Helping Hand Association DBA The Haven

The Haven operates both residential treatment and sober living facilities on their Salt Lake City campus, providing men with a structured progression through different phases of recovery. The residential treatment program offers intensive therapeutic intervention while the sober living houses serve as transitional housing for men preparing to reintegrate into independent living.

This dual-program approach allows residents to step down from intensive residential care into supported sober living without leaving their established recovery community. The facility's outdoor recreation programming complements traditional therapeutic methods, creating opportunities for peer connection and healthy lifestyle development throughout both residential and sober living phases.

Under the clinical oversight of Medical Director Dr. David Nelson, DO, The Haven provides medication-assisted treatment using buprenorphine and Naltrexone for appropriate candidates. This medical component works alongside trauma counseling and cognitive behavioral therapy to address both substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions.

The trauma counseling component specifically addresses PTSD and trauma-related addiction factors, recognizing the connection between past experiences and current substance abuse patterns. Medication Coordinator Kristi Merrity, MA, CPSS, oversees the integration of pharmaceutical interventions with therapeutic programming.

The Haven's alumni association maintains connections between program graduates and current residents, creating mentorship opportunities and ongoing peer support networks. This recovery community extends beyond treatment completion through regular alumni events and continued access to facility resources.

Aftercare planning includes connections to outpatient treatment programs and ongoing access to sober living housing as needed. The facility's long-standing presence in Salt Lake City since 1969 has created extensive community partnerships that benefit alumni seeking employment, housing, and continued recovery support throughout Utah.

The Haven specifically targets men who might otherwise struggle to access quality addiction treatment, particularly those from low-income backgrounds and individuals facing life-threatening addiction circumstances. Their acceptance of Medicaid, state insurance, and flexible payment arrangements removes common barriers to treatment entry.

The facility's experience with court-ordered participants provides structured programming that meets legal requirements while fostering genuine recovery motivation. Program Manager Nichole Hansen, LCSW, oversees the men's residential program with understanding of the unique challenges facing this population in Salt Lake County's recovery landscape.