Residential Treatment

Residential Treatment Option

The Aurora Centre program, designed by women for women, draws upon our more than thirty years’ experience working with and listening to women recovering from addictions. The program provides intensive support and counselling for women requiring the emotional and physical safety and structure of a residential facility. Grounded in the bio-psycho-social-spiritual model of addiction, our treatment program is holistic, assisting women in improving their emotional, physical, mental and spiritual health.

What you can expect:

Many women report that living in residence, surrounded by the love and support of other women in recovery and away from the stresses and demands of home, is one of the most beneficial gifts they have ever experienced. The program is structured to be welcoming for newcomers to the residence. Both staff and women who have been in residence for a few weeks help orient new clients to the facility and the existing women’s community. Aurora has no private rooms, so clients share a room with one, two or three other women. Self-serve meals are provided three times a day in the client dining room, as well as snacks. In the initial weeks clients are accompanied by “buddies” when leaving the residence, and are asked to participate in a “retreat period” where contact with family and friends is restricted to allow for a deeper level of focus on self and recovery.

On weekdays clients join others for breakfast, and then attend a client-led Aurora community meeting from 8:45 am to 9:15 am. From 9:30 am to 12:00 pm clients join with commuter clients in small therapy groups facilitated by a counsellor. Afternoons and evenings provide time for self-reflection and completion of homework assignments for the next morning’s group. Clients also participate in information workshops and group activities such as yoga, fitness, music and art. There will be opportunities to participate in group outings, massage, energy healings, and volunteer-led groups teaching skills such as knitting, quilting, poetry writing, and journaling. Clients attend self-help groups, some of which are in-house and some in the community.
 

During treatment clients have an opportunity to learn about many things that will support a recovery lifestyle, such as setting and achieving personal goals; effective communication skills; healthy boundaries and relationships; developing a healthy support system; personal patterns underlying addictive substance use; the role of spirituality in recovery; and developing an effective relapse prevention plan.

Clients can expect support in taking healthy risks to change behaviour. Women leave reporting greater self-awareness, better self-esteem, and increased understanding of how addiction has impacted their lives. Women also celebrate learning new skills to repair self-destructive patterns and, perhaps most important, deep and supportive connections with other women.

Words from Aurora Graduates:

“I did not think I could change, but my experience at Aurora proved to me that I can change. I was extremely isolated when I came to Aurora, but I can leave feeling connected to others.”

“I regained confidence in myself, my feelings and opinions, and regained connection with other women and the world. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”