Veterans’ Growth is delighted to announce that our Veterans Addiction and Mental Health program will begin in May. We are writing to inform you about this program so that you can start referring veterans to us as soon as possible. The course will start in May and run continuously every Wednesday for the next 18 months, and veterans can join at any time until they feel ready to leave.
We will be using the SMART (Self-Management and Recovery Training) program, which provides training and tools for individuals who wish to modify their problematic behaviour, including addiction to drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, gambling, food, shopping, the Internet, and others. Facilitated by trained professionals, participants help themselves and each other using various cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and motivational tools and techniques.
The Smart program consists of the 4-Point Program, which is the foundation and building blocks of SMART. Many of the tools and techniques can be used not only for your recovery journey but also to help you deal with future problems and achieve more satisfaction and balance in your life. The four points are: Building and Maintaining Motivation, Coping with Urges, Managing Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviours, and Living a Balanced Life.
SMART is non-religious and advocates personal choice. Individuals choose to engage in problematic and addictive behaviours, but they can also choose to stop. Everyone has the power of choice and can choose to change unhelpful or harmful behaviours.
People are not their behaviours, so terms like “addict” and “alcoholic” are not used. Individuals seeking recovery are empowered to choose what works best for them, from a toolbox of methods demonstrated in meetings and training materials.
Participants are free to engage with other services or mutual-aid groups that they find helpful; there is no single pathway to recovery. Once a healthy, positive, and balanced lifestyle is achieved, participants are free to move on and pursue other goals in their life.
It is advisable that veterans taking part in this recovery journey have sought professional help with drug replacement or recovery before being enrolled in a program with Veterans’ Growth, as we do not hold any power over agencies for replacement or other forms of recovery tools.
The Course days will take place from 0930 – 1530hrs at:
Veterans’ Growth
Rocks Farm Oast
Cottage Lane
Westfield
TN35 4RS
Please make all referrals to Hello@veteransgrowth.org
Please pass this information onwards to any organisation that it may benefit.
