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Counselling, support, and education are available to families/partners of individuals who are currently abusing substances or gambling irresponsibly. Individual, couple, and group sessions are offered. Contacting the Intake personnel for further information is advised.
It is increasingly accepted that how we handle our stress levels in our day-to-day lives has a high impact on how well we handle our relationships, our physical and mental health. For those in recovery from substance abuse and compulsive gambling, it may be stress, that ‘surprise’ event that sets us up for relapse behaviours as well.
One option in preparing for stressors in our life is to manage how we react to change by learning more and better methods of relaxation. Stress management is especially important when the favourite stress reliever (e.g. a chemical or a slot machine) is now ‘off limits’.
In all the programs at the Smith Centre, both residential and community-based, stress management is integrated into the treatment experience. The primary focus is on learning a variety of proven relaxation techniques with an emphasis on developing healthier habits through their practice. Both brief and ‘deep’ relaxation techniques are explored while in the residential treatment. The other less intensive programs have a focus on increasing motivation for learning stress reduction techniques either at the Smith Centre or from other community resources.
Some research is pointing out a direct relationship between an addict’s relapse behaviour and their overreactive, hypersensitive stress system, especially during early stages of withdrawal and recovery. Giving this person some tools for managing their stress response can have huge benefits for the person seeking a manageable and sober lifestyle.
As a member of the multi-disciplinary team at the Sister Margaret Smith Centre, the Spiritual Advisor’s primary purpose is to provide for the spiritual needs of individuals accessing our services, regardless of religious affiliations, cultural or ethnic traditions. In our efforts to be respectful of persons in whatever circumstance they find themselves, we at the Centre are committed to quality and dignified caring of the “whole” person. To this end, the Spiritual Advisor encounters individuals at any point within the Continuum of Addictions Services. These include: Withdrawal Management and Stabilization services, Intensive Residential Treatment Programming, Community Based Treatment Groups, Continuing Care Programs, and Individual Counselling opportunities.
Individuals are invited and encouraged to explore their own spiritual beliefs with the support and assistance of the Spiritual Advisor. An integral focus of programming includes the relationship between addiction and spirituality and how a person’s beliefs have been impacted through the use of substances. In conjunction with this exploration, other life areas including significant losses and issues related to unresolved grief are also processed in the context of either the group dynamic or individually. In an environment of caring compassion, we at the Centre attempt to provide a safe and trusting space for individuals to work towards personal healing at their own pace, with close attention to individualized needs. In a dignified and respectful manner, we encourage individuals to attain their fullest potential with strengths based interventions and techniques that promote empowerment.
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