The recommended way to treat ice dependence is through a residential treatment program that looks at recovery holistically. This treatment approach uses evidence-based methods and supports each person across five areas of care: physical, emotional, social, psychological and spiritual.
The residential rehabilitation program involves a 4, 8 or 12-week stay and begins with a comprehensive assessment, followed by supervised detox if required. Clients then participate in Hader Clinic Queensland’s psychoeducation program, which explores:
- Addictive Behaviours
- Mental Health Mastery
- Relapse Prevention
- Trauma
- Strength & Resilience
Because ice affects both the mind and body in intense ways, a structured program provides the stability and therapeutic support needed to begin recovery. Our ice addiction program is designed to guide people through each stage, offering a safe, organised environment that helps create lasting change.
Our ice addiction treatment program includes:
Detox
The first phase of treatment is detox, which involves clearing the drug from your system in a supported and supervised setting.
When you arrive, you will meet with our clinical team for an initial assessment and to address any immediate needs. The GP and nursing staff will review your physical health and provide medical support throughout detox, including prescribing medication if required. A counsellor will also check in on your mental state and begin exploring your treatment goals.
Ice withdrawal can vary from person to person, though many people experience changes in mood, energy, sleep and appetite as the body adjusts. Detox generally takes between one and two weeks, depending on your history of ice use and overall health.
These symptoms are a natural part of the process, and our team is on hand to support you through each stage, helping you move safely toward the next phase of treatment.
Find out more about detox.
Psychological treatment
During residential rehabilitation, you’ll work with a team of clinicians including a psychologist, social worker or clinical counsellor. They provide individual counselling so each person can look more closely at the factors contributing to their ice use and the challenges that sit around it.
Clinicians also run group psychoeducation sessions that focus on building coping strategies, strengthening mental health and developing tools that support recovery from ice dependence.
Psychological support is valuable not only during treatment but afterwards too. The skills learned in these sessions can help you manage difficult moments, rebuild routines and continue moving forward once residential care ends.
Find out more about Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment
It’s common for people living with ice dependence to also experience depression, anxiety or symptoms linked with psychosis. These challenges can feed into each other, making day-to-day life harder to manage.
Dual diagnosis treatment supports both areas at once. When someone is dealing with ice dependence and mental health concerns together, treating only one can leave the other unchanged. By addressing both, people have a better chance of understanding what they’re going through, why certain patterns have formed and what can help them move forward.
This combined approach gives people a stronger chance of recovery, helping them make sense of how ice affects their thoughts and emotions while also receiving support for the mental health symptoms that sit alongside it.
Find out more about dual diagnosis treatment.
Physical Therapy
The value of exercise as part of your life in recovery and staying drug and alcohol free cannot be underestimated. Physical exercise helps to boost mood, reduce stress, and build self-esteem and confidence, whilst providing opportunities to interact with the therapeutic community, enhancing social connection.
We offer regular exercise programs including walks, yoga, and boot camps, with an exercise physiologist attending the clinic each week to facilitate structured sessions, as well as assess individuals’ capacity to exercise in the onsite gym. A structured fitness routine supports better sleep patterns, while freshly prepared, nutritious meals are served three times a day. Balanced eating and restful sleep play an important role in physical recovery.
Find out more about Physical Therapy.
Counselling
It is usual to express heavy feelings of guilt, shame, trauma and remorse while undergoing recovery. We provide counselling sessions to help them come to peace with these feelings.
Individual counselling allows you to talk about your life and your addiction in a safe and supportive environment. All our counsellors are specially trained and can help you understand the way alcohol and drugs affect you and the people around you.
By talking with your personal counsellor, you can challenge negative and unhelpful thinking. Your counsellor will help you identify ways to break down overwhelming and damaging thoughts into smaller more manageable pieces.
Find out more about counselling.
Group Therapy & Education
Group therapy helps you understand your drug use and your path to recovery by hearing other people’s stories. Group therapy recognises that while everyone’s life and experience are different, there are common feelings and thoughts that come with the disease of addiction.
In the group and education sessions, residents are encouraged to become vulnerable and share their experiences within a safe and supportive environment.
Find out more about group therapy.
Family Support & Education
As part of the treatment program, a designated Family Coordinator will be assigned to work with your family to support you while your loved one is in treatment. Families are offered monthly support sessions, as well as twice-monthly group education sessions to assist the whole family through the recovery process.
Find out more about family therapy.
Social Therapy
When treatment for ice dependence comes to an end, returning to everyday routines is often challenging. During residential care, we create a supportive and therapeutic community that encourages connection and helps you practise the skills needed for life outside the clinic.
This approach is an integral part of our residential program. It is designed to strengthen each person’s support network and offer a sense of belonging within a safe, non-judgemental peer group.
The philosophy is straightforward: long-term recovery is strengthened through peer support, shared learning and mutual encouragement.
Find out more about a therapeutic community.
12 Step
High-quality evidence-based research has demonstrated that 12 Step facilitation increases abstinence rates both during and following treatment. During residential rehabilitation, residents will participate in daily Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings to support recovery and develop sober support networks that extend beyond their time in treatment.
12 Step programs like AA and NA provide a supportive and understanding group of people who are also committed to living a drug and alcohol free life. They offer a similar environment to group therapy and recognise that recovery is an ongoing process.
Find out more about 12 Step.
Meditation
Meditation is a valuable and effective way of reflecting on your thoughts and controlling anxiety and cravings. Many people think of meditation as a religious or spiritual habit, but it can also be simply about creating a safe environment that allows you to channel your thoughts in a positive way.
Meditation sessions will teach you how to train your mind to become peaceful and calm when you need it, whether you’re at home or out in public.
Find out more about meditation.
Education
Our addiction education program is designed to provide you with the knowledge to support your ongoing recovery. Our program commences with a 4-week introduction to an AOD recovery program, followed by an 8-week intensive program covering Addictive Behaviours, Mental Health Mastery, Relapse Prevention, Trauma, and Strength & Resilience. This bespoke program has been designed to support the individual across each phase of their recovery.
Find out more about addiction education.
Art Therapy
Art therapy can be effective in reducing stress and anxiety, and building confidence and a sense of achievement. It also relaxes you and allows your mind to focus on positive thoughts.
Whether you are a gifted artist or a willing amateur, art can help you deal with your emotions in a safe and non-threatening environment.
Find out more about art therapy.
