Nick's Place, situated in Beltsville, Maryland, offers an innovative approach to recovery with programs tailored to the specific needs of young men aged 20-26 who are striving to overcome addiction. Our focus is on promoting a healthy lifestyle through relapse prevention, mental, physical, and spiritual education, 12-step program participation, and our in-house programs. Additionally, we are part of the Maryland Area recovery network with numerous 12-step meetings available within the community. We understand that peer support and developing friendships with like-minded individuals are critical for our young residents to commit to a life of recovery.
We encourage residents to consider Nick's Place their "almost home" for the duration of their stay. Our staff works with the residents, referred to as "Our Guys," in all aspects of their lives. We empower them to learn various skills to help them establish and maintain a healthy lifestyle, including personal healthcare, cooking and cleaning skills, budgeting, healthy spending practices, workplace ethics, and community involvement.
Job Readiness
Providing our residents with the tools and skills necessary to succeed in the workforce is a crucial part of their recovery journey. Our Job Readiness Program is designed to help residents build confidence, develop their professional skills, and secure meaningful employment.
The program includes a variety of components such as resume building, job research, direct approaches to employers, and mock interviews. Our residents also receive communication and retention of employment training to ensure that they are equipped with the necessary skills to maintain their employment long-term.
Through our Job Readiness Program, our residents have the opportunity to gain valuable work experience, build their resumes, and develop their professional networks. We are committed to providing our residents with the support and resources they need to achieve their career goals and thrive in their recovery.
Fun in Recovery
Having fun in recovery is crucial for maintaining mental and emotional well-being. Engaging in recovery activities, exploring new hobbies and interests, and building healthy relationships can all help to provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Celebrating successes, no matter how small, can also boost self-esteem and confidence.
- Participating in sober sports leagues or fitness classes
- Exploring new hobbies or interests such as painting, cooking, or hiking
- Celebrating milestones and successes in recovery with friends and family
- Engaging in self-care activities such as meditation, yoga, or spa days
- Trying new foods or restaurants
- Playing board games or card games
- Creating art or music as a form of self-expression and therapy
- Movies, amusement parks, paintballing, camping, and much more
At Nick's Place, our Fun in Recovery program is essential for long-term recovery and overall well-being. Our goal is to help Our Guys create a fulfilling and enjoyable new way of living.
Family Dinner Program
Residents, staff, and visiting alumni gather for a family-style meal Monday through Thursday at 5:30 p.m. During this time, discussions are held among Nick's Place residents, alumni, local recovery friends, staff, and donors on the following topics:
- Monday: Where You At? - An open discussion where each resident is given the opportunity to share their current progress in their lives and recovery journey.
- Tuesday: Grateful Tuesday (GratiTuesday) - An open discussion focused on gratitude and the positive aspects of recovery, as it is said that "a grateful addict will never use."
- Wednesday: House Meeting / Team Building - This time is reserved for residents to communicate with one another and present any issues they are currently dealing with, seeking guidance and help in remaining accountable. Additionally, fun games and exercises, guided by staff, are used to teach the residents how to work together as a team.
- Thursday: Be the Teacher - Each week, a resident is assigned a recovery-related topic to research, prepare a lesson, and present it to the Nick's Place family. An open discussion follows.
Through these discussions, Nick's Place fosters a supportive and collaborative environment for residents to continue their recovery journey.
Weekly One-on-One Session
We provide personalized support to each resident through regular meetings with our Certified Peer Recovery Specialists. These meetings are tailored to each resident's individual needs and cover a range of topics, including:
- Recovery progress, including progress in the 12-step program, relationships with sponsors, and engagement in service work.
- Personal relationships, including relationships with housemates, co-workers, employers, intimate partners, family members, and members of the recovery network.
- Finances, including program fees, budgeting and expense tracking, bank account statements, and credit establishment, review, and repair.
- Practical life skills, which are customized to each resident's specific needs.
- Miscellaneous topics, such as doctor's appointments, legal obligations, and weekend visits and passes.
Through these personalized meetings, we ensure that each resident receives the support they need to achieve their goals, make progress in their recovery journey, and an opportunity to experience and share their feelings.
Relapse Prevention Education Program
Our Relapse Prevention Education Program (RPEP) covers a wide range of topics that are essential to maintaining a healthy and fulfilling life in recovery. The RPEP uses professionals to provide a well-rounded curriculum to our residents. Some of the topics covered in our RPEP include:
- Building self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-discipline
- Understanding family dynamics in the addicted family
- Developing healthy relationships
- Managing anger and impulses
- Practicing stress management and meditation
- Engaging in yoga and fitness training
- Exploring art and music therapy
- Setting and achieving goals
- Learning effective communication and teamwork
- Acquiring budgeting and money management skills
- Employment practices such as resume-writing, interviewing skills, and qualities that make a good employee
Participation in the RPEP is mandatory for all residents, and those who have transitioned out of Nick's Place during a series are welcome to return and complete it.
Phase Developement
We believe that recovery is a journey, not a destination. Our Phase Development program is designed to help our residents progress through their recovery journey by providing them with a structured and supportive environment. The program consists of five phases, each with its own set of goals and privileges.
- Phase 1: Build routine and responsibility by developing healthy habits and taking responsibility for actions.
- Phase 2: Start learning how to manage your emotions, gaining insight into your identity, and building trust in the process.
- Phase 3: Build life skills and financial stability by developing practical skills, managing finances, and paying off debts.
- Phase 4: Give back to the community by volunteering, participating in service projects, and building healthy relationships.
- Phase 5: Prepare for transition out of Nick's Place by developing a plan for the future, participating in job training programs, and building a support network.
Overall, our Phase Development program provides our residents with a clear path to recovery and helps them build the skills and confidence necessary to succeed in their lives beyond Nick's Place.
Daily Check-ins
Daily check-ins are an important aspect of our program aimed at helping residents feel valued and understood. These check-ins achieve this by encouraging residents to share their daily experiences and emotions with a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) every day after work.
During the conversation, the CPRS asks open-ended questions to encourage residents to talk about their day and emotions in detail. This helps residents to feel heard and validated, which can be a crucial step in the recovery process. By sharing their experiences and emotions, residents can gain a better understanding of themselves and their needs, which can lead to improved mental health and overall well-being.
We recognize the importance of human connection and provide a supportive environment where residents can feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings.
Recovery Education
We provide our residents with opportunities to attend recovery conventions as part of our Recovery Education program. Addiction is a complex disease that affects the mind, body, and spirit, and it requires a multifaceted approach to overcome.
Recover conventions are a simple way for us to help our guys in all three of those areas and participation in recovery conventions aid in our guys developing a sense of community and belonging, a key element to long term recovery. By hearing success stories from others who have overcome addiction, our guys tell us they found inspiration and hope for their own journey. This can be especially important for those who may feel isolated or alone in their struggle. We have seen many times that conventions have been the turning point for our guys, providing motivation and momentum to keep pushing forward.
Recovery conventions are an essential part of our programming at Nick's Place. They provide our residents with the necessary knowledge, skills, and community support to achieve lasting recovery and build a brighter future by understanding addiction and recovery, and developing healthy coping mechanisms to prevent relapse.
