Why Womens' Only Recovery Programs Are So Effective

Addiction is a serious problem for people of both sexes, but researchers are becoming increasingly aware of the differences between men and women when it comes to addiction. Not only do men and women become addicted for different reasons, the recovery process for the two sexes can be quite different as well. As such, it is essential that women receive specialized care that and treatment programs that address their specific needs.

Family and Addiction Recovery

Perhaps one of the biggest components that a women's only recovery program can address is family needs. Although women are increasingly joining the workforce and asserting themselves as equals, they are still primarily responsible for the children in the family. Therefore, when a woman goes to a recovery program, it is only natural that she worries about who will take care of her family. In fact, this concern has caused many women to reject treatment because they believe they are better serving the family by staying home even when abusing drugs.

Communication Differences

By receiving treatment at a women's only facility, women are free to communicate in the way they are the most comfortable. Men and women communicate in very different ways. Whereas men tend to be more competitive, women need more support and understanding. Similarly, women tend to be less forthcoming when men are present because they fear being perceived in a certain manner by the men.

Since women communicate differently than men, a women's only recovery program allows them to feel more comfortable and to communicate in the manner that suits them best.

Keeping the Basics Intact

Although a women's only treatment program provides specialized care to suit the needs of women, the basics of addiction recovery remain in tact. For example, counseling and the use of various forms of therapy are still used to help the woman get in touch with the cause of her addiction and to identify her triggers so she can avoid them in the future. These basic treatment components are proven to be effective for men and women. At a women's only treatment program, however, the counselors can feel free to address more of the spiritual needs of the woman and to explore alternative forms of therapy.

Often, men are resistant to alternative forms of therapy such as music therapy or art therapy. Women, on the other hand, are usually quite receptive to these types of programs – particularly when men are not around.