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David Heward Non-12 Step alcoholism treatment that is as effective as it is affordable is our specialty and our primary goal at A BETTER WAY TO RECOVER in Palm Springs, California. In fact, we think you'll also find that participating in our out-patient, medication-based, alcohol dependence treatment program is actually an enjoyable experience, as well. We know... the mere mention of the words "alcoholism treatment program" is enough to send chills up and down the spines of most problem drinkers... especially those who have already been through one or more of the traditional 12 Step-based programs in the past, but didn't find the lasting sobriety they were hoping for. Unfortunately, there are a lot of those people, since the typical "success rate" of those same 28-day In-Patient programs averages around only 8 percent. The reality is that AA and the 12 Steps do work for some people, but they don't work for everyone... for a variety of different reasons. Yet most people mistakenly believe that the 12 Step programs are the only thing that is known to work for recovery from alcoholism. The truth is that there are several other methodology's which are known to work equally well or better than 12 Step, and this has been shown time and time again in recent research. To name just a few: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Community Reinforcement and Family Therapy, and Medically Managed Therapy. All are evidence-based approaches which draw from years of scientific research and clinical practice. One problem with the traditional 28 day In-Patient approach is that the individual is basically locked away in a nice safe "cocoon", where he is kept apart from the normal stresses and pressures of real life, and away from the temptation of easy availability of alcohol. So, for 28 days they are basically conditioned to stay sober in an artificial, alcohol-free "bubble". Small wonder that when they are released from the bubble to come back into the real world, the vast majority aren't prepared to deal with it at all. Thus, the rather dismal "success rate". According to news reports of a study about AA which was conducted and paid for by AA itself, AA's success rate is only about 5%.... which is a real shame for the other 95%, who are always told that their failure to stay sober is entirely their own fault. Somewhat surprisingly, the same study showed only a modest 3% improvement over AA, when they added the traditional, very expensive, 28-day In-Patient "lockdown" treatment program to AA itself. Contrary to what seems
to be public opinion,
If you
(or a loved one) have tried AA and the 12 Steps before, A
BETTER WAY TO RECOVER
Non-12
Step Recovery? So what does that mean? "A
BETTER WAY TO RECOVER"
Right about now, you're probably thinking: "Who the hell are these people, and what makes them think they know so much about alcoholism?" It's a fair question, and it deserves an honest answer. My name is David Heward, and I am a Licensed Independent Substance Abuse Counselor by the State of Arizona (which will soon be transferred to the State of California.) More importantly, I am someone who has struggled with... and RECOVERED from... alcohol dependence. It was over 25 years ago that I first admitted to myself that I had a serious problem with alcohol, and that I needed some help to deal with it. During the first 10 years I struggled with my sobriety, finding some limited success with the help of AA, but never managing to put more than three years of continuous sobriety together without a relapse. During one of those periods when I was drinking again... a minimum of a 12-pack of beer a day was just a maintenance level dose for me at that point, and if I really wanted to get buzzed I'd have to add some tequila to the mix... I finally pushed my luck too far, and got my first and only DUI. One night in the LA County jail was enough to convince me that I never wanted to go back there again... but not enough to get me to actually quit drinking. So what I did instead.... was to quit DRIVING. Parked the car, locked the keys away in the safe deposit box... end of problem, no risk of going to jail, right? And I continued to drink for some time, even though I was still going to AA meetings, and paying lip-service to the Program. To make a long story short... eventually, I finally did get sober and stay sober... and as closely as I could later figure it, my sobriety date was somewhere around the 1st of December, in 1991... which would be exactly 15 years ago today as I write this. Ironically, I'm not really certain of the date, because at the time I was not convinced that this time would be any different from my previous attempts to stay sober... and so I didn't make a note of the exact date. But I did stay sober, and eventually, almost by accident, I ended up being one of the two founders of a new and unique, naltrexone-based alcoholism treatment program called "Assisted Recovery Centers of Arizona"... which we later changed to "Assisted Recovery Centers of America". That was nearly 10 years ago... and if you like you can read the story about how that occurred on the Assisted Recovery website, as well as a lot of other really good information about our experience with the medications naltrexone and Campral®, and about non-12 Step recovery in general. It's now nearly 10 years since Assisted Recovery became the first treatment program in the United States to begin to use naltrexone in the battle against alcohol dependence, and I've seen first-hand what a tremendous difference it has made in helping hundreds and hundreds of people to make the adjustment to abstinence, and early sobriety... and eventually full recovery. It's NOT "the-cure-in-a-pill"... but for many people it IS almost like a miracle, to be finally relieved of the craving and obsession to consume alcohol for the first time in years... and within an hour of taking their first pill. Unfortunately, the vast majority of Alcoholism Treatment Programs still don't utilize naltrexone or even inform people that it's available... although that has changed a little recently because of the introduction of Campral® to the market place. Fortunately, Campral® has a major drug company behind it who is spending money on marketing, which has increased awareness and acceptance of a medical approach to the problem... but there is still a long ways to go. I'll have much more to say about that very soon on this web site, but if you want to learn more now, try doing a search on the word "naltrexone" in Google or any search engine. Unfortunately, there's a lot of misinformation mixed in with the good stuff, but you'll still find a wealth of interesting and informative information on both medications... plus lots of testimonials from actual users. I'm very proud of my nearly 10 years with Assisted Recovery, and of the groundbreaking work we started there, when we were the very first private treatment program in the United States to utilize naltrexone as the cornerstone of our program. (See Photo.) And I'm very proud of our web site too, the text of which I wrote most of myself... although I also worked with a very good professional web designer, who helped give the site it's professional appearance. That's something I hope to start doing very soon with this web site, but thus far I've done all the work on this web site by myself. (If you'd like to take a look at the Assisted Recovery web site and some of the great information we've provided there, please click on the ARCA logo in the Links section at the bottom of this page, and it will open in a new window.) After nearly ten years in business, in 1996 I sold my half of Assisted Recovery to my former partner Lloyd, and decided to start my OWN company here in downtown Palm Springs, California. And I have named my company: "A BETTER WAY TO RECOVER". A BETTER WAY is very similar to Assisted Recovery in many ways... and I hope, in some ways, even better. One thing which is already MUCH BETTER is its location here in Palm Springs rather than Phoenix, Arizona. As you may know, Phoenix is now the nation's 5th largest city, with all the traffic, pollution, crime, and other problems that come along with a big city. Palm Springs, on the other hand, is very much like Phoenix was 30 years ago, before all the people moved in and ruined it... and I think Palm Springs' sophisticated, but friendly small-town atmosphere will appeal greatly to clients coming from out of state to access our two-week QuickStart Program. QuickStart is an accelerated version of the Local Program which includes all of the same education, training and counseling our local folks get during the course of a full year, and packs it into two very intensive weeks spent here in Palm Springs (plus follow-up aftercare for the remainder of the year via telephone and Internet.) See below for full details of the QuickStart Program for out of town visitors.
Me & my dog Sparkie Thus far, A BETTER WAY TO RECOVER is really just me (David) here... with a small but very nice, comfortable office in the heart of downtown Palm Springs... and I opened the doors for clients as of December 1, 2006. Of course, I do have the services of a very knowledgeable local Doctor available to write the prescriptions for the medications, plus a very capable assistant who works for me part time, answering phones when I am busy and generally helping out around the office. Very soon I hope to be able to hire an Office Manager and some other support staff, and eventually an additional counselor or two, as the company's growth and finances will allow for it. I'd also like to tackle some other addictions besides alcoholism... in particular, the "crystal meth" plague which has debilitated especially the Southwest for so many years, as well as compulsive gambling, another growing problem nationwide. That would mean that I've outgrown my current office space and would have to move to a new location... but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, I'm very happy to be right where I'm at, doing what I'm doing... and what I know best. As for the future, I hope my intentions and dreams come through loud and clear in my Mission Statement, below.
Our Mission Statement: Every
single day, and with "A BETTER WAY TO RECOVER"
A
BETTER WAY TO RECOVER One block north of "The Curve" on South Palm Canyon Drive Phone:
760-673-8091 Click
here for location map. Monday
thru Friday: Open from 10 AM until 7 PM. Ready
to enroll in the program? Call
(760) 673-8091 today, or Perhaps
you're not quite sure, or still a bit confused? Or if you prefer, send an
e-mail to David Heward at
Our low, one-time fee is only $2800.00 for the complete one-year local program. (Our
$2800 price includes everything except the cost of the two
medications,
Online Recovery Non-12 Step Chat Room
Sober Spring Special! A
low-risk, 30-DAY TRIAL
And if
you're not absolutely delighted with your own results But
I'm so sure that you're going to be both amazed and pleased Now...
what other excuses do you have
And for those of you who don't live in the Palm Springs area... we have something much better than just our low, reasonable $2800 price to offer you... and that is: Our "QuickStart Program" for Visitors 1. The advantage of "getting away from it all" for a couple of weeks (or longer if you like), and to begin your recovery in a nice, safe, comfortable atmosphere (rather than in a dismal detox, rehab or hospital.) Take your pick of Palm Springs finest hotels, resorts, spas, and fine restaurants, or save money on a nearby weekly rental with a kitchenette. (The price of accommodations is not included in our fees, but we'll be happy to help with making the arrangements for lodging if you wish, to make certain you get what you want at a price that suits your budget.) 2. The ability to see our Program Physician immediately upon your arrival in Palm Springs, assuring you of a quick, no-hassle means of obtaining a prescription for just the right the medications, so you can start taking them... and getting the benefit of them... right away. 3. Access to my ten years of first-hand experience with the medication naltrexone (and now for the last three years, Campral), helping clients learn how to use them both most effectively. (What to expect from the medications, and what not to expect.) Although it's true that it's not exactly rocket science, it's also true that most people find that it's not quite as easy as just following the manufacturer's directions. In fact, both manufacturers recommend that their product be utilized as part of a comprehensive treatment program. And also remember that although both are very effective at doing what they are supposed to do, the medications alone are not "the Cure in a Pill." It's just not that simple, and it probably never will be. Even when newer medications become available in the future, you'll always have to do some of the work of recovery for yourself. 4. The opportunity to learn a fresh, non-12 Step, Cognitive Behavioral approach to recovery, with real and useful tools designed to help you make real progress, much earlier in sobriety. We do our best to pack the full one-year local program into two intense weeks (or more if you like) of recovery-related activities. And after you leave, we continue to offer long-term aftercare support via our Internet Support groups, and by telephone when desired, for as long as you need it. 5. Our beautiful weather! April is one of the BEST times of the year to enjoy the abundance of outdoor activities around Palm Springs. Need I say more? (How's the weather where you are today?) 6. And last but not least... the chance to do it all, and to begin your recovery, in one of the nicest, most fun, enjoyable, and beautiful places on earth to spend a little quality time away from home... Palm Springs, California... or as I like to call it...
Call 1-760-325-1403 today for more information, and come as soon as you're ready. You can usually start the program with very little advance notice, as quickly as you can get here! So don't wait! Your recovery is too important not to utilize everything you can find to increase your chances of a successful outcome. And while you're here, we'll help you to begin to discover for yourself one of the greatest lessons that you will ever learn in your recovery: that life without alcohol doesn't have to be dull and boring! (You have my personal promise on that!) That alone is worth the $2800.00 price tag of our two-week QuickStart Program. Or stay a little longer if you wish, and I'll give you a special low rate for the additional time. And if you can't manage to get away for two weeks in a row, let me know and we'll work out a suitable arrangement that will fit your busy schedule. We always do our best to make our program fit your needs... not the other way around, like in most other programs. Why not come on down to Palm Springs and let me help you get your recovery off to the best possible start? You'll be glad you did! Still not convinced? In that case, here's one more reason to add to the above list, and to help you decide to book your trip to Palm Springs right away, as soon as you can: 7. I WANT YOU TO SUCCEED IN YOUR RECOVERY. In fact, I want so much for you to succeed in my program, that I'm willing to pay you a $500.00 cash-back bonus when you reach a full year of sobriety. That's right, all you have to do is to meet some simple guidelines as set forth in your treatment plan, about maintaining regular contact with me and your online recovery support group at least once a month during the first year... and later on down the road, when you call to let me know that you have a full year of continuous abstinence under your belt, I'll be very pleased to send out a "Congratulations" check for $500.00. In fact, I won't even require that you have to be "100% perfect" from your first day in the program to get the bonus. But if you do have a "slip" during that first year, that will reset the clock with regards to the bonus... and you'll still have to get a full year of continuous abstinence behind you in order to claim your $500.00 reward... but a slip will not disqualify you from receiving the bonus eventually. It's my hope that this offer will be an added incentive for you to succeed, and help keep you motivated to stay on track in your recovery during that (sometimes slippery) first year of sobriety... because the statistics show that if you can make through the FIRST year, your chances of a successful outcome begin to improve dramatically with each additional year. Believe it or not, I sincerely hope that you'll take me up on this offer, and that about a year from now I'll be sending out lots of $500.00 bonus checks... and that one of them will have YOUR name on it! (This offer may be withdrawn at any time, especially if I start to get too busy, so don't delay... and be sure to mention the $500.00 bonus when you book your reservation for the QuickStart Program.) Visit the A BETTER WAY Online Book Store to purchase new books from David's "Recommended Reading List" at amazon.com™.
A BETTER WAY TO RECOVER is currently a program meant only for those wishing to overcome their dependence upon alcohol. In the near future, we hope to add additional programs specifically designed to help those with addictions to other substances (such as crystal meth, or crack/cocaine), and compulsive behavior problems (such as gambling, or Internet sexual addiction). In the meantime, we are happy to announce the availability of SMART Recovery meetings here at our Palm Springs office, for those with issues other than alcohol. SMART is a nationwide network of free peer-support recovery groups (similar to AA, but without the 12 Steps or the need for a Higher Power.) For more information on SMART, see their website at www.smartrecovery.org . Currently SMART Recovery meets every Saturday afternoon from 4 PM to 5:30 PM at our offices, though we hope soon to add additional meetings on other days at this and other locations scattered throughout the Coachella Valley. Please feel free to just "drop by" to check out a meeting anytime, provided that you have not been drinking or using earlier in the day. If you have been mandated to attend a certain number of AA meetings because of a DUI, attendance at SMART will satisfy that requirement. Other questions, please call 760-325-1403, or send an e-mail to: PalmSpringsSMART@aol.com . MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
LINKS AND RESOURCES
This
web site will always be a work-in-progress. This webpage was last updated on 04-02-2008.
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