Addictions Treatment
Tailored to Your Needs
What is Addiction?
Addictions or as we prefer to call them, substance use disorders, are serious illness and not a reflection of the person. This illness like any other requires treatment. At EMS we believe that individuals who suffer from the disease of addiction not only need to address their use of the addictive substance but also heal from the factors that led to the illness.
Taking The First Step
We understand that it can be stressful to begin the journey to recovery. This important decision to move forward can bring up many emotions and challenges. We can assist with this process by helping you build on skills you already have and developing new ones to help you succeed. ​
The 3 Stages of Recovery
As human beings we tend to be creatures of habit, and as such, change is difficult and often challenged. One of the things that is very clear in the field of addictions, is that the process of healing only begins with a willingness to change and try new ways of thinking and behaving.
​
It is helpful to consider the stages of recovery and to recognize that treatment is a process. Most individuals who have an addiction need to go systematically through the stages in order too effectively heal and remain free from the symptoms of the disease.
Our
Services
Addictions treatment can come in many different forms. Research tells us that at least 4 months of abstinence-based treatment gives people the best chance of sustained recovery. Our treatment plans require a 4 months commitment, but the program is designed to be a one year program to establish the skills and knowledge you will need for success for your path to recovery.
At-home Detox
You will be assessed by our psychiatrist and a plan can be developed with your supports and our team to use medications to safely stop using your substance.
Harm Reduction including Suboxone
Although we often encourage our clients to work towards an abstinence-based approach, we also recognize that we need to work with people where they are in their recovery. We will work with any client and problem solve around any substance to assess if a harm reduction strategy can work.
​
We are developing an opioid addictions stream that provides support while recognizing that suboxone or other opioids can be the focus of a client’s strategy to reduce the harms associated with their opioid use disorder while still being prescribed an opioid safely. While you are free to choose your own pharmacy, we partner with the pharmacy that can work with you and your prescriber to facilitate safe flexible options to minimize the inconvenience often associated with suboxone or other opioid agonist therapies.
Family Support
Family members are always impacted by substance use disorders. Our treatment program can involve family members in the planning stage and can meet individually with family members of our clients who are looking for support or information at the client’s discretion. We also provide regular groups for family members.
Health and Psychiatric Services
We offer pharmacist consultation and psychiatric evaluation to assess and treat co-occurring mental illness. Bloodwork can be ordered to assess if there are any medical complications from the use of substances or contributors to your health that should be addressed.
Trauma Informed Practice, Yoga and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy
Substance use disorder are known to be much more common in survivors of childhood adversity and trauma. We approach every client with the awareness that they may have been impacted by trauma and incorporate strategies to heal from trauma such as mindfulness and a meditation practice, yoga, and we have made arrangement for rapid access to EMDR as a component of the program.
Counselling Individual & Group Therapy
Every client receives individual weekly counselling that utilize a trauma-informed approach that borrows from dialectic behavioural therapy (DBT) cognitive behaviour therapy and other addictions specific strategies. We also offer 1-3 groups a day that are at the core of treatment and involve detailed examination of different topics essential to recovery each week. Virtual attendance is available, but attending in person is ideal.
Intervention
It can be extremely challenging to know how to help a loved one struggling with addiction. A formal intervention can help loved ones join forces and offer a solution.
​
People who struggle with a substance use disorder may not recognize the negative effects their behaviour has on themselves and others. An intervention presents your loved one with a structured process to facilitate accepting help. An intervention is a carefully planned process in consultation with our professional. The solution may be to attend Executive Medical Solutions, or an alternative program. What we wish for is the start of a path to recovery.
