Here are five crucial aspects of our program that form the framework of what we do:
Throughout all levels of the organization, lived experience is to be valued over degrees and resumes as those we support are likely to have more lived experience than those with degrees and resumes.
In other words, we understand that people will only listen to those they respect. We must merit that respect and pieces of paper do not suffice. We also understand that you can only help those you understand.
Rather than seeing symptoms as pathology, we see them as signs pointing the way to health (R.D.Laing, “The Divided Self”, Steven Levine “Waking the Tiger” and “Healing Trauma”).
We understand the effect of food on mental health and this is reflected in our meal plan. The latest research shows that many mental health conditions can be vastly improved merely by eating the proper food (Dr. Dale Bredeson, Dr. Terry Wahls, Dr. Steven Gundry to name a few).
We understand the psychological effect of the space itself. Color, light, and decoration are part of the healing process.
The directors and support staff consider themselves to be part of the same human family as those they support, meaning they treat them as they would treat their own, because they are.