Addiction Recovery: Why the “Where” of Treatment Counts

Location, location, location. You’ve heard this rule when buying a house, condo, or vacation property, but it also applies when choosing a residential facility to recover from drug or alcohol addiction. Whether you prefer a secluded mountain resort, wide open plains, or a bustling recovery community, choosing a location that inspires awe, introduces new hobbies or activities, or ignites your passion for life can be an important part of the recovery process.

Having Fun in Sobriety

Many alcoholics and drug addicts believe their lives won’t be enjoyable without the substance they have become dependent upon. Because they have overloaded their “pleasure centers” with artificial highs, they are in dire need of engaging activities and natural outlets to replace the comfort of that substance.

For this reason, one of the most popular and therapeutic locations to receive addiction treatment is on the sands of sunny Southern California. The combination of exceptional weather, people from all walks of life, and every leisure activity one could wish for makes California’s beach communities an ideal setting for recovery.

Newport Beach is one of the state’s most beautiful beaches and is also one of its most vibrant recovery communities. There are a number of world-renowned drug rehab centers in Southern California for men and women, including The Rose, an addiction treatment center for women located in Newport Beach.

“We insist on having fun in sobriety,” says Tanya Desloover, MA, CADC-II, case manager and marriage family therapy intern at The Rose. “Part of the recovery experience at The Rose includes daily recreation and physical activity. Being located in Newport Beach, close to everything you can imagine, we offer so many opportunities for these women to discover who they are and explore their possibilities.”
With sunshine year-round, residents at The Rose enjoy walks on the beach, sailing off the coast, surfing, shopping, and trips to local amusement parks, nearby zoos, museums, and art festivals. Clients have the opportunity to exercise and participate in outdoor activities, rebuilding their strength and confidence in the company of other women in recovery.
“There is a real benefit to being by the beach when recovering from addiction,” says Desloover. “Addiction is a hedonic disease – drugs raise the pleasure threshold, which makes it hard to feel pleasure in anything, and it can take time for regular things to become enjoyable again. This is a population that tends to be very bored and in need of greater stimulation. Knowing this, we make sure the women at The Rose get that stimulation in healthy ways – soaking in all that this community has to offer – rather than from drugs or alcohol.”

Although recovering in a beach community can be fun and invigorating, it also presents challenges – the kind of challenges that recovering addicts will face when they return home, says Desloover. “It’s important for anyone in recovery to get sober in a real-world environment where other people may be drinking or partying,” she says. “It’s better to put your sobriety to the test during treatment, when you have a caring staff of professionals to guide you back to the right path.”

Doing the Work While Feeling at Home

In addition to finding the right geographical locale, it is important to find an addiction treatment center with a look and feel that is warm and welcoming. Rather than feeling like a patient in an institution-like drug rehab, recovering individuals at The Rose feel at home, living in a safe and comfortable environment with others who understand their disease.

“The environment at The Rose is peaceful, serene, fun, and nourishing to the soul,” says Desloover. “These ladies have suffered enough abuse and hardship – treatment should be an opportunity for them to learn to nurture themselves mind, body, and spirit.”

The Rose is a three-story, custom-built home with breathtaking sunrise and sunset views of the Pacific Ocean. Complete with gorgeous bedrooms, private bathrooms, and a roof-top patio, the women live in an impeccably clean and relaxing environment.

Often, recovering addicts do best in small, intimate environments, where the staff is focused on only a few residents at a time. The Rose has two homes that house six women each. When the ladies participate in group therapy sessions, they are not in an isolated or clinical environment but in a cozy and intimate living room with a close-knit group of peers.

Clients at The Rose work with master’s and doctoral level therapists and a specialist that uses state-of-the-art techniques like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for those who have suffered from trauma and related issues. Additionally, clients can work with a life coach to connect them with vocational interests or educational pursuits. The Rose also specializes in treating secondary diagnoses like depression, anxiety, and other co-existing mental health issues.

Treatment Is a Blessing, Not a Curse

Although overcoming addiction is one of the most difficult battles anyone will face, the experience of recovery can be made as pleasant as possible by choosing an addiction treatment center that provides a wide scope of traditional and holistic services. In addition to cutting-edge therapies, the women at The Rose enjoy Pilates, morning tai chi, acupuncture sessions, meditation, art therapy, and massage as part of the program’s holistic approach to treatment.

“The wide variety of clinicians and consultants that come to The Rose on a weekly basis is one of the highlights of our program,” says Desloover. “These professionals provide the best in quality care to our clients.”

During the first 30 days of treatment, women at The Rose also enjoy meals prepared by a trained cordon bleu chef. They learn about how their health has been impacted by drugs and alcohol and how healthy foods provide the nutrients their bodies need. In the second phase of treatment, clients are gradually given more freedom to live independently, re-join the broader community, and test their new skills. Because The Rose is part of the prestigious Sober Living by the Sea family of drug rehab facilities, the program is well-suited for clients to continue on in step-down levels of care, including extended care, outpatient care, and transitional college and work programs.

With thousands of facilities and locations to choose from, selecting a drug rehab center that is right for you or your loved one can be an overwhelming task. Among the dozens of considerations that will play into your decision, recall that individuals in recovery are, in many ways, learning how to live again. Opportunities for bonding with other individuals in recovery, feeling comfortable and upbeat about their living environment, and filling the days with activities they enjoy will be essential components of their recovery plan.

Learn more about the Rose rehab for women in Southern California

« Back to Addiction Articles