The process of addiction treatment is, from a psychological and 12-Step point of view, an intervention in which individuals need to have the sense of safety and space to address their disease. Several factors may contribute to the escalation of disease-related symptoms whilst receiving and after treatment.

In this context, gender becomes an interesting and challenging variable to address, as it not only a core element of an individual’s identity but ultimately has significant bearing on how they understand their treatment and recovery experience.

The Harmony Addictions treatment group offers gender-separate ‘spaces’ for clients to address their addiction. This is done to provide not only dignity and respect but also an environment enhanced by sensitivity toward clients dealing with shame based behaviour such as sexual trauma and acting out. The aim of this endeavour is not to eliminate “gendered-ness” and sex from our programme but to facilitate its emergence in a safe, respectful and recovery-oriented manner.
We can anecdotally report that gender separation at the Harmony Secondary Care facilities has enhanced the intensity, depth and timing of disclosure when clients share therapeutic material in their gender-specific processes.

An additional benefit of maintaining gender-separate living and treatment programmes is that there appears to be a marked reduction in the reported sexual acting out behaviour of clients inside the facility for which they would be asked to leave treatment.

This apparent reduction in unhealthy behaviour, in combination with attending mixed gender Fellowship meetings and having gender separate programmes, provides the clients opportunities, in the context of Recovery, to begin to question the impact that their gender has on their sense of self and their personal recovery.

Contact Harmony Group today via email or phone us on 0861 695 9067