If you or someone you know needs support, The Guidance Center is available 24 hours a day.
At The Guidance Center (TGC), Flagstaff’s nonprofit mental health and recovery provider, staff knows that the holidays require both vigilance and compassion. “This time of year can bring joy,” one clinician noted, “but it can also stir up old habits, grief or stress that people in recovery have worked hard to manage.”
National data supports what local providers see every winter. Overdose rates rise by about 22% during the holiday season compared to other times of year, and relapse risk can double for people who have previously completed treatment. Nearly four in 10 adults report that their stress levels increase during November and December, a spike that can magnify temptation, anxiety, depression and fatigue. Family tensions, disrupted schedules and the ever-present flow of alcohol all create what one might call the perfect storm.
The Guidance Center’s approach recognizes that no two recovery journeys look the same. The organization offers multiple levels of care to fit different needs. Our residential treatment program provides a structured pause from daily life, combining group and individual therapy, education, sober community outings and peer support. For those balancing work or family responsibilities, outpatient programs allow people to continue their routines while still receiving consistent therapeutic support.
Therapists at TGC use evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), the Matrix Model, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). However, staff members often emphasize that recovery is not just about techniques, but about connection. Maintaining relationships, accountability and healthy routines becomes especially important when the familiar rhythms of daily life are interrupted by holiday stress.
When structure gives way to chaos, the risk of relapse rises. Financial worries, travel fatigue, emotional family encounters and social pressure to drink can all chip away at a person’s stability. Experts note that people in early recovery are particularly vulnerable during special occasions such as holidays or vacations, when regular support meetings might be missed. Clinicians at TGC often work with clients to build holiday relapse-prevention plans, ahead of time, identifying triggers, scheduling extra meetings and finding safe, sober ways to celebrate. It’s not about avoiding the holidays. It’s about being prepared for them.
Flagstaff’s business community also plays an important role in supporting recovery this time of year. Employers can ease seasonal stress by being flexible with scheduling, recognizing emotional strain and hosting sober-friendly events that include non-alcoholic drink options and safe transportation. Encouraging employee wellness programs and sharing information from local organizations like TGC can make a meaningful difference. Supporting recovery isn’t just a matter of health, it also affects workplace safety, productivity and the overall well-being of our community.
Recovery doesn’t end when the calendar year does. For someone walking that path, the work continues, quietly and persistently. At the Guidance Center, the message is simple: Progress isn’t a straight climb. It bends and circles, sometimes doubles back, but every step still counts. What matters most is staying on the trail.
As Flagstaff moves through another holiday season, its recovery community prepares in its own quiet way: checking routines, reinforcing support networks and finding strength in connection. For local businesses, neighbors and families, one of the most meaningful gifts this year might be offering a steady hand to someone finding their way forward.
If you or someone you know needs support, The Guidance Center is available 24 hours a day. Visit tgcaz.org or call 928-527-1899 for more information. FBN
By Devon Forrest
This article was written with input from Katherine, a longtime Flagstaff resident and former patient. Because she has firsthand experience with our different services, both in-patient and outpatient, it means a lot to me that she’s willing to offer input for this publication. Additionally, watching her thrive in the community is especially meaningful for me and our capable, caring team.
Devon Forrest is the CEO of The Guidance Center. The Guidance Center 2187 N. Vickey Street
Flagstaff, AZ 86004
928-527-1899 / 888-681-1899
Leave a Reply