Feeling at home Woods says certain groups of people fare better in treatment within a like-minded group, so New Perspectives works to accommodate clients with culturally specific programs and anything that might help a person feel more comfortable. For example, says Woods, “African-Americans do better in treatment with African-Americans.” No matter what their background, says Woods, working towards sobriety is very personal, but New Perspectives will do whatever it can to make things easier. Woods says some clients need to understand their identity and cultural history, particularly African-Americans. New Perspectives offers an African-American History meeting to its clients, which gives clients details about their culture, and in turn strengthens and adds value to their personal identity. Everyone, not just African-Americans, can benefit from adding value to their identity and by being better informed about the lives they lead. New Perspectives offers a Value Creation group meeting. The meeting works with adults, children and their families who have a history of abuse and chemical dependency.There is also a Confidence/Self-Esteem group meeting as well, which is designed to add value to a client’s idea of their personal identity. “In these meetings, we talk about who we are,” says Woods.
“We have a mixture of all types of people here. We deal with clients individually.” -John Woods, New Perspectives founder and director
One size fits none The treatment program involves a careful assessment of each client and the development of individualized goals and objectives for healing. New Perspectives’ clinicians carefully design personalized treatment plans to address each client’s chronic patterns of addiction disorders and individual risk factors. Individual focus is most effective, but New Perspectives staffers get to know clients personally because they care about helping others in their time of need.The clients get to know the staff, too, and become committed to the idea of helping others like themselves. Often, former clients come back to encourage those just like them. It gives current clients a tangible example of what recovery looks like. “Recovery is an inside job. No one can do this for you but you. You have to do this yourself,” says Woods. “Men and women, whoever you are, we accept you. No matter who it is, we are in the business of saving lives.”
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