The program structure of Huron House reflects the belief that in order for the residents and their families to work through their current challenges, counselling should be viewed as a crucial element in the creation of an effective, restorative and successful plan of care for each of the residents.
Huron House adheres to the client-centred model of counselling. Client-centred counselling uses a collaborative approach in the development of the client’s goals. The client identifies his counselling goals and he is expected to cooperate with the support he receives from the Huron House staff as he attempts to achieve those goals. It is a respectful model that views the resident as an active team member in his personal process.
Counselling is provided at various levels in the Huron House program. There is a consulting clinical psychologist who can provide counselling as well as diagnostic services for the residents and training and support for the frontline staff. Also, there is an in-house clinical social worker who can provide individual and family counselling sessions. The clinical social worker is trained and certified in the delivery of a wide range of clinical intervention models. The counselling models that are utilized are client-centred and they focus on not only helping the resident to process unresolved issues, learn socially accepted techniques that are meant to improve his social interactions and self-regulatory skills and improve his self-esteem but also to increase his personal resiliency and guide him to self-awareness and an effective level of personal autonomy. All of the residents also participate in therapeutic and lifeskills groups that are facilitated by frontline staff. Each resident has a primary worker who also provides frequent personal counsel, support and encouragement.
On occasion, a resident may also participate in outside counselling that is provided by a community service partner. Outside counselling may have been occurring before a resident was admitted to the program and it was the desire of the resident that counselling should continue.
Each resident’s plan of care is clinically reviewed on a regular basis to determine the ongoing progress the resident is making and to decide if and when specific goals have been achieved and whether or not other future goals should be considered by the resident.
Wherever the counselling occurs, information about the resident’s counselling progress is shared with all of the members “circle of care” (with consent) in order to ensure an integrated service plan for each of the residents.