May 16, 2017
Seeing a need for a secular addiction recovery option in the area, Laurel Ridge Adjunct Professor Jim Graham started one himself. The psychology professor and certified substance abuse counselor started a SMART (Self-Management and Recovery Training) group that meets 7-8:30 p.m. every Wednesday in Cornerstone Hall Room 124 on the Middletown Campus.
“It’s for any type of addiction, from pornography, to gambling, to drugs, to sex, to food,” Graham says. “It’s scientifically-based, but there’s four points.”
The four points of the program are:
- Building and maintaining motivation
- Coping with urges
- Managing thoughts, feelings and behaviors
- Living a balanced life.
Unlike well-known recovery groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, SMART Recovery isn’t spirituality-based, Graham said. While working for another organization with clients with addiction and behavioral issues, he met some young people who weren’t interested in the AA or NA approach. He would drive one young man to Arlington for recovery meetings.
The free meetings are face-to-face, but there is an online community as well at www.smartrecovery.org. The program uses cognitive behavioral therapy, rational emotive behavior therapy and motivational interviewing.
“My own personal opinion is we need to find out why people find it necessary to use in the beginning,” Graham says. “Almost everybody probably uses drugs or alcohol or other addictions to change the way they feel.”
Founded in 1970, Laurel Ridge Community College is a multi-campus public institution of higher education. With three locations — Middletown, Warrenton, and Luray-Page County — the College serves eight localities in the Shenandoah Valley and northern Piedmont regions. The localities are the counties of Clarke, Fauquier, Frederick, Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah and Warren and the city of Winchester. Laurel Ridge offers more than 75 associate degree and certificate programs in a wide variety of disciplines. Laurel Ridge also serves the business community by offering workforce preparation programs for employees and employers. Laurel Ridge serves more than 9,000 unduplicated credit students and more than 11,000 individuals in professional development and business and industry courses annually.
Laurel Ridge Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. Laurel Ridge Community College also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Laurel Ridge Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Laurel Ridge Community College is an equal opportunity institution providing educational and employment opportunities, programs, services, and activities. Laurel Ridge shall promote and maintain equal employment and educational opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions including lactation, age (except when age is a bona fide occupational qualification), status as a veteran, national origin, or other non-merit factors. Laurel Ridge also prohibits sexual misconduct including sexual violence or harassment. Inquiries may be directed to the Associate Vice President, Human Resources, [email protected], 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA 22645, 540-868-7226.
Laurel Ridge Community College was known as Lord Fairfax Community College until June 2022. For consistency purposes, the college will be referenced as Laurel Ridge going forward.