Gender-focused care is just a piece of the recovery and rehab process. It is essential to know that when we talk about recovery we are encompassing three separate but related concepts:

• Individual therapy
• Group therapy
• Non-traditional therapies

These three types of therapy can be conducted in a variety of ways. However, for many people, the best way to start is through gender-focused care.

When Twilight Recovery Center began creating the model for its programs, one of the first things we considered was how it would be structured. The building blocks of the entire facility had to be researched and proven effective before the doors opened.

With this in mind, Twilight Recovery Center chose gender-focused care as a cornerstone of our program. We see recovery as both an individual and group endeavor; one in which people must get from point A to point B with the least amount of stress and the most knowledge.

Separation in Recovery

While many people view recovery as an inclusive program, it is also important to remember the exclusive aspects. Though everyone is invited to recovery, many facilities have successfully separated groups by gender. There are various reasons for this, but it often comes down to establishing connections and addressing the specific needs of individuals.

Gender and Connection

One of the main things to remember is that people in recovery do better around those to whom they best relate. This can mean many things, including:

• Background
• Sexual orientation
• Type of addiction
• Gender

Many other groups can come together to compare experiences, but these are just a few. The fact is that when it comes to gender, people often find that they relate better to the same. Having separate facilities also takes away certain stresses.

In many cases, people tend to posture for the opposite gender. Men will feel they need to act stronger than they are, while women may feel a need to impress. Neither of these situations is helpful to the recovery process. When people go through recovery, they are often at their most vulnerable. Although this is not a state anyone wants to be in, it is often the best place to start. However, if a person is afraid to show weakness, they may attempt to posture and will therefore be a detriment to themselves and possibly to others in the program.

Addressing the Specific Needs of Women

Research has shown that women tend to do better in treatment when they are exclusively with other women. The reason most cited is that the majority of women with substance abuse problems have them because of men.

Many of the reasons come from trauma. Some of these include:

• Physical trauma
• Emotional trauma
• Verbal trauma

In each of these cases, a woman has been mistreated by a man. When this happens, they may turn to illicit substances to help them cope with their pain.

This is why women often prefer to be housed and treated separately from men. For them, it evokes a safer environment, away from any perceived threat. They will also expect staff to be women as men in a position of power may be frightening.

It is essential for women in treatment to feel that they are free to speak openly about the trauma they have experienced. They are aware that there is no judgment. Not only have the other women gone through substance abuse but may also share traumatic backgrounds. If brought up in a co-ed environment, this trauma that brings them together could be ignored or even glossed over out of fear and anxiety.

A Healthy Path

With the research and years to back it up, gender-focused care has been a life-changing part of treatment. When given the ability to speak freely, a serene living situation, and comfortable surroundings, a person can find healing.

Where gender-focused care is implemented, a program can run parallel tracks. With men able to relate to each other’s experiences without having to wonder about what women will say, they move through the process more dynamically. They are free to use terminology, express emotions, and be themselves without any need for guardrails.

Women can allow themselves to take in the advice of their recovery peers, learn from dedicated staff, and live in a place where they know their feelings are being acknowledged. Regardless of gender, the recovery process is never easy. However, spending time with people you can understand, and who understand you, can make all the difference.

Twilight Recovery and Gender

At Twilight Recovery Center, we offer people with substance abuse issues a place of respite. These individuals have had to deal with debilitating situations for far too long.

For us, our residents come first. Your care and well-being are our number one concern. That is just one of the reasons we offer separate residential facilities for men and women. We understand that you are coming to us at a vulnerable time and that rehab is not an easy journey. However, we believe that by allowing you to be your true self, you will find a way to make it out to the other side. It is our mission to help you get there.