At Centres for Health and Healing, our commitment to cultural inclusivity and honouring the histories, traditions, and identities of Indigenous peoples is deeply embedded into our treatment programs, clinical teams and the culture of our centre.
This commitment is foundational in our approach to recovery, ensuring that you feel secure, understood, and respected throughout your healing journey and beyond.
As part of our holistic approach to mental health and addiction recovery, we place a significant emphasis on integrating trauma-informed, culturally safe practices.
This approach ensures that we create a treatment environment where Indigenous individuals feel secure, understood, and respected throughout their recovery journey and after treatment ends.
Culturally-Inclusive Mental Health and Addiction Care
The terms Indigenous, American Indian, and Alaska Native refer to individuals from a wide range of distinct and resilient communities.
These communities uphold diverse spiritual and cultural traditions, speak many different languages, live in varied environments, and express their cultural identities in ways shaped by unique historical, social, and relational contexts.
(Gone, 2004; Harris, Carlson, & Poata-Smith, 2013).
Our team recognizes the interconnection between emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, integrating treatment methods tailored to the individual, taking into account their unique history, beliefs, culture, and lived experiences.
We deeply respect and honour Indigenous cultures and traditions, integrating them into our therapeutic care and trauma-informed practice.
Whether you are seeking support for a substance use disorder or mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, or trauma, our inclusive services ensure your cultural identity is respected and valued throughout your recovery journey.
Cultural Leadership and Staff Training
Integration of Indigenous Healing Traditions
Our culturally sensitive approach to care includes the respectful integration of traditional Indigenous practices such as smudging, which is offered as part of a client’s treatment program.
Smudging
Smudging is a sacred healing practice rooted in many Indigenous cultures, used to cleanse and purify the mind, body, and spirit.
During a smudging ceremony, one or more sacred medicines, such as sage, sweetgrass, cedar, or tobacco, are burned, each carrying its own cultural and spiritual significance.
These practices, like all our programs, are optional and guided by individual preferences and comfort levels.
We understand that each person’s healing journey is unique, and we respect your choices in how you engage with our services, ensuring a client-centred, trauma-informed approach.
The Centres for Health and Healing team works with Indigenous advisors who partner with us to uphold respect and integrity when introducing new cultural elements into our treatment model.
These advisors, respected members of their communities, ensure that our practices are culturally appropriate and respectful, thereby enhancing the trust and comfort of our Indigenous clients.
Meet Amanda Dale-St. Pierre,
Our Indigenous Counsellor and Cultural Advisor
Kanekatatie (Amanda Dale-St. Pierre, MSW, RSW)