Recovery at Mare’s House – Sober Living in California
Members come to Mare’s House, a community for sober living in California, because substance use and addiction have taken over their lives in such significant ways that an intervention was necessary. Recovery is vital to a healthy independent life. At Mare’s House, sobriety comes first. Most of our members are very clear and familiar on the chaos that abusing drugs and alcohol created in their lives.
Living free from the chaos, coping with uncomfortable emotions, learning how to socialize sober, and healing the wounds caused by addiction isn’t easy. Putting the knowledge into action is what members learn. We want members to be equally clear and familiar with the peace of mind and benefits that come from being free from addictive substances and related behaviors. It’s a journey that each individual must travel in their own way and time.
We also know that some actions can help this process happen easier and quicker than going it alone. While at Mare’s House, we immerse members in an active, eclectic recovery community with the hope that it will motivate them toward taking the necessary steps to achieve their own personal recovery.
This immersion includes full participation in the 12-Step community. We introduce members to the 12-Step process because it is one of the most researched and proven modalities for a successful recovery from substance abuse. While we understand that all members may not adopt a 12-Step program for life, we feel a responsibility to make sure that they are comfortable and familiar with it as it a powerful resource available to anyone at any time anywhere in the world.
12-Step Activities The Grounds Requires:
- Interpret the 12 Steps as they relate to their lives and experiences, reflect on their own beliefs, and gain insight into their motivations, behaviors, and characters.
- Identify and secure an appropriate sponsor – someone in the recovery community that the member can build a relationship with outside of the Mare’s House community. This gives members a resource person that they can maintain for life, diversifies the levels of accountability, and provides an additional layer of support.
- Daily 12-Step Meetings – San Diego has an eclectic and robust recovery community with a variety of meetings. We accompany members to daily meetings early in the program to introduce them to the process to give them a comprehensive and diverse experience. As members gain employment and more freedom, they may choose meetings that suit their interests, needs, and schedules.
- Meditations – members gather for a short meeting where a meditation is chosen and discussed. This allows members to better understand the concepts of the 12 steps as well as reflect personally on how each concept has meaning in their own life and experience.
Equine Therapy
Working with horses is a well-established method for improving mental health and reducing stress and anxiety, and because of this, weekly equine therapy is an integral part of the Mare’s House recovery process. Through our collaboration with the Rocking Horse Ranch and its director, Equine therapist, Kathy San Filippo, members groom, feed and otherwise interact with horses during guided experiences that are designed to help them better understand boundaries, develop life skills, and learn how to cope with traumatic past experiences. Participating in equine therapy helps members gain the tools necessary to successfully navigate the daily challenges and triggering situations they will encounter throughout their lives.
Surfing & Recovery
Sober living in California offers some unique recovery opportunities. Young women from across the country come to the Mare’s House transitional living program with the intent of building the life skills necessary to maintain a sober life. One of the more unique aspects of our program is its use of surfing throughout the recovery process. Many of our residents have never been on a board when they arrive, and surfing is by no means a requirement, but for most, it becomes an integral part of their recovery – as a form of therapy, and as an introduction to a supportive community and healthy lifestyle.
Healing with Reiki
Reiki is a form of Japanese alternative medicine that is used to treat physical, emotional and mental distress on an energetic level. It was even once taught to their soldiers as a form of first aid. Sound Healing works by bringing the vibration of the cells in our body to a higher level and therefore letting the body heal itself with greater ease. By bringing these two modalities together during a session the clients are able to fall into a state of relaxation and let both their physical and energetic bodies release things that no longer serve them. Everyone also receives an oracle card at the end of our session, so they leave with some tangible inspiration for the coming week.