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Live-In Treatment Program

Empowering the first phase of your recovery journey with client-centered care

Benefits

Is Wayside House right for me?

Trauma-Informed Care

Individualized treatment plans define your program. Work towards your unique definition of recovery with one-on-one case management support.

Recovery-Focused Programming

Build abstinence skills by exploring the thoughts, feelings and behaviours that underlie your history of substance use.

Communal Living

Learn and grow with like-minded participants in a motivating therapeutic environment.

Trauma-Informed Counseling

Work your recovery with our caring and knowledgeable addiction counseling team.

Relapse Prevention Planning

Prepare for the most common relapse risks with a comprehensive transition plan.

Program Overview

Recovery is possible when compassionate care meets proven support

We empower our residents to achieve their recovery goals through a combination of group education, individual case management and peer support.

The Four Phases of Live-In Treatment

Begin Your Recovery Journey

During the first ten days you are oriented to our program structure and guidelines, assigned a peer mentor and eased into the therapeutic environment.

  • A personalized Treatment Plan is built that will serve as your roadmap to recovery
  • Meet your Primary Counselor, acclimate to the group schedule and begin one-on-one sessions

“Wayside was there for me when no one else was and believed in me that I could change. This made me believe that I could change.”
-Client

Groups, Case Management & Peer Support

Supported by your Primary Counselor, work toward your treatment goals by participating in two evidence-based programs:

  • Helping Men Recover is a 5-week psychoeducation program that addresses issues of self, feelings, relationships, communication, sexuality, spirituality and resilience in a gender-based, trauma-informed manner
  • Exploring Trauma is a six-session program that focuses on the process of trauma and its impact on your thoughts, feelings, beliefs, values, behaviours and relationships

Protecting Your Recovery

  • Learn coping strategies to avoid the common triggers and pitfalls of early recovery
  • Explore opportunities for building positive community relationships and healthy routines for your life after the live-in program
  • Create and revise transition plan goals you identify your post-treatment priorities

Planning a Healthy Future

  • Throughout the live-in program, your comprehensive Transition Plan is developed and reviewed by our clinical staff which establishes your post-treatment priorities and support systems
  • Referrals are made to relevant addictions, healthcare, education, housing and employment services in your community to support your success
  • Learn about our Continuing Care programming and how it fits into your larger recovery maintenance plan

Our supplementary programs offer specialized care for clients enrolled in our live-in program

Program Component

Supportive Housing

Private market subsidized rental units for graduates of our live-in program whom we determine are in significant need of ongoing intensive recovery support and programming.

Program Component

Continuing Care

Part of our “Forever Aftercare” promise, all live-in program graduates are invited to weekly in-person and virtual recovery groups facilitated by our Peer Support staff. Ongoing access to clinical staff?

Program Component

Family Support

Family members and loved ones are invited to participate in the recovery journey via specialized education materials and collaborative treatment and transition planning sessions.

In 2023, our live-in program helped over 100 men achieve their personal treatment goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Wait times depend on referral volume and current occupancy. On average, clients wait between 50 and 80 days to enter our program from the time we receive a complete application. Feel free to contact us directly for more up-to-date waitlist information.

  • As mandated by Ontario Health, all referrals to live-in treatment must be made by a qualified community service agency.

  • While prospective clients must apply through a referring agent, Wayside House only accepts referrals on a voluntary basis. If you are a loved one of a potential applicant, you may acquire information on their behalf but the GAIN must be completed by the applicant and their referral source personally.

  • Live-In Program clients are selected for our Supportive Housing program based on suitability and availability. While we cannot guarantee that every client will transition into Supportive Housing, we are committed to providing all Wayside residents with a comprehensive Transition Plan.

  • Supportive Housing applicants are selected from Live-In Program clients by Wayside House’s clinical staff. To apply to our Live-In Program, see our admissions page.

  • Initially, we expect Supportive Housing clients to maintain a level of engagement with Wayside House that would take priority over work or schooling; however, returning to employment or education can be explored as part of a participant’s longer-term recovery plan.

  • All successful graduates of our Live-In Program can participate in Continuing Care.

  • Although our program works best through consistent engagement, we recognize that not everyone can attend every meeting. Provided you maintain contact with our Peer Support staff, we make every effort to facilitate your ongoing participation in the program.

  • Provided you have maintained engagement with Continuing Care, re-entry into the Core Program can be discussed with your primary counselor and the rest of the clinical staff. Our program is designed to facilitate re-entry on terms that best serve your ongoing treatment needs. Note that re-entry is always subject to the program’s current occupancy and waitlist.

  • The Family Program is accessible to anyone that a Live-In Program participant wishes to include. This can extend beyond blood relations to friends, partners and caregivers.

Still have questions?

Visit our FAQ Page

Connect with a Dedicated Staff Member

Certifications & Funding

Wayside House of Hamilton is funded by the Ministry of Health and the generous support of our community partners. We are a proud member of Addictions & Mental Health Ontario, an integrated system of 150 service providers across the province. We have been accredited by the Canadian Centre for Accreditation since 2016, a designation that signifies our commitment to compassionate, quality service.