If you have recently transitioned into an intensive outpatient treatment program from a higher level of clinical care (or if you are considering making this transition soon), you might be wondering where you are going to live. Should you move home after completing an extended stay in a residential inpatient program, or go back to living with family? Should you get your own apartment, or move in with sober roommates? The answer varies depending on your unique circumstances. However, it may be a good idea to transition into a sober living house while you are attending an IOP program.

At Guardian IOP we encourage all of our clients to find a gender-specific sober living house close to our IOP facility where they can stay for between three and nine months depending on their needs. While Guardian does not have any sober living homes of its own, we work closely with several reputable sober living homes in New Jersey and South Florida. If you or someone you love is looking for an ideal option we are happy to help with placement. Contact us today for more information.

About Intensive Outpatient Treatment

What is an IOP program? IOP frequently serves as a step down level of care. The standard progression of addiction treatment is:

• Medically monitored detox
• Residential inpatient treatment
• Partial Hospitalization
• Intensive Outpatient
• Long-term aftercare

In IOP a person has access to a continuation of intensive therapy, recovery education, life skills training, relapse prevention training and a range of other treatment options. While in IOP, clients generally attend treatment about 3 to 5 days a week for several hours at a time. Clients return home in the evening and are able to work part-time or continue with schooling if they choose to do so. IOP is seen as the reintegration phase of the overall treatment process. It is important that clients have access to additional support and guidance as they slowly transition back to fully independent living.

Guardian’s IOP programs are comprehensive and individualized, and consist of a combination of individual therapy, group therapy and family therapy as well as additional recovery-related services. We are dedicated to equipping each of our clients with the tools and skills he or she needs to succeed and stay sober once treatment concludes.

About Sober Living

What is sober living? Sober living is a structured living environment specifically designed for men or women who are new to recovery and who have recently completed inpatient treatment. Early recovery can be an unstable time, and having a built-in support system often means the difference between continued recovery and relapse. In a sober living house a person lives alongside other men or women who are in a similar position, who are dedicated to staying sober as they reintegrate into society as a whole. Sober living also provides structure and helps residents develop a daily routine centered around recovery.

Sober homes often enforce rules to help aid their residents in their recovery.

Here are some examples of rules sober living environments may have:

• Residents might be required to wake up by a certain time every morning and return back to the house by a certain time every evening. Curfew is often extended slightly on the weekends.
• Residents might be required to participate in a daily check-in with the other residents in the house. During this check-in residents discuss any issues they might be having or challenges they might be facing, and they inform the support staff of their intentions for the day ahead.
• All residents might be required to keep their personal spaces clean and tidy and participate in daily house chores (which are assigned at the beginning of the week). Common spaces must also be kept clean.
• Residents might be required to find work and remain gainfully employed, unless they are returning to school or participating in regular volunteer work. For example, a resident might opt to volunteer if he or she is already retired.
• Residents might be encouraged to attend at least one recovery meeting of their choosing every day of the week, and show proof of attendance. In most cases this means having the leader of the meeting sign off on an attendance sheet. All residents must remain completely sober and abstain from all mood and mind altering chemical substances. If support staff members suspect that a resident has relapsed he or she is subject to a drug test. If a resident does relapse, he or she will return to a higher level of care with more constant supervision.
• Residents might be asked to pay rent on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis – they come to an agreement with the owner of the sober home before moving in.

As residents reintegrate as functional and productive members of society they begin working towards financial independence and learn the importance of balancing work life, social life and recovery (always prioritizing their sobriety). To learn more about sober living or to be put in touch with one of the sober homes we recommend, contact us today.

Benefits of Living in Sober Living

If you are in an IOP program, living in a sober living house near the therapeutic facility is a good idea.

The benefits of living in a sober living house while in IOP include:

• Residents learn how to communicate effectively and set personal boundaries with their housemates as they develop healthy and functional friendships that could very well last a lifetime. They are able to employ the communication skills they learn in IOP when they return home for the evening.
• Residents have 24/7 access to guidance and support provided by support staff members. Early recovery can be tough, and it’s nice to have someone available who has been exactly where you are now. You can bounce ideas off of support staff members or simply look to them for advice when you face unavoidable challenges.
• In many cases you attend IOP with the people you are living with, which allows you to form even deeper and more meaningful connections.
• If you lack reliable transportation of your own the support staff members at your sober home transport you to and from IOP.
• Sober living helps you stay accountable. You might be tempted to skip out on a day of IOP in lieu of a beach trip — however, the support staff members at the sober home get to know your schedule and ensure that you are where you’re supposed to be. Over time you learn how to keep yourself accountable.

Continue Your Recovery Journey

Guardian IOP offers effective IOP in two states: Florida and New Jersey. While we do not operate any sober living homes of our own, we work very closely with several reputable, gender-specific sober homes in and around Delray Beach, Hoboken and New Brunswick (the cities where our three facilities are located). We specifically chose these regions because of their close proximity to a range of recovery resources and services, including meeting houses, individual therapists, family therapists and psychiatric professionals. If you or someone you love is preparing to make the transition from inpatient rehab to an IOP program, contact us today to be put into touch with one of the sober homes we maintain a professional relationship with. We are happy to offer guidance whenever necessary, and help you find the living situation that is going to benefit you the most in the long run.