A counselor recommended sober living instead of coming home. Does that mean giving up on the marriage?
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RH
RecoveryHome team Team
asked 3 months ago
When a spouse's counselor recommends sober living after discharge instead of coming straight home, it can feel like rejection. What's the thinking behind it?
RH
RecoveryHome team Team
answered 7 days ago · general information, not medical advice
It's usually the opposite of giving up. Coming straight home can hand someone in very early recovery the full weight of marriage, children, and old routines on day one, often in the same places where the drinking or use happened. A few structured months in recovery housing nearby lets new habits get strong before everything goes back on.
To make it work for the marriage:
- Ask the counselor to put a timeline and a plan around it, so it has a shape and an end.
- Schedule visits, time together, and family or couples counseling.
- Treat it as "we're rebuilding the foundation," not "they moved out."
Read more: Sober living homes: how to vet one
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