Rehab and Treatment Facility

MISSION

To facilitate positive change in individuals afflicted with Substance use Disorder, and deliver relief and recovery to family members suffering from codependency, in a nurturing and loving environment.

VISION

To continue spreading the message of Recovery through treatment of the Afflicted person, training of qualified and committed individuals who wish to serve the cause and advocacy of addiction as primarily a health problem.

BRIEF HISTORY

Serenity in the Steps is operated by Mararahay Ka, "You Will Get Well" in Bicolano dialect, Rehab and Treatment Facility (MKF) formerly based in Legazpi City, Albay, Bicol and previously Life Management Foundation in Makati city (1993). It was relocated due to damages wrought by Super Typhoon Reming in November 30, 2006.

It was reestablished on April 22, 2007 in the mountain resort city of Baguio. The first truly 12-step, evidence based rehab and treatment facility in the Northern region of the Philippines that serves the treatment needs of the local and international clientele. English is the preferred language medium for accessibility to most medical tourism clients from all over the world.

The Treatment milieu, now in the mountains of Baguio provides an atmosphere that nurtures recovery with the city's leisurely life pace. Serenity is a leisurely 3 hour drive North from Manila and nestled among the clouds 5000 feet above sea level. It is an Ideal getaway for the lowlanders who desire to recover in cooler climates and for families who want a breather from the distress of addiction, at least until their dependents get with the program. The client is not so exposed to city life stress nor consigned to the boondocks but can enjoy the advantages of Baguio's attractions like the cool climate, and nature while staying close to cosmopolitan living. The client learns serenity a midst the daily stress of living without the need to cope by using drugs or alcohol.

PEOPLE

The Serenity Staff of Certified Addiction Counselors, Clinical psychologists, Recovery Coaches and people in recovery is led by an Internationally Certified Addiction Counselor III (advanced levels), Junjun Abella, MAC, RGC, NCAC I, RC ICAC III. His other credentials include being a Professional Regulatory Commission Licensed Guidance Counselor, a U.S. National Addiction Counselor Certification level I and currently a Senior Trainer of the International Centre for Certification and Education of Addiction Professionals (ICCE) of the Colombo Drug Advisory Program. Junjun received his Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology from De La Salle University where he was awarded the gold medal for outstanding thesis on the 12 steps and co-occurring disorders. As a recovering person with addiction (PWA) himself, his intimate experience with addiction combined with continuing professional training and long term treatment experience since 1993 at Life Management Foundation Inc. are definite advantages. This expertise assures the clients of Serenity a truly rewarding evidenced based and spiritual approach to recovery. (KINTSUGI)

PROGRAMS

Serenity Programs are evidenced based and are fitted to the individual needs determined by Psychological tests and clinical interviews. Admittedly it is biased in favor of the 12 step principles of AA but are cognizant of other equally successful programs and are open to such, as long as it bring the clients to recovery.

Meeting tours to Manila and Angeles City are organized to expose the clients to the different recovery groups that broaden their world and enhance their sobriety tools vicariously learned from the fellowships. Clients begin to realize that no matter where they are in the world, they never have to feel alone in this journey.

Excursions to the surfing beaches of San Juan, La Union and the famous Asin Hot springs for therapy and barbecues are regularly organized as breaks from Baguio cool weather

The continuous recovery programs not only lead the Person with Addiction (PWA) and People with Substance Use Disorder (PSUD) to the road of recovery but to even train them in becoming addiction counselors and or certified recovery coaches as well. The task of helping others is a way to maintain their own newly found recoveries through the 12-step program originally taken from Alcoholics Anonymous. Likewise, the originators of LIFE believe in the concept of a facility center where clients are not confined from the "real world"; rather they are faced with their choices each day. The management and treatment team believes that natural triggers must be allowed to face the Person with Addiction (PWA) and People with Substance Use Disorder (PSUD). This is so he/she can be made aware of the persons, places and events that create urges for him/her to pick up that first drink or to "score" and use that first hit. Unless those triggers are allowed to crop up naturally, the Person with Addiction (PWA) and People with Substance Use Disorder (PSUD) will never know the triggers or how to deal with them in sobriety. He is also trained to live life from a spiritual posture or in the context of an internal locus of control. Moreover, Serenity believes that this facility is easily replicated wherein barangays and city town halls can be encouraged to duplicate in their own places as a drug and alcohol awareness program. Treatment centers only require a certain locale or place where meetings, seminars and therapies are held.