Stories of Strength at McDougall House

At McDougall House, we are honoured to support women on their journey to recovery. Below are powerful testimonies from four residents who have bravely shared their experiences. These stories highlight the transformative impact of our program and commitment.

Finding Stability and Gratitude

“In the last six months, I went from having a home to living on the street, to hospitalization, to a treatment centre and now to a second-stage treatment centre McDougall House. I’m grateful for the balance of education and inward reflection in the house. I am grateful to have a safe space to grow and heal to experience the full range of human emotions. I am grateful for waking up another day sober. For my breath my sight, my hearing, my movement. I am grateful for having clean water and nutritious food, clothing and shelter.”

Support and Validation

“I am so grateful to the staff and counsellors at McDougall House for everything they have to offer. For once in my life I feel validated and heard and the advice that is given and shared in groups is something that I can understand and practice every day. We’re not just told, “This is what’s wrong, now change it” but “Here’s what’s happened to you and here are multiple techniques you can try to help work through them and if you are struggling come and find us so that we can work through it.”

Embracing the Past with Gratitude

“I used to be ashamed of my past, ashamed of who I had become. Today I am beyond grateful for my past. My mistakes have taught me what my beliefs and values are. My past experiences have made me into the person I am today. I am grateful for my feelings. I am grateful for sadness so I appreciate happiness so much more. My feelings also help me heal from my past traumas. I am grateful for the pain I have experienced so I can be empathetic to others going through the same struggles I have. Today I believe that I can help other addicts because I have felt the loneliness, sadness and despair that they had felt.”

Learning to Live Again

“I am grateful that I was accepted into McDougall House. I have learned so much about myself, my traumas, that I am worth fighting for, that there is a different healthier, happy way to live. I am a 41-year-old woman learning how to live again. And McDougall House is teaching me how to live again. The counsellors give me a push every day to dig deeper with how I am feeling to face my traumas so that I can heal from them.”

At McDougall House, we prioritize creating a safe and supportive environment for all our residents. These testimonies are a testament to the strength and resilience of the women we serve. We are proud to be a part of their recovery journey and to help them rediscover hope and purpose in their lives.

For more inspiring stories, read this client testimony.

Read our Annual Report to see the impact we have made in the community.

If you would like to support McDougall House and help more women on their path to recovery, please donate today. Your generosity makes a difference!