Santa Monica provides strength based, trauma informed holistic treatment experience that utilizes evidence proven practices to partner with women on their journey in recovery.

Santa Monica is grounded in the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. Our program boasts the benefits of working the program by having the women participate in outside 12 step meetings, learn 12 step etiquette, and study the 12 steps and 12 traditions as well as the "Big Book". We encourage the women to obtain and maintain a sponsor and build a support system utilizing the recovery community.

One on one therapy sessions will allow the staff to address individualized needs with the women. These therapy sessions will be conducted at least once a week if not more depending on the current needs of the woman.

Group therapy sessions will create cohesiveness among the women. Santa Monica is a therapeutic community setting. Learning to live within a group assists the women in building a foundation of support for their long term recovery. Each woman is assigned to responsibilities within the house that contribute to the daily operation. These assignments help the women practice daily living skills needed for progress. Santa Monica is a "family style" household not an institution.

Meditation, Art therapy and Spirituality groups are experiences that equip the women with a diverse prospective on addressing personal life experiences.

Helping Women Recover and Beyond Trauma by Stephanie Covington is a strength based trauma informed curriculum that caters to the unique needs of women. Stephanie Covington is considered a pioneer in women's issues. This curriculum integrates theories of women's psychological development, trauma and addiction. The program also addresses the relationship between trauma and addiction. A theme very common for women.

DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) created by Dr. Marsha Linehan addresses the changes needed in cognitive behavioural patterns. The women will use skills to help them regulate their thoughts and feelings.

Relapse Prevention is a part of our curriculum that addresses the treatment of substance use. All aspects of our programming address the issues that brought the women to our program. We hope to help the women see that substance use is just one part of the problem. We want to help explore the whole person!

Family Education is taken from the Matrix Model, a nationally recognized effective treatment process. Family Education is utilized to help loved ones better understand the disease of addiction. Family Education can be the start of healthy relationships.

Often we will have speakers from the community share educational material or personal stories with the women. We have been blessed to have such agencies as; Why Arts?, UNL Extension Office around nutritional needs, Department of Health around safety, women sharing personal lived recovery experiences.

Although each woman is recognized as an individual there is that common bond. We provide the women with an aftercare plan for a continuum of treatment. This includes coming back to the house for an aftercare group as well as involvement with the Alumni Association. The Alumni remain connected to Santa Monica because it is a part of their foundation and essential in their recovery.

As part of becoming an active member of society the women will obtain and maintain gainful employment. This will empower women to gain independence from otherwise debilitating relationships and situations. Staff will guide the women on needed vocation skills.

Santa Monica stresses to the women the need to balance responsibilities in life and take care of themselves, often for the first time in years. Santa Monica works with Community Alliance, Douglas County Hospital, Renaissance Clinic and Charles Drew clinics to provide services that include mental health exams, physical exams and medications.