Drug and alcohol rehab centers always have serveral balancing acts to achieve while assisting clients to find sobriety.  One is between dealing with the past, present and future.  Helping people dealing with the realm of the past is primarily a counseling issue.  Moving past our histories and old behaviors many times is best handled by competent and caring counselors. 

Dealing with the present is best handled by a busy and full schedule.  One of the best mood elevators is activity with purpose.  It is imperitive that drug and alcohol rehabs have most of the days scheduled with activity.  Many times addiction robs people of any activity that does not involve using drugs and alcohol.

The future is best handled by teaching new skills.  To change the direction of future behavior clients need to learn and master new methods of handling life.  This is the realm of the educator.  A quality drug and alcohol rehab program needs to balance the counseling with education.  At the same time clients respond best when they have to get out and do something at the same time.  Juggling these 3 balls in the air may not be easy.  There is no perfect mix for all clients.  The road to a sober life involves some of each.