Why So Many Programs?

By Ashley Mitchell

We get asked a lot about why many recovery centers have so many different programs that are just not recovery support groups. While support groups are incredibly needed and helpful, recovery is not a one size fits all. These variety of programs and creative programs do a few incredibly important things that you may not think of. 

• Doing a creative program like writing or art turns your life story into something tangible that you can see. You can see with your eyes how you handle your struggles, how they look to you, and you are creating something you can be proud of. 

• Doing creative, healthy, and unique programs like gardening and music not only relates to the above point but it is preventive. Instead of sitting around the house seeing what one can get into you are coming here to do something instead. We are giving people a chance to come into our greenhouse and grow something that will feed their family, friends, and community. We are giving people a chance to play music together and create something that sounds beautiful. 

• Our programs are substance free. There are very few places in the community, whether in or out of town, that do not have substances like alcohol at those locations. How can we support those in recovery or be preventive with our youth if every activity has substances with such easy access? Our programs, even drop in times, gives everyone an opportunity to not be pressured into substances. That’s a unique location in our society today. 

• Having a variety of programs gets people in the door. Sometimes jumping head first into a support group can be intimidating. But making jewelry around the table while sharing a pot of tea is low pressure and encourages people to come back and take a chance on a support group. 

• All these programs, all these resources do one of the most important things in recovery and in prevention. It creates a community. It creates a community of people who learn together, grow together, and cheer each other on to succeed. 

• It changes your mind about recovery and affected others. We are all quick to judge, but if you sit in creative writing or music club with someone on a recovery journey or someone who has been dealing with a friend or family member you see and hear them. They turn from people you just hear about to a fellow human being with a story. We all have stories. By working in the garden together or crafting together we can see each other in a different light that isn’t always available out in public. 

I hope this answers the popular question of why recovery centers do more than just be a central location for support groups. While support groups for those in recovery and affected others are incredibly important, that is not all that is needed to grow. My personal experience, jumping head first into a support group was hard and awkward for me. I wasn’t sure where to start. Then instead I started coming to creative writing every week and things changed. I had a healthy outlet and it gave me the opportunity as an affected other to see that change is possible and we were able to cheer each other on. We are all recovering from something and one size doesn’t fit all. I hope you will come into Save A Life and give us a chance to see what we are all about and how we serve this community and beyond. You are very welcome here. 

Fellow peers understand you, expression lets you understand yourself.