Treatment Philosophy
Problems become solutions
when seen as surmountable challenges
that can be faced with the support and love of friends.
Group Participation
One of the aims of our daily group sessions is to help residents see their problems as surmountable challenges. If a woman recognizes her own issues in the experience of another, the sense of isolation that accompanies addiction tends to lessen.
Group participation also allows the women to introspect and explore addictive behaviors and their consequences. As they do this together, emotional intimacy, which is an important component of our program, is enhanced.
We use many different approaches in these sessions, including cognitive-behavioural, relational, and empowerment models while remaining within the parameters of the transtheoretical model of change. This model proposes that a person makes life changes in stages rather than in one big step: by thinking about the problem, considering what to do and then deciding to take action.
In the knowledge that self-centredness is at the core of addiction, Charlford House staff utilize the safe and supportive atmosphere of group work to encourage women to begin to think in terms of care and concern for others.
Individual Sessions
Our clients also have the opportunity to attend individual counselling when needed. These sessions are informal, relaxed and without the barrier of structured appointment times.
The main goal of individual sessions is to raise self-esteem. Time alone with a counsellor makes it easier for a client to examine, explore, and resolve the ambivalence she has about her behavior.
Individual sessions also give a client the opportunity explore key factors in recovery with her counsellor, which are:
Concern about her own behaviour
Knowledge that she has the ability to affect change
Learning skills that affect change