Program
What type of treatment for drug/alcohol addiction does the JVA provide?
How does the JVA Therapeutic Community work?
What does a day look like as a student at the John Volken Academy?
Is a long-term Therapeutic Community effective in treating addiction?
What evidence is there for the success of a long-term Therapeutic Community like John Volken Academy?
How does the John Volken Academy program teach a recovering addict sufficient skills and tools necessary for lifelong sobriety?
After a few months in recovery the symptom of the addiction has been dealt with and students feel physically better, often better than they can remember. But for lifelong sobriety, treatment must not end there. Successfully treating the root cause of the addiction takes more time. Too many people relapse because the most important, most essential part needed for lifelong sobriety is not being considered, namely, the tools necessary to handle life’s many challenges.
Some of these tools are: to see obstacles not as problems but as challenges; the ability to face inconvenient realities; to be accountable for one’s actions; to practice self-control; to follow directions; to accept authority; to have self-confidence and self-worth; to be able to deal with changes, handle criticism, learn a “stick to it” attitude, and to cooperate with others.
Our program has four main areas of focus that provide students with these necessary tools:
1. Addressing the Root Cause of Addiction
The abuse of drugs and alcohol—along with other destructive behaviors—are not the real cause of addiction, they’re a symptom of something beneath the surface. To attain permanent recovery, the real cause of addiction, not just the symptom, must be treated. The cause is what drives a person to drugs and alcohol in the first place. It is almost always some underlying issues that makes an individual unable to be content with life as it is.
To determine and treat the causes of addiction, each student at the John Volken Academy undergoes an intense process of therapy in a safe place. Through individual counseling, group sessions, and appropriate peer-to-peer interactions, students learn how to share their thoughts and feelings, while facing and dealing with difficult situations. They learn to reflect on their own struggles and gain valuable insight into the sources of these struggles. In time, the causes of their addiction are identified, and students learn how to “let go” and to deal with those issues in a healthy manner.
2. Healing the Brain
The impairment caused by substance abuse is evident in many ways, such as impulsive, emotional, and irrational decisions and behaviors. During addiction, the brain still functions, but not effectively. Time and space away from substance is required for the brain and body to regain equilibrium.
During treatment, the brain begins to heal (or re-wire) itself. With a relative short time of abstinence, the proper environment, and new patterns of living, improvement in brain structure and function become evident. During this healing or re-wiring process, the person’s actions, reactions, and decision-making abilities remain distorted, but continue to improve as time goes on. After five years of sobriety, active recovery, and addiction treatment, the brain is usually as good as it will ever be, and if the recovered addicts continue to use the proper tools, they will be able to maintain sobriety for life.
This healing process takes time. It requires at least two years, and up to five years, of treatment for the brain to function at its optimum. That is why the minimum stay at the John Volken Academy is two years. It is the best investment of time that a struggling addict can ever make.
3. Adopting a New Lifestyle
To obtain life-long sobriety, it is essential that a person learns and adopts an entirely healthy new lifestyle. Under the direction of our Program Directors and other senior managers, our students do exactly that. This is accomplished, in part, by being taught and learning the following:
Learn to communicate effectively, co-operate with others, and better deal with the public
Become responsible, accountable, punctual, polite, reliable, and productive
Develop patience, tolerance, a “stick to it” attitude
Become valuable employees and to take pride in performance
Develop humility, self-control, and excellence in standards, manners and etiquette
Gain experience in business principles and entrepreneurship, management and leadership skills, problem solving, and how to handle criticism
Learn to go the extra mile and to be givers instead of takers
Develop the ability to deal with changes and improve self-confidence
Enjoy a wide range of healthy indoor and outdoor activities without any stimulants
4. Building Tools Required to Stay Sober
Like turning a big ship around, turning a life around takes time. To expect a person with a history of substance abuse to learn and adopt all the tools needed to stay sober in just a few months is simply unrealistic. We help students gain the tools needed to ultimately build good character through, group work and peer counseling, learning and education opportunities, job training and life skills.
What makes the John Volken Academy different from other treatment centers?
What age and gender do you provide treatment to?
How long have you been providing addiction treatment?
What kind of transitional services/relapse prevention does the John Volken Academy provide?
Do you offer specialized plans for each student in the program?
Can my family visit me while I am in the program?
Applying
What is the application, evaluation and assessment process for becoming a student at the John Volken Academy?
Applying for our program is simple. Contact us and/or submit your application through our website. One of our Program Directors will get in touch with you. You must complete the following before your application is accepted and you can enroll as a student:
TB TEST: A TB test must have been performed within the last year with the date of the exam and test results faxed to our office or provided on the Pre-Admission Medical Evaluation.
PRE-ADDMISSION MEDICAL EVALUATION: You must be medically stabilized with the proper psychiatric support and mood stabilizing medications in place.
DRUG REPLACEMENT THERAPY: Each location has different rules on drug replacement therapy, depending on local laws and staff resources. Please ask our Program Directors at the site you want to apply to for more information. All applicants must be detoxed from illicit drugs before entering the program.
Along with the PRE-ADMISSION MEDICAL EVALUATION filled out by your doctor, you will also need to fill out the ADMISSION APPLICATION. Both forms must be filled out in full; if any information is missing, this will hold up the application process.
In the application, we will provide you a list of acceptable items to bring with you to the JVA, as well as our rules and standards.
Call 1-855-896-1318 to speak directly with us for more information.
Should I get treatment locally or away from home?
How do I arrange travel to the facility I plan to attend? Is there an airport nearby?
All three of our facilities are located near major airports. It is a good idea to work with your Program Director as you arrange your flight to one of the below airports, and we will be there upon your arrival to pick you up and transport you to our facility.
British Columbia
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Seattle
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Phoenix
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
What can I bring with me to John Volken Academy?
How do I prepare for entering the John Volken Academy?
Medical & Legal
Are students of John Volken Academy insured?
Do you accept individuals who are on probation or are coming from a jail/prison facility?
Do you have professionals on staff?
Why no clinical staff on-site?
Do you offer medical detox?
Am I allowed to smoke cigarettes or use nicotine products while in the program?
Are you able to treat people with dual diagnosis?
Do you accept individuals in drug replacement therapy programs?
Facilities
What are the facilities like?
Where are you located?
We have three locations throughout Canada and the USA. Our locations are in Seattle Washington, Surrey British Columbia, and Phoenix Arizona. Take a tour of each location.
Does your program have a nutritional component?
Will I have a roommate?
Cost
How much does the program cost?
How is John Volken Academy free after the intake fee?
What payment options do I have?
Do you offer scholarships for those who cannot afford the in-take and incidental deposit?
Length
How long is the John Volken Academy program?
Why two-years? Is that necessary?
Is my addiction bad enough for a long-term treatment program?
Family
Do you offer family support?
How can I, as a family member or friend, support my loved one in the John Volken Academy?
What do I need to know as a family member or friend of a loved one entering the John Volken Academy?
If you have any questions or concerns, you can connect with our John Volken Academy Support Group as well as have direct access to our family liaisons and Program Directors at each facility.
"We were in a really tough spot with our daughter. She wouldn't take any advise from us and she was going down a dark path. We knew there were programs out there, but most had two limitations: 1) high monthly cost, and 2) ineffectiveness. Most were short-term programs that just focused on abstinence.
We needed something more, and something we could manage budget wise. John Volken Academy was/is the perfect fit. A 2 yr program that focuses on mental and emotional well being as well as the physical side. Our daughter will return home soon, and we can tell from our regular contact with her that there has been a LOT of change and it is genuine.
If you are in the same spot we were two years ago, PLEASE look into JVA. It will definitely change your life and the life of your loved one."
I can not thank them enough!"