Can I ask questions about Christian alcohol rehabs before deciding which is best? If you’re wondering about this question, you’re probably a bit confused about Christian alcohol rehab and how it might work for you. You already know that you’d like to include your faith in your recovery process, but you’re just not sure how to do that. The truth is, faith-based recovery programs provide a treatment dimension that non-faith-based programs do not. For the Christian who finds strength and comfort in God and Jesus, faith-based treatment is likely to be more suitable and even more successful for that individual.
However, you need to know first thing that Christian rehabs aren’t as common as secular ones. This will limit your choices and may require travel. You will also need to know the right questions to ask the rehab before you decide to attend. You’ve already made the first important step by deciding to go to a Christian rehab for help. This article will help you with the second step, which is knowing how to pick the right one. So, the answer to your question to yourself is this: Of course you can!
While Christian rehabs will focus on spirituality and will reinforce your belief in God, it also must encompass a solid and proven alcohol and drug rehab treatment philosophy. To this end, start by asking about their overall program.
Detox
Does the program offer this? If not, you’ll need to make arrangements to detox elsewhere before you can begin treatment there. If they do offer detox, is it medically-supervised by licensed medical detox professionals? If they say no, or they say they follow a “social” or “natural” detox program, forget it. These social model detoxes don’t use necessary medications and lack emergency options should someone get very sick. Alcohol withdrawal can kill if not properly supervised by medical doctors and other staff who know what they’re doing. Medically-supervised alcohol withdrawal will be safe and reasonably comfortable.
Treatment modes
You will need evidence-based treatment along with the Christian program. This may include CBT, DBT, trauma management and resolution, group and individual counseling, alternative therapies, adventure therapy, 12-step AA meetings and dual diagnosis. If you have a mental disorder, such as depression, anxiety disorder or bipolar disorder, you will need dual diagnosis treatment for both the substance abuse and the mental disorder. Make sure they offer this service. You can’t recover without it. Make sure they can also medically treat your co-occurring disorder. This means they must have a psychiatrist on staff. If they offer DBT training, this is great. Ask more about it. This stands for Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. Ask these questions:
- Do they have the full DBT model, including skills training and recovery DBT coaching?
- Are all DBT staff members fully DBT-trained or just some of them?
- Is there ongoing team consultations and program evaluation?
Specific Questions about the Christian Program
Once you’ve established that the facility is offering quality therapy, it’s time to ask your own specific questions about their faith-based program. Here’s a guideline:
Methodology
The teachings in the Bible should be focused holistically on healing the mind, body and spirit. In other words, it shouldn’t just be a general Bible study. It should teach you how to incorporate the Bible to help you recover from your alcohol addiction.
Pastors
There should be an adequate number of pastors and other spiritual counselors on staff and available to you on a regular basis. The ratio of pastors to residents should be sufficient to allow easy access, so the resident has a Christian professional to talk to when they feel the need. If you prefer a male or female pastor, ask about that, too.
Denominations
Does the facility welcome all faiths and all Christian denominations? It should. Even though it’s a Christian program, it shouldn’t exclude anyone who would like to attend, as long as the individual understands the Christian nature of the program and agrees to respect and comply with it.
Transitional services
Ask about their post-program services. Is aftercare included? What does that involve? Do they offer sober living services? Is it their facility, or are they affiliated with an outside sober living home? Either is acceptable. Not all Christian programs will also have their own sober living facility. Sober living is a highly structured home environment for program graduates to attend. It provides a supportive Christian environment with Biblical counseling and guidance for the resident as they move closer to living in society again. Christian sober living will teach faith-based and other tools to help residents stay sober in the long run. Sober living typically lasts from three months to one year.
Call us for Help
If you’d like more information about Christian programs, we have it, and we’re eager to help. Our staff of professional drug counselors will help you find the best Christian rehab for your needs. Just call us anytime at 833-364-0736. We hope to speak with you soon.