At this meeting, residents may express any concerns they have about daily life at the Life Center of Galax, including social, staff, logistical and maintenance issues. This is also a time for the staff to graduate patients who are completing treatment that day. Graduates have a chance to address the community with words of thanks and encouragement as the group forms a circle around them and sings "Hit the Road Jack."

Our counselors lead interactive lectures on topics such as irrational fears, preventing self-sabotage, addictive thought and behavior patterns, stress management, grief, the disease of addiction, and the importance of AA/NA. On Wednesdays, patients attend daylong seminars on relapse, triggers and cravings, family dynamics, anger and other issues.

Our counselors assign therapeutic assignments to each patient depending on their unique needs and goals. Examples of assignments include writing an autobiography and drug use history, grief letters, resentment letters, relapse prevention plans, and triggers and cravings management plans. Patients present their assignments during home group to receive feedback and support from their therapists and peers.

Each counselor meets with their core group of patients to share feelings and discuss the issues underlying their drug or alcohol abuse. In this family-like setting, patients can openly and honestly share their struggles and triumphs with one another.

We strongly encourage families to get involved in their loved one's recovery. Prior to weekend family visits, patients and their families participate in family group. During this group session, our counselors educate families about the disease of addiction and help them address issues like enabling, codependency, communication and trust.

Patients who do not have visitors on the weekend participate in alternative group. During this group session, residents discuss any struggles they encountered during the week and identify issues they need to work on the following week.

Three times a week, men and women meet in gender-specific groups. In this secure environment, patients are able to explore more sensitive, personal issues. Women's groups often address issues like trauma, abuse and self-image, while men's groups frequently focus on anger management and expressing emotions.

In this group, patients process what they learned during lecture that day and have the opportunity to ask questions and get feedback from our counselors.

Individuals who completed treatment at the Life Center of Galax are joined by people in recovery who live in the community to discuss accountability, relapse, cravings and other issues and to get ongoing education, support and feedback from others in recovery.

We host an AA/NA meeting at the Life Center every evening. Some of these are speaker meetings led by people who have been in recovery for many years and live in the local area. Individuals in recovery share their experience, strength and hope, which gives our patients new insights and shows them the potential for a brighter future.