A new client who came from a treatment program in another state is ecstatic because her "boyfriend" is due to arrive in a few days.
But the house manager's response disappoints her. Because she tells the client she can't be in a relationship for 45 days. Those are program rules.
"But you don't understand," exclaimed the client. "We love one another."
To convince the manager to change her mind she explains they'd met in the other treatment program. And their love affair had been going on for at least 30 days. Still, her argument didn't convince the manager.
So why do we care if clients date one another? Well, for one reason a relationship sidetracks the client from recovery. A love affair, especially a new one, is just as powerful as a drug in taking away one's focus.
Over the past 22 years at TLC we've seen many recovery relationships. Albeit, at times they work out. But 99% of the time they turned into more wreckage to clean up down the road.
After all, what's the big hurry? If the relationship or friendship is on a solid foundation it can wait for 30, 60, or 90 days.
No parent has ever told their child that they should go to the local treatment program and look for a good man or woman. In fact, the idea that their child will graduate from a recovery program with a new addict in their life is maybe a parent's worst nightmare.
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