Clients participate in two groups each week which explore an art therapy approach. The facilitator introduces an art technique in which the clients learn how each art form can be a meditative and calming process. Each client creates their work by focusing on the presented theme, which connects to overcoming sadness, anxiety, etc. Clients connect art with emotions & life by creating and discussing their work in the art engagement activities.

EMEC takes uniquely complicated patients that are extremely institutionalized, possibly homeless, and in need of life skills. We have an evidence-based life skills curriculum three times a week to address resume writing, job applications, opening a checking account, cooking, cleaning, and personal hygiene, to name a few. We also have a garden where patients learn to grow fruits and vegetables and periodic classes on how to cook fresh food and budget while staying healthy. We always have fresh fruit and vegetables and dip out all day for patients to snack on to get used to healthily feeding their bodies. We also incorporate exercise into daily living with a gym on the premises, yoga classes, and daily hikes. In the summer, we utilize a local lake so that our patients can paddleboard, kayak, swim, and spend time reading and relaxing to have fun in their sobriety. In the winter, we continue to go on hikes on the many trains surrounding our facility and snow tube through an agreement with Montage Mountain.

Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s happening around us. “Becoming aware of the present moment” is at the heart of mindfulness practice. Meditation is simply a task of becoming aware of the present moment. Through breath work, visual stimulants, bodily sensations, sounds, and other mindful practices and meditations, people can simultaneously be aware of one or more present-moment anchors. We provide a daily guided meditation practice and a mindfulness group session.

We provide our clients with groups focused on education and prevention of:

• HIV and AIDS,
• Hepatitis
• Naloxone Instruction (including a box of Narcan at discharge)
• Nutritional Topics

• Resume writing
• Interviewing skills
• Soft Skills

The opposite of addiction is connection. Therefore, a very important part of our program is volunteerism and community involvement. All of our patients are required to volunteer. Volunteer activities have included: weekly volunteers at the soup kitchen, refurbishing Nay Aug Park, Hanging Christmas lights in county parks for both Lackawanna and Wyoming, assisting with fundraising events at the sportsman club, working church picnics, neighborhood cleanup, planting in and cleanup of the healing garden at the Child Advocacy Center of Lackawanna County, designing table centerpieces for Lackawanna Arts festival, shredding events for the public. Patients often state that doing something kind for others helps them in their recovery and allows them to feel positive and worthwhile, and drastically improves their self-esteem.