Clinically reviewed by the Sober Living Clinical Team (Medical Director & Clinical Director)
Our approach to addiction and mental-health treatment is individual first: each client receives a personalised plan that combines evidence-based therapies (CBT, DBT, EMDR, motivational interviewing and mindfulness), trauma-informed care, medical support and holistic wellness, with addiction and any co-occurring mental-health condition treated together. Rather than moving everyone through the same standard group schedule, our clinical team builds and adjusts the plan around the person in front of them.
Key facts
- Treatment plans are individualized and reviewed as you progress, supported by a low client-to-staff ratio.
- Core therapies: CBT, DBT, EMDR, motivational interviewing, mindfulness and trauma-informed care.
- Addiction and mental-health conditions (dual diagnosis) are treated in one integrated program.
- Holistic wellness includes fitness, yoga, meditation, nutritional counselling and creative expression.
- Care continues after discharge through aftercare planning, alumni support and check-ins.
Why individual focus instead of standard group programming?
Because the reasons people develop an addiction differ, the treatment that helps them differs too. Many programs rely mainly on a fixed group curriculum. Group work matters and is part of our program, but on its own it can miss the trauma, grief, anxiety, family pressure or chronic pain that sits underneath substance use for a particular person.
At Sober Living, the plan starts with a full assessment of substance use, physical health, mental health and personal circumstances. It is finalised within the first days of admission and reviewed as treatment goes on, so therapy time is spent on what is actually driving your use. Our low client-to-staff ratio makes that practical: there is time for meaningful one-to-one work, not just a slot in a busy schedule. Read more about how plans are built on our individualized treatment page.
Which therapies do we use?
We use therapies with a strong evidence base for substance use and mental-health conditions, chosen and combined to fit each person.
| Therapy | What it focuses on | Often helpful for |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) | Recognising and changing the thoughts and behaviours linked to use | Cravings, triggers, depression, anxiety, relapse prevention |
| Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) | Emotion regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness and relationships | Intense emotions, impulsivity, self-harm urges |
| EMDR | Processing distressing memories so they carry less emotional charge | Trauma and post-traumatic stress |
| Motivational interviewing (MI) | Strengthening a person’s own reasons for change | Ambivalence about treatment or stopping |
| Mindfulness-based approaches | Noticing cravings and emotions without acting on them | Stress, cravings, sleep and anxiety |
All of this is delivered through a trauma-informed lens. Many people with substance use disorders have experienced trauma, so our team prioritises safety, choice and collaboration, and avoids approaches that shame or re-traumatise.
How do we treat dual diagnosis?
We treat addiction and co-occurring mental-health conditions at the same time, by the same team. Depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder and other conditions frequently occur alongside substance use, and treating one while ignoring the other tends to leave people vulnerable to relapse. Our Medical Director, Clinical Director and Lead Therapist coordinate medication review, psychotherapy and monitoring in one plan. Learn more on our concurrent disorders and mental-health treatment pages.
What does holistic integration mean here?
Holistic care at Sober Living means that physical health, routine and meaning are part of the treatment plan rather than optional extras. Our Wellness Coordinator runs fitness programming, yoga, meditation and recreation, and nutritional counselling helps rebuild the eating habits that substance use often disrupts. Creative expression gives people another way to process experiences that are hard to put into words. These activities support, but never replace, medical care and psychotherapy.
Explore each part of our approach
- Individualized treatment: how your assessment becomes a personal plan that changes as you progress.
- Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT): practical skills for identifying triggers and changing patterns of thinking and behaviour.
- Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT): tools for managing intense emotions, tolerating distress and improving relationships.
- Mindfulness therapy: meditation and awareness practices that help you respond to cravings instead of reacting to them.
- Group therapy: facilitated groups where clients practise skills and learn from peers in a safe setting.
- Family support: family therapy and education on communication, boundaries and rebuilding trust.
- Behavioural addiction treatment: care for gambling, gaming, pornography and other compulsive behaviours.
- Aftercare and support: relapse-prevention planning, alumni programming and check-ins after you leave.
Where does medical care fit in?
Medical care is the foundation for anyone at risk of withdrawal. When needed, treatment begins with medical detox under 24/7 supervision, with medication-assisted treatment where clinically appropriate, including our Sublocade program for opioid use disorder. Therapy starts as soon as a person is physically stable enough to take part.
Safety note: stopping alcohol or benzodiazepines suddenly can cause seizures and other life-threatening complications. Speak to a doctor before stopping, and call 911 in an emergency.
Find out what a personal plan would look like for you
A free, confidential consultation with our admissions team is the first step. We are available 24 hours a day.
Frequently asked questions
What is an individualized addiction treatment plan?
It is a written plan based on your own assessment: your substances, withdrawal risk, physical and mental health, trauma history, family situation and goals. It sets out which therapies you will receive, how often, and what medical support you need. At Sober Living the plan is finalised in the first days of admission and revisited as you progress, rather than following a fixed schedule for everyone.
Is group therapy still part of the program?
Yes. Group therapy is valuable for practising skills, reducing isolation and learning from peers, and it is part of every program. The difference is that group work sits alongside substantial one-to-one therapy, family sessions and wellness activities, so it complements an individual plan instead of being the whole of treatment.
What is the difference between CBT and DBT?
CBT focuses on recognising and changing the thoughts and behaviours that lead to substance use. DBT grew out of CBT and adds skills for regulating intense emotions, tolerating distress and managing relationships, along with mindfulness. Many clients benefit from elements of both, and your therapist will recommend the balance that suits you.
Do you treat mental-health conditions and addiction together?
Yes. We provide integrated treatment for concurrent disorders, sometimes called dual diagnosis. Conditions such as depression, anxiety and PTSD are assessed on admission and treated in the same plan as the addiction, with the Medical Director reviewing medications and the therapy team addressing symptoms and underlying causes together.
Are holistic therapies a replacement for medical treatment?
No. Yoga, meditation, fitness, nutritional counselling and creative expression support recovery by improving sleep, mood, stress and routine, but they do not replace medical detox, medication or psychotherapy. At Sober Living they are built into the plan alongside clinical care, never instead of it.
Sources & clinical references
This page is general health information and does not replace advice from your own doctor or care team. If you are in immediate danger or think someone has overdosed, call 911.