History

Tune in to Larry King Live, Dr. Phil, and Oprah or peruse the headlines of The Globe, The Enquirer, The Star…such are the resources that most Americans might use to learn about a drug and alcohol treatment center. When a celebrity’s life takes a destructive course as a result of substance abuse most Americans learn about it and learn about certain treatment centers. Based on these headlines, in 2004 Forbes.com studied the “Top Ten Most Luxurious Place to Dry Out” and not surprisingly Sober Living By The Sea was included in this very select list.

But luxury was not what was on the mind of Carl and Barbara Mosen in June 1986, when they made the decision to open an after care facility to assist alcoholics transition from the First Step House of Orange County (Charle Street). Subscribing to the philosophy of the 12-Step Program, Carl and Barbara promoted the basics tenets of Alcoholics Anonymous and taught recovering alcoholics how to survive in the real world, and not just any real world, but that of Newport Beach, CA. Carl and Barbara were determined not to be sidetracked by the skeptics. They welcomed the clients into their own home, took the clients shopping, and drove the clients to work and AA meetings. The basic premise was if an alcoholic could get sober and stay sober in naturally beautiful surroundings, then could stay sober anywhere.

The city of Newport Beach was incorporated in 1906 with only 206 citizens. In 1905 rapid transit served to bring camping families to the beautiful waterfront, and small hotels and beach cottages sprang up to cater to the emerging tourist industry. Newport Beach became a summer resort for Southern Californians to frequent. After WWII, more people settled in Newport Beach as full time residents; however, now with a population 70,000, Newport Beach is still known for its beautiful harbor, beautiful beaches, beautiful homes, and beautiful people celebrating and vacationing.

With a vision to teach people that recovery from chemical dependency is possible and that it can be effectively treated in a variety of settings, Carl and Barbara chose Newport Beach and designed a treatment model that is considered somewhat unusual—the clients live in homes located on or just off the beach, with a house parent. The usual means of transportation is a ‘beach cruiser’, a.k.a. bicycle. The day starts at 5:30am and concludes at 10:00pm. Each day is filled with meditation, group meetings, therapy, local AA meetings, exercise and working the steps. This is a sober community within a vibrant community!

Even today, parents and practitioners sometime cringe at the idea of treatment without walls, gates, and bars on every window; even though research has shown that confined inpatient treatment can be like throwing a baby who doesn’t know how to swim into the ocean and expecting him or her to survive. As one employee says, “Sober Living’s philosophy is to teach the clients how to swim, show them where the life preservers are if they are ever in trouble, and make them responsible.”

In June 2006, Sober Living By The Sea will mark 20 years as a treatment center. Now eighty employees are guided by Bill Swiney, Executive Director, who came to Sober Living By The Sea in 1994. Bill remarks that “What has allowed Sober Living to grow and survive the storms both in the treatment industry, and in treating clients, is the passion for helping people get sober and stay sober.”

An original dream, many innovative programs designed to meet the needs of those suffering from both substance abuse and coexisting psychiatric disorders, and a highly skilled professional staff, Sober Living By The Sea is about “living,” not just surviving by the seashore. As the city of Newport Beach prepares to celebrate 100 years based on the foresight of 206 citizens, Sober Living By The Sea now capable of housing and treating 206 clients will prepare to celebrate 20 years, based on the foresight of one special couple, Carl and Barbara Mosen.

 

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