Relapse is often a process, not an event. It may follow months or even years of sobriety and often brings feelings of guilt, shame, or confusion. At Ashley Addiction Treatment, we understand how relapse can disrupt your recovery and how to respond to it with clarity and compassion. Our relapse prevention program is designed to help you regain stability with a plan built around your specific needs.

Rather than repeating previous steps, we focus on building new tools and insights that address the patterns leading to relapse. Our clinical team works closely with you to understand what happened, what might still be unresolved, and how to move forward with a stronger foundation.

Turn relapse setbacks into solutions

A return to substance use does not mean treatment has failed. Recovery is not always a straight line, and relapse can be part of the process for many. What matters is how it is addressed. Our relapse prevention program focuses on practical recovery tools and education, not punishment or blame.

Relapse can happen when early warning signs are missed or ignored. Triggers, stress, untreated mental health issues, and even success or major life changes can set the stage for a setback. That is why our approach is built around relapse prevention planning, helping you understand your personal risk factors and how to manage them effectively.

Ashley’s program is guided by the principles of the Gorski-CENAPS Model of Relapse Prevention, developed by Terence Gorski. This structured method supports long-term recovery by helping individuals recognize the physical, emotional, and behavioral signs of relapse before they become unmanageable. Our licensed counselors work with you in an individual treatment plan to uncover underlying patterns, identify co-occurring conditions, and build coping skills to prevent relapse in the future.

Whether you have relapsed or feel yourself losing traction in recovery, Ashley offers a pathway forward grounded in respect, clinical insight, and real-world relapse prevention techniques.

“I came to Ashley as the result of my relapse after many years of sobriety. I entered feeling angry at myself, exhausted, ashamed. Ashley is a remarkable place of hope and healing. Every person on the staff treats patients with dignity and respect.”

Jim R.

How the Ashley Addiction Treatment relapse program works

At Ashley Addiction Treatment in Maryland, you’ll have support from your peers in our inclusive environment where all people are treated with dignity and respect.

Throughout the 28-day program, you will:

• Undergo onsite, medically monitored detoxification, if needed.
• Have access to Ashley’s team of certified medical professionals and relapse counselors.  
• Work with the team to identify personal relapse warning signs and develop a plan to manage them. 
• Attend 12-Step meetings.
• Attend individual,group, and/or family therapy.
• Receive an individualized continuing care and substance abuse recovery plan to manage the transition from inpatient treatment to the next stage of recovery. Experience has taught us that longer-term treatment results in better outcomes
• Wellness and stress management activities designed to support emotional balance

Coping skills to prevent relapse and support long-term recovery

Our relapse prevention program focuses on practical tools that support both daily living and long-term stability. These include:

• Recognizing personal triggers such as stress, isolation, or certain environments
• Managing cravings through mindfulness, distraction techniques, and urge-surfing
• Building healthy routines around sleep, nutrition, and physical activity
• Improving emotional regulation with grounding exercises and coping strategies
• Practicing communication and boundary-setting in personal and professional relationships
• Creating a realistic relapse prevention plan with strategies to manage setbacks if they occur

We also focus on long-term health considerations, such as untreated mental health conditions, chronic pain, or trauma that may impact recovery. Through individual therapy and relapse-focused counseling, we work with you to address these challenges in a safe and supportive environment.

Developing coping skills requires time, practice, and guidance. That is why our program includes aftercare planning and connections to ongoing resources, helping you maintain recovery and stay connected to a supportive community long after treatment ends.

A Supportive Setting for Relapse Prevention and Recovery

Ashley Addiction Treatment’s main campus in Havre de Grace, Maryland, offers a private and structured environment ideal for focused relapse prevention care. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Chesapeake Bay, this setting helps foster reflection, clarity, and personal growth. The campus is accredited by The Joint Commission, a recognition of our dedication to safe, evidence-based treatment and high standards of care.