Harmony Addictions Clinic Programmes

PROGRAMMES

Primary Care

Harmony Addictions  Clinic prides itself on using evidence-based techniques that are supported by research, and have established validity and a proven track record in real-worldsettings. The treatment team is multi-disciplinary and consists ofpsychologists, social workers, occupational therapists and carefully vetted laycounsellors.

The treatment programme,which runs for a duration of four weeks was developed in direct, ongoing association with Hazelden Clinic, Minnesota, and follows their integrated model of treating addiction, including treatment and ongoing care,professional education services, addiction research and advocacy.

The treatment programme hasa strong element of 12-step facilitation. We incorporate the traditional focus on understanding the addictive process and sharing personal consequences of using.

However, we also teach clients specific techniques for managing difficult feeling-states and situations that elicit cravings. Providing a thorough grasp of these skills,along with enhancing the motivation to use them, is one of the many things that set us apart from other treatment centres. We believe that both internal relapse prevention skills and the ability to use the external support structures of 12-step fellowship groups are key elements to a successful recovery.

A thorough assessment process ensures that clients are allocated the best treatment option based ontheir needs, motivation and financial considerations. Treatment consists of thefollowing:

Help for the family is alsocritical and the clinic runs a family programme, consisting of group therapy,one-on-one counselling and carefully managed con-joints with the affectedfamily member.

Day Patient Programme

Given that some clients are unable to commit to an inpatient programme we offer a service whereby clients may join the Primary Care Programme but on a day patient basis.

These clients will be able to live at home with an adequate support structure whilst enjoying the full benefits of an inpatient programme.

For clients who have already been discharged from a Primary Care Programme and who may find themselves struggling in their recovery they would also be afforded the opportunity to join the In Patient programme on the same basis for as many days as they wished in order to get back on track with their recovery and to get the support that they may need to prevent a possible relapse.

Eating Disorders

Harmony AddictionsClinic offers specialized programmes for eating disorders, focusing on bulimia,anorexia and compulsive overeating. Nutritional oversight is provided by, JuliaLovely who is without doubt one of the country’s leading dieticians in the field of eating disorders. She has consulted at every leading addictions facility in Cape Town, with extensive private practices to her name.

The purpose of the programme is to treat individuals suffering from eating disorders in asupportive environment. It is managed in the context of the 12 step programmemodel, in which, eating disorders will be treated as a disease, which, althoughnot curable, can be arrested. Abstinence from maladaptive behaviours, such asstarving, bingeing, purging and overeating, is established on enteringtreatment, within a supportive framework of counsellors and nurses.

Primary careconcentrates on establishing a healthier relationship with food, according to ameal plan that has been designed by the nutritionists especially for the clientand her/his needs. Both as a behaviour modifications, and as a pre-requisite torestoring correct brain functioning, correct eating patterns are instilled.Individual counselling and group therapy begin the process of understanding thedisease, and unlocking the deep the sense of lack of control that the clientfeels. This requires great skill and happens over a period of weeks, as opposedto days. As clients learn to accept their disease, they also discover that theyare not alone, and become functioning members of a supportive, nurturingenvironment. Additional modalities that contribute to this process includedidactic lectures, movement classes, art therapy, meditation groups, step work,nutrition and addiction education. The primary care programme runs for sixweeks to three months, depending on the clients needs.
The Harmony Eating Disorder programme is conducted in a loving and nurturingenvironment with firm boundaries and limitations, so that the clients is heldand contained.

Individual Counselling

For clients that leave treatment and feel they would like to work on some deep seated issues that would take longer to resolve we can offer them ongoing individual counselling by a member of out team who has knowledge of their personal profile. This service would also be suitable for family members or loved ones or for those who feel that they may have a substance abuse problem but would like to explore this further before joining a treatment programme.

Interventions Unit

In many cases,loved ones and those suffering from severe addiction and alcoholism may beunaware that they need treatment or even unwilling to accept help. Despite thebest intentions of family and friends, there are occasions when professionalintervention is necessary in order to stop the downward spiral of destructionthat can be the direct result of alcoholism and/or drug addiction.

Interventions canbe extremely difficult to conduct successfully without professional help. Formany, interventions can represent a "last hope" in the effort to savethose we love. If your situation requires an intervention, Harmony canhelp.

Harmony AddictionsClinic has put together a highly professional team of clinicalinterventionists. These experts have all been working in the field ofaddictions for many years and have been of assistance in the even the moststubborn of cases.

Assessments

We provide a full assessment service by a highly qualified Team member so that when considering a Treatment option we can assist the client in finding a solution to their problem that best suits their individual needs, taking into account their personal profile and how to get the most out of the various programmes that we have to offer.

Secondary Care Facility

Ideally, clients who have completed the primary phase of the treatment will progress on to the secondary care programme. 

Years of evidencehas shown that participation in a secondary care programme greatly enhances theresults of primary care.

It is here thatall the psychological and emotional issues that underpin one’s addiction aredealt with in depth.

The Secondary careteam at Harmony House is without doubt the best in the country, with a successrate that is unsurpassed by any facility. It is the only secondary care unit inthe country headed up by a qualified psychologist.

Tertiary Care Facility

Serendipity is the oldest tertiary care facility in Cape Town and consistently over the years boasts a success rate of up to 80% of clients that remain active within the 12-step fellowship.

It is here that clients begin to put into practice all that they have learnt in their treatment process thus far, learning to live life on life’s terms. Once clients have established themselves in full time employment or study they have the option of moving on to one of three satellite houses, which they share with addicts in recovery.

Sober Living Houses

The Harmony operates four Sober Living houses in Cape Town. These offer asafe environment in which clients who are well on their way in their recovery amutually supportive environment in which to re-build their lives, whilestudying or working. Clients are responsible for their own environment and dotheir own cooking and cleaning, and adhere to structured rules, such asattendance at a prescribed minimum number of 12 step meetings, group therapyand other therapies as determined by the clients’ individual needs. Clients areencouraged to be accountable to each other. These facilities offer a uniqueopportunity for individuals who are committed to a new way life, but whosecircumstances call for further assistance.

We are the only facility in South Africa that offers this service.