Group counselling is mandatory for all clients. Clients are required to attend group therapy sessions every work day. The topics relate to a clients current living problem, and allow the client to discover that:

a. others have experienced similar difficulties,
b. they are not alone,
c. there is more than one solution to a problem,
d. there are alternative choices that can be made for any experience,
e. there is a consequence for every choice made, and
f. it is okay to ask for help.

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Individual Counselling sessions are scheduled for each client at least once per week. It is normal for clients to require two or more sessions a week during the first part of their stay. However, one session per week is required as long as the client is in residence at Tamarack Rehab Inc. Individual counselling sessions are 50 minutes long and are client directed.

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Life Skills Training is done in workshops. Topics for the group workshops are related to a life skill deficit or a living dysfunction. Topics include anger issues, adult children of dysfunction issues, problem solving, relationships, communications, relapse prevention, parenting, and other difficulties commonly found in those raised in or living in a dysfunctional environment. Guest lecturers in areas such as health care, financial management, public health issues, etc. are part of this programming. Participation and feedback are essential for all clients.

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Tamarack Rehab Inc. has developed more than 90 workbooks that cover topics such as What is Rehabilitation, Why Am I Here; Denial, Cross Addiction, Powerlessness;, Unmanageability, Guide to Lifestyle Change, Recovery Plan, Choices, Family of Origin, Relationships, The Nature of Addiction, Women and Addiction, Spirituality and Recovery, Boundaries, Anger, Self-Esteem, Emotions, Quitting, Problem Solving, How Not To Relapse, and others. Additional workbooks are continually being developed.

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A 12th Step Organization conduct in house meetings on a weekly basis and these are arranged in cooperation with their service structure. This 12 Step Fellowship's meeting is compulsory for residents and is open for day clients, past clients and those brought in by the 12 Step Fellowship's Institutions Committee. In addition to the in-house meeting, clients are required to attend at least three other self-help fellowship group meetings per week. This is part of an effort to have all clients leave Tamarack Rehab with an operational recovery plan that includes a home self-help fellowship group and a sponsor. We believe that in order to be successful, the client must leave with these resources in place. Our experience has been that those who have a strong self-help support network are more successful. Those that do not have a self-help group or a sponsor are more likely to relapse.

Clients are given access to workbooks on each of the 12 Step Fellowship's. They are designed to help the client develop an understanding of the self-help Fellowships living program.

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The clients of Tamarack Rehab Inc. are under a curfew each night of the week. Sunday to Thursday clients must be in the house by 11:00 p.m.. Friday, Saturday and Sundays and when Monday is a Statutory Holiday, the curfew is midnight.. Returning clients are observed to see if they had been drinking or using. Testing is done on those suspected of using or drinking.

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If it is determined that a client has been drinking or using they are not allowed to re-enter the facility and are told to find alternate accommodation. The person is immediately discharged from the program. Readmission will be considered if:

a. they have a minimum of 30 clean days,
b. the client convinces the intake counsellor they are now motivated toward recovery,
c. they agree not drink or use while attending the Tamarack Rehab Inc. program,
d. they are in agreement to follow Tamarack Rehab Inc.s house, program and agency rules,
e. they have a recovery plan set up with self-help group attendance as a regular occurrence, and
f. they are actively involved in the self-help movement.
g. it is assessed that Tamarack Rehab Inc. is still the optimum choice of Rehabilitation for the individual.

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Tamarack Rehab offers a four free individual counselling session aftercare program for those clients who have completed the 8-week Tamarack Rehab Program. Those who wish to continue attending Aftercare after the four sessions can do so on a cost recovery arrangement with the per session cost being negotiated with the Intake Counsellor. The free counselling sessions are taken within two months of completing the Rehabilitation program.

Follow-up