S.O.B.E.R. International

It is our mission to equip struggling teens with the knowledge and skills that will allow them to not only remain drug free, also to graduate from high school, excel into college, becoming respectful, productive members of society. We feel that we are not only responsible for their success, but more so the outcome of their failure. We must act now and address these critical issues before their lifestyle prevent them from reaching short and long term life goals.

It is the philosophy of S.O.B.E.R. International to assist persons with developing and maintaining coping skills that facilitate adjustment and integration within their living environments and community. Clients and family members are empowered to make decisions about their care with the expected outcome of an increased  quality of life.

 Pet therapy is a guided interaction between a person and a trained  animal. It also involves the animal’s handler. The purpose of pet  therapy is to help someone recover from, or cope with a health problem or mental disorder.  Dogs and cats are most commonly used in pet  therapy. However, fish, guinea pigs, horses, and other animals that meet  screening criteria can also be used. The type of animal chosen depends  on the therapeutic goals of a person’s treatment plan.  The goals of a pet therapy program can include: 

• increasing  self-esteem
  
• increasing  verbal communication
   
• developing  social skills
   
• increasing  willingness to join in activities
   
• improving   interactions with others
  

Other benefits of pet therapy include:

• making you happier, lessening depression, and improving your outlook on life.
   
• decreasing loneliness and isolation by giving you a companion.
   
• reducing boredom
   
• reducing anxiety because of its calming effects
   
• helping children learn empathic and nurturing skills
   

      In 1997, my wife and I and our four children became homeless for eleven months due to a combination of drug use and our welfare system.  We found ourselves sleeping in parks, banded cars, campgrounds and where ever else we could have laid our heads.   As we shared with other homeless people, we spent hours sharing with them and most of them denied the fact that it had nothing to do with drug use and that they enjoyed not having any responsibilities. “Well, that wasn’t the case with us!” We wanted help, but people just didn’t look our way and made us feel like if we were invisible to them.  Towards the end of our homelessness. We were invited to a little church call ‘Trinity full Gospel” where we received Jesus Christ as our savior and was prophesied by a pastor that we had a calling in our lives to help families who are in need. The season had come that God opened the doors for us where He fulfilled HIS word by opening our own Counseling Center, Transitional living home and recently we both were called to be ordained Ministers.   My wife and I stand firm that  “GOD will not give us a vision without the provision.”       

GOD is Good!