Addiction Treatment Centre offers help to Industry and Commerce

As concern mounts over increasing Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Industry and Commerce, companies are realising that it pays to protect their investment in employees.

Holly Lodge Secondary Treatment Centre is a mini-community, within which Clients are preparing for life in the wider community. All Clients are expected to take responsibility for household upkeep and have input into community decisions. In order to prepare an individual for life in the community, each Client is assisted in identifying further living-skills necessary for successful progress into independent living. Some of these skills can be learnt in Holly Lodge due to their involvement in the running of the House. Recreational and leisure activities are an integral part of the therapeutic programme. We aim to provide a balance between rehabilitation and encouraging people to experience a fulfilling life while maintaining abstinence.

After being faced with the facts of their lifestyle during active addiction whilst in Primary Treatment, Clients are still learning about, and allowing themselves to process, the feelings involved in facing the consequences of their 'out-of-control' lifestyle. Having gained an understanding of Steps 1-5, Service Users are then presented with Steps 6-12of theModified 12 Step Recovery Process.

These Steps focus on self-discovery, unresolved guilt, self-forgiveness, self-acceptance and change, a process viewed as essential in order for someone to move successfully into a new life. Once relationships with peers have been established, a level of trust develops that facilitates the Client's willingness to explore personal issues in greater depth. The dynamics of living in a community environment with people who have many similarities ultimately triggers past and present unresolved issues.

During active addiction, the use of substances to change/avoid feelings creates a self-perpetuating cycle, within which the individual initially comes to believe that they are unable to cope with any emotional pain. Later the level of denial increases to the point where all feelings are suppressed, creating the belief that they are unable to feel anything at all. The resulting conflict between not wanting to feel through fear of feeling and their belief that they cannot feel positive feelings without substances, has to be changed inorder for the individual to reconnect with the environment, other people, and ultimately themselves.

Substances have in the past been their 'fix-all' for every difficult or uncomfortable feeling. In order to sustain abstinence from substance use, it is necessary for each person to develop tolerance towards and ultimately acceptance of these guilt feelings. This is achieved in a two-fold manner. The first is to educate the individual about the process of acknowledging and expressing feelings present in the 'here and now' which are the result of present circumstances. The second is to reduce the level of 'past unresolved feelings' or 'secondary issues', which the person is 'carrying', and which he or she, in the past, medicated against with the use of substances.

TheBeyondAddiction concept is that the feeling of dissatisfaction with life and 'emotional emptiness' is directly related to an individual's inability to connect with the deeper positive reality of the 'true self'. This is due to the creation of a 'false self', which is designed to suppress any negative aspects of the 'true self' that are judged as bad or unacceptable, and project only an 'acceptable' facade to the world. The perpetuation of this persona, in an attempt to create safety and avoidance of anything perceived as painful, results in a distancing from natural positive emotional responses, creating the need to search for 'feel goods' through addictive behaviours. The Beyond Addiction Treatment model assists Clients to recognise and tap into the 'true self' through a two-way identification and resolution process.

Firstly, by the observance and understanding of the dynamics of behaviour, leading to the uncovering of self-limiting attitudes and habitual thought patterns, which helps to uncover previous conditioning, emotional attachments and negative core beliefs. We believe the way back to fulfillment and true enjoyment of life is through these layers, and that 'dis-ease' will manifest whenever areas of the 'true self' are repressed.

Secondly, by working from an internal emotional reality, it will be noticed how unresolved feelings and hidden emotional drives, influence thought patterns, attitudes, behaviour and well being. Learning to express feelings appropriately and constructively, and experiencing the benefits and freedom gained from this process, is what we call 'Emotional Recovery'.

We believe that the continual denial of emotions, or suppression of natural feelings, and the lost connection to a purpose in life, is a major contributor to the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual dis-ease experienced in the cycle of substance abuse, dependency or addiction. Individuals are encouraged to take full responsibility for their past and present thoughts, feelings, behaviours and experiences.

Beyond Addiction is designed to encourage the necessary self-belief that enables any person with an addiction history to reach beyond their previously self-designated boundaries, into a future which has hope, fulfilment and most of all choice. Beyond Addiction is a model of recovery, which provides the opportunity for healing of body, mind and spirit. The word 'recovery' in this context needs to be understood as 'Recovery of the Self'.

Pierpoint's Treatment Programme is sometimes described as a difficult process. However, we believe it is one which offers each person the opportunity to learn much about themselves, develop the strength and courage to face life without resorting to substance abuse, dependency or addiction as a way of coping, leaving them free to create a different future.

Attendance at meetings of Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous is encouraged. We believe this is in the person's best interest as the Fellowship is both national and worldwide. At any point in the future the individual will always have the ability and confidence to access this service, giving them instant support. Through this means, individuals have a chance of developing relationships with people who have similar goals and challenges, while maintaining an abstinent way of life. The move from a "using" to a "non-using" lifestyle is often challenging, and appropriate support is seen as essential for long term success.