Harmony House is situated in Walmer Estate in the heart of Cape Town. Harmony House is a treatment centre specialising in the extended care and treatment of addictive disorders including drug addiction, alcoholism, eating disorders, gambling and sex addiction.
We offer a residential program designed to assist addicts in making behavioural changes thereby enhancing their long-term prognosis for sustained recovery from addiction.
Our expert staff complement has a wide range of experience and expertise. Our commitment to excellence, our dedicated staff and our holistic, evidence-based approach to treatment creates an environment that promotes positive and sustained change. We have 18 beds and accept males and females over the age of 18.
We are partnered with international referral networks and receive clients from all over the world. We also have the Tertiary Facility, Serendipity (State-registered), and four Satellite House facilities formally linked to Harmony House, which, with 52 beds inclusive of Harmony House, makes us one of the most comprehensive and independent 12-step treatment facilities in South Africa .
Addictions
Harmony House is a residential therapeutic community, subscribing to the internationally accepted Minnesota model of treatment. The highly structured programme is supported by a multi-disciplinary team of psychologists, social workers, trained addiction counsellors, a spiritual counsellor, a psychiatrist and medical doctor. Intervention incorporates a rich blend of contemporary models of counselling, including motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioural therapy, crisis intervention, group psychotherapy, working with trauma, life-skills groups, team building and 12-step activities.
Emphasis on loss, grief, managing change and working with trauma are incorporated into the programme. In addition, psycho-education groups pertaining to addiction are also held weekly.
Eating Disorders
Our eating disorder programme is part of working with process addictions. The established principles of working with addictions are applied. Structured mealtimes help clients to develop appropriate eating patterns – with regard to normalising their relationship with food (and its meaning). Counselling interventions are applied to address the underlying emotional and behavioural issues surrounding the eating disorder. The meals provided are nutritionally balanced, and supported by a specialist registered dietician. Our programme includes focussed eating disorder groups which address, inter alia, self-esteem, disordered eating and body-image concerns. Additionally, one-on-one counselling and written assignments form part of this process. Weekly attendance at 12 step fellowship groups and working the steps with a sponsor is compulsory. A ‘buddy system', written feelings journals and meal plans are integrated into the therapeutic process. A nutritionist /dietician and an eating disorder specialist are available to assist with specific client needs, and a formal eating contract may be entered into.
Sex and Love Addiction
Clients often experience interlinked profiles of addiction. In many instances their chemical addiction is linked to sex and/or love addiction. In this regard, we work systemically with the client and include specific intervention strategies to deal with these dualities. Examples would include psycho-sexual histories, gender groups, SLAA groups, working with intimacy and commitment, defining and addressing bottom-line behaviours, core beliefs and shame. Special attendance at Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA) is compulsory.