After your child has completed a recovery program with Adult & Teen Challenge USA, they will be returning to their world a completely changed person. This means that they probably won’t have as much in common with their old friends as they did before. That being said, it is extremely important for your teen to develop friendships and relationships that will help them continue on their addiction recovery journey.
A Support System
Every person needs people in their life that will be there for them in the good times and the bad. No one should have to go through life alone, and solid, beneficial friendships help to keep your teen on a healthy and happy life path. Good friendships allow your teen to get plugged into groups and experiences that have a positive impact on their life and reduces their exposure to situations and triggers that may attack the progress they have made during their addiction recovery program.
Someone Who Has Been There Before
Besides having a positive friend group, your teen may also benefit from a mentor relationship after they finish their program. While our staff provides your teen with skills and knowledge to continue their addiction recovery after finishing the recovery program, the real world can feel a bit overwhelming at times. By having a mentor that has experienced that same transition, your teen will have someone to talk to and receive guidance from so they stay on the right path and don’t fall victim to the temptations that happen. A mentor can also pray with your teen and help provide spiritual guidance as well as practical tips to avoid issues that may lead back to addiction.
Encourage Communication
In many instances, your teen will rely on you to be a good influence for them after they return home from a recovery program. One of the easiest ways to support your teen and encourage them to continue their path to recovery is by creating an atmosphere of loving communication. Addictions like to stay secret, and often people feel like they should be able to handle issues on their own, and then feel too ashamed to ask for help when their problem becomes too difficult to handle. By creating opportunities for your teen to talk to you about their struggles and being there to listen and support them, you create an atmosphere where addiction has a more difficult time returning.
