Treating the Whole Person, Not Just the Symptoms.
Holistic recovery for lasting change
At Dunham House, we blend evidence-based clinical care with whole-person supports, including mindfulness, nutrition, and recreational therapies, to help people build lasting recovery. Our programs are designed for those facing both addiction and mental-health challenges because treating the whole person, not only symptoms, produces stronger, more durable outcomes.
Below we outline the core elements of our integrated approach: why integrated care matters, how mindfulness, nutrition and recreation support healing, and how our campus nurtures recovery.
What is "dual diagnosis" — and why does integrated, holistic treatment matter?
Dual diagnosis refers to when someone lives with both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder. Integrated, holistic treatment matters because it addresses both conditions together, pairing clinical mental-health care with addiction rehabilitation and complementary therapies. That coordinated approach gives people practical skills and consistent support needed to build a durable recovery.
How does dual diagnosis affect addiction recovery?
When mental illness and substance use overlap, treatment can become more complicated: symptoms may reinforce each other, and progress can stall if only one issue is treated. Integrated care reduces that risk by delivering coordinated, evidence-based therapies for both conditions simultaneously, improving the likelihood of long-term success.
Why is integrated treatment essential for co-occurring disorders?
Treating co-occurring disorders together creates a steadier path to recovery. Integrated programs combine high-quality clinical care with supports that target overall well-being, so people receive both medical treatment and practical tools to manage symptoms, improve daily functioning, and stay well over time.
Despite clear benefits, many treatment systems still separate services for mental health and substance use, which is why comprehensive, coordinated care remains so important.
Integrated care for co-occurring substance use and mental-health disorders
Many people with alcohol and other drug (AOD) use disorders also experience co-occurring mental health and medical problems, which complicates treatment and can worsen outcomes. In practice, care for AOD issues, mental health, and medical needs is often delivered in separate systems; truly integrated, coordinated care is still uncommon in most settings.
A growing body of research shows integrated treatment is more effective for people facing both mental illness and addiction because it responds to their full range of needs.
Integrated treatment for co-occurring mental illness and addiction
People who live with both mental illness and addiction make up a significant portion of mental-health caseloads. That combination increases risks such as psychiatric relapse, poor medication adherence, legal and safety concerns, and frequent emergency or inpatient care. Historically, separate systems have struggled to meet these complex needs. Effective integrated treatment depends on clinicians trained in both mental health and addiction and able to adapt approaches across disciplines. There is strong evidence supporting the efficacy of integrated care for this population — clinicians should be equipped with core psychotherapy skills for treating co-occurring disorders.
How does mindfulness support recovery from addiction and improve mental health?
Mindfulness increases awareness of thoughts, feelings, and triggers, enabling people to choose how to respond rather than react. Practicing presence and acceptance reduces stress, improves emotional regulation, and gives people practical tools to manage cravings and difficult moments without returning to substance use.
What mindfulness practices are used in holistic addiction treatment?
Typical practices include guided mindfulness meditation, breathing exercises and body scans. These techniques develop non-judgmental awareness of internal experience, a skill that supports better coping, clearer decision-making and reduced reactivity during cravings or distress. a guide to meditation for addiction
How does mindfulness help reduce cravings and prevent relapse?
Mindfulness strengthens self-regulation by helping people notice cravings as temporary mental events rather than commands. Over time, this awareness builds emotional resilience and offers practical strategies for tolerating uncomfortable feelings without using substances, lowering relapse risk. The role of peer support in recovery is significant.
Ongoing research continues to examine and support the role of mindfulness-based interventions in reducing cravings and helping sustain long-term sobriety.
Mindfulness interventions for craving reduction in substance use disorders
While evidence remains limited, mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) show promise in reducing craving. MBIs may be especially relevant given addiction's neurobiological patterns and automatic responses to negative affect.
Recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses aim to synthesize emerging data on the effectiveness of MBIs for craving reduction.
Why does music therapy matter in holistic addiction care?
Music therapy is a core part of recovery: engaging with music supports emotional processing, stress reduction and self-expression — all essential when rebuilding life after substance use. Addressing emotional and creative needs through music accelerates recovery and improves everyday well-being.
How does music therapy aid mental health and emotional recovery?
Music activates brain regions involved in emotion, memory and reward, helping repair neural pathways affected by substance use and mental health challenges. Music therapy stabilizes mood and reduces anxiety, making it easier to participate in other therapies and daily recovery activities.
What music therapy approaches are used in dual diagnosis programs?
Music therapy can include guided listening, songwriting, improvisation and group music-making to process emotions and build connection. Tailored music interventions help restore emotional regulation, which in turn supports mental-health recovery and engagement in treatment.
Research supporting music therapy in addiction and mental health
An increasing number of studies point to the important role of music therapy interventions in alleviating symptoms of mental disorders and supporting addiction recovery.
Music therapy for mental disorders and addiction
Music therapy activates multiple brain regions simultaneously and provides a non-verbal outlet for emotional expression that is frequently difficult for people with mental disorders and addiction. Research indicates that music therapy sessions can reduce symptoms for many patients; music-based interventions may also support dopamine regulation and emotional processing. Emerging evidence suggests music therapy approaches can be appropriate adjuncts for conditions such as major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, ADD/ADHD, addiction, and autism.
Music therapy for addiction treatment, C. Ghetti, 2004
What role does recreational therapy play in recovery?
Recreational therapy offers healthy, meaningful ways to spend time, build skills and connect with others. Enjoyable, purposeful activities help rebuild identity, boost self-esteem and teach practical coping skills that support sobriety.
How do equine-assisted learning and music therapy support healing?
Equine-assisted learning promotes emotional growth and self-awareness through interactions with horses, while music therapy helps expression and stress relief. Both often offer nonverbal routes for processing emotions and increasing motivation for change.
Research has found positive effects of equine-assisted services — including improved engagement and mental health outcomes, although the evidence base is still developing.
Equine-assisted services for substance use disorders
Quantitative findings suggest equine-assisted services (EAS) may improve treatment retention and completion and benefit participants' mental health, though studies have been small. Qualitative reports describe participants forming meaningful bonds with horses, enjoying a break from traditional therapy, and experiencing greater self-efficacy, positive emotion and motivation for treatment.
Equine-assisted services for individuals with substance use disorders: a scoping review, 2022
What outdoor and creative activities encourage sober enjoyment and coping skills?
Outdoor activities like hiking and creative therapies such as art and music promote healthy routines, social connection and stress relief. These pursuits teach coping strategies, provide positive outlets for emotions, and help people find fulfilling, sober ways to spend time.
What are the features of Dunham House’s holistic dual diagnosis programs?
Our programs pair comprehensive addiction rehabilitation with partnered mental-health care to meet complex needs. We blend evidence-based clinical therapies with holistic supports so each person receives clinical excellence and practical tools for lasting recovery.
How does Dunham House combine mindfulness, nutrition and recreation?
At Dunham House, these elements are woven into individualized care plans — mindfulness practices, tailored nutrition and recreational therapy complement clinical treatment to support healing on multiple levels.
What is the resident experience on Dunham House’s serene Quebec campus?
Set on an 85‑acre property in Quebec’s Eastern Townships, our campus provides a calm environment for reflection and growth. Residents receive one-to-one care tailored to their needs, guided by a compassionate, experienced team and informed by current research. Many past residents report meaningful, lasting change after completing the program.
How can families and alumni support long-term, holistic recovery?
Families and alumni extend recovery beyond the program by offering emotional support, encouragement and connection. Ongoing involvement reinforces healthy habits and sustains a community that supports long-term wellbeing.
What family support services strengthen dual diagnosis treatment?
Family services often include family therapy, education sessions and support groups that teach loved ones how to respond to mental health and addiction challenges and how to support recovery without enabling harmful patterns.
How does the alumni program promote continued wellness and community?
Our alumni program keeps former residents connected through peer support, events and resources. That continuing network helps people stay engaged in recovery and maintain the skills developed during treatment.
Conclusion
Integrated, whole-person care strengthens recovery by treating mental health and substance use together and by restoring the whole person. By combining mindfulness, nutrition and recreational therapies with clinical treatment, Dunham House helps people build resilience and reclaim their lives. If you or a loved one needs support, our tailored programs offer a compassionate, evidence-informed path forward.
Dunham House
About Dunham House
Located in Quebec's Eastern Townships, Dunham House is a residential treatment centre specializing in addiction and providing support to individuals with concurrent mental health challenges. We are the only residential facility of our kind in Quebec that operates in English.
Our evidence-based programs include a variety of activities such as art, music, yoga, and equine-assisted therapy. In addition to our residential services, we offer a full continuum of care with outpatient services at the Queen Elizabeth Complex in Montreal.