Women's Programs for Alcohol Recovery

Alcohol dependency affects women in different ways than men. Women experience symptoms at an earlier stage, with symptoms being more severe and mental complications more likely. Women who are dependent on alcohol feel a strong need to drink and need increasing amounts of alcohol in order to feel "high." Most women's programs for alcohol recovery require women to be admitted to the facility for a specific number of days of treatment.

New Directions Outpatient Rehab

• Women in alcohol treatment who work or go to school during the day find that it's more convenient to attend programs that occur in the evening rather than commit to a 28-day inpatient program. New Directions for Women designed the 16-week Evening Intensive Outpatient Program to accommodate the busy schedules of these women. Treatment is based on patients' individual recovery stages, and includes programs such as individual therapy, recovery skills, family participation, relapse prevention and 12-step meetings at an outside facility. Families in the program are educated about the addiction and recovery process and their role in helping to break the generational cycle of addiction. Women receive aftercare for a year after finishing the program.

  New Directions for Women Inc.

  2607 Willo Lane

  Costa Mesa, CA 92627-4645

  [phone]

  www.newdirectionsforwomen.org

Hazelden Residential Alcohol Treatment

• A multidisciplinary team at Hazelden creates a treatment plan based on women's individual needs. Team members consist of nutritionists, mental health and medical professionals, wellness specialists, licensed drug and alcohol counselors, spiritual advisers and case managers. Women are assigned to one of two residential programs. For women who need a more intensive program, Primary Care treatment typically lasts about 25 days and begins on the medical unit, where women undergo detoxification and their condition is stabilized. If women have more complex recovery issues that take more time and focus to treat, an Extended Care program offers up to a 90-day stay. A typical daily schedule can include meditation, individual therapy, stress and anger management, 12-step groups, and relaxation and recreation time.

  Hazelden Foundation

  15245 Pleasant Valley Rd

  Center City, MN 55012

  [phone]

  www.hazelden.org

St. Gregory Inpatient Retreat

• Unlike traditional women's programs for alcohol recovery, which emphasize the 12-step program, the St. Gregory Retreat Center's 8-week program features the Life Process Model, which was developed by psychologist Dr. Stanton Peele in 1991. Dr. Peele helped identify this non-disease model for alcohol addiction recovery, which teaches life skills exercises and behavior modification using Cognitive Behavior Training to reverse women's dependency on alcohol. Cognitive Behavior Training is based on the idea that our thoughts--not external things like people or situations--cause our feelings and behaviors, and posits that people can change the way they think, act and feel about these things. Women learn these skills daily in therapeutic sessions. Seminars and activities teach women in alcohol treatment how to find happiness in their lives without depending on alcohol. Treatment also emphasizes individual diet and exercise programs, growth activities and community support.

  St Gregory Retreat Center

  5857 Fleur Drive

  Des Moines, IA 50321

  [phone]

  www.stgregoryctr.com