Menu
At Searidge Alcohol Rehab we take pride in maintaining a limit of 12 residents in our alcohol addiction treatment program, which ensures that each receives the most effective and individualized treatment we can offer.
We provide a supportive but challenging environment in which our residents are guided through the time and work needed to rediscover and develop their potential. Our comprehensive approach to alcohol addiction treatment involves psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy and alternative therapies, preparing residents for a life of recovery with the support of our aftercare program.
Our primary therapy is psychological – medical. All our therapists/counselors are University trained in Psychology and Addictions at accredited US and Canadian Universities. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy approaches combine to give our residents a whole new set of life skills perfectly suited for a new life free of addictive and self-destructive behavior.
We strive to treat the psychological and emotional factors contributing to each individual’s addiction, as well as the addictive behavior itself.
Time and experience have shown us that alcohol use disorder (AUD) has root causes that run deep, so deep that it is easy to misunderstand the connection between alcohol use disorders and deeper mental health issues.
CBT is a type of psychotherapy for helping our residents develop a deeper understanding of who they are and what drives them. Much like the word indicates CBT sessions increase cognition or awareness of a person’s behaviors and challenges negative thought patterns to alter unwanted behavior.
REBT is a therapeutic method that targets self-destructive and irrational beliefs that we all have had rise from time to time. In REBT sessions a therapist and resident will bring these fears, self-doubts, and self-destructive emotions into the light and then discuss the why, where, and what can we do about those emotions.
DBT is based on CBT, however it focuses more on long-term growth in the form of acceptance. In a DBT session the therapist works with the resident to understand that, while their emotions are valid, there must be a way for them to change those unhealthy coping behaviors into more healthy ones.
Psychodynamic therapy explores not only the resident’s past experiences and learned behaviors, it also relies heavily on the relationship between the therapist and the resident to create a bridge of trust, understanding, and cooperation between the past, the present, and the desired future.
Our first option is to strive for complete sobriety without any medication, however we realize that for some that may be too great a challenge. Where appropriate, we work with medications to assist residents in controlling cravings and to address other needs. In these cases therapy is adjusted to enable the correct use of medications without abuse.
Our Physicians and Psychotherapists are experienced in the use of these medications and can adapt our psychotherapy to get the maximum benefit from these medications. Our Physicians are licensed to prescribe Naltrexone Methadone, Suboxone, and a variety of other medications which have proven effective in helping to control cravings.
Our consulting psychiatrist is available to diagnose and address psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder and ADD.
Searidge is equipped to treat these psychological disorders alongside alcohol addiction treatment. This dual approach is important as many psychological disorders often result in self-medication, leading to drug or alcohol abuse.
Searidge Alcohol Rehab is also prepared to address general health needs for residents during their stay at our center. Our resident nurse is on site. Our Addictions Doctors and Psychiatrist sees residents as required.
For residents going into treatment, detox is done on-site and is medically supervised. Our doctor and nurse make sure that our residents are both safe and comfortable during their withdrawal. Our detox physicians are licensed by Health Canada to prescribe suboxone and methadone and other withdrawal medications.
Naltrexone is an oral medication that prevents people suffering from alcoholism from feeling euphoria or a “high” from drinking alcohol. This eliminates the motivation to drink.
The oral form of naltrexone, which is just as effective for the treatment of alcohol addiction.
Oral medication, which produces an unpleasant reaction when one drinks a little amount of alcohol.
Oral medication that reduces cravings and overall desire to drink.
At Searidge we recognize the importance of exploring alternative healing practices in addition to traditional therapeutic methods. These practices are considered crucial for healing the whole self. Our wide variety of alternative therapies present residents with a number of techniques that help to reduce stress and focus the mind during recovery at Searidge, and as tools to maintain a life free from addiction.
The diversity in our program ensures that every resident will be included and discover activities that appeal to them, no matter what level of physical ability or stage in alcohol addiction recovery. Our alternative healing therapies include:
Anyone who has lived in or visited Nova Scotia will tell you that the heart of every gathering and every home here is the kitchen, and our community kitchen, open 24/7 is no exception. One of the casualties of an alcohol use disorder that is often overlooked is the relationship with food. When alcohol hijacks our pleasure centers some of the simpler things like enjoying a meal take a back seat, and that is when malnutrition can set in. This is why at Searidge we place a high value on rebuilding a healthy relationship with food, and it all starts in the community kitchen.
To help our kitchen team develop meal plans that are more than just delicious we look to our dietary nutritionist Professor Louise Thibault, Professor of Human Nutrition and Dietetics at McGill University, a student of Orthomolecular medicine. Her skills help to inform which diets and supplements should be incorporated to help individuals recover, assist in controlling cravings, and restore neurological health. And of course, we work with residents to accommodate all dietary restriction preferences and needs.
We strongly believe that our residents cannot focus solely on introspection and psychotherapy all day. They also should relearn the joys that an active sober life offers, and get fitter in the process. Recovery is at its core a neurological healing process, and achieving a lasting and sustained recovery means getting stronger both mentally and physically.
As it is for all types of healing, exercising, and getting more fit supports better healing and recovery, and reduces stress and anxiety in a healthy natural way. We have an excellent recreation program that is easily adaptable to an individual’s age and fitness level.
We have a beautiful pool and access to a fully equipped exercise room, as well as an off-site gym. Certain types of exercise, such as weight training are particularly useful in treating depression and anxiety. Our recovery fitness program helps patients focus on the types of exercises that can better deliver on physical and mental health goals.
At Searidge Alcohol Rehab, our relationship with residents does not end when they graduate. We believe that maintaining lifelong recovery after rehab requires support, guidance, and care, which is why our Aftercare program is one of the most comprehensive in the country. Our aftercare meetings are held over Zoom, providing easily accessible meetings almost every day of the week for all our graduates.
We host a weekly women’s only meeting, providing a safe space for our female graduates to share their unique challenges and triumphs, and of course, share a laugh and a virtual hug.
Our commitment to our graduates is unwavering, and our Aftercare facilitators are trained, supportive, and above all understand what our graduates are going through, many of them have been there themselves. We even host Sobriety Reunion Weekend getaways with speakers, events, and shows. And from time to time we host Refresher Courses at Searidge.
Time has shown us that the best way we can help our graduates stay sober is through the strength of community. And we start building that community even before you leave rehab. Residents start attending meetings while they are still with us, meeting fellow alumni, and becoming a part of a community that will be there for you, so when you walk out our doors you are not alone.
We don’t want you to have to come back, we want you to remain healthy and free. Our approach aims to set you on the right course in treatment the first time, and we will work with you tirelessly to achieve your specific rehab, treatment, and life goals.
.