Freshman Phase is designed for students new to treatment or new to Sober College to help them get acclimated, and bond with their housemates and peers during their first few weeks.

Moving Towards Independent Living

Designed for stays of three months to one year, the Sober College Program is broken down into the primary male and female programs, the apartment program, and extended care.  A clients position in one of these three segments is determined based on how long they have been at Sober College, their compliance with the program guidelines, and their success in the five competencies.

Our unique program model encourages our clients to comply and succeed in our program by giving them the opportunity to earn privileges throughout their time at Sober College, such as computer access, phone privileges etc. However, when a new client admits to Sober College they enter on what we refer to as Freshman Phase.

Why Family-Style Living?

Freshman Phase means that the client has minimal privileges and is required to be with a staff member at all times. This phase of our program encourages comradery among housemates and allows the new client to become comfortable with his new environment and staff members, while keeping him safe. Moving off Freshman Phase is determined on a case by case basis and is determined based on the client’s achievement in the five core competencies of our program, but is usually at 30 days that a client is eligible to apply to be taken off freshman phase.

Being Accountable to the Whole

Coupled with the Freshman phase of our program, the family-style living environment at Sober College encourages house members to hold each other accountable for their chores, actions, and as a result their sobriety. The bonds residents make with their housemates throughout the Sober College experience can build some of the strongest friendships residents have ever had. Living in this environment teaches our students they are capable of having healthy relationships with both authority figures as well as their peers.