Transitional Living

For those that have completed residential treatment for addiction, going back to their day-to-day lives can seem daunting. Early recovery can be challenging for many people; learning to navigate situations, social events, family gatherings, or even just reintegrating with family and friends, without drugs or alcohol can be tricky. Transitional living helps ease the process of going back to your everyday life by giving you the time and space you need to strengthen the skills learned in treatment, while still getting the structure and support you need.

What is Transitional Living?

Transitional living is a step-down service for people that are leaving more structured residential treatment. Facilities typically house those recovering from addiction and who are learning to live a sober lifestyle. Transitional living is designed to hold the resident accountable for their sobriety, offer support and understanding in using new life skills learned in treatment, and most importantly utilizing techniques that are available to strengthen the newly sober person through continuing education. 

Transitional Living offers:

• Structure: Life in treatment was very structured. Making the “transition” towards independence – the support of a community still exists but the freedom to make choices independently remains an option. 
• Life Skills: Ongoing support for employment opportunities, educational assistance, continuing use of life skills and ongoing medical treatment. 
• Emotional Support: Everyone in the house is in the same situation – recovering from addiction and must remain sober. Sharing experiences, difficulties, challenges as well as victories encourages healthy relationships and use of communication skills to express emotions and feelings. 
• Responsibility: Many residents in transitional living have never lived alone before. The resident now uses the skills learned to pay bills, hold a job, manage money, study if participating in an educational program, and learn to build healthy relationships with others in the house. 
• Education and Therapy: Continuing educational opportunities exist in most houses. Support through group therapy, individual therapy, medical appointments and social interactions encourages a continuation of a “team approach” the resident had while in treatment. 

Transitional living homes give the residents a “test drive” for living sober. Many learn to cook, take on a hobby, and introduce themselves to exercise programs or routines — all healthy habits to inspire healthy sober living under the same roof as others taking the same plunge.

What Can You Expect In Transitional Living? 

Transitional living can allow the resident to stay for up to 24 months, but time frames differ from house to house, and the needs of the resident. While the rules of transitional living facilities will vary, there are some common expectations:

• Residents are expected to participate in household activities, that may including helping to prepare meals, cleaning common areas, and keeping their personal spaces neat.
• Checking in and letting someone on staff know where you are going, if you are leaving the house.
• Routine drug and alcohol testing
• No drugs or alcohol are permitted in the facility
• No overnight guests
• Residents must stick with their aftercare treatment plans, which may include individual counseling, job skills training, or educational requirements.
• Attend group meetings

These rules allow for responsibility, accountability and practice of newly acquired life skills learned in treatment. Early recovery is a very vulnerable time for the residents in transitional living and the rules help maintain structure, while keeping the facility safe for everyone.

Life in transitional living situations can teach residents how to build personal relationships in a sober environment. These skills can be applied to relationships outside of recovery, too, helping to establish the groundwork for a nurturing and supportive home environment. Additionally, the bonds formed with peers in transitional living can last a lifetime, providing encouragement and a sense of community — an important benefit if the individual has to break ties with friends or family that do not support their recovery goals.

Benefits Transitional Living Provides 

The benefits of participating in a transitional living program makes the transition from treatment center to sober life in the outside world possible without having to go back to an unhealthy environment that may have existed before treatment. Transitional living provides the space and time that some people need before returning to everyday life.

Special programs are available for residents to take advantage of. Group outings, volunteering, continuing education and life skills classes are beneficial for providing opportunities for growth and finding purpose. Other benefits of transitional living include:

Why Transitional Living is So Effective 

Transitional living helps its residents stay the course of recovery. Continual support is offered while allowing the resident to make choices and decisions that will affect their sober environment and plans to live independently in the future. 

The gradual easing from inpatient treatment into transitional living, before returning to everyday life, has been demonstrated to improve recovery outcomes and reduce the risk of relapse. This is due, in large part, to the fact that residents in transitional living have an opportunity to work on their sobriety without the stressors of day-to-day living, while strengthening their recovery skills, coping mechanisms, and establishing relationships with peers in the recovery community.

Transitional Living In Dallas, TX

ARM Dallas understands the unique needs that people in early recovery have. We offer transitional living services to make the transition to your new sober life easier, and set you up for successful long-term meaningful recovery. For more information about our transitional living program in Dallas, call us at 214-943-5010 or contact us today.