What to Expect

If you are considering care at Bryan Independence Center, you probably have many questions. What is involved? What is the daily schedule like? What is the dress code? Will I have a roommate?

We're here to provide you with helpful information about what to expect.

Before Receiving Care

What to Bring

What to Bring

Items you should bring to residential treatment:

  • Photo ID
  • Insurance card and related information
  • Social Security number
  • List of medications including dosages
  • Names, addresses and phone numbers of all potential contacts or referral sources (i.e., probation officer, attorney, EAP, doctors, therapist and/or family members)
  • Medical equipment you use regularly, such as glucometer and test strips, cane, TENS unit and/or CPAP machine

Items we recommend you bring to residential treatment:
All of your items must fit into one piece of luggage and one backpack. Any extra items will be sent home with your family.

  • Personal grooming items/toiletries (alcohol-free and non-aerosol preferred)
  • Headphones or earbuds for use with our MP3 players
  • Casual clothing
  • Alarm clock
  • Socks/underwear
  • Stationery, envelopes and stamps
  • Sweater or jacket
  • Family pictures
  • Winter coat, hat, mittens and/or scarf (if applicable)
  • Plastic hangers only
  • Walking shorts for warm months
  • Snacks that are individually packaged
  • Tennis shoes/comfortable shoes
  • Pillow and blanket or comforter
  • Pajamas/robe/slippers
  • School books/Chromebook/assignments (if applicable)
  • Shower shoes (flip-flops, etc.)
  • Free time activities (crosswords, etc.)
  • Cash ($20-$30 maximum - see below Money)
  • Clothes for exercise
  • Cell phone and charger to be used during approved times

Items you MAY NOT bring to treatment:

  • MP3 player, CD player or other music devices
  • Heating pads, extension cords
  • Wire hangers
  • Movies (DVDs or Blue Ray)
  • TVs, personal DVD players
  • Magazines, pictures/photos that are sexually oriented, promote gangs, alcohol, drugs and/or gambling
  • Computers, including laptops and tablets (unless provided by school)
  • Gambling devices/dice
  • Knives/other weapons
  • Energy drinks
  • Prescription medication - except any antibiotics you are currently taking and birth control pills
  • Over-the-counter medication or supplements
  • Permanent markers/paints
  • Video games or game systems
  • Coffeemakers/Keurigs

Medications and energy drinks

We are required to administer medications from the hospital pharmacy only. Clients are not allowed to bring their own over-the-counter or prescription medication. Please bring a current medication list, including the name of drug, dosage and frequency. Do not bring any herbal supplements.

We do not allow purchase or consumption of energy drinks.

Tobacco

There is a designated area where clients may smoke or chew tobacco. Clients who are 21 or older and in programming three or more hours per day are allowed to use tobacco products during designated times. No use of tobacco products is allowed inside the building. Vaping and e-cigarettes are not allowed. 

Visitors are not permitted to smoke on hospital grounds.

Money

We suggest leaving credit cards and large amounts of cash at home. If you choose to bring these items, we have lockers for your use. Clients may want to bring $10-$30 in cash for incidentals. Clients, accompanied by a staff member, may go to a local store once per week to make purchases. No purchases of over-the-counter medications or energy drinks are allowed.

Dress Code

Dress Code

  • Plan to wear casual, comfortable clothes and shoes while in treatment
  • You may wish to bring a sweater or jacket to wear inside
  • Hats or bandanas may be worn. No gang or drug related words or images
  • Tank tops are permitted. However, no spaghetti straps, visible undergarments, bare midriffs or muscle shirts
  • Swimwear
    • Men: boxer-type suits are permitted
  • Sunglasses may be worn outside only

During Care

Duration of Stay

Duration of Stay

Treatment plans are individualized for each client. Our treatment team will meet with you to determine, from you, the main problems to address in your primary treatment. Along with input from significant individuals in your life, this list of main problems and your plans for recovery after primary treatment will help us determine the length of time needed for primary treatment.

Length of stay in treatment will depend significantly on the plan for your ongoing recovery plan. Some clients will move to a longer-term recovery placement such as a halfway house, group home or foster care; others may return home. Primary treatment is just the beginning of your recovery. We recommend all clients continue with ongoing support to enhance the work you have accomplished in primary treatment.

Options for ongoing support may be one of the Bryan Independence Center lower levels of care such as outpatient care or you may work with a counselor or support group in your home community. Our goal is to make that transition to your next level of care as easy as possible.

Facilities and Amenities

Facilities and Amenities

Mail/Telephone

No ordering online while in treatment.

Mail can be sent to you while in treatment, as follows:

Bryan Independence Center
Attn: Client Name
1640 Lake St
Lincoln, NE 68502

Make sure your sender puts your name on the package. Package contents will be screened in your presence before you receive the package.

Please do not fill out a change of address form with the postal service to have your mail forwarded to Bryan Independence Center. You can place a hold on your mail at the United States Post Office website. Or, have a friend or family member collect and deliver your mail to you at the Bryan Independence Center.

Phones are available for client use. Calls are limited to 10-15 minutes each, and can be made and received on breaks only.

Laundry

We ask that you bring your own laundry detergent and fabric softener. Washers and dryers are available in the laundry room at no cost. You will do your own laundry.

Rooms

All rooms are two-bed rooms. You will likely have a roommate at some time, if not the entire length of stay. We do have medical beds available for those with specific needs.

Bryan Independence Center has separate areas for adults, teens, men and women.

Exercise

For those in residential care, we encourage exercise and provide equipment for your use. If you have concerns about participation, we can discuss this with you on an individual basis.

Exercise has proven to have many positive benefits for people in recovery.

Meals

We provide breakfast, lunch and dinner for those in residential care, as well as snacks. Those in partial care receive lunch. Special dietary needs can be accommodated.

Daily Schedule

Daily Schedule

In residential treatment, therapeutic care is individualized to meet client needs. Counselors are trained in a variety of therapy approaches including reality therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, solution focused therapy, client-centered therapy and other treatment modalities.

Clients meet individually with their counselor one to two times a week. Group therapy is held six days a week, led by licensed counselors. A spiritual counselor meets individually with clients to meet spiritual needs and also leads groups focused on grief, guilt and 12-step work.

Educational programs and discussions are presented by Bryan Independence Center staff as well as a variety of other hospital professionals on topics such as assertiveness, anger, nutrition, physical health effects and sleep problems resulting from substance use to support recovery. These classes provide knowledge and enhance clients' understanding about the effects of addiction.

Counseling is based around the 12-step model and the disease of addiction which addresses how our bodies and brains respond to addictive chemicals. Clients are taught new coping skills to prepare them for dealing with emotions, relapse-prevention and addictive behaviors. The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous has been a proven benefit to those seeking recovery from addictions, in part because of the focus on looking at the reality of one's life and determining how things could be improved if certain efforts are made. The additional benefit of 12-step programs is the support of other individuals also seeking recovery. Attendance of 12-step meetings or other recovery support groups is an important part of treatment.

We encourage you to call and visit with a staff member. We are happy to answer any questions you have. Please call us at 402-481-5268 or 800-742-7845, ext. 15268.