Volken Academy Approach | John Volken Academy

Changing behavior requires a holistic approach

The John Volken Academy focuses on four main areas:

Community The Power of Community

The John Volken Academy believes that a healthy community of like-minded individuals is paramount to maintaining recovery. We strive to build the strongest, most supportive community to help our students change their lives:

Shared Experiences: Connect with others who truly understand your journey, reducing feelings of isolation while building real connections.
Peer Support: Give and receive feedback and encouragement from those at various stages of recovery, fostering hope and resilience.
Accountability: Community members help each other stay committed to their change process, reinforcing their recovery by helping others.
Leadership Development: Learn how to be a leader and work in various team-based settings to improve the lives of those around you.
Rebuilding Trust: Engage in healthy relationships, rebuilding trust in yourself, your family, and others.
Community Support: Experience the power of shared goals and mutual encouragement in a recovery-focused community.
Holistic Healing: Addresses not just physical behaviors, but also emotional, social, and practical aspects of recovery.

Recovery is a journey best travelled together. Our motto is “Each One, Teach One”. Together, we build strength, find purpose, and create lasting changes in each other.

Environment A Healthy Environment: The Foundation for Lasting Change

At the John Volken Academy, we understand that a nurturing environment is crucial for sustainable recovery and lifestyle transformation. Here’s why:

Safety and Stability: A structured, drug-free environment provides the security to focus on changing our behaviors.
Positive Influences: Surround yourself with peers and other like-minded individuals committed to recovery, reinforcing healthy choices.
Holistic Wellness: Access to nutritious meals, exercise facilities, and nature promotes physical and mental well-being.
Skill-Building Opportunities: Engage in workshops, group sessions, and activities that foster personal growth and develop life skills.
New Positive Foundation: Distance from previous environmental cues associated with substance use and criminal behavior helps to break old patterns and build new healthy habits.
Opportunities: Our diverse environments allow us to give our students access to incredible opportunities in business development, leadership skills, education, and more.

Your environment shapes your journey. The John Volken Academy creates the optimal conditions for you to rebuild, grow, and thrive in your new, healthy lifestyle.

Education Empowering Change Through Education

At the John Volken Academy, we believe that integrating education into our program offers invaluable benefits for long-term recovery and personal growth:

Enhanced Self-Understanding: Learn about human behavior while increasing self-awareness to improve decision-making.
Skill Development: Acquire practical life skills, from emotional intelligence to financial literacy and effective communication.
Cognitive Improvement: Engage in activities that boost cognitive functions often affected by substance use.
Career Advancement: Access vocational training and educational resources to improve future job prospects.
Increased Self-Esteem: Accomplish educational goals, boosting confidence and self-worth.
Avoiding Setbacks: Gain knowledge and tools to identify previous patterns of self-destruction and develop healthy alternatives.
Personalized Education: Explore diverse subjects that foster personal interests and overall well-being.
Peer Learning: Benefit from shared experiences and knowledge within the community.

Education is a powerful tool in recovery. By nurturing your mind and spirit, we help to equip our students with the tools needed for a successful life.

Time A Long-Term Path Provides Better Outcomes

Choosing a long-term solution in a therapeutic community can lead to profound, life-changing outcomes. Here are the key benefits:

Higher Success Rates: Extended programs significantly increase the chances of sustained recovery.
Thorough Recovery: Addresses core behaviors that influenced a lifestyle of self-destruction.
Life Skills Development: Learn and practice essential skills for a healthy, independent life post-treatment.
Strong Support Network: Build lasting relationships with peers and staff committed to your success.
Gradual Reintegration: Transition back into society at a pace that ensures stability and confidence.
Personal Growth: Discover new interests, strengths, and a renewed sense of purpose and self-worth.
Family Healing: Repair and strengthen family relationships through dedicated family programs.
Career Development: Explore educational and vocational opportunities to support your new life direction.

Embrace the journey of long-term recovery. At the John Volken Academy, you will find the time, support, and resources needed to build a foundation for the future.

our holistic approach to Whole-Person Change

Physical

Getting the physical body healthy is the first step to maintaining lasting sobriety. John Volken Academy (JVA) students learn the importance of taking care of themselves again. Students are expected to respect their bodies by maintaining good physical health and we are here to help inspire them to achieve an optimal state of being, creating new self-confidence. They reach these goals by the JVA offering healthy balanced meals, regular exercise, personal hygiene products, and time in nature. All these crucial aspects contribute to recalibrating sound physical well-being.

Mental

Once the physical body starts to heal, we begin work on rewiring the brain. Our students start with routine and structure to rebuild healthy daily habits. This process helps to change personal values and core beliefs. Mental clarity quickly becomes a top priority in our change process. The John Volken Academy provides the time needed for students to understand the root-cause issues of their behavior. Our students think for themselves, follow directions, and learn not to take the easy way out. They are taught to analyze situations, positively deal with stress, prioritize responsibilities, and reorganize their life. The result is learning to live by making constant “right” decisions.

Educational

The John Volken Academy believes integrating education into our program provides invaluable benefits for personal growth. We see every opportunity as a teachable moment to better ourselves and learn from each other. Students at our Academy receive employment training in our Life Skills Training Centers and participate in personalized education in our Education Rooms. Our students also broaden their knowledge by attending educational workshops and seminars on a wide range of different topics needed for a successful life.

Literacy
Writing
Debating
Legal
Financial
Current Events
Computer Skills
Resume Building

Emotional

Many students arrive at the John Volken Academy needing support and emotional healing. We teach our students how to understand, control, and express their emotions. They learn to acknowledge and overcome things they have gone through in the past and develop a robust emotional tool belt to approach challenging circumstances in the present and the future.

Social

By participating in the John Volken Academy individuals can expect to gain valuable social skills while creating a strong support network that will continue to support them even after our program. We achieve this by creating a sense of belonging backed by community support. We help our students to develop interpersonal skills, like effective communication and boundary setting. Our community promotes peer-to-peer learning and mentorship creating new self-esteem and confidence through shared effort and social accountability.

Spiritual

The John Volken Academy acknowledges that one’s beliefs may lend strength, perseverance, and motivation through the recovery process. While the program is not faith-based, students are encouraged to explore and develop spiritually.