KEY TAKEAWAYS
Christian Alcohol Rehabilitation centres in the UK include Teen Challenge UK, Whitchester House and Betel.
Christian centres differ from regular rehabs in:
UK Christian Alcohol Recovery Programmes
Teen Challenge UK
Teen Challenge UK has a 12-18 month initiative that contains:
Sunnybrae
Sunnybrae has a male-only, 12-month rehab treatment that contains:
Whitchester House
Whitchester House has an 18 month Christian based rehab initiative that contains:
Betel
Betel has a 12-18 month Christian plan that contains:
Reach Out Ministries
Reach Out Ministries has an 18-month faith-based plan that contains:
Gloucester House
Gloucester House is a Salvation Army-run centre that has a 6-month initiative, containing:
The Carpenter's Arms
The Carpenter's Arms has a male-only 6-12 month Christian faith initiative that contains:
Comparing Christian Recovery Programme Contents
Programme | Teen | Sunn | Whitcheste | Betel |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gender-specifi | No | Male only | No | No |
Programme | 12-18 months | 12 months | 18 months | 12-18 months |
Community-centric | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Assigned work | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Educational | Yes | No | No | No |
Assigned peer | No | No | No | No |
Required | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Programme Attributes | Reach Out Ministries | Gloucester House | The Carpenter's Arms |
---|---|---|---|
Gender-specific? | No | No | Male only |
Programme Length | 18 months | 6 month programme | 6-12 months |
Community-centric Activities | Yes | No | No |
Assigned Work Programmes? | No | No | Yes |
Educational Study? | Yes | No | Yes |
Assigned Peer Support | No | Yes | Yes |
Required Christian Worship | No | No | No |
Christian Programme Content vs Intention
Christian Worship And Study
A common perception around worship and study in a Christian approach is that religious ideas are forced upon patients and the rehab aims to convert patients to Christianity.
Whereas religion in Christian recovery approaches is used to accept defects in character, and assistance from God to maintain abstinence.
Taking Responsibility Courses
The perception of taking responsibility courses from a Christian recovery approach is that there is a sense of blame and judgement placed on the alcoholic.
However, Christian-led and other rehabs ask the alcoholic to take responsibility for past actions and let go of guilt and shame felt to move forward in recovery.
Assigned Work Tasks
The misconception about assigned work tasks is that they are used to make money from the residents of the rehab.
In fact, any money gained from work tasks is used to provide care for patients and to recycle skills into training courses in the future.
Why Attend A Christian Treatment Centre?
Beyond Christian beliefs, clients may attend Christian centres because:
Typical Alcohol Rehabs vs Christian Alcohol Rehabs
The key differences between typical alcohol rehabs and Christian recovery approaches are:
Elements Found In Christian Rehab Centres, But Not Elsewhere
Length Of Treatment
Unlike 28-day treatments in traditional rehabs, Christian recovery approaches typically last between 12-18 months, allowing the patient to explore:
Work And Physical Labour
In contrast to traditional rehabs, most Christian-based rehabs are self-sustaining communities, requiring residents to take part in manual labour in order to increase self-sufficiency and responsibility.
Examples of work tasks include:
Working Towards A Christian Lifestyle
Whilst all alcohol rehabs have discussions of religion, Christian initiatives base therapy groups on a section of either the bible or the big book of alcoholics anonymous.
Christian recovery approaches encourage either Christian or other forms of spirituality as part of the recovery journey around the belief that creating a relationship with God assists in maintaining abstinence.
Personal Responsibility
In a Christian initiative, care is mostly secondary, placing personal responsibility for abstinence with the individual.
If an individual lapses in a Christian-based approach, they are likely to be asked to leave the facility.
In traditional rehabs, the individual's responsibility to maintain abstinence is supported by doctors and detoxification medication.
Is Detox Provided In Christian Centres?
Detoxification is usually not provided in Christian centres, meaning medical detoxification must be completed externally and proof must be provided at the point of admission to a Christian programme.
A Christian recovery centre does not undertake any medical risk as there are usually no medically trained staff present.
Some Christian rehabs receive referrals from NHS or private rehabs after patients have completed a detox at the facility.
Therapeutic Progress On Triggers, Beliefs, And Patterns Of Addiction In Christian Centres
Unlike traditional rehabs, Christian rehab's therapeutic content and delivery:
How Do Elements Of Christian Recovery Programmes Translate Into The Community, After Treatment? (Aftercare)
The key differences between aftercare in Christian recovery programmes and traditional rehab options are:
Standard Rehab Programme Elements | Christian-Based Rehab Equivalent |
---|---|
Creating an individualised care plan to | Standardised faith-based treatment approach |
Detox | Detox is mostly not available |
Bible studies and discussion workshops | |
Professionally led therapy- able to expand on | Meetings with members of the church |
Structured practical aftercare plan created in | Unstructured church-run group meetings/ |
Choice of holistic care to develop future | Assigned work tasks and craft workshops |
Who Christian Rehab Is Suitable For
Those Requiring A Same-Gender Rehab
Same-gender Christian rehabs are suitable for:
Those Requiring Housing
Christian rehab is suitable for:
Those Wanting To Leave Enabling Environments
Christian rehabs may be suitable for those who:
Those Following Other Religions
While rehabs following other religions exist, they are limited across the UK.
Christian rehabs offer an alternative as:
Those Requiring Further Education
If alcoholism has been detrimental to education, young adults in their late teens can seek academic skills and qualifications in a Christian rehab, leading to future employment.
Those Requiring Longer Rehab Stays
Some patients may benefit from a longer stay provided in a Christian initiative, such as:
What Christian Rehab Is NOT
Only Focused On Prayer/ Religious Teaching
Christian programmes do not believe religion is the only solution to addiction and use therapy in recovery.
More Religious Than Other Rehabs
Whilst Christian rehabs may use more religious ideology than other forms of rehab, the end goal is primarily focused on addiction treatment.
Forces Religion Onto Patients
Unlike common perceptions, Christian rehabs do not force patients to follow Christianity.
It is common practice for Christian approaches to encourage patients to replace a higher power with their chosen religion/ spiritual beliefs or family and loved ones instead.
Judgemental
However, one of the main tenants of Christian rehab is a lack of judgement or stigma for past actions.
Instead, they focus on taking accountability moving forwards.
Long-Term Effects Of Christian Alcohol Recovery Programmes
As Christian programmes are longer than traditional rehabs (18 months vs 28 days), the alcoholic can make long-term lifestyle changes to improve quality of life, including: