The Residence at Homewood, recognized as one of Canada’s premier accredited private mental health and addiction treatment centres, offers personalized care in a serene, therapeutic setting. The proximity to Homewood Health Centre allows for an integrative, evidence-based approach to addiction and mental health treatment.
While prospective clients are often drawn to The Residence’s five-star amenities nestled among peaceful gardens and wooded trails, it’s the human connection that typically leaves a lasting impression. That’s where treatment consultant Paul Obermeyer plays a key role. Often clients’ first point of contact, Obermeyer sees himself as the facility’s concierge—using his background in emergency psychiatry to help assess each client’s unique needs and goals.
CFO sat down with Obermeyer to learn more about what The Residence has to offer.
What sets The Residence apart from other in-patient treatment centres?
What differentiates us from anything in Canada or the U.S. is the level of individualized treatment. In addition to the many weekly individual sessions, clients also engage in a variety of group therapy sessions. We deliver care in a very intimate, personalized, refined setting, but also have the support of a 300-bed academic hospital right next door at Homewood Health Centre. So, our physicians aren’t working in isolation—they have access to an expert team of 30 psychiatrists. Access to such deep expertise is what allows us to offer services like the Interventional Psychiatry Service for challenges such as treatment-resistant depression.
Why do you encourage prospective patients to come for a tour before their official admission date?
If they have an opportunity to see the 50 acres of trails and recreational facilities, it leaves an impression. The Residence facility retains its historic charm as a remodelled Edwardian character home with modern upgrades and elegant finishes. When I’m touring someone, we’ll walk through the dining room and the chief of psychiatry will be waiting in line with a client at the coffee machine. You don’t see that in a hospital. There is no hierarchy. We’re in this together and right beside you during your journey. It’s a personalized touch and removes that whole white-coat syndrome you see in hospital settings.
Tell me about the group therapies available at The Residence.
In addition to the eight to 12 individualized therapy sessions per week (a highlight for clients), clients also engage in a variety of group sessions. These include emotional skill-building, wellness and lifestyle groups, reflection and planning, as well as creative and experiential groups such as art, horticulture and recreation therapy. The variety of group sessions is intended to build valuable skills, support recovery and enhance overall health and wellness.
Occasionally, clients can be hesitant to engage in the experiential therapies. They just want to see the psychiatrist. But as they start to engage in these therapies, what becomes obvious is that some of our clientele have never had any kind of recreation in their lives. They’ve always been driven by business and work. These therapies are in fact quite therapeutic and are an important augmentation to the core therapies.
What role does family play in treatment and recovery?
We know from research that the more family or other support a client receives, the better the outcome.
We recognize the importance of family—whether relatives or chosen support systems—and the meaningful role they play in the treatment and recovery process. If agreed upon by the client, families have the opportunity to participate in various aspects of treatment to enhance support and contribute to positive outcomes.
During the initial assessment period, families are asked to provide information about the client and the circumstances that brought them into treatment from their perspective. This information, combined with the client’s viewpoint, helps to provide a stronger, more holistic picture for the clinical team.
Families can also participate in two meetings during treatment to provide an opportunity for the client and members of the clinical team to share information with them regarding goals, aftercare planning, and what they can do to support clients as they transition back home.
Recovery doesn’t happen in isolation. When families are involved during treatment, it enhances support and honours the care and investment that they have for their loved one’s future.
What kind of support do clients receive once they leave The Residence?
The clinical team works collaboratively with clients throughout their admission to build a plan for ongoing support as they transition from the inpatient setting to their home community. One resource available is the Recovery Management Program, which is designed to help clients maintain their progress as they transition out of inpatient care. This outpatient program includes 14 individual sessions and access to weekly recovery groups for up to one year at no additional cost.
A unique feature of this program is the opportunity for clients to meet with their clinician during treatment. This early connection fosters rapport, easing the transition into outpatient care and ensuring continuity of support immediately after discharge.
The purpose of this follow-up care is to consolidate everything a client has learned in treatment and to continue building upon these skills as they move forward in their recovery journey. While inpatient treatment is a valuable component of recovery, it takes place in a highly structured, supportive environment that differs from everyday life. Helping individuals integrate back home, problem-solve and use skills they’ve learned here is the important part. And in this industry, a year-long aftercare program is very robust.
Disclaimer: This story was created by Canadian Family Offices’ commercial content division on behalf of Homewood Health, which is a member and content provider of this publication.