This program is designed for women who have completed the 8-week residential program and are interested in further behavioural skill development to prevent relapse and prepare for more in-depth therapeutic work. Sister Girl program aims to help women with substance misuse issues who have difficulty with regulating their emotions, behaviour, relationships and sense of self by empowering them to develop ownership of their lives. We also have yoga, art therapy, parenting groups, mindfulness and relaxation groups, along with gentle exercise as part of this program.

The program is drawn from Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) which assists our service users and has the following features:

  • Support-oriented: It helps a participant identify and build on her strengths to allow her to feel better about herself and her life.
  • Cognitive-based: DBT helps identify thoughts, beliefs and assumptions that make life harder and it helps people to learn different ways of thinking to make life more bearable.
  • Collaborative: it encompasses group skills such as understanding personal relationships, parenting experiences, and physical and psychological well-being.

    • FirstCare will provide a discharge plan and follow-up services. Upon leaving the centre, women participate in a discharge program to assist them in implementing the process of change that they began during their 8-week Residential program.In a conversation with FirstCare professionals, they identify the specific needs they want satisfied and the attainable goals to achieve them. They are invited to return to FirstCare to continue with the group for ongoing support if they feel it is helping them.