Substance use disorders may influence men and women in different ways. Acknowledging the benefits of gender-specific therapy, alcohol and drug rehab programs in Prescott, Arizona offer female-only and male-only recovery programs to treat the medical and clinical needs of either gender.
What Is Gender-Specific Treatment?
Gender-specific treatment is when members of opposite genders are treated separately from one another during substance use disorder treatment. As such, male guests stay in male-only housing, join group therapy with other men, and focus on male-related topics during the recovery process. Likewise, female guest’s receive treatment that is tailored to the recovery process of women which includes therapy with other women, female-related discussions, and living in female-only housing during treatment.
Men-only or women-only programs are alternative treatment programs that substitute out traditional co-ed programs (that incorporate both genders). Unlike co-ed treatment programs, gender-specific care offers a secure, judgment-free environment that encourages guests to connect and communicate with guests of their gender on topics that relate explicitly to the experiences found in the male-only group or female-only group. Seaglass Recovery’s gender-specific programs offer a secure, understanding atmosphere that highlights the unique encounters that occur to the individual genders as they heal from substance use disorders.
Meeting Your Gender-Related Needs in Addiction Recovery
The difference between male and female roles in society largely influences how an individual’s substance use starts. Gender also plays a role in how alcohol and drugs affect the body long-term. For example, females typically begin using drugs and alcohol later in life, and their substance use often begins as a result of a partner’s influence. On the other hand, males develop a dependence on drugs and alcohol at a much faster rate, and their substance use begins through self-exploration or peer-pressure.
Additionally, substance abuse affects either gender’s physical health differently. In fact, men and women have shown clear differences in how long-term binge drinking affects their bodies. Adverse effects such as suicidality, morbidity, and mortality all present in a very different manner when comparing males to their female counterparts. For instance, research has shown the patterns within specific genders that point to the development of cancer along with diseases of the liver, heart, and brain following a history of binge drinking.
Why Choose A Gender-Specific Rehab
To put it simply, a men-only or women-only treatment program eliminates the distractions that can happen in co-ed programs. When guests of the opposite gender are around one another in early recovery, problems often arise. Time away from the opposite gender can be extremely beneficial in helping guests feel comfortable when discussing sensitive topics. Additionally, female and male programs ease the transition into treatment by encouraging the development of genuine, platonic friendships in treatment. Similarly, female-only and male-only groups assist guests in creating empathetic environments that focus on gender-related topics and behaviors that, to some extent, apply to every individual in the group.
Benefits of Female-Only or Male-Only Drug/Alcohol Treatment Programs:
- Minimizes distractions related to gender
- Openly discusses gender-specific topics
- Avoids the formation of codependent relationships
- Removes the development of female emotional dependency / male emotional dependency with peers during early recovery
During gender-specific treatment, groups discuss recovery topics without the distractions from the opposite gender. This removes the risk of co-dependent male-female relationships developing in early recovery. Male- and female-only groups also remove the risk of female or male emotional dependency between members of the opposite sex.
Throughout gender-specific programs, therapists facilitate conversations that examine difficult subjects that pertain to either gender. Within gender-specific therapy, guests talk about their relationship with substance use and the contributing factors that led to their addiction. Additionally, topics covered in female-only and male-only groups include drunk driving, physical assault, and domestic violence.
Gender-Specific Treatment at Seaglass Recovery
Seaglass Recovery is our women-only residential treatment facility in Prescott, Arizona. Male guests receive inpatient treatment at our men-only facility, Royal Life Centers at Chapter 5, also located in Prescott, Arizona.
It is vital to provide gender-specific education and treatment to target the unique factors that influence each gender during addiction. For this reason, starting November 1st 2021, Seaglass Recovery will begin providing separate living arrangements for men and women. Following this shift in our treatment program operations, female guests and male guests will reside in separate living quarters. In addition, men and women participate in separate groups and therapies to immerse them in gender-specific methods of healing. Our gender-specific residential treatment programs integrate the biological, societal, and historical contexts that shape the experiences of each gender.
Seaglass Recovery welcomes the opportunity to redirect our therapeutic methods to focus on the gender-specific complications that result from substance abuse. We aim to do so by providing independent residential facilities for men and women. As guests participate in group therapy, we introduce research-based information that outlines the effects of addiction on the individual genders. In doing so, guests consider the significance of gender’s role in the development of their drug and/or alcohol addiction. Female groups discuss the impacts of hyperfemininity and perfectionism on women and how it relates to their substance misuse. Alternatively, male groups review toxic masculinity and hypermasculinity and how stereotypes contribute to their addictions.
At Seaglass Recovery, we educate our guests in the role gender plays in substance use disorder. Our gender-related curriculums ensure we provide context-informed treatment strategies. Integrating gender-specific treatments within our male-only and female-only programs help to address the gender-related conflicts that contribute to addiction.
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction from drugs or alcohol, please reach out to us today. Our admissions team is always available to answer any questions you may have, 24/7. Call us now at 877-RECOVERY or 866-960-7593.
