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Oakley School Recovery Services
Upon admission to the Oakley School each student is assessed as to her or his substance use (and addictive behavior) history. Depending on the individual student’s experience with addictive behaviors, and progress in recovery prior to enrollment at Oakley, they may be placed in the Recovery Program. This means that in addition to the recovery work done with his or her therapist, the student will attend recovery class/group once a week.
Drawing from various models, recovery groups focus on educating students about the effects of substance use/abuse on the mind, body, family and society. Students routinely conduct a cost benefit analysis of chemical use, they explore addictive thinking and thinking errors such as denial, rationalization and projection, and they develop techniques to correct addictive thinking. Oakley students continuously learn and practice various skills for battling triggers and cravings. All recovery discussions and assignments work toward long term relapse prevention planning.
Students with more severe substance abuse histories, or those who find themselves struggling with sobriety while attending Oakley, will have individual recovery sessions with the Recovery Counselor, where they will work on individualized assignments designed to explore personal addictive behaviors. Much of this work is determining what needs were being met through the substance use, or behavior, in order to find alternative safe and legal ways of meeting those needs.
On campus 12-Step meetings take place Tuesday evenings. Students are encouraged to attend, yet, in keeping with the 12-Step philosophy, attendance is voluntary. Because those who do participate in NEA (Nearly Everything Anonymous) are there by choice, this becomes a powerful support group for Oakley students.
Students who are invested, and approved by their treatment team, are invited to attend Wednesday night AA and NA meetings in Park City, chaperoned by a licensed counselor.
Additional recovery activities, such as guest speakers and recovery movie nights are open to all Oakley students, even if they are not in the “recovery program”.
The concept of recovery is more than sobriety, and it goes beyond education and counseling. Recovery is a healthy and stable lifestyle. The most crucial aspects of recovery are addressed in a holistic way by the basic program and structure of the Oakley School.