Category: General

Open post Looking Back on Four Decades of Substance Abuse Treatment at The GateHouse

The GateHouse Through the Years: Looking Back and Looking Forward

Looking Back at Over Four Decades of Substance Abuse Recovery Services as We Look Towards the Future of The GateHouse

The legacy of The GateHouse was built by a small group of men and women determined to create a support system for members of their community suffering from substance abuse. The group grew from a few founding members to a team that today continues to carry out that mission.

Two members of that team include two of our longest-serving board members: Dr. Kathy Gregoire, LSW, Ph.D., retired professor of social work at Millersville University, and Dr. John Conahan, LCSW, CADC. Ph.D., Associate Professor at Kutztown University.

Both share a unique perspective on the history of The GateHouse, as well as how it’s evolved over the years. And both believe that the common thread between the impact The GateHouse made then and now is rooted in the devotion of the staff and volunteers who serve.

Perseverance and Grit Propelled The GateHouse from a Single Halfway House to the Substance Abuse Treatment Center it is Today

Dr. Kathy Gregoire
Dr. Kathy Gregoire

The founding members of The GateHouse first connected through Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Together, they recognized the need for a halfway house in the Lancaster area.

“It was a very grassroots effort. Very hands-on,” said Kathy. “The Board members did all of the work. They painted the house, refurbished it—everything. They were incredibly dedicated.”

Kathy remembers the early days of The GateHouse. She became involved with the organization in 1979, shortly after its founding.

“The staff and team just kept taking steps forward, one thing at a time, and the program grew,” she said. “Their initial focus was alcohol abuse and supporting men and women in AA. Then it evolved to drug abuse and supporting those in NA, Narcotics Anonymous. Later, we incorporated mental health services to take on people with multiple diagnoses such as substance abuse and depression.”

Pioneering a Path for Women to Seek Substance Abuse Treatment

In the 1980s, The GateHouse recognized the need not just for expanded services to treat various types of substance use disorder, but for greater access to care for women across the board. As a result, The GateHouse decided to create a women’s house—a revolutionary step at the time.

As a social worker who made house calls throughout the community, Kathy understood the real need for female recovery services first-hand.

“People didn’t think, or want to admit, that women struggled with addiction, too,” Kathy said. “Before The GateHouse, there were very few treatment options available to women suffering from substance abuse, which led many to suffer alone.”

The GateHouse Eventually Expanded its Services Further to Support Other Client Needs that Weren’t Being Met

Dr. John Conahan
Dr. John Conahan

In 2004, John Conahan joined the board alongside Kathy and the other members. A few years into his tenure, John realized that in order to continue to serve, The GateHouse needed to grow.

“It became clear that we needed to grow our services to sustain ourselves financially and continue to be there for the clients who needed us,” John said. “‘What services should we offer? How big should the organization become? What is a healthy financial growth plan?’. These were the questions I started asking.”

John and the other board members developed a strategic plan, putting systems in place to grow the organization and make treatment for substance use disorder more accessible throughout the community.

First, they worked towards and achieved CARF accreditation, an international accreditation for rehabilitation facilities and service standards.

“The CARF accreditation gave us even more legitimacy which helped us grow,” John said.

Next, John and The GateHouse board started looking at outcome data to learn more about their clients, better understand their needs, and discover what their lives looked like after treatment. As they piled through the data, John said a trend emerged.

“We saw that clients leaving The GateHouse needed transitional living services,” he said. “They needed a safe place to live and continue to get better. So, we bought a home in Lititz and turned it into our first transitional living home.”

The Lititz transitional living home was a success. It grew from one home to a transitional living program that led to The GateHouse opening a second home in Mountville. The GateHouse has since received a number of grants to continue its work and maintain the homes.

John and the board moved next to add additional services including outpatient, intensive outpatient, and partial hospitalization. The idea was to further support their transitional living clients in recovery.

“We went into the outpatient business in 2010,” John said. “It’s an area of our model that we’re still growing. So far, we’ve been able to grow it and provide a lot of added support to our transitional living clients and those leaving one of our recovery houses.”

Around this time, John and the board also recognized that growing the organization and fulfilling their mission wouldn’t happen by simply adding more services. For some victims of substance use disorder, cost remained a barrier. Fundraising presented a large, untapped opportunity to help more clients afford treatment services. So, John and the board began fundraising.

“In recent years, we’ve gotten involved with Lancaster County’s Extraordinary Give, applied for grants, and reached out to the community for support to make our services more accessible to everyone who needs them,” he said. “Fundraising has proven very effective for us.”

And most recently, The GateHouse implemented its third residential care facility; a beautiful home in Marietta for women in early recovery. Restoring the home and opening the The GateHouse at Riverview Tower was a collaboration with the state and, so far, it’s made a big impact.

The GateHouse is Building its Future with the Same Devotion it Used to Build its Very First House

The next chapter of The GateHouse legacy is being written now by a deeply dedicated team focused on removing barriers to treatment and treating the whole client.

“There are many services we want to bring in and many more substance abuse victims we know we can help,” John said. “But to do that, we first have to attract more staff who share our mission and passion to serve men and women with substance abuse disorder in our community.”

John and Kathy both believe that by offering opportunities for professional development and shining a light on why The GateHouse is a place people want to work, they can grow a team that can continue the legacy.

A large long-term goal is to expand on the work The GateHouse has already started and provide a full continuum of services to treat the whole client.

“The GateHouse isn’t just a place to stay in early recovery,” John said. “It’s a social approach to delivering our services and other resources our clients need for continued recovery. Our clients often need help with employment, daycare, credit, and housing. Addiction doesn’t live in a vacuum. We need case managers and the resources for continued follow-up so we can also help with long-term, sustained recovery.”

Programs and services that support women suffering from substance use disorder are also a major focus for The GateHouse in the years ahead.

“We’re exploring services that would house women in early recovery with their children,” John said. “There are a lot of hurdles we’d need to navigate to create this type of program. But we know that one of the barriers for women seeking treatment is the lack of safe childcare. If we can remove that barrier, imagine how many more women we can support.”

The GateHouse owes its success to the men and women who have worked hard for more than 40 years to make a difference in the lives of those suffering from substance use disorder.

“Over the years, I’ve felt so proud of the work we’ve done at The GateHouse,” Kathy said. “We’ve had incredibly committed board members and staff who have made good decisions to keep the organization stable, yet always maintained a willingness to take risks to get people what they need.”

John agrees.

“Our services and homes represent the dignity of the people we serve,” he said. “Our mission is to be that bridge back to society and give people a safe place to continue to recover. That’s what we’ve done and will continue to do. There’s a lot of pride associated with that by both the Board and our staff.”

When you and your loved one are ready to discuss a treatment plan for long-term substance abuse recovery, our team will be here ready to support you on your journey. The GateHouse offers services for substance abuse recovery with locations throughout Lancaster County, PA. We’d love to help you or a loved one with the next step in recovery. Reach out to us today!

 

Open post alcohol abuse in Pennsylvania

The Impact of the Quarantine on Alcohol Abuse in Pennsylvania

April is National Alcohol Awareness Month across the U.S., and, especially in Pennsylvania, this month is an opportunity to shine much-needed light on the rising number of adults across the state suffering from alcohol use disorder.

The COVID-19 quarantine has impacted the routines, habits, and the physical and mental health of just about every Pennsylvanian. According to Steve Koch, Clinical Director at The GateHouse in Lititz, these changes to daily life and the isolation that so many of us still feel have fueled a spike in the number of men and women turning to alcohol to relieve their anxiety.

“In the last year, we’ve seen a large increase in the number of clients coming to The GateHouse with alcohol substance abuse disorder,” Steve said. “There’s no doubt that the pandemic has played a major role.”

Because Alcohol is Culturally Acceptable in PA, Most Sufferers Don’t Receive an Intervention Until There’s a Health-Related Issue

Alcohol is rooted in the social construct of many, if not most, communities across Pennsylvania. Not surprisingly, when a national study on alcohol consumption was released in early 2020 by SafeHome.org, it found PA to be the 16th heaviest-drinking state in the country with over 60% of adults consuming alcohol on a regular basis. Interestingly, SafeHome.org takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to presenting this data, which might actually be indicative of a larger issue.

“We live in a state where our culture celebrates alcohol,” Steve said. “This makes it easier for people to hide their alcoholism. And it usually means that they’re in the late stages of alcohol abuse by the time they seek treatment at a center like The GateHouse.”

Because victims of alcohol abuse wait so long to seek treatment, he notes that their disease is usually accompanied by other health concerns, such as high blood pressure or anxiety or both, making the road towards recovery that much steeper.

Older Adults Are Driving the Spike in Alcohol Use Disorder at The GateHouse

“The majority of alcohol abuse disorder clients coming to us are older adults with compromised health issues; usually in their 50s and 60s,” Steve said.

He attributes multiple factors to the rise in alcoholism among older adults.

“I believe the cause is made up of a few factors,” Steve said. “First, baby boomers are retiring, and most are no longer working. They have time on their hands, and many grieve the loss of a career that was, for decades, the root of their identity. And this includes the loss of many manufacturing jobs in 2020 as well.”

He believes social isolation over the past 12 months and the huge impact it’s had on our collective mental health is another major factor. And he’s not alone. What he and The GateHouse have seen on a local level is also being seen across the country. In march of this year, the CDC reported a sharp uptick in depression and anxiety nationwide and a growing number of people turning to alcohol to ease that stress.

“When you inject a global pandemic into the lives of a large group of older adults going through major life changes, you get the perfect storm for alcohol abuse to take hold,” he said.

The Uptick in Alcohol Abuse in Pennsylvania Has Led The GateHouse to Connect Clients with Health Care Services Sooner

Steve is now connecting clients with alcohol use disorder to vital health care resources within the first few days of their arrival at The GateHouse.

“When a new client arrives, they’re assigned a case manager who plugs them into any ancillary medical resources they need,” he said. “Before the pandemic this took seven days, which is the state standard. Because we’ve seen such a dramatic increase in clients suffering from alcohol abuse and related health issues, we’ve cut the time down to three days. It’s taken a lot of work, but we’ve shown that the sooner we can find the right health care resources for our clients, the better the outcomes.”

After shortening the timeline, Steve and his team saw an increase in treatment completion rates. They also saw greater employment success and a greater number of clients finding secure housing after treatment.

This Past Year Has Reaffirmed Steve’s Belief in a Customized Approach to Alcohol Abuse Treatment

“A ‘one treatment plan fits all’ approach doesn’t exist when you’re working with a substance abuse disorder, including alcohol,” Steve said when describing his approach with his clients.

At The GateHouse, every alcohol use disorder treatment plan is customized for the individual client. Steve and his team created specialized groups within the program to meet the varying needs of clients in treatment.

“We have groups for anger management, relapse prevention, and others,” he said. “We start by identifying the client’s underlying need so we can address it directly in one of our groups.”

Each client’s addiction treatment plan is a living document. It evolves as their needs evolve so Steve and his team have the flexibility to shift their approach as needed.

“People suffering from any addiction disorder usually have trouble self-regulating,” Steve said. “I may have a client who needs to learn how to self-regulate in order to reduce the likelihood of a relapse. After those skills are developed, the client may need to learn how to control their anger, so I place them in our anger management group. It all depends on what the need is at any given time.”

Clients in alcohol treatment can also have trouble fitting in with the rest of the men or women in their house. In these cases, the treatment plan can include strategies for keeping the client engaged.

“Sometimes clients believe that because they abuse alcohol rather than drugs, they don’t belong in a substance abuse treatment center,” Steve said. “When they ‘compare out’, they stop engaging in the program. So, I may use their ‘comparing out’ as a tool by asking them to take a leadership role or perform a cost/benefit analysis of treatment. We tailor our approach to the individual.”

Alcohol Abuse in Pennsylvania is Still Overlooked When It Comes to Funding as Compared to Other Diseases

Despite the rise in the number of adults suffering from alcohol use disorder in the past year, funding to curb the trend continues to fall short, Steve said.

“Alcohol abuse is skyrocketing in our state, and yet it’s still overlooked when it comes to funding compared to the opioid epidemic and other substance abuse disorders worsened by the pandemic,” he said. “Alcohol abuse disorder is a very real and dangerous disease that deserves our attention and funding.”

—

When you and your loved one are ready to discuss a treatment plan and start to work towards long-term recovery from alcohol abuse, our team will be here ready to support you on your journey. 

The GateHouse offers addiction treatment services for long-term addiction recovery with locations throughout Lancaster County, PA. We’d love to help you with your next step in recovery. Reach out to us today!

Open post substance abuse recovery

The GateHouse Alumni & Friends Association: Why Graduates of The GateHouse Should Get Involved

Recovery from substance use disorder doesn’t occur once treatment ends. It’s a lifelong journey, and the road can get bumpy – especially without the support of other men and women who understand where you’ve been.

That’s where Steph Prete and The GateHouse Alumni & Friends Association come in. Today, Steph–a former client at The GateHouse–helps to oversee the alumni association and bring graduates of The GateHouse together with current clients, building a support system for men and women entering recovery.

And along the way, the association has not only helped clients find a community of support, but it’s helped Steph and other alumni along their own recovery journeys, as well.

We sat down with Steph to learn more about the association and why graduates of The GateHouse should get involved.

—

Steph Prete
Steph Prete

Q. How is the association serving clients in substance abuse recovery, and how has it helped you on your journey?

A. When leaving The GateHouse, many, if not most, of us begin our recovery journeys away from home knowing no one.

When I left The GateHouse after my time in treatment, I decided to remain in Lancaster County. I’m originally from Delaware County. That meant that I was beginning a new chapter in my life in an area where I knew no one.

A lot of clients from The GateHouse are like me–they move to Lancaster County from other areas to begin their recovery journey. Most stay in the area because they have nothing to go home to–there’s no sober support waiting for them. You either move into a recovery house in Lancaster and do something with your life or move back home where there’s nothing for you.

When I moved into my recovery house, I realized how big the recovery community actually was. But, what I also found was that the women I had the greatest connection with were those who went through The GateHouse like I did.

They became my support system. The GateHouse Alumni & Friends Association helps you surround yourself with other people like you who know what you’re going through in all phases of recovery.

Q. Why was having support from other clients of The GateHouse so important for you during the start of your recovery?

A. When you’re in recovery, it’s hard to talk to other people who don’t understand what you’re going through. Not only did the women from The GateHouse understand me, but there was even more understanding because of our shared experience.

We could talk about what it was like to live in the house and go through the different treatment phases. There’s a bonding that occurs when you can relate on that level.

Q. How does that level of connection translate over to your support of current clients through the alumni association?

A. All of the alumni involved have a unique perspective of what clients are experiencing. I can ask a client what phase of treatment they’re in. Do they have their phone yet? I can let them know that whatever they’re going through, it’s normal – I’ve been there.

That connection we create also, I like to think, creates trust in us as a support system. Clients can look to us as people who have gone through the program and are building healthy lives in recovery.

Q. How does the alumni association get clients at The GateHouse involved in the recovery community?

A. We plan events throughout the year that bring alumni and clients together. COVID has, of course, changed some things. But typically, we have our annual summer softball tournament which clients love. We also host a lot of picnics at each of the houses where we grill food and spend time together as a community.

There’s something about getting outside and spending time together that really unites us all. It’s a lot of fun. Hopefully, we’ll get back to our picnics and softball tournaments soon and continue to grow the alumni association so we can host even more events.

Q. What would you say to a graduate who’s considering joining the alumni association?

A. To every graduate, I’d ask them to remember where they were and how they felt when they first began recovery. Remember how uncomfortable you were as you set out to begin a new life not knowing very many people like you. Now you have an opportunity to help someone like you and support them as they begin their journey.

I’d also tell them that being a part of the alumni association and helping clients of The GateHouse begin their recovery has been one of the main reasons I’ve stayed sober. Paying it forward comes full circle.

—-

The GateHouse Alumni & Friends Association has become an incredible resource for clients and graduates of The GateHouse, helping them maintain connections and support one another in recovery.

Getting involved in the alumni association is as easy as attending a meeting and learning more about the organization. Join the association every first Wednesday of the month in-person or via Zoom at 6 p.m.

The GateHouse Alumni & Friends Association

Meeting Held Every First Wednesday of the Month

In-Person:

The GateHouse Behavioral Health Center

817 North Cherry Street, Lancaster, PA 17603

OR

Via Zoom:

Zoom Meeting ID: 927 6549 2074

Passcode: 419132

The GateHouse offers services for long-term substance abuse recovery with locations throughout Lancaster County, PA. We’d love to help you or a loved one with the next step in recovery. Reach out to us today!

 

 

 

Open post DDAP-Grant-Announcement-6

The GateHouse Receives Grant from the PA Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs to Add to its Opioid Treatment Services

We’ve all spent the last year focused on the health of Pennsylvania residents throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. And while the pandemic, of course, deserves an incredible amount of attention and resources to keep Pennsylvanians safe, other health crises are at risk of being overshadowed; most notably, the opioid epidemic.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health still lists the prescription opioid and heroin overdose epidemic as the worst public health crisis in Pennsylvania, hitting every corner of the state including right here in Lancaster County.

So, when good news knocked on the door of The GateHouse last year, we were grateful to open it and find much-needed funding through a grant from the PA Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs giving them more support to fight back against the epidemic.

Lancaster County Will Rely on The GateHouse to Provide Opioid Treatment and Recovery Activities

Jodi Holland
Jodi Holland

The grant money awarded to The GateHouse provides funds to supplement existing support for opioid and stimulant prevention treatment and recovery activities.

“Lancaster County is putting a lot of resources behind fighting the opioid epidemic,” said Jodi Holland, MPA, CRS, Executive Director at The GateHouse. “Our role in this mass effort is to provide the treatment and recovery activities that will help us all reach our goal.”

With the funds from the grant, The GateHouse will introduce a new program within its transitional living services, giving further support to clients preparing for life after treatment and working toward lifelong recovery.

“Once we’ve finished creating the processes and procedures for the new program, we’ll be hiring a case manager who will be dedicated to the program and the clients involved,” Jodi said.

This Grant Will Allow The GateHouse to Give Focused Attention to Some of Its Most Vulnerable Transitional Living Clients

When you’re living in transitional housing, a lot is happening at once. You’re learning to live in recovery as well as learning the skills needed to transition back into the community. All of these challenges are only compounded by the financial stress of paying for transitional housing if you’re struggling to get back on your feet financially.

“This grant lets us do two very important things for our transitional living clients,” Jodi said. “It lets us increase their interaction with a professional case manager, so they have more one-on-one support. And it reduces the financial stress of paying for it.”

The program will also GateHouse Transitional Living to offer a rent-tier, meaning that individuals in the program will have their rent covered or subsidized while living in one of our transitional living houses.

While in transitional living, a client struggling financially will not only receive help paying for recovery services. They’ll also learn critical financial life skills, including how to budget, pay bills, and manage money, all to help them find success in long-term recovery.

“Every transitional living client works through what we call an individualized case management plan,” Jodi said. “Each case management plan is different and financial life skills are often a focus. As a client, your plan is created specifically for your needs with goals you’re working toward during your stay.”

Once clients complete their case management plans, they leave transitional housing and find long-term, independent housing. But this move isn’t easy, especially for low-income clients and those without a financial safety cushion.

“The move to independent housing is a stressful time for our clients,” Jodi said. “Now through the grant, we’ll be able to make it a bit easier with additional incentives. For instance, if a client meets each of the goals in their case management plan in at least six months, funds from the grant will help cover that client’s security deposit for a new apartment or house.”

Referrals Will Drive Client Participation in the New Program

The services funded through the grant program will operate within the existing referral system – no different than services currently offered by The GateHouse.

“Our centralized intake coordinator and our intake team will work through referrals to fill our program slots and help as many clients as possible,” Jodi said.

The best way to refer a family member or friend is by calling our intake office and getting the intake process started, she said.

“This is an exciting new program, and we’re looking forward to getting it off the ground,” Jodi said. “We’re honored to have been awarded the funds to support this effort and the many clients we serve in Lancaster County who need our services as they begin their recovery journey.”

If you’re interested in referring a friend or family member to our transitional living services, or any of our services at The GateHouse, please call 717-393-3215 and select option 1.

At The GateHouse, we create a support system for each of our clients to break the cycle of addiction and get them on a path towards recovery, including services for long-term recovery with locations throughout Lancaster County, PA. We’d love to help you with your next step in recovery. Reach out to us today!

Open post signs of addiction

How to Recognize the Signs of Addiction and Find Help for Your Loved One

When you’re not familiar with the signs of addiction, it can be a difficult disease to identify.

Sadly, that’s one of the reasons why someone with a substance use disorder can often hide their addiction from family members for months or even years.

If your loved one is suffering from addiction, there’s a long list of physical, behavioral and emotional signs that are fairly easy to identify once you know where to look.

The Most Common Warning Signs of Addiction

Everyone experiences the symptoms of addiction a bit differently, with some showing more signs than others. Recognizing the signs and knowing what to look for will help you find your loved one the help they need much sooner so they can get on the path to recovery.

Physical Signs

Changes to the Eyes & Skin

The look of a person’s eyes and skin reveals a lot about their health and wellbeing. If you notice that your loved one’s eyes are often bloodshot or glazed over, that could be a sign of drug use. Some substances cause our pupils to constrict. Others cause severe fatigue which can show up as persistent dark circles or bags under the eyes.

Over time, drug use will cause skin–especially facial skin–to look dull, pale, inflamed, or even jaundiced. Consistent injection marks, scabs, or bruises are also a clear sign of drug use.

Insomnia or Hypersomnia

Drugs and alcohol directly impact sleep patterns. Depending on the substance and the person, addiction can make it hard to sleep. It can also cause hypersomnia or oversleeping. Both have negative impacts on alertness and energy levels and are fairly easy to recognize.

Weight Loss

Sudden weight loss is one of the most noticeable signs of addiction. If your loved one loses a lot of weight in a short period of time, take notice of their eating habits. The same is true if their weight keeps fluctuating. Both are signs they may need help.

Other Physical Signs

While changes to skin and eye appearance, sleep habits, and weight are three of the most common physical indicators of addiction, there are many others to look for as well. Your loved one may also suffer from addiction if they exhibit these other physical signs.

  • Memory loss
  • Injuries
  • Ongoing Illness
  • Body odor
  • Unhealthy teeth, hair and nails
  • Slurred words
  • Unexplained sweating, shaking

Emotional Signs

Anxiety and Depression

Signs of depression and anxiety are some of the more common symptoms of substance use disorder. This can include extreme lows as well as manic highs and worry.

Apathy or Low Motivation

Substance use disorder can make a person feel emotionally numb. A lot of times they lose interest in the activities that they used to get excited about. Addiction reduces a person’s drive, ambition, and motivation. If your loved one is typically a highly motivated person but suddenly loses all ambition, this is a strong sign of addiction.

Not Acting Like Themselves

Any major changes in behavior, whatever they may be, can be a sign of addiction as well. Trust your gut. If a behavior your loved one is exhibiting doesn’t seem normal, they may need help from a professional.

These behaviors may include:

  • Irritability
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Aggression
  • And others

Behavioral Signs

Socially Withdrawn

If your loved one went from a socially engaged friend and family member to suddenly withdrawn from social activities, this is a sign that they could be suffering from addiction. Drug and alcohol use disorders cause people to isolate and stay to themselves, which can fuel feelings of loneliness and depression that trigger the desire to use.

Neglectful

When someone is addicted to drugs or alcohol, nothing is more important to them then using. With every other part of life deprioritized, they can start neglecting responsibilities – everything from meeting financial obligations and going to work to caring for family and keeping their home clean.

Lying and Secrecy

People addicted to drugs and alcohol will lie to cover up their addiction. They’ll likely lie to you, employers, friends and physicians and anyone they want to keep from knowing the truth. Lies and secrecy go hand-in-hand with substance use disorder. This is one of the hardest signs to recognize, but also one of the most telling that your loved one needs help.

How to Start the Conversation When You Discover Your Loved One Needs Help

Approaching a highly sensitive subject like substance use disorder with someone you love can be an extremely difficult conversation to begin. And it gets even harder if they’ve been lying, keeping the addiction a secret, or have been aggressive – all signs that they won’t be receptive to acknowledging or discussing their addiction.

Set the stage for a successful conversation by first taking the following steps.

  • Think ahead to how you’ll introduce the conversation
  • Consult a trusted family member or friend for guidance
  • Choose a comfortable place where you can talk privately
  • Choose a day and time when the conversation won’t be rushed
  • Communicate with empathy and compassion
  • Don’t pass judgement or blame
  • Suggest they get support through a treatment center
  • Listen more than you talk

Recovery Begins with a Strong Support System

Recovery from addiction isn’t meant to happen alone. It’s a life-long process that requires a strong support system of professional counselors, a community of other people also working to recover, and the compassion and love of family.

At The GateHouse, we create a support system for each of our clients to break the cycle of addiction and get them on a path towards recovery. Whether they need our residential extended care treatment, a transitional living environment, or outpatient support, we are here for them. Our outpatient services program also includes initial assessments that help us determine the proper course of treatment. Every step is individualized, so our clients receive the best care for their personal needs.

When you and your loved one are ready to discuss a treatment plan and start the journey towards long-term addiction recovery, our team will be here ready to support you on your way.

The GateHouse offers addiction treatment services for long-term addiction recovery with locations throughout Lancaster County, PA. We’d love to help you with your next step in recovery. Reach out to us today!

Open post Jodi Holland: Looking Forward

Resilience and Strength as We Begin a New Year at The GateHouse

Few years compared to 2020. The past year forced everyone, including all of us at The GateHouse, to face new hurdles – many of which seemed insurmountable at the time.

Yet, despite its struggles, 2020 showed us how resilient we truly are.

The flip to a new calendar year certainly doesn’t mean that the challenges brought on by the pandemic are fully behind us. But it does provide an opportunity to reflect on the collective resilience we built in 2020 and how that resilience and strength are carrying us all forward into the new year.

Jodi Holland
Executive Director
Jodi Holland

Our Executive Director, Jodi Holland, did just that when we sat down to discuss what lies ahead for The GateHouse in 2021.

Q: What was 2020 like for you, your team, and your clients, especially when the pandemic began in March?
Jodi Holland: Like everyone else, we were thrown into lockdown and had to completely rethink everything about our services. During the first half of 2020, we had to focus on stability and keeping our services operational for our clients.

Addiction recovery is meant to take place in-person with counselors and the support of family and peers. When the pandemic hit and the lockdown began, we were challenged to provide the same services as we did prior to COVID, but while isolating to keep clients and staff safe from the virus. It was the hardest challenge we faced during the early days of the pandemic.

Q: Despite the challenges, 2020 did mark several milestones for The GateHouse. Describe some of those.
JH: Yes, 2020 was a difficult year for us, for sure, but we also celebrated several accomplishments.

I’m proud to say that The GateHouse opened three new houses in 2020, which is a lot of work in a typical year, let alone during a pandemic. Two of the houses are new recovery houses, a part of our transitional living services. The third is a Residential Extended Care house for women in Marietta and we converted our Mountville house to our second male-only location.

We also implemented a new electronic health record, or EHR, system, which is no easy task. We were completely paper-based before 2020 and went cold turkey to an all-electronic system last year. There’s a huge learning curve when a facility makes the switch to an EHR. It’s a big adjustment.

Each of those accomplishments is a testament to our incredible staff and their dedication to our mission. They never stopped working hard for our clients.

Q: Now that we’ve turned the corner into 2021, what are you most looking forward to in the new year as restrictions ease?
JH: Recovery is about connection. But during quarantine, we had to isolate which is the opposite of what we want taking place during long-term recovery.

In 2021, I’m most looking forward to getting everyone at The GateHouse back together in person. Getting our clinicians back to meeting face-to-face with clients and hosting group meetings will be our big focus as soon as we’re permitted to by the state.

We’re also working to get our clients back out into the community wherever possible. We want to help them reconnect with family as soon as it’s safe to do so, help them find employment again, and provide them with as many resources as we can to empower their recovery journey.

Q: What are some of The GateHouse’s longer-term goals that you’ll be focused on in 2021?
JH: From an administrative standpoint, we’re looking at how to strengthen our financial stability. For us, that means keeping houses full. We’re putting significant attention on development and fundraising this year. Building more relationships within the community and working with our current supporters will be a huge focus for us. We’re also looking at adding much-needed services for women and children which we’ll be exploring this year.

Our primary goal in 2021 is to simply get back to normal and continue our mission. We have a lot of work to do to further support our community and, like everyone I think, we have high hopes that 2021 is the year that gets us there.

Q: What from 2020 will you remember most and carry with you into 2021? Perhaps a success or a lesson learned?
JH: When I look back on 2020, I’ll remember how the staff at The GateHouse rose to the occasion. Every single staff member stayed dedicated to our clients and our mission. Whether working from home or in-person as an essential worker, they came to work to serve our clients every day – even at the beginning of the pandemic when we weren’t sure exactly what challenges the virus would present.

They worked to make adjustments to programming and set up virtual zoom calls so clients could still have access to counseling sessions and group outpatient meetings. They made it happen.

I’m extremely proud of our organization. I believe 2020 was a success when you look at all of the progress we made during this challenging year. We were able to continue operations and successfully served our clients in all levels of care. That says a lot about who we are as an organization.

The GateHouse provides long-term addiction recovery services to clients throughout Lancaster County, PA. We help our clients access the services and resources they need to return and contribute to their communities. Our entire team at The GateHouse would love to help you with your next step in recovery. Reach out to us today!

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‘Giving Extra’ by Breathing Life Back into Others: Kristi’s Recovery Story

Kristi knows how debilitating addiction can be.

“Living with addiction is like living a walking death,” she said.

Kristi Martarano BS, CADC, CCPG, is Clinical Director at The GateHouse. Like many of her colleagues, she was also once a client at The GateHouse working toward her own recovery. She’s been in the same shoes as each client she serves and knows exactly how it feels to battle addiction.

Her journey brought her back to The GateHouse to support men and women just like her. Today, she’s restoring our clients’ spirits by breathing life back into each one of them.

Even Before Addiction Treatment, Kristi Knew She Wanted to Help Others Like Her

Kristi spent years in and out of addiction treatment before finding her way to The GateHouse in 2004. When she arrived, she went through each phase of the treatment program, found a sponsor, and got a job. Suddenly, she was held accountable for doing the hard work necessary for success in recovery.

“While in recovery at The GateHouse, more was expected of me than in just about any other time in my life,” Kristi said. “I discovered that I was capable of much more than I realized.”

Before treatment, Kristi had a desire to someday be a counselor. Working with her counselors and other clients in the program during her time in addiction treatment reignited her passion to help others on their own journey towards recovery.

“Spending time with counselors was a very powerful part of my journey,” she said. “And, going through the program with other strong recovering people, like my now-colleagues Cyndi and Kendrick, helped me get through. I had this recurring feeling that I could help other people find recovery, too.”

She Didn’t Realize Then That She was Learning the Life Skills She Would Eventually Use to Help Others

When Kristi left The GateHouse after treatment, she knew helping others in recovery was meant to be her life’s work. So, she went to school – studying alongside our Clinical Director of Outpatient Services, Kendrick Westmoreland.

“After school, I found my way back to The GateHouse,” she said. “They hired me, and I began working my way up. They gave me several opportunities to grow within the organization, including the chance to be a counselor.”

Breathing Life Back into Each Client by Giving Them a Voice

Addiction Treatment Clinical Director Kristi MartaranoToday, Kristi is the Clinical Director who oversees the programs at The GateHouse Mountville and The GateHouse Marietta. She’s still involved with counseling, running the Seeking Safety group meetings, and working with clients to get feedback on the programs offered by The GateHouse.

“I’m always looking for ways to better support our clients,” she said. “I give them a chance to provide input on the programs, suggest different activities, and listen to any other ideas they have about how we can best provide support.”

Intentionally listening to every one of her clients at The GateHouse is what’s allowed Kristi to make such a big impact in their recovery and their lives.

“When you’re struggling with addiction, you don’t have a voice,” she said. “There’s a stigma attached to addiction and no one cares what you have to say. In a lot of cases, our counselors are giving our clients a voice for the first time.”

She explained that when you have a voice, you feel alive and have hope.

“Whether you’re feeling scared, sad, happy, or experiencing any other emotion, the fact that you’re feeling an emotion means you’re alive,” she said. “I’m a part of a program that gave me life. And, now I get to breathe life back into others.”

During this year’s Extraordinary Give, please join us in ‘Giving Extra’ to our community members as they embark on their journey to recovery and to living healthy, meaningful lives.

 

GIVE EXTRA
Open post From recovery house to The GateHouse, this isKendrick's recovery journey

‘Giving Extra’ by Creating Recovery Support for Others: Kendrick’s Recovery Story

Kendrick spent years living in a vicious cycle of addiction.

“I’d use and lose everything,” he said. “Then, I’d get my life back on track for a few months only to lose it all again.”

Today, Kendrick Westmoreland is the Clinical Director of Outpatient Services at The GateHouse. He also knows what it’s like to be a client at The GateHouse and at the beginning stages of the recovery journey.

His journey is as much a story of his dedication to rebuilding his life as it is his passion for helping others do the same.

From Living the Dream to Surviving a Relapse

When Kendrick moved to Atlanta, Georgia, he was ready to start fresh and break his addiction cycle. He found a great job, bought a house with his girlfriend, and started a family.

“I was living the dream,” he said.

Then, everything changed. One day while filling up at a gas station, Kendrick saw a man along the side of the building looking around.

“I knew that look,” he said. “He came over and asked how much I wanted. My life spiraled down from there.”

Kendrick lost his relationship, his home, and his children. He went from living his dream life to living in a pay-by-the-week micro-motel.

“I started getting high all day, every day,” he said. “I ran out of money and was terrified.”

He called home to ask for money. His mother said, ”no.” Instead, she bought him a bus ticket to return home.

“She told me I had two choices: either get on that bus and get help or stay in Atlanta and get what I get,” Kendrick said. “I got on the bus and within two weeks I was in an inpatient drug addiction treatment facility.”

Building a Foundation for Recovery

Kendrick spent 30 days in inpatient treatment. Then, he came to The GateHouse. The transition wasn’t easy.

“I’ll admit that I wasn’t the easiest client at The GateHouse. I was defiant,” he said. “I thought I knew more than I did and thought I was superior to my counselors.”

When he arrived, his counselors at The GateHouse gave him his welcome packet. He couldn’t bring himself to open it and do the work. It took him over a month to finally complete the packet, but once he did, he started to make progress. He started learning things about himself and his addiction.

“I couldn’t see it then, but The GateHouse helped me build the foundation for my ongoing recovery,” Kendrick said. “I learned the fundamentals. And, I met lifelong advocates, including my mentor and my now-colleagues at The GateHouse, Kristi and Cyndi. Once I left, everything started to fall into place.”

Kendrick Began the Long Trek Toward Recovery & Found Ways to Help Others

He spent the next year in a recovery house going to three meetings a day. He later found a job and life began to improve. He began to blossom.

Life at the recovery house, however, was rough. Rules seemed to apply to different people differently and the house lacked structure. Kendrick believed that had there been more structure, more people would be successful.

“My mentor at the time held me accountable and gave me the mental structure I needed to be successful,” he said. “I thought that if having structure helped me figure this all out, then maybe I could do the same for others.”

Eventually, he did.

Kendrick Went on to Open his Own Recovery House, Providing Structure to the Addiction Recovery Process

“I began looking for a building for my recovery house,” he said. “As chance would have it, I was living in an apartment below the recovery house I attended. During that time, the existing owner announced she was closing the facility. The recovery house would be empty, so I jumped on it. Suddenly, I had my house.”

Kendrick’s former mentor from The GateHouse found him after learning about his recovery house and began referring clients to him. The recovery house grew and things took off for Kendrick. He began working full time and started going to school, eventually graduating with a bachelor’s degree in behavioral and addiction services.

He ran his recovery house until getting a job at a treatment center in York as a counselor’s assistant under his mentor.

“I was constantly looking for opportunities for promotion,” Kendrick said. “I worked hard and ended up as the Director of Outpatient Services. I did that job for three years. Then, one day, I received a call from The GateHouse.”

Kendrick’s Journey Brought Him Back to The GateHouse to Help Even More Clients on Their Recovery Journey

Kendrick ended up returning to The GateHouse, this time as a member of the team helping clients establish the same foundation that he once received.

Today, as Clinical Director of Outpatient Services, he pulls lessons from his time in treatment and from running his recovery house to help guide clients at The GateHouse toward their recovery.

“I came to The GateHouse focused on growing our outpatient services and making sure our programs were sustainable,” he said. “This meant creating procedures and policies. It also meant making sure we were using evidence-based programs, interventions and practices.”

When he reflects on his journey from addiction to this point in his recovery journey, Kendrick points to The GateHouse as a turning point.

“The GateHouse helped save my life,” he said. “They gave me the skills and abilities to navigate the recovery process and the life skills and tools to help me grow up. And now, as a member of the team, The GateHouse has given me a chance to give back and help others like me.”

Our incredible team at The GateHouse gives everything they have to support our mission and put our clients on a path toward lifelong recovery.

During this year’s Extraordinary Give, please join us in ‘Giving Extra’ to our community members as they embark on their journey to recovery and to living healthy, meaningful lives.

 

GIVE EXTRA
Open post Cyndi's Story

‘Giving Extra’ By Helping Others Heal: Cyndi’s Recovery Story

Cyndi was 18 years into her recovery journey when she relapsed. She had a beautiful home, a teenage son and had built a wonderful life for herself.

“Your addiction is always doing push-ups, even when you’re not using,” she said.

Today, Cyndi is our Intake Supervisor at The GateHouse. But, before working with us, she was a client in our Residential Extended Care program. She’s one of the many members of our team who has seen the recovery journey from both sides and knows exactly where our clients are when they take that first step into treatment and towards recovery.

Her journey to get here, however, has been anything but easy.

From Relapse to Rehab to The GateHouse

After her relapse, Cyndi went from living in her suburban home to the streets of Philadelphia. She was victimized and experienced unimaginable traumas. Miraculously, she made it back alive.

At that point, she went in and out of multiple detox programs but couldn’t get clean. After trying over and over again, she knew she needed more support.

Cyndi set out to get clean for good and enrolled herself into an addiction rehabilitation program. At the end of the program, she knew she couldn’t go back home.

“There’s no shame like the shame of using after you’ve gotten clean,” she said. “I was so broken. I broke my parent’s and my son’s hearts in unthinkable ways.”

After leaving rehab, Cyndi knew she couldn’t go home and, needing longer-term support, she made the decision to apply to the Residential Extended Care program at The Gatehouse.

“When I found out I was accepted to the treatment program at The GateHouse, I gave my parents power-of-attorney and they sold my home,” she said. “I owned that home for 20 years, but when I left for treatment, I knew I could never go back.”

The GateHouse Gave Cyndi the Time She Needed to Heal

Cyndi describes her time at The GateHouse as both challenging and healing.

“Being at The GateHouse gave me time to heal,” she said. “It wasn’t easy. But, it forced me to take responsibility for my life. I also met some incredibly strong and supportive people, including two of my now-coworkers, Kristi and Kendrick. The three of us went through treatment together and provided a support system for one another.”

Cyndi said her counselor at The GateHouse was wonderful, as well.

“She was patient, understanding and she listened,” Cyndi said. “At that point, my son wasn’t speaking to me. I was still broken in so many ways. It was in her office one day that I called my son and he picked up. He spoke to me. I just collapsed in tears and she stayed with me through it.”

After her time in The GateHouse’s Residential Extended Care program, she transitioned to an intensive outpatient treatment program. She found a job, moved into an apartment, and began to rebuild her life.

“After treatment at The GateHouse, I went from owning a 4-bedroom home to living in a small apartment and riding the bus to work,” Cyndi said. “It was humbling. And, it ultimately saved me.”

Cyndi’s Recovery Journey Brought Her Back to The GateHouse – this Time, to Help Others Heal.

Today, Cyndi oversees all Residential Extended Care and GateHouse Transitional Living intakes. She makes sure that the right candidates are placed in the right level of care for that individual.

“I know how much courage it takes to live in Residential Extend Care and transitional living – how much courage it takes to commit to getting clean,” she said. “I want to make sure I’m placing our clients into the right treatment and living environments and giving them the best chance to be successful.”

Getting clean takes everything you have, Cyndi said.

“When I first speak with a potential client, I do something called ‘motivational interviewing,’” she said. “I talk to them to see how stable they are and gauge their willingness to put in the work that recovery takes. Are they willing to ride the bus every day? Are they willing to share their emotional pains? Are they willing to start over?”

Most of the time, when people relapse after a long period of being clean, it’s very difficult for them to return to recovery, much less treatment.

“I like to think I inspire people like me to find the courage they need to come back to life and live again.”

Our incredibly strong team at The GateHouse gives everything they have to support our mission and put our clients on a path toward lifelong recovery.

During this year’s Extraordinary Give, please join us in ‘Giving Extra’ to our community members as they embark on their journey to recovery and to living healthy, purposeful lives.

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Outpatient Services That Care for Clients Through Life-Long Recovery

“At The GateHouse, we’re treating the whole person, and that means helping them gain access to all of the resources they need to maintain recovery.”

– Kendrick Westmoreland

 

When a client leaves one of our Residential Extended Care facilities and returns to their community, life in recovery begins. That transition can be overwhelming and is often a time when a client needs our support more than ever.

Kendrick Westmoreland

Kendrick Westmoreland was one such client.

Kendrick walked through the doors of The GateHouse as a client years ago. Today, he’s paying it forward through his work as our Clinical Director of Outpatient Services. Kendrick supervises the implementation of each of the outpatient services, making sure that each outpatient client has what they need as they continue on their recovery journey.

Outpatient Services at The GateHouse

At The GateHouse, our outpatient services are one more way we help clients successfully transition back into their communities. Our outpatient programs provide client-centered services, which means services can look different for different patients.

So, to better understand the various types of outpatient services at The GateHouse, we sat down with Kendrick to discuss the ins and outs. He shared not only a wealth of information with us about outpatient services, but also the story of one outpatient client affectionately nicknamed the ‘pink unicorn.’

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TGH: The GateHouse provides multiple levels of care under the umbrella of ‘Outpatient Services.’ Can you break down each level for us?

KW: Definitely. Outpatient clients come to us after they finish treatment at one of our residential treatment centers. At The GateHouse, we have three levels of treatment that fall under Outpatient Services; Partial Hospitalization Treatment, Intensive Outpatient Treatment and General Outpatient Treatment.

Our clients who need the most support in recovery after they leave our treatment center transition into our Partial Hospitalization Treatment. Our partial hospitalization treatment clients usually need short-term housing as they determine the next steps they’ll take in recovery. They also typically need additional education and relapse intervention support.

Outpatient clients receiving partial hospitalization treatment meet four times a week. Each session is five hours. There they’re given access to further life skills education. For one treatment session, we hosted Penn State and its extension program. We had a guest from the University give clients a 6-week nutrition education course, teaching them how to eat healthy on a limited budget. We provided food that the clients cooked and prepared in class. They loved it.

One level down from partial hospitalization treatment is Intensive Outpatient Treatment. Under the outpatient services umbrella, this is the level of care that clients enter if they still need some support but are employed and living in the community in housing they’ve secured on their own – not in one of our transitional living residences. Usually, these clients are also in an Alcoholics Anonymous program or some other outside recovery service beyond The GateHouse.

Intensive outpatient clients participate in group sessions three days a week for three hours each session. These sessions are led by our matrix model, an evidence-based curriculum where we match the needs of each client in the group and then base each session’s topic around those needs. They also attend a one-on-one weekly session with one of our counselors.

General Outpatient Treatment is the final level of care within our outpatient services. General outpatient is for a client who is well-established in the community, employed, and able to care for themselves, but just need periodic reinforcement of the skills they learned during treatment.

Our general outpatient treatment includes relapse prevention, identifying the warning signs or triggers of relapse, navigating the recovery process, and much more.

The depth of skill development and the time commitment to general outpatient treatment is based fully on the client’s needs. One client may need one group session per week, while another may need a bi-weekly group session with weekly individual sessions. General outpatient is completely tailored to the client.

TGH: Your outpatient services sound like they take place over the course of several months, even years. How long do most clients stay in outpatient treatment? And, especially for those who need longer-term care, does The GateHouse work with clients who need financial assistance?

KW: We don’t put a limit on how long a client is with us. They participate in our outpatient services for as long as they need to while working towards the ability to live a healthy life on their own. We’re with them through recovery. So, for as long as they need us, we’re not going anywhere.

As far as finances go, The GateHouse is wonderful about helping our clients navigate the financial barriers that may exist when they’re working to access our services. We’ll help them apply for medical assistance or find other sources of funding. We’re also fortunate to have a pool of supportive donors who give us the ability to offer some funding. The bottom line is that we don’t let a lack of income or insurance coverage get in the way of our clients receiving the care they need.

TGH: Can you tell us about one of your clients and how these outpatient services really made an impact on their recovery?

KW: Absolutely. The client who immediately comes to mind is a 70-year-old gentleman we affectionately nicknamed the Pink Unicorn. He was a heroin addict with serious health issues that required him to see several specialists. He didn’t have any family or support system. So, we set him up in one of our recovery houses to take care of his immediate housing needs. Next, we connected him with Penn Medicine and a team of specialists.

From there, his outpatient treatment focused on providing him the tools to maintain recovery and live independently. So, beyond his addiction treatment, we connected him with a 6-month money management plan that we run here at The GateHouse. The plan helped him save enough money to eventually rent an apartment.

TGH: Wow, so you and your team are often supporting clients beyond the outpatient services that you provide directly.

KW: Yes, we go to where the need is. In the case of this client, he needed long-term recovery treatment, housing and medical care. So, we found those for him.

It’s important to remember that many of our clients live in communities that aren’t healthy. If we had only focused on this client’s addiction recovery and sent him back out into his community after treatment, we’d be sending him back into an unhealthy community without the resources he needs – in his case, proper housing and health care. It’s hard to maintain recovery in a community that’s isn’t well.

At The GateHouse, we’re treating the whole person, and that means helping them gain access to all of the resources they need to maintain recovery.

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The GateHouse offers outpatient services for long-term addiction recovery to clients throughout Lancaster County, PA. We help our clients access the services and resources they need to return and contribute to their communities. Kendrick and our entire team at The GateHouse would love to help you with your next step in recovery. Reach out to us today!

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