More than one-quarter of those said they had their first drink before age 13. A 2018 University of Michigan study indicated that 41% of teens reported alcohol use in the last 30 days and, of most concern, 3% reported daily use.

The data gets worse: Two measures of heavy alcohol use – that is having been drunk in the past 30 days and binge drinking (having had five or more drinks on one occasion) — are on the rise. In 2017, binge drinking was reported by 4% of 8th graders, 10%, of 10th graders, and 17% of 12 graders. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reported the percentage of all adolescents aged 12 to 17 who were current alcohol users was 9.2 percent or 2.3 million teens in 2016.  About 1.2 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 were binge alcohol users, a shocking 1 in 20 adolescents.

A Problem That May Begin at Home

A disturbing, but undeniable, fact is that teenage alcohol use usually begins at home. According to the National Association for Children of Alcoholics, 76 million Americans — roughly 43 percent of the U.S. adult population — have been exposed to alcoholism in the family. There are an estimated 26.8 million children of alcoholics (COAs) in the United States and preliminary research suggests that more than 11 million of those are under the age of 18. Children of alcoholics are four times more likely than non-COAs to develop alcoholism.

Why Teens Drink

Teens are particularly vulnerable to alcohol use. Coping with the stress of fitting in and challenging transitions, such as going from middle school to high school, moving, or dealing with the effects of divorce, might influence a teen to drink. Alcohol’s saturation of popular culture and social media have created virtually irresistible attractions to drinking for teenagers, if only to experiment with it, yet much of what kids experience after trying it can influence continuing use, misuse, and abuse of alcohol. Most difficult of all, teenagers usually have trouble understanding that their actions can have harmful, or even fatal, consequences.

There are a multitude of risk factors associated with teenage alcohol use that are both complex and pervasive. These include:

  • Family problems, such as conflict or parental alcohol abuse
  • Childhood abuse or other major trauma
  • Behavioral, school or untreated mental health issues
  • Friendships with teens who drink or use other substance

The (Potentially) Terrifying Outcome

Parents concerned about their teenagers’ use of alcohol should be aware of what can happen when that use turns to misuse or abuse:

  • Alcohol-related fatalities: Alcohol-related accidents are a leading cause of teen deaths. Teen drownings, suicides and murders also have been linked with alcohol use.
  • Sexual activity: Teens who drink tend to become sexually active earlier and have sex more often than do teens who don’t drink. Teens who drink are also more likely to have unprotected sex than are teens who don’t drink.
  • School problems: Teens who drink tend to have more academic and conduct problems than do teens who don’t drink.
  • Alcoholism: People who begin drinking as young teens are more likely to develop addiction to alcohol than are people who wait until they’re adults to drink.
  • Violent crime: Teens who drink are more likely to be hurt in a violent crime, such as rape, assault or robbery.

Talking With Your Teen About Underage Drinking

You might be unsure of what to say to your teen about underage drinking, and your teen might try to dodge the conversation. To start the discussion, choose a time when you and your teen are relaxed. Don’t worry about covering everything. If you talk often, you might have a greater impact on your teen than if you only talk once.

When you talk with your teen about alcohol use, here are some useful “talking points” for an effective conversation:

  • Ask your teen what they think and how they feel about alcohol.
  • Stop the myths: Teens often think that drinking makes them popular and cool. Explain that alcohol can make you feel high but it’s a depressant that can also cause sadness and anger.
  • Discuss reasons not to drink: Explain the risks of alcohol, and appeal to your teen’s self-respect. If you have a family history of alcoholism or drinking problems, then make sure to tell them.  Explain that your teen might be more vulnerable to developing a drinking problem-The Council can help with information about alcohol and the developing brain.
  • Plan ways to handle peer pressure: Brainstorm with your teen about how to respond to when someone offers them alcohol. It might be as simple as saying, “No thanks,” “Do you have any soda?” Or even, “I can’t drink.  My parents breathalyze me when I get home.”
  • Be prepared for questions: Your teen might ask if you drank alcohol when you were underage. If you chose to drink, then share an example of a negative consequence of your drinking.

Steps Parents Can Take to Stop Teen Drinking Before It Becomes a Problem

To be sure, not all alcohol use turns into misuse or abuse, but most parents would rather stop teen drinking before it becomes a problem. Here are some steps you can take:

  • Support your teen. Help your teen build the self-esteem he or she needs to stand up to peer pressure — and live up to your expectations.
  • Know your teen’s activities. Pay attention to your teen’s plans and whereabouts. Encourage participation in supervised after-school and weekend activities.
  • Establish rules and consequences. Rules might include leaving parties where alcohol is served and not riding in a car with a driver who’s been drinking. Agree on the consequences of breaking the rules ahead of time and enforce them consistently. Also, make sure your teen knows the drinking laws.
  • Set an example. If you drink, do so only in moderation and explain to your teen why it’s OK for adults to drink responsibly. Describe the rules you follow, such as not drinking and driving. Don’t serve alcohol to anyone who’s underage.
  • Encourage healthy friendships. If your teen’s friends drink, your teen is more likely to drink, too. Get to know your teen’s friends and their parents.

Getting Help When It’s Needed

It’s never too soon to start talking to your teen about underage alcohol use. By talking now, you’ll help give your teen the guidance and support necessary to make good choices.

However, if you suspect that your teen has been drinking, talk to him or her. Enforce the consequences you’ve established. If you think your teen might have a drinking problem, you can always contact your teen’s doctor or a counselor or other health care provider who specializes in alcohol problems. Teens who have alcohol problems aren’t likely to realize it — or seek help — on their own.

Start at The Council on Recovery

Since 1946, The Council on Recovery has been Houston’s leading non-profit provider of prevention, education, treatment, and recovery services for individuals and families who are adversely affected by alcoholism, drug abuse, other addictions, and co-occurring mental health disorders. Our Adolescent Services programs at our Center for Recovering Families are designed to help teenagers and their parents face the problems of alcohol and drug abuse with effective outpatient counseling services and our Mindful Choices high-risk behavior classes. By working with the teenager and their parents, we help heal the entire family.