Support plan
Clients' support needs are recorded in the support plan, together with personalised goals.
Nova House Programme
An intensive recovery programme alongside supported housing
In addition to supported housing, Nova House offers an intensive recovery programme that is mandatory for all clients. Clients also receive 10 to 16 weeks of continuing care from their addiction treatment centre. During the first 90 days, they commit to attending a daily recovery meeting and working through the 12 Steps with an accountability partner.
Personal Support
Client-centred support focused on personal goals
Nova House provides personalised, client-centred support tailored to each client's needs and goals. Clients move directly to Nova House after completing residential treatment. As part of the intake process, they are asked to write a personal motivation letter outlining the support they need. These support needs form the basis of the client's support plan, together with personalised goals.
The support plan begins by identifying long-term goals. These are then broken down into quarterly objectives and monthly action points throughout the client's stay, helping them prepare for independent living.
Weekly support sessions
Clients meet weekly with their personal counsellor to review progress and discuss their monthly action points.
Review and adjust
Goals and action points are reviewed monthly and adjusted where needed.
Support network
Depending on the client's support needs, the personal counsellor works closely with relevant organisations and local authorities to coordinate support.
Structured Daily Routine
A consistent, balanced programme that supports recovery and personal development
Living at Nova House includes a consistent, balanced programme of daytime activities, such as fitness, painting classes, kickboxing and yoga, alongside scheduled individual and group sessions.
Daily planning and social integration group
The daily planning session provides structure, an opportunity to reflect on how clients are feeling, and helps them plan the day ahead. The social integration group promotes community participation through cultural outings and discussions on social issues that support reintegration.
Cooking support and breakfast group
As part of the cooking programme, a group of clients prepares healthy, affordable meals for everyone in the house. The breakfast group provides a daily opportunity for connection and social interaction between clients.
Recovery group and 12-Step guidance
The recovery group explores 12-Step topics, drawing on self-help peer groups and community meetings. Smaller group sessions provide more in-depth guidance on the 12 Steps of the Minnesota Model.
Weekly support sessions
Nova House provides weekly support through one-on-one counselling, budgeting sessions, house meetings, home inspections, hygiene support, weekend support and medication guidance.
Building a future through voluntary work
Nova House encourages clients to take part in voluntary work and works closely with the Amsterdam Volunteer Centre. Volunteering helps clients discover their strengths and interests, build confidence and resilience, and take an active role in society.
Recovery Approach & Commitments
12 Steps, aftercare and clear house rules
Nova House combines recovery housing with a mandatory, intensive programme that includes the individual treatment plan agreed with the residential treatment centre, compulsory attendance at 12-step self-help group meetings, and active work on the 12 Steps. Compliance with the programme is monitored by Nova House staff.
Zero tolerance
The Nova House zero tolerance policy means that any resident who uses or is found in possession of alcohol, drugs or prohibited substances, or who engages in intimidation, aggression or possession of weapons, will be removed from Nova House immediately.
Aftercare from the treatment centre
In addition to the Nova House programme, clients receive continuing care from their addiction treatment centre for a period of 10–16 weeks. Successful completion of the aftercare programme is compulsory for all clients.
90 meetings and a 12 Step sponsor
Clients are also required to commit to attending daily self-help group meetings for the first 90 days and to work through the 12 Steps with an accountability sponsor.
Compliance monitoring
Compliance with the Nova House Programme, the residential clinic aftercare plan, the 12 Steps self-help group meetings and engagement with the 12 Steps is monitored by Nova House staff.
Minnesota Model
The 12-Step Minnesota Model is a leading, spiritual approach to addiction treatment, based on complete abstinence and often delivered through group therapy.
Recovery and relationships
The model combines professional care with the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous, focusing on acknowledging the problem, personal transformation and rebuilding relationships.
Learn more about the 12 step Minnesota Model
These steps form the foundation of the Minnesota Model and help clients work towards lasting recovery, one step at a time.
- 1
Admitting
Admitting that you are powerless over addiction and that your life has become unmanageable.
- 2
Accepting help
Believing that a Power greater than yourself can help you recover.
- 3
Surrender
Making the decision to entrust your will and your life to that Higher Power.
- 4
Self-examination
Taking a fearless and thorough moral inventory of yourself.
- 5
Admission
Admitting your wrongs to yourself, your Higher Power and another person.
- 6
Readiness
Being entirely ready to have your Higher Power remove these character defects.
- 7
Humility
Humbly asking your Higher Power to remove your shortcomings.
- 8
Making amends (list)
Making a list of all the people you have harmed and becoming willing to make amends to them.
- 9
Making amends (action)
Making direct amends to those people wherever possible, except when doing so would harm them or others.
- 10
Self-reflection
Continuing to take personal inventory and promptly admitting when you are wrong.
- 11
Prayer and meditation
Improving your conscious contact with your Higher Power through prayer and meditation.
- 12
Sharing
Carrying the message of recovery to others affected by addiction and practising these principles in everyday life.
Recovery Housing
Small-scale shared housing in the community
Nova House provides accommodation across ten houses located within the local community. The Nova House head office is based in the Planciusstraat in Amsterdam. Most of the Nova House programme activities take place here, including the one-on-one support sessions, most of the group sessions and the scheduled daytime activities.
The houses can accommodate up to four clients. Each client has their own private bedroom and shares the living room, kitchen and bathroom with the other residents. The houses are fully furnished and equipped with beds, bed linen, towels, washing machines, tumble dryers, kitchen equipment and televisions.
Referral & Intake
Admission directly following residential treatment
Clients move directly to Nova House from their residential addiction treatment centre. Referrals are made by the centre’s addiction treatment provider.
Direct admission from residential treatment centre
Discharge from the residential clinic is followed immediately by admission to Nova House.
Intensive programme
In addition to recovery housing, Nova House provides an intensive programme that is mandatory for all clients.
Mandatory aftercare
Successful completion of the aftercare programme is a requirement for all clients.
Commitment to Nova House and its safe house programme
During the first three months, clients are required to stay at Nova House and may not stay elsewhere overnight. After this period, clients may apply for up to ten weekends away through Nova House's leave arrangement.