Structure
Primary Phase
Primary phase lasts for eighteen weeks in two stages, 'freshman' and 'sophomore'. Clients are taken through the first five steps of the twelve step recovery programme. They are required to write a life story and participate in an aims and action based peer/ staff evaluation. Group therapy is held every morning Mon to Fri and 4 afternoons per week. A 30 minute meditation session is held Mon – Fri before group. In addition to these mandatory groups, clients are also obliged to attend a 12 step meeting every evening.
Clients are strongly encouraged to confront their peers constructively in group with regards to their recovery. Negative thinking and behaviour does not go un-challenged at Park View. Referrers/ self referrers should not consider Park View Project unless there is a firm commitment to rehabilitation and change. Further information with regards to group work at Park View is available on request. During the first twelve weeks there is no home leave unless very special circumstances dictate otherwise and clients are only allowed out when supervised by a member of staff or a senior peer from the secondary unit during this period. There is a taught, structured course of home economics that includes health & safety, basic cooking, budgeting and first aid.
Secondary Phase
Secondary phase is conducted close by at a different location to primary. Clients progress to secondary providing milestones have been achieved during the primary phase. During the second phase group runs every Monday - Friday but the afternoons are spent pursuing the objectives in clients support plans. Jobs, education, training, resettlement and building bridges with the family are all important issues and much of the focus of the secondary phase is spent with these aims in mind. As with group work, 12 step meetings are still mandatory.
