What to Expect from the Program at The Grounds
Like life, everything at The Grounds is progressive, with challenges, expectations and responsibilities increasing as members make healthy choices for themselves.
Level One & Two
Main House
Upon completion of Orientation members progress through 3 levels for the duration of their first 90 days.
Goals Include:
- Procure and sustain employment (minimum 24 hours per week)
- Open bank account and develop budget
- Purchase or activate personal smartphone, laptop or other electronics
- Active participation in clinical offerings including individual therapy, groups, medication management with Psychiatrist (if appropriate) and equine therapy
- Positive participation in all programmatic activities including weekly life skills curriculum, Rock to Recovery, Culinary classes, daily meditations and recreation activities
- Participate in weekly recreation activities and outings
- No safety issues or incidents
- Weekly progress meetings with Case Manager
- Complete weekly schedules
- Negative urinalysis screening weekly or as requested
- Self-administer medication as prescribed
- Comply with basic house rules such as daily chores, personal space and curfew
- No body alterations such as tattoo’s or piercings
- Weekly meetings with sponsor
- Attend daily 12-Step meetings
- Weekly family phone calls
- Successful family visit
- Maintain sobriety
- Demonstrate increased autonomy, integrity, responsibility and accountability
Transition/Casita Level
Transition/Casita Level goals and requirements are decided individually between the member and the treatment team to accommodate each members developing independence plan. Completion of Casita Level entitles members to move to the Step Down house. Goals may include:
- Equine therapy is optional
- Group therapy is optional
- Transition Ceremony
Weekly Schedule
Each week, members are required to post and have approved their weekly schedule. Schedules include work shifts, therapy appointments, sponsor meetings, family calls and other activities or responsibilities unique to that member. The weekly schedule helps teach time management, accountability, prioritization of responsibilities, organization and the discipline that comes from structure, planning and consistency. Weekly schedules allow staff to guide and support members as they begin to increase responsibilities and develop their transition plans as well as hold them accountable to program expectations.
Recovery at The Grounds
Members come to The Grounds because substance use and addiction have taken over their lives in such significant ways that an intervention was necessary. Recovery is vital to a healthy independent life. At The Grounds, sobriety comes first. Most of our members are very clear and familiar on the chaos that abusing drugs and alcohol created in their lives. Living free from the chaos, coping with uncomfortable emotions, learning how to socialize sober and healing the wounds caused by addiction isn’t easy. Putting the knowledge into action is what members learn while at The Grounds. We want members to be equally clear and familiar with the peace of mind and benefits that come from being free from addictive substances and related behaviors. It’s a journey that each individual must travel in their own way and time. We also know that some actions can help this process happen easier and quicker than going it alone. While at The Grounds, we immerse members in an active, eclectic recovery community with the hope that it will attract them towards taking the necessary steps to achieve their own personal recovery.
This immersion includes full participation in the 12 Step community. We introduce members to the 12 Step process as it is one of the most researched and proven modalities for successful recovery from substances. While we understand that all members may not adopt a 12-Step program for life, we feel a responsibility to make sure that they feel comfortable and familiar with it as it a powerful resource available to anyone at any time anywhere in the world. Examples of 12-Step activities that The Grounds requires:
- We ask members to interpret the 12 Steps as they relate to their lives and experiences, reflect on their own beliefs, and gain insight into their own motivations, behaviors and characters.
- Identify and secure an appropriate sponsor – someone in the recovery community that members can build a relationship with outside of The Grounds community. This gives members a resource person that they can maintain for life, diversifies the levels of accountability and provides an additional layer of support.
- Daily 12 Step Meetings – San Diego has an eclectic and robust recovery community with a variety of meetings. We accompany members to daily meetings early in the Program to introduce them to the process and give them a wide experience. As members gain employment and move to the Step Down House, they are free to attend meetings of their choice that suit their interests, needs and schedules.
- Daily Meditations – each morning while in the Main House, members gather for a short meeting where a meditation is chosen and discussed. This allows members to better understand the concepts of the 12 Steps as well as reflect personally on how each concept has meaning in their own life and experience.
Physical Fitness
The Grounds understands the importance of self-care, physical health and wellness. Recovery is achieved when one embraces and nurtures all aspects of the self. We encourage all of our members to participate in the varied recreational activities we provide so that they can experience the peace of mind, stress release and self-esteem that comes from physical activity and good physical health. Bi-weekly fitness sessions with our certified personal trainer teaches members the basic components of physical health and fitness and allows them to create personal fitness goals that they can work towards during their time at The Grounds. Weekly yoga classes, teach the proven skills and techniques of mindfulness and quieting the mind to all of our members. Our hope is that members will carry new habits of self-care, stress release and wellness into their everyday lives long after their time at The Grounds.
