Our Adult Program offers single adults and couples with alcohol and other drug dependencies residential rehabilitative care within a therapeutic setting.
Established in 1978, the Karralika Therapeutic Community Program offers a comprehensive program for people with alcohol and other dependencies, using the therapeutic community approach to treatment. In simple terms this approach uses ‘community as method’ where members of the community support the individual to fully participate in the community to achieve the social and psychological goals of lifestyle and self-change.
About the program
Treatment is provided within a safe environment, free of alcohol and non-prescription drugs and is based on the belief that a person’s dependence on alcohol or other drugs is symptomatic of underlying personal difficulties. We provide an environment that not only assists people to overcome their dependence but also assists in the development of positive life skills to help them choose a better life.
Our program focuses upon individual personal growth to replace alcohol and other drug dependencies. It includes life and job skills training, individual and group counselling and access to specialist services from other agencies.
Preparation for future employment and lifeskills training are important components of the program. Clients have the opportunity to learn new skills to support their growth and potential employment opportunities when their treatment program ends and they return to the community.
Staff work within a creative and innovative therapeutic environment and are skilled in clinical practices and present strong role models for clients in treatment. Our multidisciplinary team are trained in the treatment of those with alcohol and other drug dependencies. Our staff have completed professional training programs with qualifications in psychology, counselling, addiction studies and other disciplines and some have lived experience.
Our team offer alcohol and other drug information, support and case management to parents who do not have custody of their children.
The Karuna Program offers individuals the ability to participate in the therapeutic community for a period of 8 weeks as preparation for the extended residential treatment program within Karralika, or as a short-stay program. During this program, clients take part in group and individual counselling sessions and educational seminars and activities to empower them to make informed choices about a range of ongoing treatment options, enabling them to experience an improved lifestyle.
Clients can then move into the remainder of the 12 month Karralika Therapeutic Community Program and then through transition into the community. Clients can also elect to move into the Nexus Program, be referred to another organisation or into the community with support through our Outreach Program.
Our Karralika Child and Family Services provides support for adults with alcohol and other drug dependencies and accompanying children through the Therapeutic Family Program, Children’s Programs, and Family Counselling and support.
Karralika Therapeutic Community Model
The Therapeutic Community Program Model involves a series of stages to support an individual’s personal growth and development. The distinct stages are specifically designed to support the change process by providing meaningfully timed measurements of expected change, support for goal attainment and success, and markers or milestones to represent the learning process.
Within each of the stages, individuals will be supported to set and achieve goals and change, identify treatment issues and facilitate growth.
- Step 1
Assessment - Step 2Karuna Program
(8 weeks) - Step 3 Treatment / commitment
(9 mths) - Step 4Transition
(6 mths)
The Karuna Program can be a short stay program or the first phase of the 12 month treatment program within the Therapeutic Community. The Karuna Program is designed to empower individuals to make informed choices about a range of ongoing treatment options, enabling them to experience an improved lifestyle.
Participants take part in group and individual counselling sessions and educational seminars. At completion of this stage, clients will identify their intent to continue their treatment within the broader Therapeutic Community and will have also been assessed as suitable to do so. Clients can also move into the Nexus Program, be referred to another program or move into the community with outreach support from us for a period of time.
Here, clients live and work in a small community situation and, with the support and encouragement of staff, help each other to develop constructive life-coping skills. The social structure is a simple hierarchy of positions with degrees of responsibility.
Activities centre around a normal lifestyle of daily work projects and leisure pursuits, which are supported by creative therapy and wordskills programs.
Treatment normally lasts around six to seven months but may be adjusted to meet individual needs. Attendance at outside support meetings commences during this time.
Commitment phase involves a focus within the program and a commitment back to Karralika as well as an opportunity for preparation for living in the greater community. It is also a period of preparation to move into the Transition phase of the program, or into alternate accommodation in the community.
During the Transition period, an updated treatment plan is created, reflecting the ongoing achievement of identified treatment goals. The focus is on separation from the Therapeutic Community – transition into the wider community through increased independence, increased contact and interaction with the wider community, development of relationship/support networks. Voluntary work continues and a focus on Relapse Prevention (including internal and external providers) in this phase.
Moving to independent living through Karralika Programs Inc. Transition Houses supports the change from the residential program into community-living.
For more information
For more information about the program or if you are interested in referring yourself or someone else, please contact the Intake Officer on 02 6163 0200 during business hours.
See our Frequently Asked Questions.
