Can’t Fight Love – Safety Net Catches Sober Community

acrobat - safety net

Can’t Fight Love – Safety Net Catches Sober Community

What is Sober Living Like? Here is a story about one facility that can tell you what to expect.

acrobat - safety net

Ever thought about being an acrobat? Does the thought of being an acrobat scare you to death? What if you knew without a doubt, that the safety net would catch you? No problem at all, right? Well, that is a lot like recovery. Trust fall after trust fall. Here is a story about a recovery program that offers a Safety Net for persons recovering from addiction through sober living housing.

According to Webster’s Dictionary, Safety Net, is defined as a safeguard against possible hardship or adversity. Our program, Safety Net Recovery is a sober living community with facilities and halfway houses near Atlanta in Smyrna, Georgia. Our story goes something like this:

Safety Net Recovery initially started as a 6-month project designed to be a “safety net” for about twenty men that were displaced by the closing of another sober living residence. Taylor Hagin and Steven Herndon took on this project in an effort to be of service to the recovery community. The project went so well that the founders discovered success in their ability to fill a void in the recovery community. These “two men and a net” drive all that we do at Safety Net from theory to practice. Our goal is to provide a safe, sane, sober environment that can bridge the gap in the recovery community.

So began Safety Net Recovery as the CEO Taylor Hagin and the President Steven Herndon embarked on creating a recovery residence based on 12-step recovery philosophy that assists in transitioning addicts and alcoholics from treatment into the real world. Safety Net Recovery is a NARR level III recovery residence located in three cities: Vinings, GA; Greenville, SC; and Charlotte, NC; with the headquarters in Smyrna, GA. All of the properties are nice gated apartment settings secure with attractive amenities.

steven_herndon_photo with his wife 30x412
President of Safety Net Recovery (and Former NFL Player) Steve Herndon and his wife, Heather Herndon.

The typical structure is centered around a six-month program. After the initial assessment and intake clients are assigned a credentialed addiction counselor. This counselor will closely monitor their progress throughout their stay. The counselors are skilled at various therapeutic and counseling strategies and techniques. Staff are trained in addressing grief, trauma, anger, and shame. Utilizing theoretical orientations such as Person-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Reality Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, Rapid Resolution Therapy, as well as Motivational Enhancement according to the client needs has been proven to aid in successful, long-term sobriety for clients.

You Can’t Fight Love

Having core values are simple are important to apply every step taken in providing care for staff and residents. For example, Safety Net Recovery core values are:

Can’t Fight Love = Surrender
Truly Blessed = Faith
Stay Ready = Willingness
All Your Might = Purpose
Live with Spiritual Significance = Grace

 

The phase system includes 3 primary phases as follows.

Phase 1

Months 1-2 is the Orientation and Immersion Phase. During this phase a client will have weekly one on one counseling sessions. During this phase of development, clients get acclimated to good solid structure in daily living. Clients begin the journey in a journal to work on the following topics; first step, spirituality, feelings, and relapse prevention. Clients will attend five groups per week until they secure gainful employment covering the following topics: AA big book study, men in recovery, and a speaker meeting where individual speakers return and share their experience strength and hope to the group.

Phase 2

Months 3-5  is the compliance and maintenance phase. During this phase, a client can step down in their weekly meetings with a counselor. However, asking that clients meet with their counselor at least two times per month. Clients are generally immersed in their program, and are working, going to school, or volunteering. Clients in this phase are finishing up in their journal and may pick up the final topic which is life management.

Phase 3

Month 6 and beyond is the transition phase. During this phase, the client is preparing themselves to transition back into independent living. Clients are meeting with the counselor at least twice monthly. The client is making plans to return home or establish a new one. Finding a home group for their meetings, figuring out living conditions, obtaining a new sponsor (if leaving the area), are some of the things clients are working on during this phase.

The supportive and sober living environment allows clients to focus on strengthening their sobriety as a transition into a new life free of mood and mind altering substances. Staying sober doesn’t always become easy the moment treatment is over. The team provides a step down model of living to slowly transition all of the clients from the structured treatment program to a life of independence.

The open-door policy means that everyone is part of the community. With counselors living on site as a part of the community, all you need is a desire for recovery.

After all, we are taking it one day at a time, one client at a time, one recovery at a time.

Safety net is located at 3656 Highlands Pkwy. SE., Smyrna, GA. 30082.

Visit www.safetynetrecovery.com or contact us at 770–432–9774. Check us out on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.