Frequently Asked Questions

Is this an app, e-counselling or assessment tool?

Life Recovery Program is not: a) An app, b) Assessment tool c) Client/Clinician referral platform or d) Tele-counselling/e-counselling platform.

The Life Recovery Program (LRP) is a multi-awarded, confidential, anonymous, online self-directed wellness program for both the individual struggling and those who care about them. The whole idea behind our program is quite simple, if you can't for whatever reason, access or bring someone to supportive resources, then why not bring the resources to you or them in an immediate, anonymous, ongoing way.

Can I just acquire and watch all the learning modules at once?

	If you're struggling with a mental health, relationship or other issues, we recommend the "Unlocked" version. You choose to start wherever you feel is best for you whether it's anxiety, self-esteem, stress, relationships etc.
	If you're struggling with a behaviour that you have difficulty controlling e.g. alcohol, drugs, gambling, eating, porn, we recommend the "Locked" version which is time-released. Every 2 weeks new lessons are released allowing you time to slowly build better habits and healthier behaviours.
	This program has been designed and developed to simulate the structure of a psycho-educational treatment program in the form of audio-visual lessons of which homework, goals and weekly supportive emails will be ongoing throughout the program. Therefore, to view all the videos at once would inhibit the possibility of full integration of the material.
	This is not meant to be a "quick fix", but in fact a series of learning modules that allow you to integrate the ideas and tools at a pace that is intense yet allows for a self-reflective and integrative process, thus providing the best outcome strategy.

Is this program approved for court or work mandated clients?

Yes The Life Recovery Program has been approved for Canadian/U.S. employee/court mandated clients (check with your supervisor/contact for eligibility).

What is required?

	1-1.5hr/week for lesson & reflective exercises (psycho-educational videos range from 40-50 minutes in length, divided into digestible 2-5 minute video clips).
	Assigned tools and reflective exercises are a critical component to any recovery program. Reflective exercises, assignments and suggestions will require roughly 15 min/day. However, like anything else in life, the more commitment and energy you put into it, the more you will get out of it!
	A commitment to self and the desire to consider things differently.

Is it Difficult?

	The word I would use, is that it is Different.
	I will challenge you to think, believe and begin to behave in ways that are different from past negative, self-limiting patterns of thinking, believing and behaving.
	The Life Recovery Program is committed to gently yet effectively address your core attitudes and beliefs (a cognitive behavioural therapy approach), bringing awareness to what might otherwise be self-destructive and self-limiting coping styles and beliefs to provide alternative, healthier ways of coping.

What is the Number One thing you could do if you suspect your friend, child or loved one is struggling and/or using

	ASK!
	MODEL HEALTHY COMMUNICATION; encourage them to get support such as the Life Recovery Program.
	SHARE how their mental health and/or struggle with addiction is affecting you.
	INTERVENTION: http://www.liferecoveryprogram.org/intervention

Can Life Recovery Program help me lose (and/or maintain) weight?

	Yes, disordered eating habits (i.e. over/under eating, binge/purge) are very much like other compulsive behaviours (behavioural addictions) with the usual attempt of self-soothing (i.e. escape from an unpleasant emotional state).
	We often use external things to soothe unpleasant internal sensations.
	There are ways to address those internal, often undesirable feelings by substituting other more desirable behaviours and activities, all of which are a part of this program.

Who is affected by addiction?

	EVERYONE!!! Family, friends & the addicted person.
	In treating people from all walks of life, e.g. teachers, computer programmers, full time homemakers, factory workers, police officers and truck drivers, I have heard some of the most ingenious stories.
	One can't necessarily out-think an addiction, it's almost akin to someone trying to out-run their own shadow.
	Having treated many individuals in groups, agencies, treatment centres and individual settings, it is clear that the addicted person does not come from one set group i.e. socio-economic status, class, race, gender, culture, ethnicity or age.
	Many folks who struggle with addiction are some of the most intelligent people in our society yet perhaps not necessarily great at making healthy, non-addictive choices.
	Having worked with people from all walks of life, including white collar professionals such as physician's, pilot's and CEO's, it's clear that it takes a certain "skill" to conceal an addiction.
	I have heard some of the most inventive stories from people who knew just what to say, where to hide, indulge and rationalize their compulsive behaviour to self and often very convincingly to others.
	Therefore, an effective treatment program needs to address and challenge not just the distorted thinking and self limiting core beliefs of the individual (which is of vital importance), but to also challenge the physiological/feeling states that accompany addiction and the need for self soothing.

How do I know if I am addicted?

Our FREE Assessment may provide you with resolution. Click here to take our free assessment your answers will be displayed on this site.

Is the Scheduled (locked) version a 12-step or 16-step program?

	No, although it shares a similar philosophy i.e. the need for a necessary change in lifestyle and the spiritual meanings of people.
	The Life Recovery Program operates along a more bio-psycho-social-spiritual paradigm, in which the individual struggling with addictive or compulsive behaviour is given insight into the (destructive) core beliefs, cognitions and attitudes that give rise to compulsive acting out behaviours.
	The Life Recovery Program acknowledges the individual in the most wholistic way, providing mind/body stress reduction strategies, which allows for an all encompassing, evidenced based approach to the theories and techniques used in the treatment of addicted individuals.

What is the reasoning behind a 3-6 month and/or scheduled (locked) program?

	We often people say, perhaps not at the beginning, but somewhere near the middle and usually near the end of a typical one to two-month program, "It's almost over? I'm only just beginning to get the program and use the tools. There's not enough time!"
	We want you to fully 'get' and integrate the coping tools of your wellness journey. We want you to have more than enough time.
	This program will provide tools and information whether you are struggling at home, work, school or on a treatment center waitlist, or in need of further support after leaving a treatment center, or seeking a program independent of any in person support.
	This wellness recovery program is available to you anywhere, at anytime!

I want to know "WHY" myself, or a loved one is addicted?

	The Million Dollar Question "WHY" is the obvious one that most people ask and often "commit" a great deal of energy investigating, often without gaining a greater understanding or success in their recovery. To put it simply, to merely focus on the "why" will often result in maintaining the undesirable behaviour. This often leaves someone in a state of "chasing their tail" i.e. staying stuck.
	The better question to ask is how did I become addicted and more so, how do I get out? What were the variables involved that led to my addiction? More importantly, what are some of the things I can do in the present to get out of my addiction?
	Often, when we focus on the question of "why" this usually locks us into the past and we then become problem focused, rather than solution focused.
	As long as I am stuck trying to figure out the "why", I don't have to change my behaviour.
	The real question is: what can I change right now?
	Some might find an answer to the "why" question (e.g. "I had an awful childhood" or other trauma) and then use that as a rationalization or justification to continue using/indulging and may use that as an excuse not to change.
	The Life Recovery Program will provide some resolution to the "why" question and more importantly, provide you with ways you can unhook yourself from your addictive process right now in the present.

What is meant by stress reduction strategies?

	While the mind and body can absorb (and initiate) stress, it is capable of defusing, redirecting, and decreasing a stress reaction on its own as well.
	We all have the power to create a stress reaction for ourselves. We also have the power to stabilize ourselves and to regulate our stress, to get to a more relaxed and usually more spacious place to create better responses and choices.
	The Life Recovery Program will provide numerous ways anyone can go from an "emergency state", to a relaxed state naturally (i.e. not requiring any apparatus, medication etc). Better yet, some of the awareness and grounding techniques will show you how to pre-empt any "emergency state" from happening in the first place!
	The Life Recovery Program uses grounding techniques as simple as breath work, mindfulness and visualization to more advanced techniques derived from the fields of energy psychology and applied kinesiology, synchronizing body and mind to a more peaceful state, effective in even preventing panic attacks.
	The goal is simple yet multifaceted:
to get you from a panic state, where you are reacting to automatic, less conscious, often self-destructive, out of control ways to a more responsive, calm, consciously aware state where you can be more reflective, and make creative and controlled choices rather than "feeling hijacked" by an external or internal stimulus.
	These powerful grounding techniques and relaxation strategies can be done by anyone, anywhere and at anytime requiring no external apparatus other than your own body and mind.

What is the best kind of mental health and/or addiction treatment?

	One that is wholistic.
	An effective wellness program needs to address and challenge not just the distorted thinking and self-limiting core beliefs of the individual, but to also challenge the Physiological/feeling states that accompany addiction and the need for self soothing.
	An effective program needs to address the biological, emotional-psychological, spiritual and social aspects of the individual.

What are your success rates?

	Research shows 80% of Life Recovery Program participants reported reduced symptoms and significant improvement in coping as published by the Canadian Centre for Addiction & Mental Health (CAMH) which included Life Recovery Program in their textbook in a chapter called "Digital Future" as the example of an effective self-directed program.
	For utilization/uptake (% of people using/engaging) with organizations, we have experienced a 5% uptake within 48 hrs after a Life Recovery Program launch vs. EAP 5% annual uptake, the national annual average for Employee Assistant Programs (EAP's).