Our programme is unique. Unique because it is designed on a daily basis. There is a minimum of 40 hours group based therapy a week spread over 7 days. Group therapy occurs as the first group of the day every day. What follows after that is dictated by the patient group and not by a printed programme which bears no relevance to where the
patient group are in their recovery process. Every morning before the therapy day begins the clinical team take stock of what is happening with the group and the individuals within the group and make a first plan of what lectures, workshops, experiential and holistic groups will take place that day. Following group therapy the clinical team meet again and make changes depending on what may have come up during the therapy group. The programme is geared entirely to the patient group and the individual within the group but contains all the researched, proven elements of a successful programme. You can’t do this when you have 20 patients in a group or a large clinical team. You can do it if you have a small group of maximum 10 and a small dedicated clinical team who are willing to go the extra mile.
Within the group we also recognise that the patient is an individual. And whilst sharing with others the therapy and psycho-educational aspects of treatment for addiction when it comes to the individual work, looking at the underlying issues, there is no one size fits all. We don’t use a therapy book asking you to fill in the answers. We don’t use other people’s material. All of our assignments have been written by us and reviewed and amended constantly to meet the changing needs of our patients. Quite often at Nova Vida you can find 8 people working on 8 different individual assignments depending on their needs. The groups are tailored to fit the group’s needs and the assignment work is tailored to fit the individual’s needs. We can do this because we remain firmly entrenched in our philosophy of remaining small and manageable. You remain an individual and not a number. You deserve that dignity being afforded to you.
How is this all possible whilst remaining within the parameters of the 12 Step philosophy? 12 step treatment does not need to be stereotyped to be effective. The 12 Steps do not need to consume every waking hour of the therapy day. But by bringing together other elements that make recovery successful , and a little bit of imaginative thinking by the staff, we feel we deliver an innovative and individualised programme that remains within the spirit of the 12 Steps but recognised the importance of Recovery in Reality – your reality, not always ours.
Of course, we will push you, stretch you, confront you, challenge you but we will only do it because we care enough about you to want to see you well. Free from the shackles that brought you here. We will put down boundaries which you may find restrictive but only because we care.
You won’t be free to do what you want but you will be free to be part of your recovery as you see it, not as others see it.
Our unique approach to the treatment programme extends to our Family weekends.
A final word. We have been practising this approach to treatment for over three years. We haven’t flooded our website with ex-patient testimonials but if you wish to be put in touch with an ex-patient to talk about their journey through Nova Vida’s programme we can happily arrange this to happen. It has been our experience that patients who have been in treatment elsewhere are amazed at the difference between the Nova Vida programme and their frame of reference. Often left wishing we had been their first port of call.
Recovery in Reality®
For many graduates of a primary care programme the prospect of 3 – 4 months further treatment in a 2nd stage centre can be a daunting . Full residential 2nd stage treatment is not always necessary but an extended period of day care would enhance the prospect of a good outcome. For residents of the Algarve and for those who can arrange their own accommodation, Nova Vida offers an extended care programme which integrates our Relapse Prevention Programme, which includes Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) and individual counselling whilst
experiencing the reality of living with family and the community.
Within the group we also recognise that the patient is an individual. And whilst sharing with others the therapy and psycho-
How is this all possible whilst remaining within the parameters of the 12 Step philosophy? 12 step treatment does not need to be stereotyped to be effective. The 12 Steps do not need to consume every waking hour of the therapy day. But by bringing together other elements that make recovery successful , and a little bit of imaginative thinking by the staff, we feel we deliver an innovative and individualised programme that remains within the spirit of the 12 Steps but recognised the importance of Recovery in Reality – your reality, not always ours.
You won’t be free to do what you want but you will be free to be part of your recovery as you see it, not as others see it.
Our unique approach to the treatment programme extends to our Family weekends.
A final word. We have been practising this approach to treatment for over three years. We haven’t flooded our website with ex-
For many graduates of a primary care programme the prospect of 3 – 4 months further treatment in a 2nd stage centre can be a daunting . Full residential 2nd stage treatment is not always necessary but an extended period of day care would enhance the prospect of a good outcome. For residents of the Algarve and for those who can arrange their own accommodation, Nova Vida offers an extended care programme which integrates our Relapse Prevention Programme, which includes Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) and individual counselling whilst
experiencing the reality of living with family and the community.
Nova Vida Recovery Centre | Guine | Tunes | 8367-235 | Algarve | Portugal | T +351 282 570020 | F +351 282 574244
“Going to Nova Vida I was under the impression I was going to be "cured", a magic wand waved and I would be able to go about my life with a newfound confidence, love of myself, able to meet every challenge without a hint of fear. Unfortunately it was not that simple, if only! I have learned though about my "gremlin" - the voice inside that lies and tells you, you are worthless and can't do anything. I still have the odd bad day but I also have much better days. The bottom line is I have not used alcohol or drugs for 22 months now, I have built a better life, and feel, if not amazing, then as good as I can ever remember feeling. Nova Vida gave me the tools to understand better what is going on in my head, and so how to deal with "life on life's terms". It is not easy, but it is one step, and one day, at a time, and Nova Vida set me on the right path.”
David, London England 2008
David, London England 2008