This is a very important part of the Muktangan Therapeutic Model. The groups are formed on the basis of date of admission. All friends admitted on Friday are considered as first week friends. On completion of a week on subsequent Friday they graduate to the second week. Likewise at any given moment we have five groups.
We have experienced that this pattern of group formation is the crux of recovery process. During first week our friends are just recovering from withdrawals. Many of them feel homesick. Some of them are in denial. Some of them find it difficult to cope up with the fact of being admitted to a center. So the first week group is more or less experiencing discomfort. Even if the group may include friends from varying financial, educational or intellectual background, they are emotionally at one level, and hence relate to each other. We feel that this emotional cohesiveness works well in the process of recovery.
Our friends graduate to the subsequent weeks and evolve in a wonderful group. Just like defence staff or college students, Muktangan graduates proudly call each other “Batch–mates”. The five–week program is designed keeping in view the emotional, cognitive and awareness levels of our friends.
- Initially topics for group therapy are more focused on information and motivation.
- In the second week they are introduced to first four steps of AA and basic concepts of REBT.
- Third week primarily focuses on emotional problems and stress management.
- Fourth week deals with skills training.
- Fifth week deals with behavioural and cognitive skills to stay sober.
| Week | Friday | Saturday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday |
| 1 | Introduction to Muktangan program | Self–awareness | Here and now | Disease concept | Introspection and diary writing |
| 2 | First 4 steps | Rock bottom | Perception | Slogans | Handling emotions |
| 3 | Lifestyle | Importance of physical activity | RET | Stress management | Abstinence and sobriety |
| 4 | Living sober | Communication | Relapse prevention | Goal setting and future plan | Character defects |
| 5 | REBT | Decision making | Assertiveness skills | Importance of family relationship | Follow–up |
RET is Rational Emotive Therapy and REBT is Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy
Special therapies, feature activities
Every Saturday: 9.00–10.30: Music therapy
Every Sunday: 11.30–1.00: Life enrichment therapies viz.– Values, time and money management, social issues, laughter therapy, creativity therapy, physical theatre by visiting faculties
Every Wednesday: 10.30–11.30: Antardeep send–off function to the inmates in a very traditional way.
Every Thursday: 9.00–10.15: Special groups for model therapy, quiz contests, role plays etc.
Every Friday: 9.00–10.00 Gardening and/or viewing films about nature
Last Saturday of every Month 10.00–1.00: Celebrating sobriety birthdays
Input sessions
Input sessions are lectures delivered by experts. At Muktangan we call it meditation. Each input session is followed by a question–answer session.
The main topics discussed are given below with corresponding reference to the therapeutic goals.
- HIV/AIDS: Information about what is HIV, how it is transmitted, risk factors etc. is given in a comprehensive way.
- Substance abuse: Information about various drugs abused and their effects is given.
- Medical complications: Medical officer explains effects of drugs and alcohol on various organs and systems.
- Psychiatric complications: Substance abuse is closely related with psychiatric problems. Various issues involved are explained in detail.
- Sexual problems and addiction: This is one of the most important subjects delicately explained by our psychiatrist.
- Serenity prayer: We believe that serenity prayer is the most effective tool in the recovery process. The prayer is explained by illustrating various life experiences.
- Mental health: Criteria for mental health is explained. Friends are then helped to check the areas needing improvement to restore mental health.
- Physical health and fitness: Qualified trainer explains nurturing physical health.
- First four steps of AA: Four separate sessions are organised to explain first four steps. Powerlessness over addiction, unmanageability of life, higher power, and self–inventory are explained in detail.
- Meditation and awareness: Information about Vipassana is provided. Also types of awareness are explained.
- Hobbies and creativity: Inmates are given the opportunity of using creative instances for happy and healthy living.
- Happiness and satisfaction: We endorse the view that happiness is the path, not a destination. The difference between point satisfaction and process satisfaction is explained.
- Anger control: Anger is a very common problem with addicts. Various tools of expressing and ventilating anger are explained.
The de–addiction treatment program is for five weeks – 34 days starting every Friday. The daily routine for the friends is as below
| Time | Activity |
| 6.00 | Wake up time |
| 6.30–7.00 | Warming up and physical training |
| 7.00–7.10 | Instructions and prayer |
| 7.15–8.30 | Tea, maintenance duties & personal hygiene |
| 8.30–9.00 | Breakfast |
| 9.00–10.00 | Meditation – Input sessions by experts |
| 10.00–12.00 | Time slot for visiting counsellor/Diary writing/Library |
| 12.00–13.00 | Group therapy |
| 13.00–14.00 | Lunch |
| 14.00–15.00 | Rest for new patients |
| 14.30–15.30 | Group therapy for 4th and 5th week inmates |
| 15.00–16.00 | Relaxation therapy for newly admitted and time for counselling |
| 16.00–17.00 | Yoga postures |
| 17.00–17.15 | Tea |
| 17.15–18.30 | Recreation/Gymnasium, Games |
| 18.30–19.30 | AA/NA meetings (Thrice a week) |
| 19.30–20.00 | Prayer and distribution of medicines |
| 20.30–21.00 | Dinner |
| 21.00–22.00 | Entertainment– TV/Audio/Video/Indoor games/Books |
| 22.00 | Lights off |
Follow–up center activities
Counsellers from Muktangan make regular visits to follow–up centers all over Maharashtra. While at the follow–up centers, they
- Make home visits if required.
- Attend to patients in need of individual counselling.
- Determine if a patient needs to be admitted to the de–addiction center.
- Develop support groups consisting of ex–patients.
- Conduct family counselling and sahajeevan meetings.