Hello everyone! I’m just back from a lovely holiday and have also completed Go Sober for October Challenge. I’ll write about that in a few weeks for Alcohol Awareness Week, which starts on the 13th November. On the same day, I’m going to launch my introductory course, Five Days Towards Family Recovery.
Let me ask you:
- Is someone you love having a problem with alcohol or drugs?
- Are they refusing to get help or admit they have a problem?
- Have you tried to help but you’re not getting anywhere?
Read on… (click on the links for more info)
The Vesta Programme
The Vesta Approach supports families affected by a loved one’s substance use. I have created The Vesta Programme, a twelve-week therapeutic programme. It’s a programme that teaches ‘concerned others’ (that’s you!) how to change the environment to shape a loved one’s behaviour towards their substance use. In other words, you cannot change their substance use but you can influence it by making being sober or drug free more rewarding than alcohol and other drug use. You can motivate and unmotivated substance user to get treatment for their alcohol and other drug use.
The Vesta Programme aims to:
- Help you to recover from a loved one’s alcohol or other drug use.
- Improve your quality of life.
- Get your loved one into treatment.
The Vesta Online Programme will be launched in January and is an amazing, unique and confidential service that people can access anywhere in the world. It’s based on an evidence based programme by Phil Harris.
Why work with the family member and not the person using alcohol or drugs?
When we look at the number one reason why people enter into a substance misuse service the biggest single factor is family pressure. Studies show that 80% of people sought help for drug and alcohol problems because of family pressure to do so. Families are a central force that drive change. Through working with people close to a drug or alcohol user, you are in a far better position to help them to change than many professionals! You just need to know how to do it. That’s where I come in.
As well as influencing your loved one to make changes to their substance use, the programme also works for the family members in other ways. After what might be years of battling with the loved one and the incredible toll this can take, it is a huge relief to share this with someone who is prepared to understand and not judge. It can help remind you of your own needs and sense of self after a long period of self-neglect.
I know, having worked with young people and families affected by substance use for a decade, how difficult it is to get out of the house and get support for yourself. It’s hard enough to admit you need help in the first place when you’re constantly looking after somebody else’s needs. That’s why I’ve taken this programme and developed it so that anyone living someone else’s drinking and other drug use can get the help they need to change their life.
I also offer my confidential programmes one to one via Skype, wherever my support is needed, and face to face in the Manchester (UK) area.
Five Days Towards Family Recovery
The Five Days Towards Family Recovery Programme is an introductory week-long programme. I’ve created this as my vision is to provide services and forge a community, helping as many families as possible live their lives fully and free from addiction. I realise that the Vesta Programme being twelve weeks long is quite a commitment, so I wanted to give you the opportunity to gain some wonderful learning and strategies to take away with you from the week so that you can start putting yourself first. It will also give you the opportunity to see how I work and a taste of what the complete programme looks like.
If you complete Five Days Towards Family Recovery, you will:
- Have an understanding of what addiction and recovery are.
- Have reviewed the strategies you have tried, to stop your loved one using drugs or drinking, and planned which to continue and which to stop.
- Explored the costs and benefits of your loved one’s substance use and why you need to know.
- To map the possible reactions of your loved when you make changes in your behaviour towards their substance us.
- To make a plan to lead a better life, regardless of whether your loved one chooses to use substances or not.
Who is it for?
- The programme is for anyone who is worried about a loved one’s drinking or drug use.
- The programme works best if you see them regularly.
- You might be a friend, partner, child, parent, grandparent or any other extended family member. If you are worried about your loved one’s substance use, this is for you.
- At the moment, this programme is for adult family members and your loved one must be 18 or over. If you or your loved one are under 18, please call me, email me or message me on my Facebook page. I will direct you to some alternative support.
How do I get more information
Call or text me on 07984 837302, email me or join my Facebook page and message me
To sign up
Contact me if you are intersted. You can also request individual support from me.
When you complete the course, you will have access to a Facebook group where you will get ongoing support from others in the same situation as yourself and information and advice from me.
Make time for you
When living with a problem user, it is really difficult to get time for yourself. This is especially true if you have sought sanctuary from home life in work or other commitments. Vesta offers the flexibility, ease and convenience to give you the help you need at a time and place that is best for you. The added benefit is that you will be accessing an evidence based programme of support. That means it has been tried and has
The important thing I want you to remember is that you are not alone. For every problematic substance user in the country, five people are negatively affected. Living with a problematic drug or alcohol users is the country’s best kept secret. It is a not your fault that the loved one uses, but you can influence their use.
I can help
For a safe space to share your situation, go to my closed group, Vesta Confidential, where family members living with a substance user support each other and get lots of information and advice from me.
My service, The Vesta Approach, supports families affected by a loved one’s substance use. You can access confidential support from me wherever you are in the world. I will help you to get your loved one into treatment and lead a better life. I offer face to face sessions in the Manchester (UK) area. You can also get help via Skype and an online group therapeutic programme.
Follow me on Twitter and Facebook
Sign up to my mailing list here to keep up to date with Vesta news and get my free 10 Steps to Family Recovery download.
Take Care.
See you next week,
Victoria x
