11 questions for any mental health or addiction treatment centre
All treatment centres are not created equal. Some are designed to look impressive—high-end furnishings, spa features, hot tubs—while putting far less emphasis on medical care, clinical oversight, and long-term recovery. When someone is struggling, comfort alone isn’t treatment. What matters more? Qualified staff, real medical presence, and support that lasts beyond discharge.
These questions are designed to help you determine if a treatment centre can deliver the best mental health and addiction care.
1. Will I or my loved one be medically safe here—at all times?
Is there medical staff on site 24/7? Are doctors physically present in the program, or only available virtually or on call?
- EHN Canada has medical staff on site 24/7, including nurses and physicians, with nurse practitioners and psychiatrists available in-person at select locations.
- All patients have continuous access to in-person medical care (including detox) throughout treatment.
2. Who is responsible for care if something goes wrong?
What licenses and accreditations does the centre hold, and who is accountable for medical and clinical decisions day and night?
- Many EHN Canada facilities are accredited by Accreditation Canada.
- Each site has a Clinical Director and a Medical Director who are accountable for patient care.
- Overnight, nurses and trained support counsellors are on site.
3. Who will be providing day-to-day treatment?
What are the credentials of the counsellors and therapists working directly with clients? Do they hold Master’s-level degrees? What experience do they have treating substance use and mental health together?
- At all EHN Canada facilities, we work to employ as many Master’s-level clinicians as possible, delivering evidence-based, scientifically supported treatment.
- They provide individual and group therapy and conduct regular progress assessments.
- Many of our clinicians also have lived experience.
4. How do you determine if a program is the right fit?
What questions do you ask before accepting someone into treatment? Not every centre is right for everyone—and if a program accepts someone immediately without a thorough assessment, that can be a red flag.
- We conduct thorough psychological and medical assessments prior to admission and evaluate readiness and motivation for treatment.
- We do not accept individuals who are not clinically or programmatically suited. In that event, we will do our best to direct you towards the right treatment provider.
5. Do you build an individualized treatment plan for each patient?
Is care based on a comprehensive assessment, or does everyone follow the same schedule and approach regardless of their history, health, or needs?
- EHN Canada follows a Measurement-based Care model with ongoing assessments that inform individualized treatment plans.
- Real accommodations are taken seriously and we do what we can to meet people where they are at. At the same time, this is treatment. Part of recovery involves learning healthy boundaries, building or rebuilding healthy habits that work for your lifestyle, structure, and accountability, and those principles are intentionally built into the program.
6. How available are clinical and medical staff throughout treatment?
Are counsellors and medical professionals accessible every day and after hours, or only during limited times?
- At, EHN Canada, staff are on-site 24/7. There is always someone available to talk to for immediate support.
- Support counsellors and clinical staff are available beyond scheduled sessions to assist clients throughout the day.
- We also foster a community of recovery for our clients to help each other.
7. How are families or loved ones involved during treatment?
Are families included through education, counselling, or regular communication, when appropriate, during treatment?
- Family involvement is a core component of treatment and includes family programming and access to virtual support groups.
- Regular communication with family is available 7 days a week with visiting hours on weekends. There are guidelines to the duration of communication and frequency of communication during the day. We want to create a space for clients to fully engage in their treatment and being as present as possible in the process.
8. Once inpatient treatment is completed, what support do you offer?
Is there a structured stepdown approach—such as extended care, transitional programming, or virtual intensive programs—to help maintain stability after discharge?
- A full year of aftercare is included with your inpatient stay, which provides two hours of support each week.
- Each client has different needs for a successful long-term recovery. Based on clinical evaluations, we can recommend and provide extensive post-treatment support such as residential extended care, virtual intensive treatment programs, relapse prevention groups, individual counselling and more.
- Inpatient treatment jumpstarts recovery; post-treatment care helps you integrate what you learned into your daily life.
9. Is there a recovery community to offer support after treatment?
Do alumni stay connected through structured community, peer support, or ongoing programming to reduce isolation and support long-term recovery? Are events weekly? Monthly?
- EHN Canada offers a national alumni network with ongoing events in-person and virtually. We have the largest active alumni community across Canada.
10. What kinds of therapy are used during treatment? And are staff trained to adapt if something isn’t working?
There are many different evidence-based therapy approaches used in mental health and addiction care. Are clinicians trained in more than one approach so treatment can be adjusted to the person, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all model based therapy approaches used in mental health and addiction care? Is treatment adjusted to the person, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all model?
- Treatment primarily includes CBT, DBT, and CPT, with additional modalities such as ART and Exposure Therapy available.
- Treatment follows a measurement-based care model which means it is individualized based on what’s working and what’s not. There are many procedures, steps, and tailored ways we navigate client needs as they proceed through treatment.
- Each of these therapies target a different way to heal; they are clinical proved to help you change your mindset, develop coping skills, identify and manage emotions, process trauma, manage triggers, accept your struggles and create goals for yourself.
11. What is included in treatment and what does it cost?
What is included in the program fee? Are there additional costs and can the centre help determine insurance or benefits coverage?
- Treatment costs are very encompassing at EHN Canada and include individual and group therapy, medical care, meals, accommodation and recreational activities.
- Often we assist with determining insurance coverage and can even bill certain insurance companies directly.
