Business ProfileforTrafalgar Addiction Treatment Centres

I am currently receiving treatment from Trafalgar and have just completed the second week out of four. I will attempt to give an unbiased view of the program. I have attended another treatment center in the past and thus far am disappointed with the experience at Trafalgar.

I am completing their online program consisting of two 75 minute sessions per day each weekday and three one-on-one 50-minute counseling sessions each week for a cost of $9,000. One session with a psychiatrist is included as well as a few family sessions and some after care.

There is no detailed treatment plan personalized for you. I was simply thrust into the group sessions, which are difficult to maintain focus to when attending online. It would be nice to have an overview of how the program is going to help me and specifically how it will make me better. What really helps participants like me is when there are specific set goals on what will be done to accomplish a particular task. I'd like to have X, Y, and Z done by the end of the program, but these items were never discussed or mentioned. It's just a generic program for everyone.

There has also been poor communication with me, which is done primarily through email, to set up the thrice-weekly appointments with a therapist. On one instance, the therapist asked to move my appointment with less than 24 hours notice and then was not even online for that updated time. By the time I saw the email for the appointment, the session was over. The therapist then counted the missed appointment against me. I had to battle with them to give that session back to me.

I initially attempted to get a refund for the program, but once you sign, you will not be given any possibility of getting your money back.

I talked with the clinical director Nathaniel about the missed session and he initially attempted to blame me for it, though I was online and ready to go at the start time. There was never an admission of wrongdoing on his part. You may think this is not too troubling, but as someone who has difficulty with assertiveness, it was very difficult to speak up and demand that I was given what I deserved. Nathaniel then attempted to gaslight me and say something along the lines of "If only you had spoken to me in a calm voice...". True, I did curse and yell, which is not a good approach, but I felt wronged for them blaming me on my missed session.

Thus far, this program has been a waste of time and money & I wish I had done more research before choosing them. If you are looking for a program that has a clear individualized path for success, where you see your accomplishments, make adjustments, & continue it indefinitely, then this program is not it. You'll sit through some group sessions with a few copied worksheets (no real homework, no real checkins, no checking of progress).

In hindsight, I should have looked for a program that has good CBT with homework and a clear plan for success both during the treatment and after.

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As I've said previously, a good program will have a customized, individual treatment program that understands your personal needs and goals at the very start. Jumping into a group sessions without a clear direction is not my idea of how to find success.

Thank you for submitting your review. There is a great deal of inaccurate and misleading information that should be addressed and properly reflected.

We should address that a Virtual IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program) is quite different from other residential or out-patient programs, to which you may have previously attended. A Virtual IOP is for those who are self-motivated and serious about getting not just the help they need, but the help they want. Those who want to be online and participate and want to work hard to better themselves. As we our focused on Concurrent Disorders, utilizing such tools as CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) those who enter our program need to be ready for that hard, personal work. That real self-reflection and accountability and acknowledgement of their past, emotions and behaviours. This is real programming for people who want real help.

Upon deciding to participate in our CARF Accredited treatment program, you were provided with a "Confirmation Letter for Admitting & Financial Agreement" along with many other documents and information. This specific agreement, signed by you prior to admission, clearly laid out what you could expect in the "What the Client Can Expect" section. Specifically, it details the three individual therapy sessions per week, the number of family sessions, groups, psychologist sessions and all the accompanying aftercare that will be delivered to you in this great program. Let's note that this document only comes after a number of discussions with our intake coordinators. In your case, your wife had over 5 lengthy discussions, and you as well, had at least 2 discussions with our intake team, prior to admission into the program. It is quite clear that both of you had a clear understanding of the program, the structure, schedule, and the benefits. You were both well informed and went in with an accurate description of the program.

As far as your specific treatment plan goes, you need to remember and understand the process. There is no magic pill in addiction or therapy. As a Concurrent Disorder focused program, it takes work from the client. It takes the forming of a therapeutic alliance and time to get to know the client and their struggles. As part of Trafalgar's CARF Accredited process, and as communicated to you with the clinical team, the "Person Centered Plan" starts being formed from the onset. The program starts with a Clinical Intake assessment with our Clinical Manager, and a psychological intake with our psychologist. An interpretive summary is drafted for internal assessment and background knowledge. At this time Clients begin participating in group therapy skill-based programming, as well as their individual therapy sessions. Generally, it takes about three therapy sessions for the therapist to complete the "Person Centered Plan". By session 4 it is usually delivered to the client to review and sign. It is a living and breathing document that adjusts throughout the 4-week program as we continue to learn more about one's goals, struggles etc. In your case, you were a no show to the 3rd therapy session and failed to participate after this moment. As a result you Person Centered Treatment Plan process was never completed. You personally made a choice to abandon the process, abandon your treatment and walk away. You made it impossible to deliver a personal treatment plan.

You displayed this by taking out your anger and emotions on our clinical staff. As you admitted you yelled, used profanity and abused four members of our clinical team. You failed to take accountability in the treatment process, for your attendance, for your part in the resolution process and your overall willingness to get better.

Trafalgar has a zero-tolerance policy for verbal abuse. During your outbursts of yelling and profanity, our clinical team closed discussions with you for a 24-hour cool off period. Discussions resumed the next day, where you apologized for your anger and your behaviour and agreed to a resolution process to get you back on track for your program. You were content and satisfied. As the weekend came, you were left to your own devices and decided to follow through with your threats of slandering our program and our team online, followed by your silence and non-attendance from the program the next week. You made a unilateral choice to remove yourself from programming, shame our team and program online and made it impossible to come to resolution. Instead of contacting our team on the Monday, you took matters in your own hand. This is the result.

Trafalgar wishes you the best in your recovery. We hope you find the help you are looking for. As a provider of Addiction and Mental Health treatment, we are a provider of and believer in second chances. This is why we exist. We understand you are struggling. When you are ready, we will be ready for you with open arms to help you succeed.