One of the largest setbacks to a successful and prolonged recovery from drugs or alcohol is a patient’s inability to interact socially, free of any substance abuse. Since addiction is often the offspring of traumatic experiences and mood or mental disorders, substance abuse is frequently the primary coping mechanism for patients who may be purposely or inadvertently avoiding meaningful relationships with people. Frequently, addicts rely on drugs and alcohol as a crutch in social situations and personal interactions. Social skills development is therefore a major component of our addiction treatment programs.
The Reintegration Process
In working with patients to develop better social skills, Behavioral Health of the Palm Beaches focuses on changing their beliefs about themselves and the world around them. We use role playing exercise, as well as confidence building strategies to help our patients feel more comfortable in social situations.
Improved Social Skills Lead to Long-Term Success
The goal for every patient in any drug or alcohol rehab program is a lifetime of sobriety – unfortunately, this isn’t always the result. One of the primary reasons so many addiction patients fail in post-recovery is because of their inability to successfully reenter their everyday lives. When patients can’t interact effectively with those around them, it hampers their personal and professional growth, making it easier to resort to substance abuse.
Our social skills development program will help in a variety of ways once a patient leaves our facility. Here are some of the benefits:
- Better able to form and maintain relationships
- Increased ability to communicate professionally at work
- Independent living made easier
- Chance for relapse decreased
- Increased confidence and feeling of self-worth
- Improved coping techniques
Social skills development also prepares patients for confronting social situations where drugs and/or alcohol are present. While many recovering addicts will go to great lengths to avoid these situations, it can be impossible to completely do so. Learning how to refuse substances will help recovering addicts be more comfortable when confronted with social temptation and is an essential part of relapse prevention.
Social Skills Development at Our Facilities
Where many addiction rehab centers focus strictly on treating addiction, failing to address the need to improve social skills. Behavioral Health of the Palm Beaches succeeds in total healing. We believe that concentrating on treating the patient, as opposed to the addiction, results in a more complete and deeply rooted recovery. We understand that adequate social skills are vital to long-term addiction recovery success. Contact us today at (888) 432-2467 to learn more about our program.
