An individual asked in response to our report of two women launching into fully recovered lives: What do you feel are the experiences, new learning and resources that Titus 2 provides that resulted in an environment in which these women overcame their addiction and took advantage of your assistance to achieve greater self-sufficiency? Are there key characteristics to your recovery and restoration process?
Our response: It’s not quick or easy, but it is pretty straight forward when the goal is firmly in mind and the means are in keeping with biblical principles and can be explained in terms the individual can understand.
Our Titus team brings a unique and broadly holistic view of life recovery to the individual’s true addiction- to sinful and self destructive behavior in yielding to temptation’s lowest common denominators- lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life. We do it with tested basic psychological techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance commitment therapy, emotional literacy training and grief and anger resolution, as well as spiritual formation, mentoring, and discipleship. We partner with community medical and mental health services to assure all issues are identified and addressed to achieve a wellness-focused lifestyle.
We also address the pathway that is necessary to move from a culturally- inculcated self interest based ethic ( most clearly expressed in the street ethic most of them have lived) by way of a rules- based ethic for development of self discipline and training, to a values based ethic as one identifies and embraces the values she affirms and by which she wishes to live and be known, to the highest level of virtue based ethics exemplified in the life of Christ and his disciples.
Lots of affirmation of their ability to do it (once we have adequately screened them including prayer to assess their readiness for real transformational change!), providing reassurance they’ll get the help they need for addressing fines, drivers licenses, legal obligations etc. which can be HUGE hindrances to achieving financial stability and forward movement. Individualizing the treatment plan goals to the students goals. An emphasis, using self evaluation and assessment, to identify and examine the student’s values and how her prior behavior has affirmed or contradicted her stated values. ( using a rokeach value survey and lengthy discussion of its results). then working to correct the discrepancies. Lots of work on boundaries and character of God ( since God’s desire is that we would be renewed in his image) got to make sure they have a true biblical perspective on God, his character, principles, and means of engaging with his creation. Basic understanding of holistic human development and what they may have failed to learn in family of origin to achieve maturity in all areas of life- intellectual, emotional physical, moral, social and spiritual ( Luke 2:52). Basic biblical literacy of stories, characters, and principles to guide interpretation and application to ones life.
Another thing we do is assessment of internal, external and community recovery resources available to the individual to help one learn to access and use those resources to build healthy supportive community. Teach them the difference between dependent, independent, and interdependent relationship patterns and how to live interdependently within faith, recovery, and family communities according to a work-and-worship ordered lifestyle.
We introduce and instruct them in a way of life that we know works. If they embrace it and walk it out by their own choice, they will succeed.
That’s our passion, our purpose, our program.