Live-In Treatment at Constance House

Program Overview

What is the program based on?

Key to our program is the sense that our staff members are part of your team, just like in any relationship between a young person and a caring adult. That means a few things to us.

As caring adults, we’ll consider you to be the ‘expert’  in what is working for you, or not, in your life. We’ll respect your past experiences, your present situation, and your dreams about the future. We’ll seek to understand them clearly and incorporate them into our work together.

We’ll also believe that you are doing the best that you can, and that you will act and/or do better when you are safer, happier, supported by trusting adults and feel better understood by those who care for and about you. Building on those principles, we’ll work with you to highlight and explore your strengths, your willingness to make decisions about your life, and your participation in making those decisions for yourself.

We’ll also stress that whatever changes you’re after, they’ll come from learning new skills. We do not use rewards or punishments to make a young person change.

What are the program steps after acceptance?

1. Assign a Residential Counsellor to work with you and, if appropriate, your family during your stay at the live-in treatment home.
2. Provide you with an initial network of local supports for decreasing any sense of disconnection from others.
3. Help you set your life goals and develop lifelong strategies to overcoming any challenges.
4. Introduce you and, if appropriate, your family to our YouthLink therapists, to address any internal or relational conflicts.
5. As you develop in meeting your daily needs, you will progress in the Program, which places a higher emphasis on self-sufficiency and life skills, and begins to connect residents with the community and/or family supports.
6. Long-term, assist you in developing the capacity to have health, meaningful relationships and move to more independent living in the community.

Is it for me?

This program has two components: one for young people who require a fair amount of support and direction; and the other for young people who need less support and are preparing for semi-independence or independent living. You have to be able to function in a community setting and be willing to participate in a treatment residence.