If you’re looking for a sober living program in Austin, TX, sober living houses near your family or closest friends are located are ideal. If you’re fortunate enough also to be working or studying during this emotionally charged and physically exhausting time of your life, you should also consider sober living options near your workplace or school.
However, you must first decide whether you’re looking for a sober living home or a halfway house. While they share many similarities, their differences may confuse you. Both require residents to be sober and may need to undergo detox and therapy if they relapse before going back.
Sober living home residents are not required to complete or be active in formal addiction treatment, while halfway house residents require it. Most sober living home residents aren’t restricted to a limited length of stay, but halfway house residents usually can only stay for 12 months. Also, halfway houses may deny residency if someone has a criminal record. Searching for a sober living program in Austin, TX? Contact The Arbor Behavioral Healthcare today by calling 844.413.2690 or reaching out to our team online.
What Is a Sober Living Home?
A sober living home in Austin, TX, or elsewhere — as mentioned above — is not the same as a halfway house. However, both sober living homes and halfway houses can operate as a bridge between an inpatient facility and the outside world.
Clients leaving an inpatient facility may not always want to return home right away. They may find it difficult to adjust to daily life outside an addiction treatment facility. These people are ideal residents of a sober living home. While not as common, a sober living home may also accept residents that want a safe and secure environment to maintain their sobriety. Some potential residents may consider sober living homes a compromise if their loved ones suggest getting professional help to overcome addiction.
Generally, moving into a sober living home is an excellent in-between recovery option that allows clients to reinforce their lessons in formal treatment. The structure and regulations of a sober living home can make the difference between going back to their old addictive habits and continuing on the path of sobriety. Sober living homes may also be their only option if they don’t have a support network in the outside world. While living in a sober living home, they can apply for jobs and look for a house to move into when their income becomes stable.
When Should You Consider a Sober Living Program?
You should consider moving into a sober living home in Austin, TX if you’re located in the area and are looking for continuing care after completing an inpatient addiction treatment program. You may also consider a sober living program if you want to get admitted into an intensive outpatient program (IOP) but don’t have a residence of your own.
A sober living program provides a structured schedule, professional clinical supervision, and regulations to follow. Residents share the goal of achieving full independence after proof of stable sobriety. Staff and other residents help keep everyone accountable and away from their addiction triggers.
Sober living programs are also particularly designed for clients who:
- Are working toward self-sufficiency
- Don’t have drugs or alcohol currently in their system
- They need more accountability in their journey to sobriety
What Can You Expect From a Sober Living House?
Clients are immersed in their rehab programs in most inpatient addiction treatment centers and don’t have much independence. In sober living houses in Austin, TX — or elsewhere — that’s not the case.
Inpatient facilities may seem similar to sober living houses — with clinical staff, medical supervision, and focus on sobriety — but sober living house residents can come and go as they please. They may even be able to invite people to come over. Residents can take steps to feel like they’re easing back into normal life in the outside world but can still rely on the security and safety of their sober living house.
Although sober living homes are less restrictive than inpatient facilities, they still have rules that residents must follow. There’s more freedom for sober living house residents than inpatient program participants, but they must also abide by curfews and go to group meetings. A huge part of staying in a sober living home is working on positive friendships that help to reinforce the desire to maintain sobriety.
Ready To Learn More About The Arbor’s Sober Living Homes in Austin, TX?
Contact The Arbor Behavioral Healthcare today if you’re looking for a sober living program in Austin, TX. Call 844.413.2690 or reach out to our team online.