OUR APPROACH
The Therapeutic Community
Odyssey House uses the Therapeutic Community concept of mutual self-help to bring about positive change in the lives of its clients.
The Therapeutic Community is made up of all the clients and staff at Odyssey House. All the members of the community share the responsibilities of encouraging positive change, promoting self development, and supporting everyone else.
Within the intensive residential environment provided by Odyssey House, the Therapeutic Community model provides a set of powerful ‘tools’ that help community members to help themselves and others towards recovery.
Throughout the recovery process, the following values system remains constant:
- Each individual is responsible for his/her own behaviour.
- Each individual is in control of his/her own destiny.
- Each person sees him/herself best in the eyes of his/her brothers and sisters.
- Each person has a responsibility for others that transcends the needs of self.
As each client progresses through the treatment process, they earn more privileges and authority, and are trusted with more responsibilities. The programme is focused on supporting individuals in their recovery so that they can successfully live in the wider community.
Stages of Progress
Odyssey House encourages clients to complete the residential programme because we know from international evidence that their outcomes are better if they attend for at least three months. The programme is individually tailored to meet the needs of each client.
These are the basic steps that each client goes through as they progress towards recovery:
- Giving up the addictions that previously harmed your life.
- Learning basic control of behaviour and delay of impulse gratification.
- Recognising the value of legitimate authority in social organisation.
- Accepting the destructiveness of addictive behaviour and acknowledging your need for help from other people.
- Learning verbal means of communicating feelings and resolving problems.
- Developing responsibility for carrying out tasks and learning effective methods of organisation for accomplishing stated objectives.
- Assuming responsibility for those who are dependent on you for their well-being.
The Odyssey ‘Pillars’
The basic values of the Therapeutic Community that form the framework for treatment are:
- Honesty
- Love
- Trust
- Concern
- Responsibility
The Cardinal Rules
Odyssey House provides a safe and drug-free environment for clients. In order to achieve this, everyone at Odyssey House is asked to abide by the following four cardinal rules:
- No sex or sexually acting out.
- No drugs or alcohol or contraband.
- No stealing.
- No violence or threats of violence.
Types of treatment
Odyssey House employs a wide range of professionals to provide clinical support and treatment to clients within the programmes
Within the residential programme we provide medical and psychiatric assessment and treatment, cultural activities, individual and group counselling, educational groups, help to develop long-term employment and education plans, family support and counselling, and opportunities to learn parenting skills.
Once clients have completed the initial stages of treatment, they are supported to transfer the skills learnt within Odyssey House, into their wider community. To achieve this, we help them to establish positive social relationships outside Odyssey House and to gain employment. We also provide them with life skills coaching and support to maintain their recovery.
Recreation
A core component of the programme is to encourage healthy recreation. All clients within Odyssey’s residential programmes are required to participate in weekly recreation. This includes community activities such as touch rugby, netball, and indoor cricket. Odyssey has a reputation for being competitive, often winning tournaments.
Cultural Activities
Odyssey House has a strong commitment to ensuring that the programme responds to the needs of Maori clients and their families. To that end, Odyssey includes opportunities for clients to participate in kapa haka, weaving, and te reo classes. Odyssey also employs a full time Maori cultural advisor and receives guidance from kaumatua Bob Hawke, who represents Ngati Whatua Iwi.
Support to find employment
We recognise the importance of employment for clients who have completed residential treatment so we have a full-time vocational advisor on hand to help clients seeking to re-enter the workforce.
This service includes assistance with identifying suitable employment options, preparing CVs, interview techniques, and learning workplace skills. Our vocational advisor also talks directly with employers to provide further support for clients.