Abstract. Rehabilitation workers contribute to sustaining the sobriety of substance-abuse individuals who have finished their formal treatment by delivering the aftercare process. The study explored the challenges and strategies of rehabilitation workers in the aftercare process of substance-abuse individuals. The researchers utilized the phenomenological research design to describe the challenges faced by the rehabilitation workers in the aftercare process of substance-abuse individuals and the strategies they employ as well. The researchers interviewed nine rehabilitation workers at the JJ Valderrama Behavioral Management Center in Davao City. Utilizing the thematic analysis approach created by Virginia Braun and Victoria Clarke, the results revealed various challenges that rehabilitation workers face: manpower shortage and other implications, clients' commitment to aftercare, handling deception, unforeseen circumstances, maintaining professional roles, and existing workers' limitations. Further, implementing treatment program activities, incorporating various counseling therapies, collaborative approaches, skills, and insight-driven approaches, emanating warmth, personality, and individualized approaches, and exhausting all efforts emerged as the strategies employed. The findings suggested that while rehabilitation workers assist clients, they are also human beings with limitations. Additionally, workers must utilize strategies and adjust when things do not go as planned, as recovery is a complex process. Aftercare is of paramount importance in building the path toward sobriety.

Keywords: Aftercare process; Phenomenology; Rehabilitation workers; Substance-abuse individuals