MAMOWICHIHITOWIN PROGRAM
Our Model
Stage 1
Nanatohokmik
(Cree for healing place, a place of honor and respect)
This first stage is for the development of relationship and safety with therapist. Healing can only happen when people are safe. Assessment and treatment goals are made in this stage. It usually involves individual therapy.
Stage 2
Wahkothowin
(Cree for understanding how we relate to each other)
Learning healthy relationships with self, family and community, and healing trauma. At this stage, we start to actively address the goals that were decided upon in stage one. Ongoing individual and group therapy when appropriate.
Stage 3
Miyomachihowim
(Cree for living a good life)
Living a life free of violence and abuse. At this stage, the client learns to put into practice all that they have learned about themselves into their relationships. This stage involves a combination of individual, dyad, family, and group therapy.
Stage 4
Mockihtawinihkewin
(Cree for time of celebration and ceremony)
We have a closing ceremony to honour the work completed in the program. Ongoing support for the individual/family moving forward. This varies for each client. Options include: group therapy, check in sessions or spaced out therapy sessions.
Stage 1
Nanatohokmik
(Cree for healing place, a place of honor and respect)
This first stage is for the development of relationship and safety with therapist. Healing can only happen when people are safe. Assessment and treatment goals are made in this stage. It usually involves individual therapy.
Stage 2
Wahkothowin
(Cree for understanding how we relate to each other)
Learning healthy relationships with self, family and community, and healing trauma. At this stage, we start to actively address the goals that were decided upon in stage one. Ongoing individual and group therapy when appropriate.
Stage 3
Miyomachihowim
(Cree for living a good life)
Living a life free of violence and abuse. At this stage, the client learns to put into practice all that they have learned about themselves into their relationships. This stage involves a combination of individual, dyad, family, and group therapy.
Stage 4
Mockihtawinihkewin
(Cree for time of celebration and ceremony)
We have a closing ceremony to honour the work completed in the program. Ongoing support for the individual/family moving forward. This varies for each client. Options include: group therapy, check in sessions or spaced out therapy sessions.
We want to acknowledge our dear friend and elder (and now our ancestor), Doris McDonald for her love, guidance and support in helping us create this program model.
This model was built from the ground up and it really began from our work with the people. Doris helped Shauna to capture this work with these stages and Doris named each stage with the appropriate language. Together they helped to ground these stages within the medicine wheel framework.
A Non-Linear Approach to Therapy
Although stages are identified with numbers, this model is not linear. In practice, we often move through these stages over and over again in a cycle that works for each individual’s comfort and focus. As they move deeper into therapy, each circle represents another layer where the individual gains more understanding of self and others. As the client moves through each stage and get to a new layer, they often feel ready to explore other areas that they are now ready to work through, so we go through the stages again.
Each person’s healing journey is unique and our model allows the therapist to work with the client in a way that feels meaningful to them.
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