A: The programme is structured 12 Step philosophy. If you have ever attended Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous (AA/NA) you will have experienced the programme. We guide clients through the first 5 Steps of the programme during primary and secondary care:

Step 1: Admitting their powerlessness over their addiction
Step 2: Belief in a higher power that can help restore them to sanity
Step 3: Making a decision to turn their lives over to “God” as they understand it
Step 4: Making a searching and fearless moral inventory of themselves
Step 5: Admitting to God, themselves and another person, the exact nature of their wrongs.
This work in undertaken in Group therapy, individual counselling sessions, and through challenge and affirmation as appropriate.

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A : No, it is as religious as you wish to make it. Your “higher power” is your choice. The programme is more about spirituality and finding inner peace than actual religion per se.

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A: The staff have a range of qualifications and come from a variety of backgrounds. Some are in recovery and some have a relationship with addiction ie they've lived with addiction as parents, partners, children etc

The counsellors have diplomas/post graduate diplomas in counselling or are undertaking training/diplomas. Support Workers undertake NVQ2 and 3 in Care/Addiction. We have staff undertaking a variety of degrees and attending regular professional development training.

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A: At Western Counselling you live separate to the Centre, thereby giving you “work” time and “social and domestic” time, rather like being at home. We have two houses for primary care and they are a short walk from the Centre, comfortable and well maintained. A cook and a housekeeper are based in each house to ensure you are extremely well looked after.

The majority of rooms are twin bedded and some are en-suite. In Secondary care, there are two male houses and one female house.

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A: Yes, we have designated areas where you can smoke and cigarettes can be sent in. Cigarettes can be purchased daily Monday to Friday.

It should be noted that with effect from 1st July 2007 due to a change in legislation the designated areas will be stringently applied.

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A: No. Tea, coffee and squash is freely available as are biscuits and cakes, however we do limit consumption when individuals are taking to excess. Also individuals with eating issues will be limited with their intake.

We take care of all your dietary needs.If you like fizzy drinks (cola etc) you will have to purchase these yourselves.

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A: You will be discharged. Maintaining a safe environment for our residents is imperative to their recovery. If other individuals helped you to purchase drugs and/or alcohol or were aware of your vulnerability and didn't advise the counsellors they too risk discharge for “enabling”.

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A: Primary care is 12 weeks duration and second stage is 3-6months. Each individual is different, and some clients may require longer programmes and some shorter.

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