Day Program
Our day program operates everyday Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Beyond our holistic, wraparound approach to recovery, our treatment approach is two-fold.
The first component is therapeutic. On a daily basis we provide clients with various therapeutic programming, which includes a range of groups and individual therapy sessions throughout the day. These groups, both psycho-dynamic and psycho-educational in nature, focus on life skills, anger management, relapse prevention, goal setting, art therapy, spirituality, parenting and building community skills. The second component is what we refer to as hands-on life skills. We believe that for any client to receive the highest benefits of treatment requires not only therapeutic interventions but also teaching hands-on life skills. It begins with each client, when he/she enters treatment, being assigned a chore alongside a group of his peers. These chores begin with light duties such as dusting and vacuuming and cleaning bathrooms to more senior chores such as being responsible for the dish crew before and after meals, to becoming kitchen “responsible” and preparing meals for the entire house.
You will meet regularly with your primary counsellor, to discuss any issues or concerns of which you are unable to speak freely in group. In addition, and if necessary, your primary will help you deal with any issues arising out of your treatment plan, to help you achieve your desired goals in a timely fashion. To ensure this, your initial treatment plan will be evaluated once you have been at Vitanova for three months, and subsequently, on an as needed basis.
Maintenance Responsibilities:
In order to keep our facility tidy, sanitary, and beautiful, it is necessary that each client participate in the maintenance and upkeep for our centre. To that end, chores will be assigned to every client, to be completed at specified times during the day. These may include the vacuuming of carpets, the cleaning of bathrooms (including floors, faucets, sinks tubs, toilets---bowls, bases, and handles), the emptying of trash cans and the replacing of clean liners). Additional chores may be assigned from time to time, on an as needed basis.
Participating in Activities: Monday through Friday there are scheduled activities in which all clients are expected to participate. These may include lectures, films, guest speakers, workshops, or recreational activities---all designed to give you an opportunity to learn more about yourself and your situation.
Family Participation: Substance use is considered a family illness, since loved ones are always affected by the situation, and for that reason a family support program is provided. Encourage your loved ones to attend, so that they can learn how best to support you in your recovery and to work through their own feelings about the family situation. (see Outreach below)
Discharge: There is no set time for discharge. We ask you to keep an open mind and continue to work through the issues that arise in the course of treatment. This can mean from three months or up to a year and more. Nevertheless, preparation for discharge is discussed regularly in group and individual sessions, in keeping with our shared goal---your returning to society as a healthy and productive person. When you and your primary believe that you have successfully addressed these issues, both of you will prepare a discharge plan ---a program of actions you will commit to, to sustain your recovery after discharge. Sticking to this plan is what we term “aftercare”.
Aftercare: Aftercare can include many things: weekly attendance at the Tuesday evening support group; occasional attendance at a morning group on days when you are not working at your job; or attendance at an AA or NA meeting near where you live (if that is some distance from Vitanova). Aftercare can mean a commitment to call your primary counsellor when you feel vulnerable; a session with him/her when you are tempted to relapse; even a few group sessions when you are going through a “rough patch”. All discharged clients are strongly encouraged to keep in touch, by keeping us up to date with your contact information, attending Vitanova events, or just dropping in when you are in the area.