A transition is the passage from one state to another; the evolution from one form to another; the movement from one place to another. Transition, in essence, means change. People transition from childhood to adulthood. The caterpillar transitions into a butterfly. Those in recovery have chosen to transition from a life of drug abuse to a life of sobriety.

If you or a loved one has battled substance addiction, you know that the transition to a sober, drug-free life can be a challenging one to make. It requires a complete makeover of one’s lifestyle and relationships. It requires great commitment and strength to maintain. But with the right help, it is in fact possible.

The shift to sobriety is most successful with professional addiction treatment. If you have completed a drug rehab program previously, know that you have already taken one of the most significant steps in your recovery journey. However, it is also important to know that the end of drug rehab does not necessarily mean the hard parts are over. Some of your toughest challenges will occur after treatment has ended. You may have to find work, a place to live, or new friends. You’ll have to re-integrate into a society full of temptation. You’ll need to have the strength and willpower to cope with everyday pressures. You will have to know when (and that it is okay) to ask for help.

A supportive community and a safe, sober setting are two essential keys to a lasting recovery. For many women struggling with addiction, transitional housing offers just this.

Also referred to as half-way houses or sober living homes, transitional housing is a temporary, residential recovery option for continued addiction care. Typically under the supervision of support and clinical staff, these homes offer the structure and resources needed to rebuild a healthy, productive life after drug rehab.

Women who have completed rehab often choose to live in transitional homes to help facilitate their move from addiction to sobriety. This housing allows them to progressively re-enter society and navigate the challenges of everyday life, without putting their sobriety at risk. Transitional housing facilities are typically gender-specific and occupied by other women in recovery who have walked similar paths. The community felt in these sober residences is an added support system, a sober and likeminded family, connected by the commonalities in their journeys.

Transitional homes serve as a safe and stable space for women in recovery, a place they can retreat to and find guidance and support during times of need, stress, or frustration. They are completely drug and alcohol-free. That is the chief rule of transitional housing for women: to live there, you must stay sober. You must also uphold certain responsibilities, whether it be having a job, cleaning, and/or cooking meals.

While there are set rules and responsibilities in these homes, transitional housing for women is typically less structured than an addiction rehab center – the goal being to give women in recovery both independence and accountability after drug treatment. As an example, Turnbridge’s sober living homes for women offer clients the opportunity to live what they learned during their time in treatment – to put their sober living skills to practice. Here, they can create healthy routines at their own volition, including exercise, planning balanced meals, and practicing self-care. They can also regularly travel downtown for classes, work, and social activities on their own. Despite this amount of freedom, clients are still closely connected with therapists, counselors, physicians, and mentors in our women’s recovery center. They also actively attend regular 12-step meetings.

The goal of our sober living program in Connecticut is to create a sisterhood among our clients, and to help women in recovery reintegrate into society without sacrificing their sobriety. This is, we believe, among the most important steps in the recovery journey – the process of transition and re-integration.

As a renowned young adult treatment center in New Haven, Connecticut, Turnbridge takes a transitional approach to recovery and sober living, aiming to bridge the gap between structured drug rehab and independent living. Our women’s program is structured in three phases, designed to progressively reintegrate clients with the real-world one step at a time. Under careful supervision, clients are gradually exposed to the stressors of everyday life, giving them the opportunity to practice the coping skills and recovery tools learned throughout their rehab program. As these skills develop through practical application, clients start to take on increasing levels of responsibility. Eventually, they reach the transitional living phase— A phase of newfound independence and intimate living; the precursor to a lasting recovery.

Like transitions, recovery is a process. It takes time and great support to achieve. If you or someone you love needs help for a substance addiction, Turnbridge’s long-term residential and transitional living programs may be the right next step. Learn more by calling 877-581-1793 today.