Building a Healthy Network
Our Alumni Program is a network full of people just like you or your loved ones – people who have been through the many stages of recovery. Our main goal is to keep people close to Pinelands Recovery Center. We work to remind our clients that they have a network of people who are willing to help, even when they walk out of the door. Every person who enters Pinelands is offered an aftercare option. This can include a sober coach, a sober living facility, an outpatient center in their area, or our Alumni program.
It is beneficial to recovering addicts that they grow a network of people who are also in recovery. This is especially true when people are early in the process, since most relapses occur within the first 90 days of leaving treatment. It can be difficult to make new friends in general, but it can be especially difficult while in a vulnerable, emotional state. It’s also difficult when you want to find people who have been through what you have been through, and can share your same new values in life. In addition, going back to hanging out with old friends could trigger old habits, especially if they are pressuring you, tempting you or testing your sobriety. It is important to have friends in your life who support your new lifestyle, and our Alumni program offers that opportunity. They have uniquely not only been through addiction, but also the same treatment program that you have been through.
A Safe Place for Food, Fun and Fellowship
In addition to building a network of friends who support each other’s lifestyle, our Alumni program aims at having fun. We do as many events as possible, whether they are off site or at Pinelands Recovery Center itself. Our goal is to bring people together. We take care in planning fun events, anywhere from watching movies on a 100ft project screen to dressing in inflatable outfits to play a hilarious round of bubble soccer. People tend to isolate themselves after treatment. They choose to not spend a lot of time with loved ones or go to important events because they are afraid of becoming triggered. This isolation can eventually lead to depression, and may even further lead to a relapse event. Our events provide a fun, safe environment to get out of the house, have fun and meet new people.
We work to have events at least every two weeks, interchangeable between an alumni meeting or a fun event. Our program is constantly growing, so more and more is to come. Our Alumni program chair meeting is held every Monday, and people are responsible for bringing two speakers to these meetings. It gives an opportunity for our clients to be exposed to speakers who have been through exactly what they have been through. Since recovery is a life-long process, it can be comforting to not only watch these speakers, but to be a speaker as well. Looking out and seeing where someone once sat and is now speaking to can be inspiring to stay on track and stay with their program.
Trust and Accountability You Can Lean On
Simply put: We are not going anywhere. When you enter Pinelands Recovery Center, you can rest assured that you will always be supported. Our Alumni program coordinator spends time everyday making phone calls and sending text messages to check in with our Alumni. He will check to see if anyone is struggling, and if so, we can facilitate a plan which could include bringing them back to Pinelands.
It is important to be held accountable to someone, and people are often afraid to get a sponsor they’ve never met or are not familiar with. In addition, addiction can cause a lot of severed relationships with friends and family that people are still trying to rebuild. With these people, trust might not yet be in place to be able to open up to people with these relationships. People may feel ashamed or judged to approach certain people in their lives if they are having any negative feelings after treatment. Having a familiar face to talk to makes it easier to open up and be honest about any bumps in the road of recovery, and we will give honest feedback and support in return.
About Pinelands Recovery Center
When you walk in to Pinelands Recovery Center, you will never be alone again. You will be supported with the utmost care during treatment. You will also be supported once you leave, and we are always here for you. Just because you complete your treatment and are ready to walk out of the door and begin your new life does not mean that we are no longer there to support you in your recovery. We truly are here for you every single step of the way.
Pinelands Recovery Center of Medford is widely known as one of New Jersey’s finest, most respected addiction treatment facilities. With comfortable 30-bed accommodations and a 24-hour professional staff, we can offer clients a serene, relaxing environment amid the lush piney woods. This stress-free setting with its sense of warmth and welcoming enables you to feel comfortable and confident about your clean and sober life ahead.
We will establish clear goals, both general in nature and specific to your needs. We continue to
monitor those goals, to make sure that our clients are progressing and buying into their recovery
plan. We thrive on assisting clients in feeling connected to the recovery community, share and
demonstrate effective coping techniques, help clients to modify attitudes and patterns of
behavior and everything else you will need to be happy and productive living a sober, healthy
life.
We ensure that clients complete their planned concrete tasks, encourage hope, optimism and
healthy living. Our recovery program is not a revolving door treatment program; it is a recovery
model designed to help clients go on to lead productive, happy lives. For more information, visit
pinelandsrecovery.com