Hope Hill Centre About-Hope-Hill-Centre

About Hope Hill Centre

Hope Hill Rehabilitation Centre is a Centre dedicated to the rehabilitating of individuals suffering from substance use disorder. Many people attempt to find release from their perceived pressures of life by using illegal drugs or alcohol without understanding the effects or the addictive potential of these substances. Young people develop dependencies on illegal drugs and alcohol through giving in to peer pressure and through misguided experimentation. Once a person develops a substance use disorder, they lose their freedom of choice and are unable to choose to face life without leaning on their substance of choice. As a result of their dependence, their lives become unmanageable and jobs are lost, relationships are destroyed and families torn apart.

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We at Hope Hill understand that substance use disorder is a symptom of emotional pain most often hidden in the subconscious of the drug user. Trauma experienced during child or young adulthood affects the way that a person views themselves and their place in the world around them. Trauma experienced and the subsequent emotional turmoil contributes to a feeling of being different from others and a fear of not being accepted or not being good enough. This feeling is in 12-step format known as a “Spiritual Void” and is usually among the core motivations for a substance user to attempt to escape their reality.  

Medical Education sessions on the negative effects of the substances of abuse is not strong enough to motivate abstinence from the substance. In the case of a substance use disorder the individual needs to be educated on the emotional process happening within, that triggers the problem behaviours. The believe systems of the individual dictate the emotion that life situations bring forth within the person and these emotions dictate the individual’s behaviour. These believe systems relate to the core beliefs and values of a person, and false believe systems developed as a result of trauma contribute to problem behaviour.

My experience taught me that there are many other mechanisms that a person will use to enable themselves to stay in a hopeless state of active substance use, but are unable to identify within themselves. Using substances is the addicted persons way of attempting to avoid life on life`s terms and avoiding their feelings. When the substance is used the individual`s real feelings are suppressed and replaced by a false feeling of happiness brought on by the chemical they have ingested. This happiness is not real but for the substance user this false state of being is better than what being present in their own life feels, at that moment. This self-deception is a cornerstone of the disease and is built up over time to allow the substance user to avoid taking personal responsibility for their situation and for their substance use disorder.  What is happening in their real life has little effect on the substance user when the possibility of escaping to that place of false happiness is easier than dealing with their emotional trauma or whatever state their life is in at that moment.

The program set forth at Hope Hill Rehabilitation Centre is based on the 12-step program outlined in the book “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism “.

The programme set forth at Hope Hill Rehabilitation Centre is based on the 12-step program outlined in the book “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism “. This book was first published in 1939 and lays out a 12-step solution on how to recover from alcoholism. This 12-step formula along with regular attendance of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings has proven to be an effective alternative and has helped many men and woman recover from alcoholism. This model of recovery has been so successful that it has provided the base for many other recovery groups like Narcotics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous etc. These recovery fellowships are active all over the world and provide thousands of men and woman with a solution to their substance use disorders. It has also been our experience as recovering addicts that these fellowships provide a happy and fulfilling life without the use of any mind or mood-altering substances. This model of treatment is commonly known as the Minnesota Model.

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The Minnesota treatment model provides the backbone to the treatment program at Hope Hill but a strong emphasis is placed on skills development and personal growth. At the Centre we make use of various forms of therapy to help patients to work through their trauma and emotional pain and truly unburden themselves in a safe and nurturing environment. We use cognitive group therapy, individual sessions, step work assessed by counsellors who are in recovery, art therapy, meditation, and motivational speakers to unlock the subconscious and break down the walls of denial. Our Facility is located at the foot of the Magaliesburg mountain range and is surrounded by the tranquil quiet of nature to aid our patients on their journey of personal and emotional growth.  

Dave De Jager

Drug and Alcohol Counselor   

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