We are frequently asked questions by people looking for an alternative to traditional self help groups, self improvement retreats, addiction treatment or drug and alcohol rehab from across Canada, the USA, Europe, Asia, and Latin, Central, South America, Americas, Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela, Ecuador, Germany, Israel and Mexico.  Perhaps you have searched the internet with terms such as retreats, renewal centers, self actualization, coaching, personal training, self help, spiritual centers, celebrity drug rehab, luxury rehab, new age, drug rehab BC, holistic drug rehab, alcohol treatment, dual diagnosis, coexisting illnesses, codependency, private treatment centres, wellness spa, eco-tourism, health retreat, spiritual retreat, equine therapy, horseback riding, Canadian drug treatment facilities, or addiction treatment centers, becoming confused and not really knowing what you are looking for. We take a simple, straight forward approach that cuts through all the jargon and hype.

A Home Away is not a typical new age self help facility, drug rehab or addiction treatment center for alcohol addiction or alcoholism treatment. We do not “treat” illness or addiction. Our guests are people like you who have hit milestone, roadblock, run out of motivation, energy or focus, or perhaps stopped their addiction numerous times and want to experience a new healthy way of living a new life of recovery. You are welcome regardless of what form of “dis-ease”, unhappiness, brokenness, sadness, or addiction you may have struggled with, including gambling addiction, nicotine addiction (smoking cessation), or other addictive or co-dependent behaviours such as with food, sex, exercise, or internet. You are also welcome regardless of whether you have a specific problem or addiction. We are not about labels. Perhaps you simply want a retreat where you can restore and renew. Wonderful! All the better! If you want what we offer, you are welcome.

Questions often include how A Home Away differs from traditional institutional care facilities, and how to access our unique recovery retreat. The following are answers to some of these frequently asked questions:

Q. What is the AHA program like?

A. A Home Away offers a new-life retreat experience for individuals, couples, or very small groups of up to six concurrent guests. The home is co-ed with all guests having their own private bedroom. The home-like atmosphere fosters a comfortable, safe, nurturing environment and a lot of privacy and individual attention.

The retreat is designed to help you to live life fully, powerfully, and with self love and respect. The core program is designed to provide coaching, instruction and experiences within the triad of recovery, renewal and recreation. We believe that each individual deserves the hope of a renewed sense of self respect, love and purpose.

Recovery is not about sad, boring drudgery. At A Home Away, recovery is exciting, real, meaningful, hopeful and fun. You will learn about living life on life’s terms, including having fun again! That’s why we include recreation ranging from hikes, walks, world-class downhill skiing/boarding, sailing, golfing, bowling, swimming, billiards, and going out for dinner.

Within the core program, each guest is treated as an individual and with respect. Your recovery retreat allows you to explore your life, success factors, blocks to realizing your dreams, belief systems, personal faith, inter-and intrapersonal relationships, living free of alcohol or other drug dependency or addictions, recovery issues, life and vocational coaching, spirituality (non-religious), fitness, artistic expression, and massage.

Your program is holistic including all aspects of the whole person allowing you to focus on a healthy balance of your mind, body and spirit. Additionally, guests are given the opportunity to attend twelve step meetings in the community two evenings per week. While the program is comprehensive, there is plenty of free time for fun, relaxation, reflection, reading, walking, sharing with peers, or watching films or journaling.

A Home Away Retreat. A resort, away from home, like home, to recover and renew. A peaceful home setting in a most beautiful area. Come, retreat, and restore. We would be honoured to help you to experience living life fully, powerfully, and with self love, respect and trust.

Q. What kind of problems do you help people with?

A.

 

We also help those with a history of addiction sustain and further develop their new life of recovery. Chemical dependency can vary from having had difficulty with alcohol to an array of other drugs, including prescribed medications. Other forms of addiction we help people in their recovery with are smoking tobacco, food obsession, gambling, workaholism, sexual compulsivity, and codependency such as in adult children of alcoholics.

A Home Away is not a typical drug rehab or treatment center for alcohol addiction or alcoholism treatment. A Home Away is not an addiction treatment center or drug rehab. We do not “treat” addiction. We provide a healthy life experience of a new life of recovery for those who have stopped their addiction, and want to stay stopped, and find peace, contentment, and joy in their lives. You are welcome regardless of what form of addiction you may have struggled with, including gambling addiction, nicotine addiction (smoking cessation), or other addictive or co-dependent behaviours such as with food, sex, exercise, or internet. Or perhaps you simply want time out from your busy, stressful life, and want a retreat for reflection, renewal, and personal growth. You are welcome.

Addiction manifests in many ways. Stopping drinking or drugging or other behaviours such as gambling or smoking is only the beginning. You know how to do that, and have probably done so several times. You may have been clean and sober for various periods of time yet find that you have difficulty living life on life’s terms. Restlessness, irritability, or discontentment is common. Perhaps you have had difficulty with relationships or your marriage, work problems, difficulty with stress, feelings of anxiety and/or depression, anger, sadness, or frustration.

Your life may feel hopeless and empty. You may be lonely and full of despair. Perhaps you feel powerless and your life has become unmanageable. If this describes how you feel, then A Home Away is here to offer you a retreat where you can experience a new life of hope and health.

Addiction is often described as a family disease. If you have a loved one who has suffered from addiction, perhaps a parent or a spouse, then you may also be experiencing problems in your life. Some of our guests are Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA) and many have co-dependency issues.

Business persons and health professionals are at home at A Home Away relating with staff that understand and can relate.

We do not specialize in any particular ethnicity, remaining fully welcoming and embracing of all with cultural sensitivity.

Some guests have previously received treatment within the traditional healthcare system for concurrent conditions ranging from anxiety disorders, depression, and other mental health issues. While A Home Away is a powerful retreat experience, it is not a traditional healthcare provider. Your individualized retreat, while not focused specifically on treating or providing care for such concurrent conditions does encompass a holistic approach that provides benefit and personal growth in all aspects of life.

A Home Away is not a medical center, care provider, or hospital and does not provide assisted living or community care. Guests must be medically and mentally stable, healthy, and clean and sober prior to arrival. Click here for more detail.

Hope and health awaits you at A Home Away. We would be honoured to have you as our guest.

Q. How long is the program?

A. Usual lengths vary from couple weekend retreats, to personal retreats of 28 to 42 days.

For those needing or desiring a less intensive program, or for dealing with the myriad of emotional and life change issues that often arise in sustained longer term sobriety, private counseling in person or over the telephone or online can be extremely valuable.

Q. How does A Home Away differ from traditional treatment centers?

A. We are a small, private, non-governmental, non-institutional, home-like environment*. As a private facility, we have maintained the autonomy to provide a unique, compassionate and holistic retreat experience that helps people restore their lives and find new meaning and purpose.

The atmosphere and culture is open, honest, friendly, warm, and fun. You will be treated with respect and dignity and as our guest in our home. All guests have their own private room which is dissimilar to conventional, institutional treatment facilities.

We accept a maximum of 6 guests at any one time, and the setting is a resort offering a retreat experience. This small, home-like environment allows for a significant amount of individual, 1:1 attention, counselling, and small group experiences. We have done our best to eliminate bureaucracy while maintaining a high ratio of counsellors to guests as well as proportion of individual, 1:1 sessions compared to more traditional care providers or treatment facilities in North America.

A Home Away does not treat drug and alcohol addiction specifically. Where that may be an issue, we offer a retreat experience for individuals who have chosen to give up their unhealthy drinking, drug use, or behaviour, and to begin a new life of recovery free from addiction. Regardless of whether you have an addition or have struggled with alcohol, another drug, gambling, nicotine, food, exercise, sex, or an unhealthy behaviour, you are welcome at A Home Away. Or perhaps you have grown up in an alcoholic home, and find your life has become unmanageable and unhappy. All are welcome. If you want change in your life, to experience what A Home Away Retreat has to offer, you are welcome.

A Home Away Retreat is truly unique. We would be pleased to have you as our guest.

* A Home Away is NOT a medical facility or assisted living or community care house, and does not take responsibility for the medical care of guests. If you are under medical or mental health care or receiving such treatment, you are advised to consult with your healthcare practitioner(s) as to your suitability for a visit to A Home Away. More details.

Q. I’m alcoholic and my life has become unmanageable.   Can you help?

A. Your honesty and willingness to seek help are admirable. Congratulations on taking your First Step: you have admitted that you are alcoholic and that your life has become unmanageable. You have stopped drinking, but likely have difficulty ‘staying stopped’. How do you live life on life’s terms without resorting back to drinking? Now you choose to move on to a new life of alcohol recovery! There is hope! You deserve and are capable of living a full life of authenticity, serenity, fullness, and value.

We would be honoured to help you to live life fully, powerfully, and with self love and respect. You are in need of doing things differently, and now you are willing to receive help: Now is the time! Just do it! Make a healthy choice for YOU. You deserve it!

You are facing a decision as to ‘where’ to turn in your life. You are facing choices. A Home Away is a choice you may make. Choosing hope, health and life over the illusions of escape, unhappiness, broken dreams and relationships.

We are here for people seeking a new life of continued freedom from addiction,  just like you. Addiction, as terrible as it has been, can become your asset motivating you to make changes for you to live a full life of authenticity, sobriety, serenity, fullness, and value.

Q. What are the requirements for attending AHA?

A. A Home Away is not a medical facility*. All guests need to be clean and sober by the time they arrive. Additionally, guests need to be medically and mentally healthy. If you are currently undergoing ongoing treatment for a medical problem or mental health issue, we ask that you check with your medical practitioner as to your suitability to attend such a program. It is up to you to determine your state of health, in consultation with your doctor if required.

A Home Away is for adults over the age of 19 years.

The main determinants of outcome are willingness to accept help, and to be honest with self and others. If you are willing and honest, A Home Away would be a good place for you.

We welcome international guests. A Home Away is here to help adults of all ages and types from across North, Central and South America, Europe and Asia. Our guests come from far and wide; from British Columbia (BC) and Alberta to Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia; to Washington, California, New York or Florida and South America. Addiction respects no international boundary!

For relapse prevention, sober coaching, family codependency issues, and other forms of counselling can be arranged in person, over the telephone, or online.

We are open to and embracing of all races, religious beliefs (or lack of belief), ethnicities, social/economic classes, and sexual orientation.

Every guest is treated as our guest with dignity, respect, and a belief in your capacity for self-determination, growth and healing.

*More details

Q. I am still drinking or using. Can I come for help?

A. Yes, you can come and are well suited for us to help you as soon as you are clean and sober. A Home Away is not a medical facility* and, as such, is not equipped to help you through detox or any withdrawal symptoms you may have. For this reason, we require that all guests be several days clean and sober prior to arrival. We will discuss your individual situation with you and help direct you to appropriate medical care to help you through your withdrawal from drinking or using other drugs, in order to attend the retreat at A Home Away. Consult with your healthcare practitioner if you have any question about your suitability for such a retreat.

If you are actively drinking or using, and having difficulty stopping on your own, or if you have concerns that it would be physically hazardous for you to suddenly stop, it may be advisable to undergo a medically supervised withdrawal (detox). A Home Away can help direct you to a local medical care facility prior to then beginning your retreat ongoing recovery program.

* More details

Q. My loved one continues to drink or use and doesn’t want help. Can I make him/her go?

A. Coming to A Home Away is by choice. Choosing hope, health and life over the illusions of escape and dis-ease. Most guests make this choice having become ‘sick and tired of being sick and tired’.

Occasionally, family members become concerned that their loved one needs help yet seems resistant to acknowledging their problems. You should openly and honestly share your concerns with your loved one, offering him or her the help you believe they need. You may show him or her information about A Home Away and offer a stay here as an opportunity for hope and health. Role model honesty. Share with him or her 1) what you see (in terms of drinking, use, behaviour change; make observations) and 2) how you feel about what you see (focus only on YOUR feelings). Don’t judge his or her behaviour. Leave their dignity intact. Approach him or her when they are clean and sober and not angry. Present a choice. Make an offer. Then give him or her some space to ponder the recommendation and to come to their own decision. Don’t pressure. Don’t force. You may be surprised. A Home Away is not for everyone who needs it. It is for those that want it. The decision is ultimately with your loved one.

In the meantime, regardless of whether your loved one gets help or not, your life may feel unmanageable, conflicted with anger, concern, worrying, and trying to control people, places and things. Some use the term codependency. You need and deserve help. Good counselling is available and can be tremendously helpful.

Q. How much does it cost, and what is your refund policy?

A. The cost for your retreat is individualized according to duration. Call us at to discuss your program.

Fees are all-inclusive of accommodation in your own private bedroom, meals, sessions, counselling, the various holistic components such as music, art, yoga, and massage, and resource materials. When you come to A Home Away, the only additional cost is for recreation expenses that vary by season and activity. The average recreation expense is $300 per 42 days.

An upgrade of your accommodation to a large master bedroom with private ensuite and balcony is available at a premium rate.

The cost of extended retreats of up to 91 days are pro-rated based upon the duration of your individualized stay.

This type of private retreat is expensive. We have done our very best to keep the costs to a minimum. The reality is that it is expensive to operate such a facility. USA facilities of similar quality can cost in excess of $40,000 for 28 days. A Home Away is of the highest, premium quality, and offers one of the highest ratios of counsellors to guests as well as proportion of individual 1:1 sessions.

Is this a large investment of money? Yes. Consider how much has been spent on your drink or drug of choice? Consider how much has been wasted in terms of resources and opportunity. Consider what your happiness, fulfillment, or life is worth. What does your family deserve?

You have a choice of whether to invest in your self. You are worth it! What better investment could there be?

A Home Away offers the assurance of full value for your investment. As is common practice in related fields, paid fees are non-refundable.

Q. Do you accept insurance or third party coverage?

A. As a private, non-government or social service funded program, we do not deal directly with third parties concerning payment. However, should you have such resources available to you, we provide official receipts which you may submit to your provider, agency or other source of support. Many of our guests receive financial assistance through their employer, third party or social assistance.

Q. Is this a religious program?

A. No. A Home Away helps people regain their lives from the effects of addiction. Addiction affects every aspect of a person’s life, including mind, body and spirit. To offer the best chance at sustained recovery, we therefore address all aspects of the whole person, including spirituality. This is distinct from religion. We are not a religious organization nor do we preach, encourage or teach any particular religion. We are open to and welcoming of all, regardless of religious belief, experience, or lack of belief.

By including spirituality in the retreat, we embrace the twelve step spiritual principles of Alcoholics Anonymous. Principles such as openness, honesty, willingness, faith, hope, belief, forgiveness and service. Spiritual exploration is an opportunity to discover how you relate to self, others, nature, and whatever your concept of a Higher Power might be.

No one is forced or directed to believe anything. At A Home Away, every individual has a right to their own personal beliefs and concept of spirituality.

Q. How do I make a booking?

A. Simply call, email, or complete our online application. No complicated forms are required. Provided you meet our eligibility criteria, and we have room, we would be pleased to arrange for your visit.

To confirm a booking, payment of the full amount for your program is required to hold a room and a place for you.

The most expedient way to make payment is by direct bank deposit, or wire transfer.

We welcome international guests.
A Home Away has helped adults of all ages and types from across North and South America. Guests have come from BC and Alberta to Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes, to Washington and California to New York and Florida and Guyana.

For further information, please email retreat@ahomeaway.org.
We are eager to help in any way we can.