Prehab and Preparation

Your Journey to River Garden

The Prehab period is the crucial stage that begins the moment we receive your referral. It is a period of dedicated partnership where we work with you to ensure River Garden is the right, secure placement for you, and that you are fully prepared to commit to the intensive six-month residential programme.

This preparatory phase is highly flexible, lasting anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on the individual needs required for successful admission.

Hospitality and Culinary Arts (The Bothy Café)

Immediately following referral, a dedicated Key Worker is allocated to you. They become your central point of contact and supportive mentor throughout this entire journey - in, through, and beyond River Garden.

The Prehab stage focuses methodically on achieving full stability and readiness:

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  • Achieving Abstinence: A core focus is ensuring you reach and maintain a state of full abstinence from alcohol and non-prescribed drugs. This preparation is also vital for addressing any conflicts with prescribed medications that are excluded from our programme (such as Gabapentin or Pregabalin) to secure your safety and programme integrity.
  • Practical Stability: We work closely with you to address external factors that could undermine your recovery. This includes securing financial stability, sorting out housing security and management for your post-discharge period, and engaging with necessary services to address any outstanding physical or mental health issues.
  • Network Preparation: Committing to residential rehabilitation means temporarily stepping away from your current environment. Your Key Worker will support you in making a plan for leaving your existing networks and family for the duration of your stay.
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Building Confidence with Trial Periods

To ensure a smooth transition and build mutual confidence, the Prehab period includes structured visits and potentially overnight trial periods at River Garden. This allows you to meet the community, experience the environment, and understand the rhythm of our programme before fully committing to the six-month residential stay.

Collaboration with Local Services

We believe in seamless, continuous care. Your Key Worker will actively engage in partnership working with your local community case workers, addiction services, and health professionals. This ensures there is shared understanding of your progress and needs, guaranteeing you have strong, linked support before admission and a solid support network ready for you when you return home.

Small potted plants in a row on a brick windowsill, with a glass window and greenhouse interior visible.
Two people walking on path, dog, greenhouses, trees.

Family Engagement

We recognise the importance of loved ones. The Prehab period is a time for family engagement, where we begin the process of communication and support for your key connections, ensuring they understand the journey ahead and receive the resources they need.

By the time you arrive at River Garden, the Prehab process ensures you are physically, emotionally, and practically ready to focus entirely on your healing.