Tom's acceptance

Tom’s story is common to those who require time to accept abstinence for recovery

Tom’s chronic alcoholism spanned all of his adult life and went back to his early youth. He had suffered acute episodes of self–harm resulting in loss of contact with family and friends. Many ways had been tried to get him to give up alcohol, without success.

Eventually Tom had realised the he was not ‘going to beat it’ on his own and accepted that he needed professional help.

An intelligent man Tom says he became interested in us because he had been through previous ‘treatments’ and liked the sound of our philosophy of self–motivated discipline.

In his words he said he thought that we were what he wanted; professional and confidential, set in a lovely and spacious rural place that would give him the tranquillity he needed, and yet within easy reach of a town. The appeal of counselling on an individual basis in a safe and secure setting would also give him the chance to seriously consider his future without alcohol.

After hospital detox he moved in and was encouraged to identify previous interests and hobbies he had enjoyed. Tom eventually started on a course at the local college with success and went on to enrol on a distance learning course which in time will result in him gaining a degree and all the career options that offers.

In this case for the client a positive acceptance of hope brought success both through self-motivated discipline and the rejection of a previously addictive lifestyle. We do not pretend that the journey is easy and at times needs the professional support of staff and others to help alleviate some of the difficulties that can occur.