The aim of treatment at Tukes is to provide long term, drug free recovery to adults with an emotional/addictive illness. This includes helping people put to one side their dependent or self defeating behaviours, to manage their feelings in a healthier way and to go on to lead independent and fulfilling lives.

Clients coming to Tukes experience a range of problems: these include anxiety, depression, self-harm, obsessive-compulsive behaviours - washing, checking, cleaning, eating disorders, dependent use of prescribed medication, exercise, shopping, gambling, sex, addictive relationships, compulsive helping, as well as drug or alcohol dependency.

We provide a 16 week, structured and intensive treatment programme with a rolling admission process. The approach we use is based upon the 12 Step self help philosophy of Emotions Anonymous and is implemented by way of Reality Therapy.

Clients attend Monday to Friday from 9.30am - 4.30pm. They have a structured daily routine which includes 1 - 1 counselling, group therapy, educational lectures/videos/readings, and individual written and reading assignments.

Each client moves through 5 phases of treatment. The phases address the effect the emotional/addictive illness has upon the client and those close to him/her, the management of feelings, particularly fear and anger, the need for change and the ability to do this, and an in-depth look at character assets and defects which aid or block recovery. Support and feedback from the client peer group plays a significant part in the treatment and recovery process.

At Tukes we treat 'emotional illness' as a dependency. A way of coping on which the client becomes dependent in order to seek pleasure or avoid pain. We believe emotional illness affects the whole family but we do not believe it is anyone's fault. We encourage family members to be involved in both the treatment and recovery process.

We accept referrals from any source including self referrals. To ensure that Tukes is appropriate for the client we carry out an Initial Assessment over the telephone, which takes approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. If we feel Tukes can help, the person will be invited for a more thorough Face/Face Interview. This gives both Tukes and the client an opportunity to gain more information and includes time for the person to meet and talk with other clients currently in the treatment programme.

If at the end of the assessment we feel that Tukes is appropriate the client will be offered a place on the treatment programme. If at any stage during the assessment we do not feel Tukes is suitable we will usually refer on to a more appropriate agency.

When a client is accepted for treatment we will then arrange funding. If the person is able to self fund they are asked to do so. Alternatively we will seek funding for their treatment from their Health Authority and/or Local Authority.

Clients who live locally can attend treatment from home, however, for clients from outside the locality we provide staffed accommodation in a shared house close to the treatment centre.

On completion of treatment it is recommended that clients attend relevant 12 Step self help groups. They are also invited to attend the monthly aftercare group at Tukes.

Although there are similar units to Tukes world-wide, for the first time in the UK the emotionally ill and their families will have access to a model of treatment which offers hope and a sustained recovery.