Recovery communities offer a distinct approach to addiction treatment, emphasizing community-based healing, mutual support, and structured living. This one-hour course provides insight into the concepts, principles, and practices of recovery communities. It’s ideal for professionals, students, and anyone interested in learning about community-based recovery approaches. 

By the end of the course, learners will have a better understanding of the best practices, approaches, structures, and roles and responsibilities applied in therapeutic communities and modern recovery communities.

The recovery community model emphasizes a structured, phased approach for transformative recovery. This one-hour course walks learners through the stages of treatment, from initial orientation to community transition. 

Learners will finish the session with a clear understanding of the goals and therapeutic approaches for each stage. Learners will gain an appreciation for which activities best support a member’s progress and the challenges and best practices for addressing them.

Therapeutic living units (TLUs) and transitional service (TS) programs offer recovery-oriented services focused on rehabilitation, recovery, and personal growth. This one-hour course will deepen learners’ understanding of both TLU and TS programs within correctional settings. 

Learners will finish the course with a better grasp of the principles and practices of therapeutic living units and the program structure, as well as an appreciation for transitional programs’ Screening, Assessment, Coaching, and Referral (SACR) protocol and the role of recovery coaches in supporting members’ transition into aftercare.

A fundamental aspect of therapeutic communities is the concept of “community as method”. This one-hour course explores how the community, its members, and the day-to-day operations all support behavioral change and personal growth. 

Learners will develop a thorough understanding of the historical context and philosophical underpinnings of “community as method,” including the unique differences of this approach versus traditional methods. Learners will walk away appreciating the importance of daily routines, social hierarchies, mutual aid, and responsibility in making it work. Finally, learners will gain awareness of the therapeutic value of peer relationships and feedback, group dynamics, and collective responsibility.

For recovery community members to fully benefit from the approach, a strong sense of community and its underlying values of teamwork and respect must be integrated into the culture and physical environment. To achieve this, the recovery community must plan and implement approaches for its structure, governance, and physical environment. 

Learners will explore how these components work together to create the optimal therapeutic environment for recovery. Learners will gain an appreciation of the social role and hierarchy of members and how it reinforces and complements the therapeutic approaches in a recovery community. Learners will also develop knowledge of effective leadership and decision-making models used in recovery communities, and the importance and purpose of rules, regulations, and boundaries in the community. By the end of this course, learners will increase their awareness of the challenges and best practices in the design of recovery communities.

What is the impact of peer and staff relationships on the culture and environment of a therapeutic community? This one-hour course focuses on the critical dynamics between peers and staff in recovery communities. It explores how mutual trust, understanding, and effective communication are foundational to these relationships, offering key insights into fostering positive and therapeutically beneficial interactions. 

Learners will develop a deeper understanding of the therapeutic impact and challenges of peer interactions in recovery communities. They’ll dive deeper into staff and peer dynamics, including the importance of trust, collaborative relationships, and boundaries between staff and members in a recovery community. Finally, course participants will learn about approaches for improving communication and managing conflict resolution within the community.

Learning is an integral component of recovery communities. This one-hour course examines diverse learning methods that are crucial in the transformative journey. The course also highlights how the community itself facilitates various forms of learning, contributing significantly to the therapeutic process. 

Learners will have greater awareness of the principles, benefits, and approaches for experiential learning and how observational learning can help members learn and modify their behavior. Learners will develop an understanding of how group-based learning in the community creates opportunities for members to learn from and with others, and helps them practice social skills. Learners will have a deeper appreciation for the significance of individual learning needs and styles and individualize learning approaches.