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What is alcoholism?
Alcohol addiction is a progressive, degenerative disease characterized by:
- A compulsive need and craving for alcohol including beer, wine, and other hard liquors.
- An inability to contain or limit one’s drinking
- Withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, or anxiety when alcohol consumption has ceased
- A tolerance which requires greater amounts of alcohol in order to get high
- Damaging consequences in one’s life which include financial ruin, family isolation and severe medical issues
Some may think that it’s just a matter of having the will to stop drinking, but alcoholism is more powerful than that. The majority of alcoholics need help to stop drinking. With treatment and support from family and friends, many have been able to stop drinking and rebuild their lives.
Intervention can be a powerful tool to get the alcoholic the help that they need. Often the denial and urge to drink is so overpowering that the addict will continuing drinking until they die. The longer you wait for the addict to get help the greater the chances that they will not survive. At Tabankulu we can help families and friends confront their loved ones in a supported intervention. The cycle of pain and destruction can end and recovery can begin. Please contact us directly for more information.
Tabankulu Programme for Alcohol Addiction
Tabankulu’s bio-psycho-social-spiritual approach is designed to meet each individual's specific needs. The treatment for alcohol dependency begins with a medical detox from alcohol. Free of physical dependency the client can begin the programme, designed to address not only the underlying issues but also ways of improving every aspect of an individual’s life for long lasting recovery.
The main components of the programme are:
Meaningful Therapeutic Experience:
- The main component of Tabankulu treatment is daily group therapy. Group therapy is a powerful tool to help clients break free from their denial and shame and begin to make connections and relationships that challenge their distorted thinking and destructive behavior in a safe and supporting way.
- A Primary Counsellor specializing in addiction is assigned to each client, and will work on an individual basis with him or her throughout the course of his or her treatment. Many of our counselors have a personal experience of addiction themselves and are in recovery.
- Our approach draws upon different psychotherapeutic techniques. Our dedicated staff come from a range of different trainings. Along with a psychodynamic approach we also draw upon cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT).
- Peer support that encourages healthy expression as well as learning how to express wants and needs in an appropriate way
Relapse Prevention:
- Learning about relapse and how to identify triggers and find other coping strategies.
- Workshops and Lectures about how to prevent relapse
Education:
- Activities and exercises that stimulate understanding and learning about addiction and it’s consequences
- Educational groups to think about new skills and the development of emotion tolerance
Family Involvement:
- Support around communication and expression that will begin to heal the family system
- Family conjoints with an experienced family therapist
12 Step Foundation:
- The foundation of our programme is based upon the Twelve-Step philosophy which is a peer led free worldwide support system. By linking our clients into this support group we ensure that they have access to an outside support system and a spiritual foundation for long-term recovery.
Healthy Lifestyle:
- Individual advice around incorporating healthy exercise back into the client’s lifestyle
- Integrative therapies and activities that include art therapy, organic gardening, mindfulness meditation, yoga, Qi Gong, surfing, and caring for the horses on the property. Clients have a chance to start truly living and enjoying life again within the beautiful and spiritual surroundings of the Cape Peninsula.
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