Finding Purpose:
Sober Living House Management
I have had multiple occupations in my lifetime, but none have been as fulfilling as the privilege of helping others to transform their lives.
My road to recovery began in 2006, the same year that I was offered the chance to work as a house manager in a sober living home; the experience changed the course of my entire life.
I was given the chance to consider the needs of others, to help individuals who had experienced the same thing that I had, and help them navigate early recovery.
Sober Living is where I got my start in the recovery industry. If you want to become a Sober Living House Manager, here are some considerations to keep in mind.
The best things in life come with hard work and determination.
What is Sober Living?
What is Sober Living?
Sober living homes, halfway houses, and recovery houses are residential residences that offer a safe and supportive environment for persons in early recovery from substance misuse. All roommates agree to live a sober lifestyle. They also follow any regulations like house rules, meeting attendance, and random drug testing.
The majority of sober living facilities are located in residential settings, and residents often utilize communal amenities like as kitchens, living rooms, and even bedrooms.
A significant difference is that sober living homes are not treatment institutions. Although sober living operators do not provide clinical or medical services, many residents seek outpatient therapy.
Helping with Early Recovery
The goal is to manage the house, and develop and maintain safe and secure surroundings so that everyone who walks in knows they are in a place where they can work on their recovery and believe in themselves.
Successful sober living houses empower residents and help them progress in their everyday lives by keeping them accountable and active by attending an outpatient program, working, or school. Some sober livings have requirements for meeting attendance and obtaining sponsors.
What does a house manager do?
My experience as a resident and house manager in Sober Living was challenging and rewarding. What I assumed would be easy turned out to be tougher than I thought and there were times when I felt completely out of my depth.
Because house managers are not counselors or therapists, the job is simple: observe and report. Good house managers lead by example and show that a life in recovery is possible.
House management will provide you with a deeper appreciation for the efforts made by counselors, therapists, and everyone else involved in the treatment process.
Accountability and Approach
At first, I wanted to be friends with everyone, so I let clients bend the rules, only to realize that my generosity would be exploited to their benefit. Gradually, rules became optional, and my observations and reports reflected disarray and borderline anarchy.
Each individual is unique; some prefer a direct, no-frills approach, while others favor a more delicate approach and everything in between. By practicing these interactions, even if it was as simple as encouraging them to make their beds every day. I eventually learned how to help people in ways I had only hoped for in the past.
The role of a house manager will teach lessons that will carry into other areas of life and remain relevant today. House management can help you figure out how to establish leadership skills and communicate more effectively with others.
Mistakes will be made, but will make room for growth along the way.
We can't change what happens to other people. We can do our best with what we have to make a positive impact.
Naturally, from time to time, there will be circumstances that result in an emotional investment that can be tied to the success or failure of one's recovery process.
A hopeless case will defy expectations and only to go back out. Confident, motivated people who are all-in on their program and recovery will stumble. Some will waste the chances many others don't get but deserve. Some may claim "You're the reason I got high," placing blame on you for their actions.
You tell yourself I did everything in my power to help them but still feel like you have failed. You might lay awake at night thinking about what you could have said or done differently that would have changed the outcome from negative to positive.
Addiction does not discriminate by age, sex, race, religion, financial status, or educational background and has taken the lives of friends, family, coworkers, and clients throughout the years. They were incredible people who were brilliant, talented, and exceptional.
It's Worth It
It's been worthwhile, and I've realized that it's not about me. It is not about saving one or more lives. It all comes down to being a part of something that saves lives. Creating possibilities for change, opening previously closed doors, making the most of today, and returning what has been given.
Make every day, and every minute, count. Saving a life begins with one person, you. You are the only person who can make the decision to change. The most successful cases in recovery are the ones who want to be sober and is willing to go to any lengths to hold on to it.
Sober living is just part of the recovery process but can be just as important as detox, residential, and outpatient programs because we have to learn how to live in society outside of treatment and build a social support system at work, school, and home. We are not meant to do it alone. Besides, doing it alone hasn't worked for us in the past and it's so much better to enjoy the ride with friends and family.
Working in treatment, I am grateful to be a part of something bigger than myself and to have the opportunity to serve people every day.
If you or someone you know needs sober living or any other kind of help. please feel free to contact us anytime at 714.316.0886
Mountain-sized movement and miracles in life will happen but bring a shovel.
Naturally from time to time, there will be circumstances that result in an emotional investment that can be tied to the success or failure of one's recovery process.
A hopeless case will defy expectations and only to go back out. Confident, motivated people who are all-in on their program and recovery will stumble. Some will waste the chances many others don't get but deserve. Some may claim "You're the reason I got high," placing blame on you for their actions.
You will feel some kind of personal responsibility for the choices they have made. You tell yourself, "I did everything I could to help them," yet you still feel like a failure. You may lie awake at night wondering what you might have said or done differently to change a situation from bad to good.
Take it easy on yourself. Never put your own recovery at risk, because if you can't take care of yourself, you won't be able to help anyone else.
Help who you can and pray for the ones who are still out there.
7 Tips for New House Managers.
1
Do No Harm
Simply said, "Do No Harm" means avoiding or causing damage to other people by your actions and words. One that can be applied across the board in life.
2
Set Healthy Boundaries
Keeping one's personal life and business life separate not only ensures the proper operation of the house, it also helps define clear boundaries between house managers and residents. Being friendly is ok, but being friends makes it difficult to uphold the rules. Intimate relationships between residents and managers are unethical and therefore prohibited.
3
Ethical Responsibilities
House managers are role models. They are held to a higher standard than the residents and need to You can't give away what you don't have. If you can't take care of yourself, you will not be able to help others. Finding balance is an ongoing struggle, but self-care is one thing you can't put aside and deal with later.
4
Be cautious in self-disclosure.
Self-disclosure is one of the most common occurrences that can unintentionally do harm. A piece of advice I still follow is to think about If the person with whom you are sharing your story will benefit more from hearing it than you will from telling it. Will the information you're going to give about yourself be beneficial or detrimental?
5
Hold On To Hope
There will be ups and downs, good times and bad. Most circumstances are momentary, believe in yourself and others.
6
Don't Get jaded.
If people are going to get the help they need, they need someone that cares about what happens to them. Never give up hope, and believe that it's never too late for someone to turn their life around.
7
Self-Care
You can't give away what you don't have. If you can't take care of yourself, you will not be able to help others. Finding balance is an ongoing struggle, but self-care is one thing you can't put aside and deal with later.
AxiomOC.com
714.316.0886
Apply Today