Program Goals
• To reduce use and/or become clean and sober
• To reassure that it’s ok to receive help when you need it
• To develop skills for surviving adversity and trauma
• To develop tools to prevent relapse
• To teach reliance on one’s own inner resources
• To stabilize mental health and develop healthy coping mechanisms
• To help establish the sense of empowerment that comes with
self-reliance
• To foster feelings of being valued
• To create a strong support network
• To prepare individuals to develop sustainable employment and/or
educational opportunities
“I always thought I could do it by myself - I’ll quit tomorrow
or I’ll quit next time. I realized I couldn’t do it alone and the Y
helped me.” - Andre, 32
22 | YMCA COUNSELING SERVICE