Small group therapy will be at the heart of your recovery journey. In a safe and confidential space, our two therapists and eight of your peers will help you to understand your experiences, recognise your feelings and manage the challenges you face. Group therapy has a number of proven benefits:

● Allows you to receive and offer support and feedback

● Improves your ability to relate to and communicate with others

● Lets you practise new behaviours

● Gives you an understanding of your thoughts, feelings and behaviours by looking at your relationship patterns both inside and outside the group

● Allows you to understand the thoughts, feelings and behaviours of others

● Improves your self-confidence and self-esteem

● Can start you on a process of personal change inside the group which you continue in your daily life.

You may have experiences that are very private, and that you’d feel more comfortable sharing with just one trusted person to begin with.

You can do this in individual therapy sessions. Your therapist will help you to make the most of group therapy. It will also be an opportunity where you can discuss your progress and change your programme schedule to meet your needs and interests.

Art therapy can be very helpful in managing intense emotions and increasing self-awareness. It is a great way to non-verbally express inner thoughts and feelings.

You do not need to feel creative to enjoy and get real benefit from time in our art studio. In this beautiful space you can work with: paints, pastels, clay, textiles, mosaic and other materials. This is all done under the guidance of our experienced arts therapists who will help ensure that you enjoy, and get the most out of, what may be an unfamiliar experience.

Rongoā uses ancestral Māori knowledge to help you connect to your whakapapa, wairua and whenua. Some of these practices include: rongoā rākau (herbal remedies), mirimiri and romiromi (bodywork), karakia (spiritual chants) and kōrero (conversation). Our expert rongoā practitioner will guide and support you in a very sensitive and personal way that feels right for your journey.

We have both a GP and psychiatrist who will listen to all your health concerns, explore treatment options and support you to make the right decisions to meet your needs. Our doctors will ensure that throughout the programme you will have access to high quality medical care.

Music can be a very powerful form of therapy - it can allow you to express yourself without needing to talk, and there is no need to be ‘musical’ by nature. Our music therapists will work with you in our music studio in playful and meaningful ways, using a variety of instruments, percussion, song and lyrics.

Mind-Body therapies provide opportunities for you to practise reconnecting to your body in a gradual and comfortable way alongside a compassionate and trained facilitator. Through exploration of movement and mindfulness practices, you can learn useful tools that will help you feel safe and balanced in your thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. These practices can be a very good way of helping you build a caring, loving relationship with yourself. Our mind-body work includes ancient practices such as mindfulness and meditation and is strongly informed by modern neuroscience and trauma recovery evidence.

Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington) offers a beautiful natural environment, and we want to help you explore it for the benefit of your mind, body, and spirit. The sea, beaches, forests and our community garden will be some of the places you will explore during the programme. Immersed in nature, you will be able to relax, practice mindfulness, process therapy and connect to yourself and the whenua around you.

We understand that day-to-day challenges may get in the way of your recovery. Our social workers can help you overcome these challenges by working to provide you with support and assistance with personal crises, whānau issues or any legal or social barriers that you may have. By connecting you with essential resources within the community - and advocating for your best interests - social workers make sure that your hopes are supported, your ideas are heard, and your individual needs are understood and met.

Occupational therapy can help your independence and wellbeing. Our occupational therapist will work with you to overcome any physical, psychological or emotional barriers you may be experiencing. They will help you in ways that stimulate your mind and assist you put in place healthy practices and strategies to navigate the challenges of everyday life.

Good mental health and good physical health are strongly connected and even small amounts of movement can make a real positive difference. But, we really understand how hard it can be to exercise when your mental health challenges are holding you back. We will start slowly and make exercise fun and achievable. By choosing activities that interest you, we will help you build your capability over time. We offer various exercise options including walking, cycling, swimming, gardening, gym, dance classes, and gentle forms of yoga and movement

At Whakamātūtū you can receive a professional mirimiri or massage treatment, or spend time in our sauna and relaxation room. These treatments not only promote relaxation, they provide many therapeutic benefits such as easing physical pain, increasing endorphins, and improving cardiovascular health.

The ‘therapeutic community’ is the whole group who will be supporting you during your time in our programme. It includes the people participating with you, and our staff and volunteers. Manaakitanga - the giving and receiving of support amongst members - can be a powerful healing agent. Our therapeutic community provides many interactions and everyday living experiences that allow you to learn about yourself and strengthen the skills that bring you closer to the life you want. This model has been an established and proven recovery method for many decades worldwide.

Time and space to rest and relax during the programme is important. It allows you to process and reflect whilst on your journey with us. There will be opportunities for you to do this during your time in the programme within both our dedicated spaces and in your time outdoors in nature.

Peer support is a relationship built around giving and receiving - manaakitanga. It is a very natural part of our programme where individuals support each other, and receive support in return. These demonstrations of support occur daily and in various small and large ways. They can happen in group therapy, at meal times, and during casual conversation in breaks. We also offer formal peer support opportunities for people who have finished the programme to come back and volunteer, reciprocating the support they received. The ‘lived experience’ of our peer support volunteers is a valuable part of our programme.