Holmes House

Holmes House Withdrawal Management Services is a recommended treatment option for people who struggle to withdraw from substances on their own and do not have a supportive environment to do so safely. Clients must voluntarily agree to participate in programming before admission. This service is available for both men and women aged 16 and over who is safe to withdraw in a non-medical setting.

The Holmes House Addiction Care Workers provide ongoing symptom monitoring and supportive counselling throughout the duration of every stay. The withdrawal management program offers support for clients to gain stability in their withdrawal process while also gaining skills and techniques to help manage experiences of relapse. The length of programming is determined by provincial criteria, but on average, is 5-7 days.

What is withdrawal?

When a person stops using alcohol and/or other drugs their body and mind may experience physical and/or emotional symptoms. This process is commonly known as withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms can be mild to severe depending on the substance used, the amount used, and how long a person has been using it. Withdrawal may include physical symptoms such as sweating, racing heart, palpitations, muscle tension, difficulty breathing, shakes, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, and emotional symptoms such as anxiety, restlessness, irritability, insomnia, trouble with concentration, or depression.

Eligibility

• Any individuals age 16 or older needing assistance with withdrawal from alcohol and/or other drugs.
• All clients are to voluntarily self-refer to enter the program
• All clients must be willing to engage in an individualized plan of care for withdrawal management
• All clients must be medically and psychiatrically stable, Holmes House is a non-medical facility.
• All clients must be screened and assessed to determine appropriate level and intensity of services required, determining if a non-medical detox like Holmes House is best suited.

Please call us for a screening prior to admission. (519-428-1911)

The Holmes House Addiction Supportive Housing Program provides
residents with up to a year of intensive support for their addiction
recovery and housing.  The foundation of the program is based on a sense of belonging, responsibility, and accountability.  At Holmes House, we believe that these variables are integral to a healthy recovery from substance dependency.

Supports offered by Addiction Supportive Housing Program:

• Intensive Case Management Support
• Empowerment to Transition to Independent Living
• Building Personal Accountability
• Individualized recovery plans
• Peer Supports

Eligibility Criteria:

• Recent completion of a residential treatment program is necessary for consideration into the ASH program.
• Clients must be committed to attending regular meetings, groups and one-on-one counselling
• Clients must be respectful and helpful in the community; be willing to accept feedback, and be willing to set goals for long-term recovery.
• Clients must be willing to follow through with random urine screens.

Holmes House encourages graduates of any addiction residential treatment program in Ontario (18 days or longer) to engage in Aftercare Program at Holmes House. The Aftercare Program has been designed to continue recovery-based support following the completion of residential treatment programming. Aftercare offers a blend of peer support and psychoeducational approaches to help individuals stay active on their journey to recovery. Members of aftercare are welcome to engage in the program for up to two years duration.

The aftercare program is facilitated by a Holmes House addictions counsellor in a group setting, members are encouraged to discuss their progress, difficulties, and all issues relevant to continued success in recovery. The aftercare counsellor facilitating this program will complete a small screening process with all clients to ensure that all members are appropriate for programming and understand the limits to confidentiality within a group setting.

Holmes House aftercare is hosted on Wednesday evenings and is typically offered on-site, programming has been transitioned off-site and to virtual platforms as a result of COVID restrictions.

Community recovery sessions are available to any individuals in the community who are seeking support in making lifestyle changes that enhance coping success with addiction and concurrent disorders. Holmes House community recovery program supports group members to understand the underlying issues related to addiction and to discuss with other members how to overcome addiction and concurrent related challenges. These group sessions aim to promote self-awareness for individuals at any stage of recovery, specifically individuals that are looking to gain more insight into their addiction by exploring the fundamentals of wellness and recovery.

These sessions take place every Tuesday from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm and every Thursday from 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm.

The addictions counsellor facilitating these sessions will complete a small screening process with all clients to ensure that all members are appropriate for programming and understand the limits to confidentiality within a group setting.

Those attending the community recovery educational sessions are expected to be free from substance use or alcohol usage when taking part in these sessions.

For more information or to self-refer to programs offered by Holmes House, contact 519-428-1911

The Family Program is a support group for friends and family who are struggling to cope or understand the substance use or addiction-related behaviors of someone in their life. The family program is typically run on-site at Holmes House but has been transitioned to zoom as a result of COVID restrictions to the on-site location. Family on Monday nights at 6:00 p.m. Clients attending Family Program will not be admitted or will be asked to leave the program if they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Please contact Holmes House for morning information on this program and how to access the Zoom Link for virtual meetings. The Family Program facilitator will complete a small screening process with all clients to ensure that they are appropriate for programming and understands the limits to confidentiality before initiating the program.