The Foundation Clinic - Addiction Recovery Solutions

09/12/2025

Find Your Path to Wellness

At The Foundation Clinic in Oaklands, Norwood, we honor every individual’s unique journey to recovery. While we follow a wellness-based model (not a 12-step program), we proudly host Fellowship support meetings because we believe in empowering you to choose the approach that works best for you.

Weekly Fellowship Meetings:
- NA (Narcotics Anonymous)
Mondays, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- CA (Co***ne Anonymous)
Thursdays, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
- NA Bonfire Meeting
Saturdays, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
(A reflective gathering under the stars)
- AA (Alcoholics Anonymous)
Sundays, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM

These peer-led groups offer connection and shared strength, complementing our clinic’s holistic wellness philosophy. Your recovery, your way.

Where: The Foundation Clinic
41 Pretoria Street
Oaklands, Norwood

CA addictionrecovery addictionsupport

08/12/2025

How to Know if You’re Having a Drinking Problem

Many people use alcohol to unwind, socialise, or cope with stress, but it can be difficult to recognise when drinking shifts from occasional use to something harmful. A drinking problem doesn’t start with extremes — it often begins quietly, with subtle changes in behaviour, health, or emotions. Noticing these early signs is an important first step toward understanding your relationship with alcohol.

One of the most common indicators is losing control over how much or how often you drink. You may find yourself drinking more than you intended, struggling to cut back, or thinking about alcohol throughout the day. Drinking may start to feel less like a choice and more like something you need to relax, cope, or feel “normal.”

Another sign is when alcohol begins to affect your daily functioning. This can look like missing commitments, performing poorly at work, withdrawing from family or friends, or prioritising drinking over responsibilities and self-care. You may also notice emotional changes — increased irritability, anxiety, guilt, or secrecy around your drinking.

Your body can signal trouble too. Regular hangovers, rising tolerance, sleep disturbances, or using alcohol to relieve withdrawal discomfort (such as shaking or uneasiness) are warning flags that your drinking is no longer moderate.

Ultimately, if alcohol is causing harm, worry, or disruption in any area of your life, it is worth paying attention. You don’t need to “hit rock bottom” to seek support. At The Foundation Clinic, we understand these challenges and meet people with compassion, understanding, and evidence-based guidance. Reaching out is not a sign of failure — it is an act of courage and self-care. You deserve support, and help is available.

04/12/2025

Your Role in Ending Addiction Stigma

At The Foundation Clinic, we see that stigma—the shame and judgement surrounding addiction—is often what keeps people from seeking life-saving help. Dismantling this barrier isn’t just a job for healthcare professionals; it’s a community effort where everyone has a part to play.

It begins with our words. Choose person-first language like “a person with a substance use disorder” instead of labels like “addict.” This simple shift affirms their humanity first. Educate yourself and gently correct misconceptions. Addiction is a chronic brain disease, not a choice. Sharing this fact changes conversations.

Practise empathy daily. Listen without judgement if someone shares their struggle. Challenge your own biases and offer the same compassion you would for any other health condition. Support recovery-friendly workplaces and policies that treat addiction care as essential healthcare.

Finally, see the whole person, not just the illness. Recognise their strengths, include them, and offer connection. Isolation fuels stigma; community fosters healing.

Every compassionate action creates a ripple effect, making it easier for someone to reach out. By choosing understanding over ignorance, you help build a foundation where seeking help is an act of courage, not shame. At The Foundation Clinic, we believe in recovery for all. You can help make that belief a reality, starting today.

01/12/2025

This weekend,The Foundation Clinic hosted Recovery Coach Training facilitated by Leigh-Anne (). By empowering these new coaches with essential skills, we're expanding the circle of expert, compassionate support available to those on the path to recovery.

26/11/2025

The Invisible Struggle: Understanding High-Functioning Addiction

When we talk about addiction, many people imagine an obvious crisis or a dramatic “rock bottom”. But for countless individuals, addiction doesn’t look like that at all. High-functioning addiction often hides in plain sight—behind success, capability, and seemingly “normal” daily routines. It affects people who are holding careers together, showing up for their families, and meeting life’s demands, all while silently fighting a private battle.

Because outward responsibilities are still being met, the signs can be subtle, easily rationalised, or overlooked altogether. Yet certain patterns often begin to appear:

Using to Cope, Not to Celebrate: Alcohol or substances become a necessary tool to feel steady, unwind, or get through the day—not to have fun, but simply to function.

Secrecy and Minimising: A person may hide how much they use, prefer to use alone, or become defensive when the topic is raised—not out of dishonesty, but out of shame or fear of judgement.

Emotional Strain: Loved ones may notice irritability, anxiety, or mood changes when the individual can’t use, even though they appear composed to the outside world.

Persistent Mental Preoccupation: Thoughts about when, how, or where to use take up quiet mental space, often disguised within an otherwise structured life.

High-functioning addiction is particularly dangerous not because people are failing, but because they’re still succeeding. The ability to keep life together can reinforce the belief that “it’s not that bad”, delaying support until the emotional, physical, or relational cost becomes too great to ignore.

If you recognise yourself or someone you care about in these signs, please know this: there is no shame in seeking help. Addiction is not a character flaw—it is a human struggle, and asking for support is an act of strength, not weakness.

Healing begins with compassion, honesty, and the understanding that every person deserves a life where they can thrive—not just cope. At The Foundation Clinic, we walk this journey with you, at your pace, with respect, dignity, and hope.

24/11/2025

This 25th Anniversary isn't just about looking back at how far we've come—it's about looking forward to all the lives we have yet to touch. Our commitment to providing hope, healing, and purpose is stronger than ever.

Thank you for trusting us with your journeys. Here's to the next 25!

21/11/2025

Our sincere appreciation goes to all who attended our 25th Anniversary celebration. We were honored to have David Collins, founder and father of The Foundation Clinic, join us as our guest of honor. It was a pleasure to see many of you on Wednesday, who are a vital part of the clinic's history and family.

21/11/2025

6 Months in Recovery: The Growth & Discovery Phase (Emerging Identity)

Reaching the six-month milestone in addiction recovery is a profound achievement. By this point, you’ve built real momentum. Sobriety is no longer something you’re chasing day by day, it’s becoming the foundation of your new normal. This stage is often called the Growth & Discovery Phase, a time when your emerging identity begins to take shape.

Physical Renewal

By six months, many people notice meaningful improvements in their physical health. Energy levels are more stable, sleep is more consistent, and the body continues repairing what long-term substance use disrupted. Improvements in blood pressure, digestion, and overall vitality are common. For many, this is the healthiest they have felt in years.

Mental & Emotional Strengthening

Mentally, confidence grows as sober days begin to accumulate. You’re better equipped to “play the tape forward”, anticipating the consequences of a relapse before acting on impulse. Emotional regulation improves, and coping skills feel more instinctive than forced.
However, this stage can also bring challenges. The initial “pink cloud” of early recovery may have faded, leaving some people feeling flat, restless, or complacent. The memory of the pain that drove you into recovery becomes less sharp, which can mistakenly create a sense of being “cured.”

What to Focus On at 6 Months

Preventing Complacency: Staying committed to recovery routines, meetings, therapy, healthy structure is essential. Momentum doesn’t sustain itself.
Repairing Relationships: With guidance from a sponsor or therapist, this can be a meaningful time to begin making amends and rebuilding trust.
Setting Goals: Setting small, achievable goals supports a sense of purpose and direction.
Embracing Authenticity: Explore your values, identity, and interests. Who are you becoming in your sobriety?

Six months marks a powerful turning point, where survival gives way to growth, and recovery becomes an active journey of rediscovery.

There's wholeness in wellness.

Contact The Foundation Clinic - Addiction Recovery Solutions on:
(062) 676-1807 Call/WhatsApp
(010) 900-3131
info@thefoundationclinic
www.thefoundationclinic.co.za

19/11/2025

Hope to see you tonight!

A Night with David Collins

Celebrating 25 Years of The Foundation Clinic
📅 19 November 2025 | 📍 The Foundation Clinic, Johannesburg

This year marks an incredible milestone — The Foundation Clinic turns 25!
To celebrate, we’re hosting a very special evening: A Night with David Collins.

David Collins — our founder, mentor, and the father of The Foundation Clinic, and heart behind CA (Co***ne Anonymous), and U-ACT Ubuntu Trust — is visiting South Africa from the UK to join us for this wonderful occasion. David is a deeply respected and much-loved figure in the recovery and recovery coaching community worldwide, and this evening is our way of showing heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for all he has given — to our clinic, to recovery, and to thousands of lives touched along the way.

Over the past 25 years, The Foundation Clinic has supported more than 3,600 inpatients and 4,500 outpatients on their recovery journeys. Through U-ACT, more than 4,000 people have been trained as recovery coaches — spreading the message of hope, healing, and purpose far and wide.

This night is for everyone who has been part of our story — past and present clients, graduates, coaches, friends, and family. It’s an informal get-together to reconnect, share stories, and celebrate how far we’ve all come — together.

David will also take a moment to reflect on the future of recovery and what’s next for The Foundation Clinic in the next 25 years.

Come celebrate, connect, and be inspired — because you are part of this incredible journey.

✨ Join us for A Night with David Collins
📍 The Foundation Clinic
📅 Wednesday, 19 November 2025
Contact: Mureeda 062 676 1807

Let’s celebrate 25 years of healing, community, and hope — and look forward to many more.

18/11/2025

The Two Most Important Words in Early Recovery: Denial and Surrender

If you’re reading this, you might be wrestling with two powerful, conflicting forces: denial and surrender. I want you to know that what you’re feeling is not only common, it’s a central part of the journey.

Denial is the mind’s protective shield. It whispers, “It’s not that bad,” or “I can stop anytime.” It builds walls to block out the consequences, the worried looks from loved ones, and the quiet fear in your own heart. For a while, these walls feel safe. But eventually, they become the very prison they were meant to protect you from. Living inside them is a lonely, exhausting fight against reality.

Then, there is surrender.

So often, we hear “surrender” as defeat. In recovery, it is the opposite. Surrender is not about giving up; it’s about giving in. It’s the courageous decision to stop fighting the truth and lay down your arms. It is the moment you exhale and say, “I need help.”

This is the profound turning point. Surrender is the key that unlocks the door denial built. It is not a moment of weakness but of profound strength—the first honest step toward reclaiming your life.

At The Foundation Clinic, we meet you in that vulnerable space of surrender. We see your courage. Our role is to help you build a new foundation, not of walls, but of support, understanding, and proven strategies for healing.

You do not have to do this alone. The very act of seeking help is an act of surrender, and it is the bravest step you will ever take. Let this be your moment to begin.

There's wholeness in wellness.

Contact The Foundation Clinic - Addiction Recovery Solutions on:
(062) 676-1807 Call/WhatsApp
(010) 900-3131
info@thefoundationclinic
www.thefoundationclinic.co.za

17/11/2025

Few phrases can derail a conversation as swiftly as the well-intentioned but often disastrous question: “Why don’t you?” It seems a simple request for reasoning, but it’s frequently interpreted as a veiled accusation. The person asking often genuinely wants to help problem-solve, but the person hearing it feels judged, as if their own logic or effort is being called into question.

The trigger lies in the implication. “Why don’t you just get a new job?” or “Why don’t you just break up with them?” suggests the solution is obvious and the listener is foolish for not seeing it. It dismisses the complex web of emotions, finances, fear, and history that makes real-life decisions difficult. It reduces a deeply personal struggle to a simple puzzle, making the person feel misunderstood and defensive.

So, how can you inquire without coming across as an ar****le? The key is shifting from a posture of interrogation to one of curiosity and support.

First, listen to understand, not to solve. Your primary role isn’t to provide the answer, but to be a sounding board.

Second, rephrase the question. Swap the accusatory “Why don’t you?” for an open-ended, “Have you considered…?” or “What’s been stopping you from…?” This frames the suggestion as an option, not an obligation, and acknowledges there are barriers.

Finally, ask permission before giving advice. A simple, “Would you like to brainstorm some options, or do you just need to vent?” is profoundly respectful. It hands control back to the person struggling and ensures your guidance is welcome.

By replacing judgement with empathy and unsolicited solutions with genuine curiosity, you transform a potentially triggering question into a supportive conversation. It’s the difference between telling someone they’re in the wrong place and walking alongside them to find a better path.