Specialized Services for Women

Services for women at the Sister Margaret Smith Centre are specific programs designed to meet the needs of women who want to examine their own or someone else’s substance use or gambling behaviour. We do this by offering women’s only groups, a separate residential floor and female counsellors. Outreach services are available which include meeting with women where they are most comfortable i.e. at their homes or offering groups in community settings. Specialized groups are designed to be flexible and respectful and focus on the unique needs of women as they learn to make positive changes in their lives.

Women’s Treatment Programs:

• Provide a safe environment in which women can address their addiction issues with the support of other women.
• Provide education about the effects of alcohol, other drugs and problem gambling on women.
• Support women as they explore the issues related to their problem behaviours i.e. self-esteem, abuse, anger, isolation.
• Empower women to take control of their lives in a healthy way.

The women’s treatment programs are holistic in nature as all aspects of well being are addressed i.e. physical health, nutrition & body image, spirituality, emotional and psychological health and safety. We recognize that women’s lives are often complex and that difficulties with addictions are often related to other issues in their lives, i.e. trauma, mental health concerns, family violence etc. These additional issues are interwoven into the treatment experience, keeping in mind the relatively brief period of the program. The women are exposed to a number of different methodologies and are encouraged to actively explore which approaches are most helpful for themselves. This includes cognitive-behavioural material, feminist therapy, experiential processes and is grounded in a strength-based approach. Mutual support programs such as Women’s AA and Women for Sobriety are introduced to participants and they are encouraged to develop support systems that fit their needs.

Components of the treatment programs include:

• education sessions
• living skills training
• stress management & mindfulness meditation
• spirituality
• relapse prevention
• leisure skills and recreation
• values & beliefs clarification
• individual, couples and group counselling
• self defence training

Programs Offered:

Intensive treatment program:

• Intensive treatment can be attended as a day or residential client, or some combination of both, depending on need.
• the women’s group meets with their female counsellor on their own floor which including kitchen and lounge areas
• all women have their own room with sink and vanity
• arrangements can be made to visit with children on their Unit in a children friendly environment

Individual and Couples Counselling:

• individual sessions are offered for motivational enhancement, moderation management, continuing care and relapse prevention; sessions can be arranged on outreach basis
• couples sessions are available to develop an understanding of the role substance use or gambling plays in the relationship and explore what changes may need to take place

Community Treatment Group:

• a less intensive program for those able to make changes while living in the community
• arrangements can be made to offer this group at other settings in the community

*Continuing Care Modules:

• the Core module is based on Structured Relapse Prevention and provides the basic information and skills needed to develop a solid recovery plan
• at present four other modules are offered which focus on Connecting with Others- building healthy relationships, Connecting with Community- building supports and finding your place in the community and Connecting with Self- understanding and developing your personal sense of spirituality.
• Further modules are being planned including - 1. Being a women - role of gender in understanding and changing addictive behaviours; help to explore the issues specific to women in recovery and 2. Coping with trauma introduction- provides some hands on, basic skills for coping with the symptoms of trauma; meant to increase understanding of the relationship between trauma and self destructive behaviours.