Programmes

The Approach of the Aesculap Therapeutic Community

The treatment philosophy at the AC (Aesculap Community)utilises the Therapeutic Community approach to Addictions which views the problem as a disorder of the whole person, which affects the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of the individual and the family.

The AC provides an integrated continuum of care for health professionals with addictions and/or dual diagnosis such as addiction with a coexisting depression, unresolved grief, personality problems and the accompanying emotional and physical problems. Treatment is both comprehensive and individualized. Residents and their families participate in psycho-educational and psychotherapeutic groups designed to help them explore addiction and dual disorders as well as the impact these can have on the family. Throughout this process residents attend a modified version of 12 Step meetings and family members are encouraged to attend family support meetings.

The AC provides comprehensive treatment of addiction (alcoholism and other drug use disorders and other addictive disorders) and its attendant related medical, psychological, psychiatric, spiritual and work-related problems.

The residents are housed in a residential, surrogate family setting. This setting heals the isolation, loneliness and behavioural problems that the chemically dependent person develops over the course of their addiction. Group therapy is one of the cornerstones of change in the Therapeutic Community.

Our residents

The AC accepts residents from all of the health professions with addictions or with a dual-diagnosis, such as addiction with a coexisting depression, unresolved grief, personality problems, etc. All of our residents have an addiction problem, but we address the whole person. In essence our treatment team strives to understand and treat each individual as a whole person medically, psychologically, socially and spiritually.

Dedicated care team

The care team is experienced in the field of addictions and mental health and specializes in the issues of professionals. Members of the team offer valuable perspectives to understanding, diagnosing and treating the needs of the professional, as well as his/her immediate family.

In addition to the resident, the care team includes a psychiatrist, a clinical/counselling psychologist, a psychotherapist, a family therapist, a case manager/care coordinator and nursing staff. Other specialists join the team as needed and may include a psycho-social rehabilitation specialist, an alternative health practitioner, a chaplain and a dietician.

Detoxification & Stabilisation
Inpatient stabilisation is available for residents requiring a more complicated detoxification and/or behavioural containment to interrupt the downhill spiral of his/her addiction.

Residential programme

Following admission or transfer from detox each resident undergoes a thorough assessment. This assesses the resident’s physical, psychiatric, psychological, social, spiritual, and family needs to determine the most appropriate level of care and to make sure that the resident is ready to enter the AC.

Following a Care Programme Approach (CPA) the resident and care team set goals for the treatment. With the diagnosis and goals in mind, an individualized treatment plan is designed. The plan integrates evidence-based treatment methods and psychotherapy with medication if it is needed (for mood disorders).

Length of stay at the AC

A resident’s length of stay will be determined by the resident’s treatment requirements and the resident’s progress in the community setting. The average length of stay is between 3 and 6 months.

Some of the treatment modalities in the TC

As described above, the democratic, structured concept of the Therapeutic Community is the cornerstone of the rehabilitation process.

Group therapy is the underpinning of much of the work that happens in the community. The AC utilises many of the following therapeutic modalities:

Group therapy
Cognitive Behavioural Group Therapy and Motivational Interviewing
Medication management (of mood disorders)
Psychoeducation group
Individual therapy
Procedural learning on how to use the modified 12-Steps
Modified 12-Step recovery meetings at the community
Professional issues group
Relapse prevention
Life skills
Family therapy
Family Programme
Alternative health practices
Spiritual and cultural support
Trauma Groups
Sexual Issues Groups (men’s & women’s)
EMDR (Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) for trauma issues
Meditation and mindfulness training

Mirror Image

Mirror Image is an addiction treatment innovation created and first implemented by Douglas Talbott. Mornings, three days a week, AC Mirror Image residents go to other addiction treatment facilities near the AC and work with newly admitted alcoholics and addicts at that facility. The purpose is to assist AC residents to overcome the myopia that often accompanies addiction – residents can see the effects of addiction in others but are unable to see those same effects in themselves. Residents in other facilities consistently report that their experience in Mirror Image has a profound affect on their recoveries. Residents take part in the mirror Image programme after a minimum of two months stay in the community and an in-depth evaluation and recommendation by the clinical team.

Continuing Care

The AC is committed to helping our residents and their families build a long term, self-sustaining recovery. The AC’s continuing care process assists residents and families to develop a programme of recovery and a support system that will provide a solid foundation to achieve that goal after they leave our facility.

At the AC, we believe that continuing care actually begins prior to the resident arriving at the Community. Whoever refers a particular resident to the AC becomes the starting point for communication with our care team and continuing care coordinator. This begins a process of communication that our coordinators build on throughout the course of the residents stay. Each resident is assigned a continuing care coordinator that will work with them throughout their stay to:

Serve as the referent liaison with our referral sources and the clinical team
Gather collateral information and provide written and verbal updates to referents (if required)
Assist the resident with any work, council registration or legal issues
Participate in the multi-disciplinary team meetings to assess patient's progress
Identify unresolved issues to be included in discharge planning
Plan Extended Therapeutic Leaves (ETL) for the resident prior to discharge
Establish a clinical team to assist with the resident’s long term recovery post-discharge

Family Programme

The AC provides patients and families support and education on the nature of addiction, cross addiction and the impact on the family. The Family Programme is designed to assess the family's needs, educate about chemical dependence and offers ongoing family support during and/or after the patient's treatment. The family programme is the first step many addicted families make towards healing. Once a resident is admitted to the AC, a counsellor is assigned to respond to any questions or concerns. That therapist works both at a distance and close up with our families when they attend the family programme.

We understand this can be a very difficult and confusing time for a resident’s family members. We believe the Family Program will begin to answer some of the questions they may have about what needs to be done by the resident and family. The addiction has significant physical, emotional and social consequences for the individual seeking treatment and for the family and significant others who have been impacted by the addiction. We view family as an essential component of a resident’s ongoing recovery programme and seek to involve family members in the treatment and recovery process.

The family programme consists of approximately five family sessions and a family workshop during the resident’s stay at the AC treatment. The family workshop is a four-day educational and supportive experience. The workshop provides education on addiction and cross addiction and offers an opportunity to address questions and concerns.

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