Not everyone understands what a sober house is, or how it’s part of the recovery process. A sober house is a safe living environment designed to avidly support you on your journey to recovery from drug or alcohol addiction.
Recovery and transformation go beyond just abstinence. To be successful in sobriety, you need support and structure to aid your long-term journey. Young men today tend to have a lack of support or structure in their lives, and this, coupled with substance abuse, makes it difficult to improve on their own.
New Life House offers a new approach for young men to improve their lives and overcome substance abuse. Not all sober home environments are created equal; structured programs like New Life House offer a full and comprehensive transformation.
What Types of Sober Home Environments Exist?
Halfway Houses
A halfway house is a community-based residence that focuses on sobriety. You can be placed in a halfway house after completing an inpatient rehabilitation program or through the prison system . It has a very loose structure, minimal house rules, and a basic level of support; it’s almost set up like a college dorm. This is normally a place to go to after finishing substance abuse treatment for people who are not ready to be independent and on their own in the real world.
Related: The Pros and Cons of Halfway Houses
What’s the difference between a sober house and a halfway house?
While the overall concept is similar between halfway houses and sober houses, there are some differences.
Halfway houses are commonly run by the state, and you can receive housing at little or no cost after attending an addiction treatment program or an alternative sentencing program instead of jail or prison. One of the downsides to this option could be insufficient support and a lack of priority surrounding involvement in an ongoing recovery process, like 12-step meetings and outpatient addiction treatment programs.
Sober houses, on the other hand, are usually privately owned and operated. They can still be used as an alternative sentencing option in pretrial diversion and drug court, or aftercare for substance use treatment; however, they cost more. While they may be more expensive than halfway houses, a sober house or recovery home provides more support and places importance on staying involved in recovery.
Related: Sober Living vs Halfway House: Making the Right Choice for Your Recovery
Traditional Sober Living Houses
Traditional sober living houses generally have a decent level of structure and supervision. Usually, more than a halfway house, which many people need. Normally, they have shared rooms, furnished common areas, kitchens, wi-fi access, and group dining rooms. Sober-living homes are a great option to consider, but they can have some limitations. The wide age range of people at the sober living can make it difficult for peers to connect, and if it’s co-ed, it can prove to be distracting .
Structured Sober Houses in Los Angeles, CA
More structured sober living programs like New Life House allow you to fully focus on your recovery journey. Structured living provides many benefits for long-term recovery by giving you the tools to focus on maintaining your life and developing healthy coping mechanisms. Working on creating a strong support system and finding the root cause of addiction, not just the symptoms.
While New Life House is a sober living house, it is also much more. We pride ourselves on building community and cultivating a supportive environment more reminiscent of a recovery house or sober house because, for many of our residents, it becomes a home.
Related: How To Stay Sober: Suggestions to Make Sobriety Stick
Why is Community so Important in Recovery?
Community and peer support are important in recovery because isolation feeds addiction. When you are alone, you don’t have to second-guess or even mull over your actions. Instead, it’s the only thing you want at that moment, so the more isolated you are, the easier it is to feed your addiction.
There’s a lot of power in sharing experiences with peers. When you create a proper support system, you have long-term relationships that can offer protective factors against relapse.
How New Life House Transforms Lives Beyond Sobriety
Age and Gender-Specific Programming
When you’re in a program with people recovering around your age, it addresses unique developmental needs. It’s beneficial to avoid co-ed distractions during early recovery. Bonding with your peers and being held accountable normally translates into building a lifelong support system.
Related: Gender-Specific Treatment in Addiction Recovery
Comprehensive Mental Health Support
Alcohol and drug addiction can stem from mental health conditions that go undiagnosed and untreated, referred to as a dual diagnosis. The symptoms of mental health disorders can be challenging to deal with, which can lead to turning to substances to ease them. This is why the dual diagnosis treatment at New Life House has a treatment program that contributes to long-term recovery.
Our team of professionals are therapists, counselors, and psychiatrists. They contribute to various levels of care and can help you understand the root of your addiction. Your team of mental health professionals is also equipped to give you multiple coping strategies for ongoing management in everyday life.
Educational and Career Development
While in recovery, New Life House understands that you have certain things you want to accomplish. This is why you have the option to continue your education or your career while in recovery; we provide educational programming, support, and pathways for pursuing higher education or attending trade schools and job assistance programs. Success when it comes to career will help with long-term sobriety.
Family Healing and Reconciliation
The entire family system is affected when you are battling substance abuse. New Life House’s unique family programming includes family therapy to regain trust while rebuilding relationships with family or loved ones.
A lot of effort and honesty will be shown in family therapy, which can be difficult at first, but it shows your family supports you and wants to work on being even better support through the process. There are also regular check-ins with your loved ones, so they know how treatment is going. Healed relationships create a better support system and an even better chance of long-term recovery.
Related: How Family Therapy Can Benefit the Recovery Process
What Makes the 12-Step Approach Effective for Long-Term Recovery
The 12-step approach is effective in recovery because it helps you reflect and stay accountable in a structured process . The community aspect of regular meetings is helpful for not only social interaction but also being around people who can relate to your struggles.
The spiritual component can resonate with some people, which can further transform your beliefs, life path, and purpose. At New Life House, we incorporate the 12-step principles by bringing together the community and offering a structured approach to transformation.
How New Life House Supports Continued Recovery
New Life House has an active alumni community, with members still showing up after 10+ years of remaining sober. As a result of this process, you can gain lifetime support and community for your recovery due to the connections you make.
Staying active in sobriety work, like supporting newcomers at the house, keeps you consistently active in your sobriety. There’s a lot of ongoing support once the program is complete, like alumni meetings and mentorship. As you give back to the community that helped you through your sobriety, you continue to aid your own.
Is New Life House Right for You or Your Loved One?
Structure is an integral part of sticking to a program and putting in effort for lasting results. If you or your loved one is someone who needs more structure, our sober house is right for you. Determining how ready you are for change can be different for everyone, but some key identifiers might be:
- Feeling stuck in the same cycle of your substance abuse
- Everything feels out of your control
- Managing your emotions is difficult and leads to substance use
- You constantly feel unwell both mentally and physically
- Relationships in your life are falling apart due to your substance abuse
- You are struggling to hold a job or finish school
- You feel socially awkward or lack social skills
- You have tried other treatment programs, and they have not worked for you
- You need more structure for sobriety success
- You feel your support system is broken and want to build one for your long-term recovery
If any of these resonate, reach out to New Life House today to begin your recovery journey.
Related: When Every Rehab Program and Sober Living Has Let You Down, Try This
New Life House is Here for You
New Life House wants to help you transform beyond just sobriety. Learning how to live independently, manage your emotions, hold yourself accountable, and build your sober network are just some of the ways a sober house can support you. The emphasis on extensive structure leaves no room for anything other than focusing on your recovery, no other distractions but self-growth.
We are ready to support you when you’re ready. True life transformation is just a call away. Contact us today to learn more about our sober living in Los Angeles, CA. We’re here for you.
References:
- Brigham, G. S. (2003). 12-Step participation as a Pathway to Recovery: The Maryhaven Experience and implications for treatment and research. Science & Practice Perspectives, 2(1), 43–51. https://doi.org/10.1151/spp032143
- Initiative, P. P. (2020b, September 3). What you should know about halfway houses. Prison Policy Initiative. https://www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2020/09/03/halfway/
- Polcin, D. L., & Henderson, D. M. (2008). A clean and sober place to live: philosophy, structure, and purported therapeutic factors in sober living houses. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 40(2), 153–159. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2008.10400625
Last Updated on May 2, 2025
