Second, third, and fourth chances

Year's ago I remember working in a hospital on a rotation gathering clinical hours to finish my course requirements. This particular group that I was shadowing the therapist and psychologist listening to how they ran their program with patients who were in a residential treatment setting. There were a few patients that appeared to be, "repeat customers" as the clinicians told myself and this other student who was shadowing to. I then observed the group format and listened to the repeat customers on how they shared their stories of relapse with the other addicts. Immediately they were pressed by the clinicians running the group that second, third and fourth chances in recovery were bad. I was shocked at the time, many years ago. As I continued with my academics, I began to see other forms of this second, third, and fourth, clients who were in some ways looked down upon and labeled  addicts that were always going to be out of control addicts. That my friends, is not healthy addiction treatment in any capacity. Respectfully, I was ashamed to learn how some clinicians viewed the addicts, or in my case myself. When addicts relapse, it is what it is. Self can learn how to let that thought go, and move on to the next thought. Self has the power, the will power, to make each chance the last chance in obtaining recovery. There is no time table. Obviously, we want all of our clients to achieve recovery, but we understand each chance is a new beginning at life. Here is the moral to this story. I had this client five years ago that would come to my group, in one of the treatment center's that I was contracting out in. He had been with me for four years, relapsing each time he left treatment. Prior to that, he had been in seven other treatment programs. Total treatment programs eleven. I received a text from him last week. The last time I talked with him was last May of 2011. Guess what, he is clean, and is staying in his health. 13 months of clean time. He called me for a reference. He is currently in school and studying to be a drug and alcohol counselor. As I tell you this story, with his permission, the lesson learned is that second, third, and fourth chances at recovery are obtainable. Self will get it! Balance your thoughts and life! Your higher power is not keeping track of how many chances you need at recovery! You can have fun again while being clean! Each day is a gift, each thought is a reward. Stay in your health, stay in the moment.