There are many different approaches people choose to change their relationship and investment in unhealthy behaviors. Many of the approaches that are currently being used support the idea of taking you out of your home and community. You are shipped away from those that have concern and love for you and “placed” into an insulated environment; everyone having been told that “going off to rehab” and adopting a specific way of life is the only way to be successful. This is simply not true. There are many successful paths to changing one’s relationship with alcohol, other drugs or another unhealthy behavior.

The scientific research on outcomes from various treatment experiences is virtually identical. In other words, for a general population of people wanting to change their relationship with alcohol or some other drug, it really doesn’t matter what you pick. What matters is

1. You having a voice in what is chosen to address the condition(s) you are experiencing
2. That it matches your life and lifestyle
3. That the approaches used are “evidenced based and research derived”
4. You like who is providing you with the help and support you want
5. Difficulties are seen as opportunities to enhance and improve on what you are doing that is already working rather than as “failures”
6. The condition is worked on in present and future terms, not the past and
7. You Stick With It.

To summarize: What does matter, if you want some assistance with change, is that it match the degree of difficulty you are having with making the change you want, that it has been demonstrated to work and is actually applied, that less and more intensive types of approaches have been discussed or tried, that you are an active participant in matching your desires, reasons, needs for changing and your lifestyle with the type of approach you will be taking, that you “like” and find you are very comfortable with those guiding you, and that you stick with your plan changing it only in collaboration with those you have chosen to guide you toward success. This is what the research shows, what our experience has demonstrated, what we believe and what we have incorporated into our work with people wanting to make a change.