Alcohol Help

Addiction Recovery Agency: Bristol
Providing quality treatment and support services to reduce the harm caused by alcohol misuse.

About us:

Programme details:
The Addiction Recovery Agency provides an abstinence-based programme. Its fully integrated treatment strategy offers: *one-to-one counselling *groupwork *communal living *learning and work development *social skills *resettlement, aftercare and relapse prevention. Care planning is key in the delivery and evaluation of services to clients and commissioners.

Activities provided for children and families:
The Agency facilitates family conferences between residents and significant others. It provides liaison with social services re: child protection issues.

Post treatment support:
Full aftercare and resettlement support provided to clients.

Harm reduction policies for clients leaving the programme early:
Clients are offered paid travel to their referring location, and/or three night’s bed and breakfast accommodation. Clients are supplied with information concerning reducing drug related death. Referring agencies and next of kin are informed of the discharge.

Resettlement / after-care services:
Aftercare & Resettlement support are provided at no extra charges incorporating: *one-to-one counselling *groupwork *learning and work development *housing resettlement and/or tenancy sustainment.

Contact Details:

Addiction Recovery Agency
Kings Court
Kings Street
Bristol
Avon
BS1 4EF

Telephone: 0117 930 0282

Western Counselling Services, Weston-super-Mare
Our whole alcohol treatment process is focused on caring for you as an individual.

About us:

A programme of medicated withdrawal is available to all individuals accessing Western Counselling and the cost is included in the rates for treatment. Doctors are employed to provide 24-hour cover and attend the Centre daily from Monday to Friday.
Clients are withdrawn using Dihydrocodeine and/or Benzodiazepines as necessary. Methadone is not prescribed.
The length of the withdrawal regime is dependent on use prior to admission etc and is negotiated on an individual basis.

The programme available is the traditional 12-step/Minnesota Model. The ethos is total abstinence from all mood-altering substances which, combined with the detailed self-exploration of denial, hope and trust, will aid the individual to resume a life based on truth, personal integrity and respect.

The treatment programme is structured and boundaried, incorporating group therapy, one-to-one counselling, educational lectures, workshops and videos. Clients are required to produce written work based on readings and past experiences which they will then share with their peers for analytical feedback.

Referrals can be made by various sources including drug and/or alcohol agencies, statutory services, DIPs, CARAT teams, GPs, families etc. An assessment can be arranged via the telephone or in person during a visit, depending on the situation. This takes 20-30 minutes and includes information relating to social history, substance misuse, forensic history and mental and physical health. The necessary reports are sourced as required.
A letter confirming admission and the respective date is sent to all prospective clients detailing additional information regarding the rules and expectations of the service. All individuals are given as much information as possible to ensure they are fully aware of the programme available.
Confirmation of funding is required prior to admission. A privately funded individual is asked to sign a contract for payment. All admissions by public transport are met at the train/bus station.

Western Counselling aims to provide the highest quality of service to both service users and purchasers and will therefore make itself available where possible to aid the assessment process within the restrictions of its operating practice.

Western Counselling will discharge clients who:
*Continue to breach the rules of the service despite warnings to the contrary
*Use drugs, alcohol or non-prescribed medications in treatment
*Initiate an exclusive relationship with another client to the detriment of their treatment programme, whether it be sexual or not
*Exhibit violent and/or threatening behaviour or behave in an aggressive manner whilst in treatment
*Leave the premises alone without permission.

Individuals who wish to be re-admitted can make application to the Admissions Department. Their request will be considered on an individual basis depending on their situation.

Help with housing, educational and training needs is available for those individuals accessing secondary treatment. Referral to appropriate third-stage supported accommodation can be arranged as available in conjunction with the care manager. Aftercare is available for free for all clients who complete the programme for as long as they wish.

Cients who are discharged early can make application to attended, dependent on being clean and sober and attending AA/NA meetings. These sessions occur weekly on Saturdays and include both a group therapy session and one-on-one counselling. Post-treatment support, advice and guidance is available via the telephone for any individual.

Contact Details:

Western Counselling Services
2nd Floor
45 Oxford Street
Weston-super-Mare
Somerset
BS23 1TN

Telephone: 01934 627 550

Salvation Army Bristol Bridge Detox Unit, Bristol
Somewhere to come off drugs and alcohol prior to rehabilitation

About us:

The aim of the detox is simply to provide homeless people in Bristol with somewhere to come off drugs and alcohol prior to rehabilitation.

A ten-day course of Subutex is provided for clients with heroin addiction, plus another four days recovery if required. An eight-day reducing course of Librium for alcoholics is also provided, plus recovery time if required. Detox for Benzodiazepines is not provided but a slow reduction on the preparation unit is allowed.

The Salvation Army will exclude clients who: require 24-hour nursing care or have very complex health needs or psychological needs.

Clients can self-refer. They will then be invited in for an assessment, which will be discussed at the case conference. If the client is accepted, they are given a plan of preparation for the detox.

The project will sometimes visit clients in prison. Clients are also invited to view the unit and talk to staff.

The Salvation Army will discharge clients who:

*leave the unit unaccompanied
*consume drugs or alcohol on the premises
*show high levels of aggression or verbal abuse.

All clients are expected to have a rehabilitation plan arranged prior to admission to detox so that they go directly from detox to rehab. After the detox, clients will either go to the Salvation Army rehabilitation unit or to another unit of their choice.

Contact Details:

Salvation Army Bristol Bridge Detox Unit
2 Little George Street
St Judes
Bristol
Avon
BS2 9EL

Telephone: 0117 955 2821

Western Counselling, Weston-super-Mare
Our whole Alcohol treatment process is focused on caring for you as an individual.

About us:

Situated in the seaside town of Weston super Mare, Western Counselling was established in 1984 exclusively to treat addictive disorders. Using the traditional 12 Step methodology it is internationally renowned for its structured, abstinence based programmes of care.

Symptoms of Alcohol Abuse & Dependence

Take a look at the following symptoms and ask yourself honestly, ‘Do some of these apply to me?’

Please keep in mind that very few people have them all.

1. My drinking sometimes causes problems.
2. I sometimes set limits on the amount I will drink and then exceed those limits.
3. I sometimes make promises to myself or someone else about drinking and then break those promises.
4. I sometimes lie about or try to hide the frequency and/or amount of my drinking.
5. I sometimes forget or deny things that happen when I was intoxicated.
6. I sometimes behave very differently when intoxicated than when sober, almost as if I’m a different person.
7. I sometimes tend to avoid social functions at which alcohol may not be available.
8. I’ve embarrassed, angered, or frightened other people when I was drunk.
9. I have a very high tolerance – that is, I can drink a lot without acting or feeling highly intoxicated.
10. I sometimes feel guilty, embarrassed, or remorseful about things I said or did while intoxicated. I occasionally drink in the morning or early in the day to treat a hangover or to avoid the shakes.

How many ‘yes’ answers do you need to diagnosis a problem? It depends. If you answered ‘yes’ to one or more, then it may be worth taking a closer look.

What is the treatment?

A: The programme is structured 12 Step philosophy. If you have ever attended Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous (AA/NA) you will have experienced the programme. We guide clients through the first 5 Steps of the programme during primary and secondary care:

Step 1: Admitting their powerlessness over their addiction
Step 2: Belief in a higher power that can help restore them to sanity
Step 3: Making a decision to turn their lives over to “God” as they understand it
Step 4: Making a searching and fearless moral inventory of themselves
Step 5: Admitting to God, themselves and another person, the exact nature of their wrongs.

This work in undertaken in Group therapy, individual counselling sessions, and through challenge and affirmation as appropriate.

Contact Details:

Western Counselling
18 Whitecross Road
Weston-super-Mare
North Somerset
BS23 1EW

Telephone: 01934 627600

St James Priory, Bristol
Providing Support & Treatment For People With Addictions

About us:

St James Priory Project is a registered charity based in Bristol. It offers acceptance and compassion,support and treatment,for people with addictions. It promotes an abstinence model of recovery from addiction.

We aim to provide high quality abstinence based support and treatment to enable individuals to obtain and maintain recovery from their addiction and to achieve a quality of life which would otherwise be denied.

St James Priory Project has been providing support & treatment for people with addictions for 11 years.

It was established to help homeless people achieve recovery from a substance dependency.

Now it has developed into a service for people with chaotic backgrounds who have a housing need.

Our support & treatment programme:

* promotes a way of life that is free from all mood altering substances;

* encourages honesty, trust, responsibility and respect;

* shows people healthy ways of coping with the stresses of life;

* supports people to deal with issues in the here & now;

* improves self awareness and self knowledge;

* enables self acceptance, self confidence, and self worth;

* develops self responsibility and an appropriate concern for others.

Contact Details:

St James Priory
Whitson Street
Bristol
BS1 3NZ

Telephone: 0117 9299100

Sefton Park, Weston-super-Mare
Sefton Park is a residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation centre and Therapeutic Community

About us:

Sefton Park is a residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation centre, founded to help people who have made a conscious decision to free themselves from drug and alcohol addiction.

Our aim is to provide addiction treatment and support, within a Therapeutic Community, that will enable individuals to lead valued and fulfilled lives free from all forms of substance dependency.

The programme is abstinence based and specifically designed to assist individuals in addressing their addictions and underlying problems and subsequently be in a position to lead a fulfilling and healthy lifestyle

Sefton Park is a residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation centre and Therapeutic Community, founded to help people who have made a conscious decision to free themselves from their addiction by providing an abstinence-based programme.

What’s the programme?

The programme is of six months duration and requires the individual to explore past and present issues, looking deeply into how these relate to the cycle of addiction and connected behaviour.

We believe that by understanding these issues and by challenging negative attitudes, an individual may gain the insight they need to make informed lifestyle choices.

We aim to achieve this by a process of integration and full involvement of clients in the Therapeutic Community of Sefton Park. We wish to encourage open and effective contact for everyone who engages with Sefton Park , so that lasting relationships may develop based on a greater awareness about who we are, what we do and the way in which we help our clients address the issues of addiction.

What we offer: Group therapy; One-to-one counselling sessions; Individual care programmes; Educational programmes; Family & specialist counselling service; Safe and comfortable on-site accommodation; Access to local medical & legal services; 24-hour staff support; Liaison with local services; Post-programme local contact and support; Aftercare service

The Treatment

The ethos of the programme is founded upon an integrative approach to individual client needs within the framework of a Therapeutic Community.

The Programme draws upon many established disciplines of therapy where they are appropriate to the client, for example: Person Centred Therapy; Cognitive Behavioural Therapy; Solution Focussed Therapy; Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy

The Group holds meetings each weekday morning and afternoon and clients are required to attend and participate.

One-to-one counselling sessions are held each week with each client’s key-worker.

We explain the 12-step model and clients are required to attend Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Meetings on a twice-weekly basis.

Sefton Park recognises the individual needs of each client and will design care-plans to address this.

While we acknowledge individuality and uniqueness, we expect our clients to follow the guidelines in place that foster and maintain the Therapeutic Community.

Our aim is to create the optimal environment that encourages our clients to understand and address their issues.

Why Sefton Park works

The Sefton Park programme works because clients who have a real willingness to change and a serious commitment to fully participate can be helped to achieve their objectives.

We help those who have made a conscious decision to free themselves from their addiction and those who wish to address their drug and alcohol addiction by accepting the goal of complete abstinence.

The six-month programme is very demanding of the individual and of the group as a whole. It appears to produce better outcomes for those who truly engage in the process and commit to the programme methodology over an extended period.

The Therapeutic Community is fundamental to the workings of the rehabilitation process. Each client receives support from the community and in this way assists each member of the community in their rehabilitation.

Each client must follow the guidelines laid down for the well being of the Therapeutic Community and accept responsibility for their own actions.

Contact Details:

Sefton Park
10 Royal Crescent
Weston-super-Mare
Somerset
BS23 2AX

Telephone: 01934 626371

Sanctuary Addiction and Alcohol Services, Weston-super-Mare
Abstinence based treatment providing a safe environment for clients to address their alcoholism.

About us:

Sanctuary Addiction and Alcohol Services offers a tier four quasi-residential rehabilitation programme, in addition to various other packages. All our services are of the highest standard and treatment approaches are informed by current research on effectiveness and feedback from both service users and commissioners. Treatment is delivered through group therapy, individual counselling, lectures and other activities designed to support the therapeutic process.

We believe that the therapeutic alliance is the most fundamental element in ensuring that clients engage with and truly benefit from this service. Our professional, friendly and highly experienced staff are committed to ensuring effective service provision for all our clients and work within the bounds of ethical practice at all times.

Sanctuary Addiction and Alcohol Services was founded with the aim that the needs of both service users and commissioners will be met by a service that is both cost effective and provides the highest standard of care to those accessing its services.

We first opened our doors in December 2003, and since that time we are proud to announce that 74% of our service users have completed treatment drug free. Our founder envisioned a project that would provide quality services to individuals whose needs were not being met by existing service providers.

We believe that the practice of placing individuals in residential rehabilitation units, where they are treated and housed within a single property, can, in some cases, serve to further isolate and alienate the individual from mainstream society and increase the institutionalisation and social exclusion that many of our service users have experienced.

The programme at Sanctuary Addiction and Alcohol Services is abstinence based and is designed to address both the substance misuse issue and other related issues that are impacting negatively on the client’s life.

We believe that once the immediate effects of substance misuse are overcome, the underlying issues that often predate the use of chemicals start to come to the surface. Often clients have few skills in managing their emotional reactions to life events or interpersonal relationships; find it difficult to manage their anger appropriately; fail to recognise that their thinking and cognitive processes are not helpful and are not producing the desired outcomes; and have unresolved issues that still cause them pain.

Primary Care: Primary Care is the first stage of an individual’s treatment programme at Sanctuary Addiction and Alcohol Services and is a more intensive 12 week phase during which a structured timetable is in place. See the Primary Care Timetable.

In addition to the traditional group therapy and one to one counselling sessions, all clients participate in basic skills education and computer training courses, a programme of physical exercise, menu planning and healthy eating advice, holistic and complimentary therapies and attendance at smoking cessation groups (although there is no requirement to give up smoking during the treatment programme).

Clients also have access to local medical services and are encouraged to attend for a full health check at the time of their admission to the service, with support available to enable them to attend any further medical appointments that may be required. As many of our clients have pre-existing dental problems when they arrive, we also encourage them to access local NHS dental service providers.

Secondary Care: Secondary Care is designed to meet the needs of clients who have completed the Primary Care element of their Treatment programme and wish to build on the progress they have made so far. Clients who access Secondary Care are beginning to make the transition into a more independent lifestyle but still require the support and care offered by a structured programme in order to sustain the major life changes they have begun to make.

Ensuring that this transition is made in a planned and manageable way is vital and therefore the level of structure and support will be monitored and reviewed to ensure that it meets the needs of the client. The existing social and coping skills of the client will be considered before any additional responsibilities are placed on them to ensure that the rate of progress is realistic and sustainable for them.

During this phase the timetable is less structured but clients are still responsible for ensuring that they attend all timetabled activities. One to one counselling and group therapy sessions remain a major part of the programme, but additional time is given over to taking part in voluntary work and education or training opportunities.

Third Stage Care: Third stage supported housing is the final phase of the treatment programme, leading to a gradual and phased return to independent living.

Depending on the needs and wishes of the individual, this final stage can last up to 2 years.

During this phase, clients are supported in developing short, medium and long term goals for the future and exploring the options available to them.

Clients are encouraged to continue to engage with local education and training providers as well as participating in voluntary work and considering longer term plans for returning to or gaining employment.

Clients will receive one to one and group support sessions as well as having access to complimentary therapies and group activities. Third stage supported housing will be fully funded through Housing Benefit and supporting people.

After Care: Sanctuary Addiction and Alcohol Services recognises that the transition from rehabilitation to independent living can be a difficult and testing time for many people. In order to provide clients with continuity of care and to ease this transition, aftercare, consisting of group and one to one sessions, will be made available to clients for up to one year following discharge.

During this phase of the programme, the focus will be on managing change and challenges, building support networks, goal setting and monitoring progress.

The aim of providing aftercare to clients leaving the service is to build on and consolidate the progress that they have made so far and to ensure that clients are not left without appropriate support once they have successfully completed the treatment programme.

Contact Details:

Sanctuary Addiction and Alcohol Services
12a South Parade
Weston-super-Mare
Somerset
BS23 1JN

Telephone: 01934 614 700

Alcohol Misuse Service, Bristol
Comprehensive service to people in Bristol experiencing problems with alcohol.

About us:

The Alcohol Misuse Service (AMS) is funded by the two Bristol Primary Care Trusts and Bristol Social Services and Health and offers a comprehensive service to people in the city experiencing problems with alcohol. The service offers a range of interventions including:

* Advice and information
* Counselling
* Drop ins
* Brief Interventions
* Support for families
* Referral links to NHS specialist services

The service is provided by a small team of experienced and qualified practitioners together with 12 volunteers most of whom are either qualified counsellors or counsellors undertaking training at Diploma level.

Services are delivered at the AMS premises and in two satellites, one in the north of the city and one in the south. The service works closely with the Robert Smith Unit (RSU) the Bristol Specialist Drug and Alcohol Service (BSDAS) and recently AMS and the RSU were awarded a new contract by the Bristol to deliver an enhanced alcohol service in South Bristol at Knowle Health Park.

The service has two primary goals to promote sensible drinking and to reduce the harm caused by alcohol. Referrals can be made to the service by professionals or by self referral. Work is both individual and group based.

All staff and volunteers receive regular external clinical supervision. Staff have responsibility for the support and line management of volunteers.

Demand for the service currently outstrips supply and it is hoped that the service will develop over the coming years. The service has secured charitable funding to develop a young persons service.

Discussions are also in progress to develop a service tailored to the needs of the criminal justice system, especially the probation service.

Contact Details:

Alcohol Misuse Service
2 Kings Court
King Street
Bristol

BS1 4HW

Telephone: 0117 929 3028

Addiction Recovery Agency, Bristol
Treatment and support services to enable people to live free from all forms of substance dependency

About us:

ARA’s Mission Statement

‘To provide addiction treatment and support services to enable people to lead valued and fulfilled lives free from all forms of substance dependency. To particularly address the needs of homeless people or people in housing need through the additional provision of housing support services.

To work in partnership with other organisations to reduce the level of drug and alcohol dependency and the consequent damage to individuals, their families and the community.’

Drug and alcohol misuse and dependency ruins lives and families and represents a huge cost to the community and society generally – but there is hope because treatment works!

For over 35 years the Addiction Recovery Agency (ARA) and Advice and Counselling on Alcohol and Drugs (ACAD), which merged in January 2006, have been providing hope through treatment to thousands of people experiencing problems because of drug and alcohol misuse and dependency.

Residential Rehabilitation Programme

The Residential programme is a 12 – 30 week structured, second stage, 12 step based, rehabilitation programme. It is targeted at homeless people and those in housing need, but not exclusively so and provides mixed gender treatment and single gender accommodation. Places for up to 25 people are provided in four unregistered residential houses in different parts of Bristol. Referrals are taken from a wide range of sources, including primary treatment centres, prisons, probation (including DTTOs), etc. Clients live in one of four centrally located houses and attend counselling sessions and groups at ARA’s central office.

The therapeutic programme provides:

* individual care planning
* one to one counselling
* group work
* written assignments
* workshops
* self esteem building
* indoor and outdoor activities
* communication skills
* educational & vocational courses
* crisis intervention & support
* voluntary work
* relapse prevention
* attendance at NA & AA
* scheduled aftercare

Contact Details:

Addiction Recovery Agency
King’s Court
King Street
Bristol

BS1 4EE

Telephone: 0117 930 0282

Fresh (Frenchay Rehabilitation Houses ), Weston Super Mare
A person who chooses to remain free from all mood altering substances, can engage in personal growth

About us:

Frenchay Residential Rehabilitation houses aim to provide an environment where a person who chooses to remain free from all mood altering substances, can engage in personal growth. The person centred eclectic approach by the team aims to facilitate a process encouraging a state of self-empowerment.

We believe this is achieved through self-responsibility, Self honesty, insight and appropriate expression. Self defeating attitudes and behaviours will be supportively challenged and greater understanding of slef will be explored in all avenues of the past and present issues.

A more a satisfying and fulfilling life without the aid of mood altering substances can be achieved through an individuals commitment to their process within our environment.

Frenchay houses are staffed 24 hours a day. We operate with 5 full time and 4 part time counselling staff, present Monday to Friday working days, and a team of support staff, who work weekends and nights (with a counsellor ‘on call.’) all staff are trained to a high standard, adhere to B.A.C.P ethical practice and are professionally supervised, offer a wealth of differing orientations and backgrounds, as well as expertise in the common area of counselling/supporting clients with substance misuse issues. The persons in control and the social services registered manager hold ultimate responsibility for provision of statements of practice.

The counselling team facilitate group work and individual counselling as well as family conferences/couple work where deemed appropriate.

Staff care about our clients so as to build both a working alliance and a real trusting relationship. We do not allow clients to persist blindly in self defeating, manipulative, aggressive or passive behaviours. Our positive regard for the individual remains the basis for our understanding of patterns of psychological, emotional and behavioural responses having been adapted in accordance with the individual’s perception of best surviving their past environments.

Just as group work is central to the client process at Frenchay, so our team approach is paramount in our staffing structure. Decisions and policies are made by the team collectively and after full discussion and consideration. Responsibility lies ultimately with the registered managers. Staff are happy to discuss therapeutic orientation and working practice in more detail if required.

Contact Details:

Fresh (Frenchay Rehabilitation Houses )
35-37 Lower Church Road
Weston Super Mare
Somerset
BS23 2AQ

Telephone: 01934 624330