First steps – Primary Stage One

The first four weeks of treatment is referred to as the primary programme, stage one.

First steps for a client new to ANA will include:

Fleming House

• Admission, introduction and orientation to the stage one facilities, accommodation, staff and peers
  
• Initial one to one meetings with the Nurse and Key worker
  
• Detoxification (if required) under the supervision of our resident nurse and team of three GPs.
• Clients are introduced to group therapy, exploring the many facets denial can take together with discussions surrounding the psychological defences these might signal and including the setting of boundaries throughout recovery.
  
• Work begins on self-esteem and confidence: the concept of addiction as an illness is introduced.
  
• Group work to encourage the bonding process with peers
  
• Initial Step work is carried out with the therapeutic team and peers. 12 step education is provided to assist clients understand the concepts and to explore practical means of relapse prevention
  
• Cognitive and behavioural group work
  
• Person – Centred work
  
• Life story shared with therapy team and peers to explore patterns of behaviour and self awareness
  
• A personalised medical regime is initiated immediately. If detoxification is required, natural remedies, including acupuncture, may be used to complement the prescribed medication.
  
• Routine weekly drug related check-ups are scheduled thereafter through the key worker. Other ailments are referred to the local GP’s surgery with which clients are registered on entry. The consultant psychiatric service may be accessed by arrangement.

The Grounds of Fleming House

During this stage, clients are most prone to relapse and the programme reflects this in terms of support provided to clients, medical care, chaperone services and choices in terms of free time activities. The duration of this stage is notionally four weeks. All clients are different and some progress to stage two quicker than others, depending on motivation, detoxification, progress and need.

View a typical timetable

Primary Stage 2 >>