FAQ for Parents and Families

You can’t. No matter how skilled you are at the art of persuasion, it is almost impossible to make someone do something they are not able to do in the moment. What you can do is take steps with Rideauwood to take care of yourself, which is a way of taking care of your loved one too.

No, there is no guarantee that your loved will go for treatment themselves if you attend one of our programs. But you can attend anyway, for your own wellness and to model that counselling can help everyone. The results for you – and for your loved one – may surprise you in positive ways you never expected.

Members of your family are welcome to attend our two-evening virtual Family Spiral program.  This introductory education program is available to anyone who has a loved one who is experiencing problematic substance use, gambling and technology use.

However, if you participate in individual and group counselling, the sessions are for you and other registered group members only.

Of course, members of your family are welcome to register for counselling as clients in their own right.   

Counselling will help you deal more effectively with challenging situations. It will help you understand what is happening to your loved one, yourself and others in your family.

You’ll learn a variety of skills such as what works and what doesn’t work when communicating your concerns and how to set effective boundaries. You will meet people who understand what you’re going through and will support you when you are struggling.

They probably would if they could. People who struggle with substance use, gambling and technology use are often painfully aware that their behaviour is causing harm to others and to themselves. However, there are complexities to problematic use and addiction that affect an individual’s ability to engage with the supports they need to improve their health. The ability to engage with supports is not related to how much the individual cares about you.

Living with the addiction and mental health challenges can be physically and emotionally painful. Often, people are in survival mode and you may not understand their behaviours. Rideauwood Parent and Family programs provide education and skill development to help you manage life better in the midst of challenging situations.

We offer Parent and Family programs to support individuals who are concerned about someone else’s substance use, gambling, gaming or other technology use. 

Rideauwood has a number of Parent and Family programs to support you.  Visit our Parent and Family programs page to learn more. 

For immediate substance use and mental health information, please call Connex Ontario at 1.866.531.2600.
If you are in crisis, please call the Distress Centre of Ottawa and Region at 613.238.1089 .

If you are experiencing an emergency, please dial 911 immediately or visit your local hospital emergency room.

The Ottawa Mental Health Crisis Line
1053 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1Y 4E9
613-722-6914
Outside Ottawa: 1-866-996-0991
crisisline.ca

The Ottawa Hospital – Civic Campus
1053 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1Y 4E9
613-722-7000

The Ottawa Hospital – General Campus
501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6
613-722-7000

Queensway-Carleton Hospital
3045 Baseline Road, Ottawa, ON K2H 8P4
613-721-2000

Hôpital Montfort Hospital
713 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON K1K 0T2
613-746-4621