A challenge for all the teens that come to The Family Foundation School is learning through experience that they can build a satisfying life for themselves built around healthy relationships and purposeful actions. A common fear for teens in recovery is never being able to belong again if I choose to be sober. It’s as if they can’t imagine enjoying life without the use of drugs and alcohol.

Last weekend the members of Betton House kayaked down the Delaware River and camped out. These adventures facilitate the needs of our students to learn about each and develop further the relationships that are emerging on campus.  The shared memories from trips like this begin the task of building new and healthy minded stories together.  The extended time together also facilitates sharing the difficult stories that brought them each to the school.

Family Leaders Ann and Gerald Janauer both related how beneficial the trip was for group unity.  ”The students let their guard down and really enjoy each other’s company,” noted Ann.

“The cycle of addiction can be successfully replaced by another cycle: the cycle of sobriety. This cycle contains three essential elements: acknowledgment of one’s addiction to alcohol or drugs (you may have euphemistically called it “a problem”); acceptance of one’s addiction; and prioritization of sobriety as the primary issue in one’s life.” The Cycle of Sobriety