Many people who struggle with substance use grow up in difficult situations and aren’t taught the basic life skills every adult needs. Other people may have these skills but have spent so much time away from practicing them they need to re-learn some things. These skills can be fundamental, having to do with everything from basic hygiene to cooking a meal.
Life skills development in recovery is very important. It equips the individual for life by ensuring that they have all the skills necessary to take care of themselves and succeed. At The Ho Tai Way, life skills development is an integral part of the recovery journey. We aim to help our patients develop skills they either never had or lost due to substance misuse.
Understanding Why Life Skills Development Is So Important
Everyone needs specific life skills in order to live independently and tackle life as an adult. There will be times and situations when a person won’t have someone guiding them as they make a decision or carry out a task. They must be able to figure things out on their own.
Some people who struggle with substance misuse have never had the opportunity to live independently. They may have been cared for by others or spent a lot of time in places like halfway houses or recovery centers. To have these individuals simply complete their treatment and throw them out into the world without the ability to fend for themselves would be cruel and counter-productive. Every patient should feel confident in their own abilities before leaving a treatment facility. They should feel certain that they will be able to take care of themselves and be successful.
Not every individual is lucky enough to grow up with parents or guardians who teach them how to be productive adults. They may have never learned how to do simple things like open a checking account, care for their basic medical needs, or drive a car. But this doesn’t mean that it is too late to do these things. Through life skills development, they can leave treatment fully capable of successful “adulting.”
Establishing health habits, knowing how to take care of oneself financially, and being able to make good, practical decisions are important aspects in order to ensure that one stays on the path of recovery and avoids relapse.
Life Skills Development at The Ho Tai Way
At The Ho Tai Way, we recognize that maintaining one’s recovery is a big responsibility and that it takes a lot of work. We also understand that the average person has enough stress and challenges to overcome regularly. The “little things” or basic life skills should not be a reason for further stress. That’s why we aim to help ensure that our patients are fully confident in their ability to handle “little things” before leaving our facility. Life skills are crucial, and forming healthy habits is very important for one’s mental health and overall well-being.
Life skills go beyond the ability to perform certain everyday tasks. They also include mental skills. For example, does the individual have the ability to make practical decisions? Do they have good problem-solving skills? How well do they interact with others?
These things are important because they can play a role in how the individual socializes and interacts with other people. Being able to have good communication and decision-making skills is essential for them to be able to not only secure a job but succeed at it. These skills can also help to ensure that they stay out of trouble, avoid risky or impulsive behavior, and always consider their options before making a decision.
At our facility, some of the life skills we focus on primarily include the following:
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Problem-solving
- Critical thinking
- Self-awareness
- Empathy
- Emotional intelligence
- Assertiveness
- Self-control
- Healthy decision making
Our programs also focus a lot on home life. Some of our patients may be preparing to live alone for the first time. They may have never kept a house and not know how to go about this. After accessing their situation and speaking with them about their needs, we can better understand what skills we need to focus on with them before they leave our facility. Some things they may need to learn to include the following:
- How to cook healthy meals for themselves
- How to take care of their house
- How to establish healthy and productive routines
- How to take care of their finances
- How to decide how to move forward with their career and what steps are necessary to achieve this
By incorporating life skills development into a treatment program, a patient is given a possible chance to succeed in their recovery.
Many people who struggle with a substance use disorder grow up in difficult situations and aren’t taught the basic life skills that every adult needs to have. Others may have forgotten these skills over the years due to their substance misuse. It is crucial that patients have the chance to develop these life skills before they leave a treatment facility. This will ensure that they will have everything they need in order to be a healthy and successful adult. At The Ho Tai Way, some of the skills we work on with our patients include communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking. If you are struggling with a substance use disorder, our team can help. Reach out to us at (714) 581-3974.