SOBER LIVING IN THAILAND
Alpha Sober Living is a truly world class sober house in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand. We deliver a progressive and groundbreaking post addiction treatment service. We also offer outpatient counselling and referral and assessment services. Regardless of where you come from our pioneering model of recovery will give you every chance of remaining clean and sober after your stay in rehab and will take your recovery and emotional sobriety to another level. Our methods are tried and tested through more than a decade of running some of the world’s largest and most successful addiction treatment programmes.
Our founder, Alastair Mordey is one of the most respected speakers on the global addiction conference circuit today. He is also widely recognised as one of the primary pioneers of the addiction treatment field in Thailand, having co founded The Cabin Chiang Mai in 2010, acting as global programme director for seven years during which time it became one of the largest addiction treatment centres in the world.
WHAT IS SOBER LIVING?
A sober living facility, or a sober house, is effectively a secondary stage of treatment after being in primary treatment (a drug or alcohol rehab). Whilst you can learn the basic tools of recovery in residential addiction treatment centres, often these tools can be quickly lost on return to the stresses and strains of your home community. A sober house is a bridge between the ideal environment of a residential drug and alcohol rehab and ‘real life’.
ADDICTION AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Addiction is a behavioural illness characterized by intense cravings and poor impulse control. Continued abuse of substances or other rewarding behaviours damages the brains learning and decision making faculties. It also creates a blunted response to reward and pleasure which in turn leads to an increased need to use substances or engage in highly rewarding behaviours (pornography, gaming, gambling etc). Treatment options for behavioural illnesses like addiction tend to focus on psycho-social reintegration (learning to become part of a group of peers), as well as learning to regulate emotional states.
URBAN RECOVERY AT ALPHA SOBER HOUSE
Alpha Sober Living is all about urban recovery. It is realistic. We use the modalities that are best suited for successful recovery and long-term sobriety. At our sober house in Chiang Mai we augment our counselling programme ‘Recovery Zones’ with a programme of body-based therapies, including strength training, jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, medical qi gong, movement coaching and meditation. Recovery from addiction is all about connection and these methods are all about increasing body awareness and bonding with our peers.
Many of the techniques that are used in addiction treatment centres in Thailand today (such as Thai boxing for youth, mind-mapping, and secularizing the 12 Steps with CBT exercises) were pioneered by our founder and programme director Alastair Mordey. We are easily able to build on what you have learned in your rehab because Alastair designed and authored the programme that most Asian rehabs now use. In this way you can seamlessly continue the therapeutic work you began in the primary stage of addiction treatment at your rehab.
IS ALPHA SOBER HOUSE FOR ME?
Most of our residents will be coming to us directly from Thai rehabs (primary treatment) but we also accept new residents from any location anywhere in the world if they have completed primary treatment and have the willingness to work a serious programme of recovery. This programme is for men who want to challenge themselves physically, mentally and spiritually. At The Alpha Sober House we develop mind, body and spirit. If you have completed drug and alcohol rehab, or residential rehab for a process addiction, and/or if you have a basic amount of clean and sober time and are determined to grow to your highest potential, then we are the sober house for you. If you have been in a number of rehabs or sober homes and secondary stage treatment centres before and found that they did not push you enough mentally, physically and emotionally, then again, Alpha Sober Living is probably the sober house for you.
OUR UNQIUE APPROACH TO RECOVERY
Sober houses vary, with some being less structured and some being more intensive. At our sober house in Chiang Mai we are more intensive. You don’t have to do all of the activities listed here, but all are available on the programme. Prior experience in martial arts is not required and our clients may choose from a range of physical disciplines depending on what is most suitable for them. Below are the main component parts of the programme at Alpha. For more info on what’s included and how we can help you contact us.
At Alpha we conduct twice weekly one to one therapy and daily group therapy. Group therapy incorporates both psychological education and the chance to process what’s going on for you.
Alpha sober house residents have the option of three no-gi grappling classes weekly. Private tuition in Jiu Jitsu is also available.
Residents at Alpha Sober House that choose to train in Muay Thai can do so between 3 and 6 days weekly. Most residents place the emphasis on health and fitness rather than ring fighting.
In house Qi Gong classes are available in house 5 days a week. Qi Gong increases tendon strength, movement and flexibility.
At Alpha Sober House we have our own dojo/yoga studio. Residents can join set classes and also use the space for their own private practice.
The Alpha Sober House is located conveniently within the heart of Chiang Mai with three of the largest 12 step fellowships literally on our doorstep.
We have an extensive range of recovery and personal growth literature, as well as many of the seminal texts of psychology and philosophy within our own library. Clients are encouraged to expand their learning whilst staying at Alpha Sober House.
For clients who are unable to do martial arts we encourage an ‘easy strength’ protocol. Access to corrective exercise specialists in our network will instill correct technique and improvement regardless of age or ability.
HOW WILL I BENEFIT?
We will help you transition from rehab back into the community, teaching you the skills you need to build on primary treatment.
We will guide you safely around the sights and sounds of Chiang Mai, Thailand, giving you an unforgettable cultural learning experience.
We will enable you to withstand drug and alcohol triggers by ingraining mindfulness, cognitive therapy techniques, and recovery skills
We will support your recovery, and guide you into long term sobriety via tried and tested methods learned over years of practical experience.
In the sober house you will re-learn what it is to be the member of a loving and supportive community
With the correct effort on your part, we will coach you into a state of well-being by teaching you how to use physical culture as a meditation
We will help you make sense of your addiction by giving you intensive psycho-education delivered by a recognized world expert in the field
We will give you a network of peers and professionals who will support you long into your recovery and possibly for the rest of your life