Westport House

The Basics

Westport House is a sober living home in Westport, Connecticut designed for young men in their teens and early twenties. Al Samaras, a recovering addict himself, founded the house in 2011. Westport operates two separate houses—a primary house and a step-down house. Located at the cul de sac end of a quiet Connecticut residential street, these luxury accommodations for young men in early recovery are 12-step based with individualized programs for maintaining sobriety.

Accommodations and Amenities

Westport’s primary house is an expansive 6,500 square feet with six bedrooms—all comfortably appointed with high-end plush furnishings, stone fireplaces and warm textiles and lighting. The main house is reserved for new clients and is meant for the first three phases of Westport’s recovery support services. The house can accommodate up to 10 residents with four double bedrooms and two singles—each with its own bathroom. All bedrooms include a wall-mounted flat screen TV with cable and premium channels. Residents are allowed to bring in a video game system if they like.

The step-down house is roughly half the size of the main house with only four shared bedrooms. Both homes are equipped with new furnishings and finishes and aim for a comfortable, homey atmosphere.

All food is provided by Westport, with the more senior residents responsible for weekly grocery trips. Clients are responsible for the preparation of their own breakfast while lunch and dinner are either catered by a local restaurant or prepared by the young men as a group.

Westport has a common computer, printer and Wi-Fi throughout the house. There are two laundry rooms where residents do their own laundry with their own detergents and softeners.

Rules and Regulations

Residents at Westport undergo three separate month-long phases in the main sober living home before being transferred to the step-down house. The first phase is highly intensive; residents rarely leave the house, and most of their time is spent in AA meetings or working with the group, developing the tools they’ll need for sober living. Clients are required to attend nightly 12-step meetings and to find sponsors within their first two weeks of residency. Westport provides transportation to and from these meetings and residents are not allowed to leave the house without permission at during this initial phase.

In the second phase, residents can begin looking for work or resume college courses. Clients are allowed to have a laptop once they have graduated to this stage, and are also allowed cell phones.

During the third phase, residents have much more independence and are expected to be working, in school or enrolled in an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). Curfew during phase two and three is 10 pm Monday through Friday, and 12 am on the weekends.

After the three phases are completed, residents are transferred to Westport’s step-down house and remain there until they feel ready for discharge. For clients who do not have to work or return to school, Westport strongly encourages enrollment in an IOP and offers referrals to a local facility.

Upon admission, urinalysis and breathalyzer tests are given and thereafter performed two to three times a week at random. If a resident tests positive for drugs or alcohol, they are immediately transported to a safe and supervised environment outside of the house. Westport will then work with the client and his family to determine the next level of care needed to deal with the relapse.

Smoking is permitted only in designated areas in the house, but is generally discouraged as Westport believes that smoking can hinder recovery. Most medications are allowed, however prescriptions drugs which can be abused are highly discouraged—including ADHD medications. There is a staff member on site 24 hours a day who helps monitor and care for the residents.

Westport allows the residents a spending account of $200-300 as deposited by the resident or his family. Clients are also allowed to send and receive mail, but the letter or package must be opened in the presence of a staff member.

Residents are strongly encouraged to find a job or enroll in a local community college or GED program. The house has partnered with Causeway Collaborative, a provider of educational consulting services, to help residents chart out their career or educational plan and goals. Life skills training is also available, wherein a staff member teaches residents common skills they can use to better their lives including time management, budgeting and fundamental self-care.

Extras

In addition to an on-site gym, Westport promotes physical activity throughout each resident’s recovery and regularly takes groups of clients on outings including hiking, kayaking and bicycling.

The house also has a family program which includes weekly group and individual therapy led by an LCSW. The goal of the family program is to help the family members of residents understand how to cope with addiction and assist in their loved one’s recovery.

Summary

Westport is a great option for young men who need a high level of structure and oversight in their living situation. The house’s three stage approach also helps residents adjust to normal life in a healthy and gradual fashion. The structure and rules are a good fit for young men in early recovery or who risk relapse, though the lack of independence and autonomy may not be a great fit for those who have been living outside a residential program for a good length of time.

Although Westport offers top-of-the line accommodations and a great deal of services and amenities, these luxuries do come with an especially high price tag.

Westport House
9 Fragrant Pines CT
Westport, CT 06880

Westport House cost: $10,500 (30 days). Reach Westport House at (888) 302-6790 and email them here. Find Westport House on Facebook and Google+

Do you have a complaint or review of Westport House to add? Use the comments area below to add your Westport House review.

Photo courtesy of GoogleMaps

The post Westport House appeared first on Rehab Reviews.