Our Programme

At both Sunnybrae and Benaiah, residents complete the year-long Teen Challenge Programme.

Programme

The course, built on Christian beliefs, has been designed to help each individual resident:

  • Realise their potential
  • Identify their skills and abilities
  • Be responsible about their past
  • Make the most of the present
  • Plan positively for the future

Because residents have abused substances, many lack self-discipline and have developed negative views of themselves, authority and life in general. This affects their behaviours and ability to maintain relationships, employment or a tenancy.

At the core of the Teen Challenge course is a structured daily programme, which is made up of a balanced mix of elements including:

Class

Residents complete 14 different modules, covering important topics such as:

  • Love & Accepting Myself
  • Growing Through Failure
  • Temptation
  • Personal Relationships With Others

The classes provide residents with insight into factors that potentially contributed to their addictions, as well as equipping them with knowledge and tools for overcoming these.

Counselling

Throughout a resident’s stay at Sunnybrae or Benaiah, they receive counselling to help them find healing from hurts and insecurities, which are often the root causes of their addictions.

For example, in counselling sessions residents have recently addressed and experienced breakthroughs in the following areas:

  • Recovery from sexual abuse
  • Severe low self-esteem
  • Trauma recovery
  • Stress management
  • Coping strategies for panic attacks
  • Grief
  • Overcoming suicidal thoughts
  • Eating disorders

Recreational Activities

We offer a comprehensive approach to recovery, focusing on residents’ physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.

As part of this our Teen Challenge Programme involves a range of recreational activities.

Day-to-day life at our centres, for example, involve games of volleyball, football, snooker, board games and table tennis.

We have an excellent gym at Sunnybrae with high standard equipment for both cardio and strength training, with all residents strongly encouraged to make use of the facilities.

We also organise memorable trips for residents, including hikes up Ben Nevis, jet-skiing in Loch Lomond, as well as swimming in water parks; all hugely enjoyed with no substances, which is a major milestone for those who have battled with substance misuse.

As one resident expressed so well;

“I’ve learned how to proper laugh again.”

Work Duties

A significant number of people coming through addiction have either never built up a work ethic or if they have, they’ve often lost those values and principles during their addiction.

With part of the vision of Teen Challenge being to see graduates living meaningful lives and contributing to society, our programme involves residents carrying out work duties.

Each individual has the opportunity to complete daily tasks, which include horse livery stables work, landscape gardening and painting and decorating.

A main aim of the work element of the programme is also to help men and women identify skills and abilities and potential careers that they could pursue after the programme.

Moving On Plan

During the latter stages of a resident’s programme, focus is placed on the forming of a strong Move On Plan.

This sees residents work with staff to identify the best options, processes and contacts for them moving on, concentrating on the following areas:

  • Home
  • Career
  • Finances
  • General Wellbeing
  • Social Network

As well as continuing to receive support from the Teen Challenge North East Scotland team after leaving our centres, residents benefit from both Sunnybrae and Benaiah having excellent relationships with a range of partner organisations who specialise in post-rehab aftercare.