Healing Through Leisure: Empowering Recovery For Mothers

Abstract

Mothers in early recovery from substance use disorder face unique challenges, including societal stigma, disrupted occupational roles, and a lack of structured, meaningful engagement outside of traditional treatment settings. At Heart Rock Recovery Center, a residential sober living community for pregnant and parenting women, staff identified a need to strengthen mother- child bonding through co-occupational leisure and daily activities. This doctoral capstone project aimed to address these needs by implementing a structured leisure exploration and life skills program designed to support maternal identity, promote co-occupational engagement, and enhance overall wellbeing. The program focused on engaging mothers in meaningful leisure occupations while reinforcing essential life skills to support daily function and long-term recovery. At the conclusion of the 14- week doctoral capstone project, staff reported high satisfaction with the program implementation and perceived positive effects on the mental health and overall wellbeing of participating residents. Although the sample size was limited, these findings provide preliminary evidence that integrating leisure-based, occupation-centered interventions into recovery settings can play a critical role in promoting wellness and improving quality of life for mothers in early recovery.