Traumatic Stress Recovery FAQ | Diversified Rehabilitation Group

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Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about our Traumatic Stress Recovery Program.

Where will I be staying?

Included in the cost of the program is your accommodation at the TSRP Residence in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. Our Residence provides a home-like, safe environment that is conveniently located near the clinic and various amenities. Each resident will have their own room with a locking door. Bathrooms, cooking facilities, laundry facilities and outdoor spaces are shared.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation?

Each resident arranges their own travel to and from Kelowna at the beginning and end of the program as well as during the week at home (week 3). We will assist you in arranging for your transportation to and from the airport (if required), between the residence and the clinic, and to and from all activities (yoga, floating, outdoor & weekend activities). Residents are welcome to bring their own cars if they feel comfortable driving, we provide parking at the residence and the clinic.

Can I bring someone with me to the program?

We encourage participants to have a support person (spouse, sibling, parent, etc.) attend part of the program. We understand that these support people play an important role in recovery and would like to include them on the journey of healing. Your support person will stay at the Residence and they can attend your individual counselling sessions as well as any group activities that take place during their stay. This person can attend the first week or the first and the second week of the program. There is an additional fee to have a support person attend the program and it must be approved by the clinical team.

Do I go home on the weekends?

During the first two weeks and the last two weeks of the program with you will stay at the Residence on weekends and participate in group activities with the other residents. There is no treatment at the clinic over the weekend. Meals and transportation on weekends will be provided and costs associated with weekend activities (skiing, kayaking, hiking, biking, etc.) are included as well.

Are meals provided?

All meals are included in the cost of the program. In the first week of the program, a nutritionist will meet with the clients and provide recommendations for eating that supports positive physical and mental health. Each day, residents prepare meals together along with the trained support worker who stays at the Residence. Breakfast is prepared as a group each morning under the guidance of one residents, each resident takes turns having this responsibility. Bagged lunches are then prepared in the for residents to bring to the clinic. The group meets again in the evening to prepare dinner as a team, again under the direction of one of the group members. Grocery shopping is done as a group and follows the recommendations set out by the nutritionist.

What occurs at the residence?

At Diversified, we believe that the best treatment occurs in an environment that closely mirrors real life. Residents at TSRP engage in normal, everyday activities such as cooking, cleaning, relaxing, grocery shopping, and exercising. Our program supports this in a way that not many other programs do. At the Residence, you will participate in psychoeducation which educates about the nature of trauma and how it relates to individual development, relationships, and everyday functioning. Psychoeducation has shown to be an effective intervention method when combined with clinical treatment and has positive outcomes on the participant’s understanding of PTSD (Fisher, 2008).
Fisher, M. E. (2008). The use of psychoeducation in the treatment of PTSD with military personnel and their family members: an exploratory study from a clinician’s perspective.

What if I already have a counsellor/psychologist that I work with at home?

With your permission, our clinical team will communicate and work with your existing community supports. If requested, they may receive copies of your intake and discharge reports as well as be part of meetings with you and your assigned counsellor. During the Post-Treatment Support segment of the program, we will follow up with you and your community support members to prevent relapse and ensure on-going success.

What kinds of treatments are used?

Exposure Therapy
We offer a variety of treatment modalities, however, treatment is customized to individual needs and their presenting symptoms. Each individual may respond differently to different types of treatment.
This approach addresses the coping strategy of avoidance by gradually exposing people to memories of the incident(s). Initially, the exposure is via visualization. Emotional reactivity to memories (and reminders of) the incident(s) are reduced, as well as the frequency of flashbacks. If the individual needs to return to the environment in which the event(s) occurred, real-life exposure is implemented when there is sufficient comfort through visualization. Strategies are set very conservatively, and client-driven, so comfort will be maximized.

TSRP Frequently Asked Questions