Pubdate: Mon, 13 Feb 2012
Source: Nanaimo Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Nanaimo Daily News
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1608
Author: Dustin Walker
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

SYMPOSIUM AIMS TO HIGHLIGHT UNIQUE FORM OF DRUG TREATMENT

Nanaimo will host Canada's first symposium on therapeutic communities 
next month, which aims to inspire people with stories about this 
unique form of addictions treatment.

The event comes after Nanaimo's John Howard Society established the 
Vancouver Island Therapeutic Community last fall, an innovative new 
program where 20 men live and work together under a single roof while 
supporting each other's sobriety. The model offers a different way of 
looking at addiction: rather than having clients simply kick their 
habits, therapeutic communities aim to address the deep-rooted issue 
that lurk behind residents' behaviours. That means providing 
counselling, education and a supportive community.

The National Therapeutic Community Symposium, which runs March 5-8 at 
the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, is expected to attract up to 
200 social and mental health workers in addition to anyone else 
interested in learning more about the treatment model.

"There's a message of hope here," said France Tellier, director of 
programs at Nanaimo's John Howard Society, who is also the lead 
organizer for the symposium. "This is a program that has shown 
success around the world. We certainly hope that others will see that 
and give it a try."

The local John Howard Society and Nanaimo Addiction Foundation, which 
are hosting the event, also hope that a national therapeutic 
community association will be formed following the event. This group 
would advocate and raise awareness of this treatment model while 
allowing members to share ideas.

The event will also feature a number of keynote speakers with 
backgrounds in therapeutic communities.

More information about the event is available at www.canadatc.com .
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom