Men’s residential programme: The Lodge
Some people find the challenge of staying away from drugs a day-in, day-out struggle. Because of previous drug use, many men are trying to rebuild what has become a chaotic life. When you add all the normal stresses – money, family, relationships and the struggles of daily life – the pressures can seem unbearable. Faced with these, some men who are trying to remain drug-free just need some time out in a safe environment. A place where they can access the key support and help they need to take control and participate in their own recovery without loosing touch with family and friends.
Coolmine Lodge is a traditional therapeutic community that offers clients a fulltime residential rehabilitation programme. This programme runs for a maximum of six months and caters for up to 30 men in residence. Although the programme is drug and alcohol free we do work closely with prescribers to facilitate clients who may be coming off the last of their Methadone, with the aim of being drug-free within two weeks of arrival. For those with children, a range of parenting classes and child support sessions will soon be available, along with new play facilities for visiting children.
The Coolmine Lodge community or ‘family’ is structured around four ‘Clans’. Individual clients have particular roles and responsibilities within their Clan and other general responsibilities in terms of the whole community e.g. working in the kitchen, in the laundry, or managing one of these ‘Departments’. The running of the house is overseen on the clients’ side by a ‘Client Co-ordinator’ and two client assistants. This structure ensures that all our clients feel that they are supported and involved and have an opportunity to contribute to the community as a whole.
As with our other programmes, there is a strong emphasis on peer-to-peer support. This ensures that each person is part of a community, all working with the same goal of living life without the pressures and issues of substance addiction. Evaluation of each client also involves evaluation by their peers, every step of the way.
The goal of the programme is for clients to have the opportunity to start living a life away from drugs and/or alcohol so that they can move on to live a productive life in a safe and sustainable way. The next phase of our care programme, integration, prepares men who have completed the programme at the Lodge to start living back in the wider community.
To find out more about our men’s programme, please contact the Lodge Manager on 01 821 4545 or by email: lodge@coolminetc.ie
So what would be a typical day living our men’s residential programme at Coolmine Lodge? Click here… Watch Mark’s video diary about his experince at The Lodge.