Listening Training can help improve concentration, communication skills, and sense of wellbeing in general. All very useful for each one of us, but specifically useful for those who have sought solace in their lives through addictive behaviour.

Research suggests that at least one in ten of us is susceptible to the unstoppable need to eat, drink, smoke, gamble, shop, or attempt risky sexual endeavours beyond the point that we generally call ‘normal’. This will mostly go totally unnoticed – and to some extent are even incorporated in our way of living. Yet there are some that create a direct threat to a person’s health and environment. And that is  generally where the trouble starts.

Those who have been there, generally agree on the one prevalent solution: abstinence. Either with or without the assistance of one of the 12 -step programmes such as  Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous etc.

It’s not easy to start from scratch, and find true peace within oneself. One of the common barriers to successful recovery is ambivalence with regards to the outcome and the acknowledgement that more work needs to be done, and often for a long, long time.

When people first become sober they are likely to experience an emotional rollercoaster ride, from exuberance to a sense of indifference and lack of belonging. Boredom and loneliness are also known relapse triggers for those in early recovery.

Becoming sober may just be the beginning of a journey, and having a bit of a ‘time out’ in a relaxed atmosphere might just help to cross those other bridges.Doing Listening Training, especially within the context of a broader residential therapeutic programme such as Fire And Rose, could be a way of safely adjusting to a new life of sobriety. It can assist in seeing things differently, learning to manage stress levels, so as to avoid getting back into self-defeating behaviours, either the ones they already were familiar with, or new ones since temptation comes in many forms.

In case you are interested in this Listening Training for yourself, or someone you like to see get better, feel free to get in touch with us, either by phone or e-mail.