Category: Recovery

Open post GTL Connections Program

The Connections Grant Program Brings Case Management to Clients in Transitional Living

How the new Transitional Living Grant Program, Connections, is supporting the needs of clients beginning their recovery journey

Transitioning back into your community after completing residential treatment creates change across every aspect of life. While it’s an important step forward in the recovery journey, we know it can also be a stressful time, especially for clients without many resources or a strong support system.

Our GateHouse Transitional Living houses are one of the many tools we have at The GateHouse to support clients in recovery as they leave residential treatment. They give our clients the ability to ease their way back into the community as they look for employment, an apartment, and any other essentials they need to begin life in recovery.

This past spring, our transitional living program received a boost of support from a grant to begin our new Connections Program. This program incorporates a transitional living case manager dedicated to supporting our clients as they transition. The grant also includes funding to help us provide rent reductions for GTL residents, as well.

The Connections Program Provides Financial Stability as Clients Transition

To be successful in early recovery, clients need assistance in many areas, including financial security. They must have the basics covered, like paying rent and food, if they’re going to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  The beauty of the Connections program is it covers the cost of rent for transitional living clients for the first two months of their stay. From there, the cost of rent is tiered, increasing slightly each month until they reach the full cost of rent at 12 months, and if a client receives a successful discharge, the program offers them financial assistance for their security deposit on their own apartment.

Micayla Roberts is the transitional living case manager overseeing the Connections program and she’s already witnessed the impact the program is having on her clients.

“Through the Connections grant, we’re alleviating a lot of the financial stress our clients would otherwise face at the beginning of their recovery journey,” Micayla said.

She is largely interested in using the program as a tool to help clients focus more on their treatment needs and build a solid foundation for recovery.

“By alleviating financial stress, we’re able to tackle mental health and wellness challenges our clients face; challenges that can prove to be major barriers to recovery if left unmanaged,” Micayla said. “It’s much easier to work through stress, anxiety, and depression when your rent payment isn’t looming over your head.”

How the Connections Case Management Program Works for Clients

Upon entering the program, Micayla takes an inventory of the client’s needs starting with the essentials – employment, doctor’s appointments, dental exams, transportation, etc. Next, they develop a plan to address all the needs of the client – outpatient counseling programs, mental health resources in the community, and many others.

She then creates a plan to get the client the resources they need, including access to support services. She’ll take into consideration whether treatment is within walking distance of clients, and which accept medical assistance when she’s setting up appointments. Most importantly, though, Micayla learns the client’s individual needs and matches them with the right outpatient counselors and ancillary services.

Connections is Already Making a Big Impact in Recovery for Clients in Transitional Living

In just the first several months of the program, Connections is already helping individuals meet their treatment needs and prepare for a life in recovery.

“The Connections program is already providing significant benefits to our transitional living clients,” Micayla said. “I can see the relief on clients’ faces when they can focus on their recovery and not their first couple of rent payments. They know they have me there to support them – they’re not alone. It makes a difference in recovery when you feel like someone’s in your corner.”

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The GateHouse offers transitional living 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.

Micayla and our entire team at The GateHouse would love to help you with your next step in recovery. Reach out to us today!

Open post Serenity Stories

The GateHouse Serenity Stories: Thomas & Judy McDermott

We often think of victims of substance use disorder as only those suffering directly from the disease. But victims’ families are victims, as well.

The GateHouse broke ground on its Serenity Gardens last fall – a beautiful, tree-lined garden space for quiet reflection – and created a place to bring serenity to its residences in recovery as well as the countless families who have lost loved ones to addiction.

There’s a Personal Story Behind Every Brick and Tree in the Serenity Gardens

The gardens were created thanks to the generous support of families, alumni of The GateHouse, and the community. Some people and families purchased bricks that are now inscribed and featured in the walkways and structures of the Gardens. Others purchased trees and other features within the garden to honor family members who struggled with substance abuse.

Dave Maser’s memorial in Marietta

Those who supported, and continue to support, the Serenity Gardens project have their own reasons for doing so.

For Thomas and Judy McDermott, it was to honor and remember their son, Dave, who they lost to addiction nearly four years ago.

Dave had a son with Beth Allen, who also struggled with substance use disorder. When she found her way to recovery in 2015, she began working for The Retreat and eventually worked her way up to Residential Program Supervisor at The GateHouse.

It was Beth who invited The McDermotts to The GateHouse in October 2019, where plans for Serenity Gardens were revealed.

“I was impressed by the purpose of the garden—helping individuals in recovery restore their spirit—and the beauty of the proposed plans,” Judy said.

She and her husband decided to purchase a tree for Serenity Gardens in their son’s name.

“The garden has a beautiful stone walkaway with stone walls on either side,” Judy said. “And the tree that we purchased for our son is standing in the center where the path goes around either side.”

The commemorative sign placed with the tree reads:

“Dave Maser

Beloved Father, Brother & Son

Your Spirit will live on forever in our hearts”

“We had our son cremated, so we don’t have a place to visit,” Judy said. “It’ll be very nice to sit in the garden and feel a closeness with my son. He’d be very happy with it.”

For parents like the McDermotts and residents currently working their way through recovery, Serenity Gardens is a space to not only reflect on the past but to help others heal.

“It’s excruciatingly painful to lose a son,” Judy said. “But you quickly realize that you’re not alone in this. So many other moms and dads have gone through or are going through the same thing, and certainly, anything that you can do to help them, you want to do.”

Please Join Us in Support of the Serenity Gardens Project at The GateHouse

Community members who’d like to support the Serenity Gardens project can donate a brick, plant a tree, sponsor a bench, or help fund the purchase of a pavilion.

Click to learn how you can Donate to Serenity Gardens.

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When it’s time to begin living life in recovery, The GateHouse is here to support you or your loved one. We offer substance abuse treatment services for long-term addiction recovery, with locations throughout Lancaster County, PA.

The GateHouse creates a support system for each client to break the cycle of substance abuse and put them on a path towards recovery. Whether they need outpatient support, a transitional living environment, or residential treatment services, it’s here for them.

Let The GateHouse help you with your next step in recovery. Reach out to us today!

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Recovery Stories: How 4 Celebrities Overcame Substance Abuse and Are Now Inspiring Others

Everyone’s recovery story deserves to be heard. And each can serve as inspiration to those of us on our own recovery journey.

Every time a celebrity bravely steps up to share their story of substance abuse and recovery, we can see the incredible impact their story has on those who are still suffering.

With each celebrity story, substance use disorder is de-stigmatized a bit more and the power of recovery treatment is demonstrated. Within each story, we also see common themes – including the central role family, advocates, and recovery treatment ultimately play in saving lives.

Below are four inspirational stories of celebrities who have reached out for support and lived to inspire others with their stories of sobriety.

Dax Shepard’s Recovery Story

In 2004, during an interview on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Dax Shepard stumbled onto the stage, missed the chair he was aiming for and knocked over a table. It’s a time Shepard recalls as a career wrecking moment.

After Dax’s public display in 2004, he sought professional help at a drug and alcohol rehab clinic. Some years later, Dax opened up about his substance abuse and recovery, saying he started drinking in excess and using drugs, including cocaine, when he was 18.

He still attends weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meetings as part of his ongoing recovery, but the road isn’t always smooth–he relapsed in 2020 after being prescribed pain pills after a motorcycle accident. But Dax’s wife, Kristen Bell, and his podcast co-host, Monica Padman, were in his corner when he came clean to them about his private struggle.

Jamie Lee Curtis’ Recovery Story

Jamie Lee Curtis might be what many would call a functioning addict. A habit she picked up after getting plastic surgery, Jamie would down a few painkillers while making dinner for her family and wash them down with a glass of wine. Many around her were none-the-wiser for nearly 10 years.

But her need for the pills grew. One day she found herself secretly stealing pills from her sister who had been prescribed painkillers for an injury. When Jamie realized her sister would find out, she wrote a note admitting the theft. Without prejudice, her sister hugged her and told her she loved her, and that she wasn’t going to let Jamie die.

Two months later, Jamie attended her first recovery meeting. That was the start of a 20-year journey of sobriety. Jamie also regularly attends recovery meetings; she takes her sobriety on the road with her when she’s filming, sometimes setting up ad-hock recovery meetings in her dressing trailer.

Rob Lowe’s Recovery Story

For those who came of age in the 1980s, you may remember the then-baby-faced Rob Lowe from the movie adaptation of The Outsiders. Just a teen at the time, the film was his first introduction to Hollywood, and his first introduction to alcohol.

For the better part of a decade, Rob lived under the cloud of addiction. He recalls a pivotal moment in his life when he was so drunk, he couldn’t pick up the phone when his mother called to tell him his grandfather was dying. It was then, after carrying around the business card of a drug and alcohol counselor for more than a year, that he made the call.

Rob believes in the power of recovery, sobriety, and therapy, often saying he enjoyed his 12-step recovery process. But he admits that a person must want to get help. Today, with three decades of sobriety under his belt, Rob continues to be an advocate for addiction recovery, especially for his son who recently struggled with his own addiction.

Drew Barrymore’s Recovery Story

 A child actress, Drew Barrymore landed a role in Steven Spielberg’s E.T. when she was only 6-years old. Her blonde curls and button nose resonated with audiences, and the role led to stardom. It also led her to alcohol and drugs.

Drew first entered rehab at 12-years old. Then again at 13. Still under her mother’s care, she was sent to a mental institution, as she calls it; a place where she spent a year and a half and that she credits with turning her life around.

At age 14, at the recommendation of the institution, Drew was emancipated from her parents and became a legal adult; a decision she has never regretted. Drew’s parents struggled with addictions of their own. Breaking from them as a teen helped her get her life back on track and eventually relaunch her career as an actress and producer.

Everyone is Unique. And So is Their Recovery Journey.

Substance abuse does not discriminate and can impact the lives of even the most seemingly successful people. These high-profile celebrities, and others, have recovery stories like the ones our GateHouse clients continue to tell.

Through the support of family, friends, advocates, and lifelong treatment, these four high-profile individuals found the help they needed to live a healthy and happy life in recovery.

If you’re ready to take the next step, The GateHouse would love to help you find the path to your own recovery journey.

The GateHouse offers outpatient services for long-term addiction recovery to clients throughout Lancaster County, PA. We help our clients, and their families access the services and resources they need to return and contribute to their communities. Give us a call at 717-393-3215 or reach out to us today!

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The GateHouse Completes Construction of Serenity Gardens at its Marietta Residential Extended Care Home

One of the most important aspects of recovery treatment from substance abuse is looking past addiction itself and focusing on the whole person.

“The path towards recovery lives in our minds and spirit,” said Keith Stoudt, Director of Support Services for The GateHouse. “Our residents need quiet places for reflection, meditation, and prayer, which is exactly what our new Serenity Garden is here to provide.”

Bringing Serenity to The GateHouse in Marietta

On September 28, 2021, The GateHouse broke ground on Serenity Gardens, situated within the 7.4-acre grounds of Riverview Tower in Marietta—now the home of The GateHouse’s Residential Extended Care for Women.

Serenity Gardens features a patio, waterfall, and paved, tree-lined walkways. With its main construction completed in December 2021, the finishing touches—planting flowers and installing a memorial bench and paving bricks—are planned for Spring 2022.

constructionConstruction of Serenity Gardens was initially planned to begin after the grand opening of The GateHouse for Women at Riverview Tower, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the project.

“We wanted to construct the garden shortly after the grand opening of the Marietta house, but life shows up, and plans change,” Keith said. “We had to adjust to life on life’s terms. And sometimes that’s not easy.”

“It’s a great analogy for the path of recovery,” he said. “You may have a plan, and it seems simple. But life shows up, and we adjust to the change. We try our best and we work together to collaborate on a path towards success.”

When COVID restrictions and health risks subside, The GateHouse will host a community event to officially unveil the gardens to the community.

Support From Sponsors and the Community

Serenity Gardens isn’t only a place of reflection for The GateHouse’s residents. It’s a serenity garden for the entire community to enjoy.

“We consider The GateHouse a part of the larger community, and we hope the community will see our serenity garden as theirs,” Keith said.

The gardens were brought to life thanks to sponsors and donors throughout the region. Many sponsors purchased bricks to be inscribed and featured in the walkways and structures of the garden.

Community members who want to support the Serenity Gardens project before the dedication event this spring can donate a brick, plant a tree, sponsor a bench, or help fund the purchase of a pavilion. You can download our Serenity Garden Project Form to learn more and donate.

“Not only do we welcome the community to join us in the garden, but we also can’t thank our local supporters enough,” Keith said. “It’s their generous support that made this project a reality.”

Walking Beside Clients to Accomplish Big Things

“At The GateHouse, our staff transforms and encourages lifelong recovery by walking beside clients, and that’s what we did to create the garden,” Keith said. “It was a collaborative effort between our staff and clients.”

Clients played a huge role in cleaning and prepping the grounds before the landscapers started their work, Keith said.

“It was a great sight to see them come together,” he said. “And I believe that gives them a sense of purpose and meaning,” Keith said.

Restoring the Human Spirit Through Recovery

Today, with the completion of the new Serenity Garden on the grounds of our women’s residence, the gardens are ready to help clients of The GateHouse continue their journey towards recovery.

For Keith, being a part of the project was especially meaningful as he reflected on his own recovery journey.

“Starting over isn’t easy,” he said. “Going into the recovery process with next to nothing isn’t easy. I’m 16 years into recovery. I started my journey in 2005, having nothing, having burned all bridges.”

Keith said there is no comparison to the program he entered when he began his journey and the beautiful facilities at The GateHouse at Riverview Tower in Marietta.

“Just imagine coming to this property to start your new life,” he said. “That was our intent—to make the gardens as beautiful, inviting, comfortable, and as open as possible. This is one of the most rewarding projects I’ve been a part of in my entire life. I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of The GateHouse.”

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When it’s time to begin living life in recovery, The GateHouse is here to support you or your loved one. We offer substance abuse treatment services for long-term addiction recovery, with locations throughout Lancaster County, PA.

The GateHouse creates a support system for each client to break the cycle of substance abuse and put them on a path towards recovery. Whether they need outpatient support, a transitional living environment, or residential treatment services, it’s here for them.

Let The GateHouse help you with your next step in recovery. Reach out to us today!

Open post TGH-Recovery-Specialist

Making a Difference as a Recovery Specialist at The GateHouse

We’re hiring Recovery Specialists Right Now!

 

There aren’t many roles at The GateHouse that connect staff members and clients as closely as that of the Recovery Specialist.

“Our Recovery Specialists are truly the front-line support staff for our clients,” said Mike Duffy, Residential Program Supervisor at The GateHouse.

Mike manages his team of Recovery Specialists who, together, make sure that every residential client is heard and cared for properly. This often includes facilitating a life skills group like a budgeting seminar or transporting a client to an appointment like an art therapy class or a doctor’s office. In the evenings, the Recovery Specialist on duty will take clients to their 12-step meetings.

“There’s always a Recovery Specialist in each residence 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Mike said. “Our team is there every day to support clients in whatever they need around the clock.”

Many of the Recovery Specialists at The GateHouse have experienced treatment in recovery first-hand. Others have family members or loved ones who have gone through The GateHouse and benefitted from the care that Recovery Specialists have shown.

No matter their connection to the substance use disorder (SUD) community, the Recovery Specialists at The GateHouse want a rewarding career that gives them the ability to give back and to grow within our organization.

Recovery Specialists support our clients as they make one of the most important transitions of their lives. They guide clients through treatment and provide whatever they need to lead a healthy life in recovery.

Our Recovery Specialists Have the Opportunity to Take on Larger Roles Over Time

For those looking to get their foot in the door of the SUD field, becoming a Recovery Specialist is a smart place to start.

“Working as a Recovery Specialist can quickly put you on a path towards a career supporting the SUD community,” Mike said. “Several of our team members and management staff began as recovery specialists and have worked their way up into other roles.”

While working as a Recovery Specialist is an entry-level position, it’s a skilled role that makes a huge impact on The GateHouse’s ability to support people in early recovery. The SUD field offers a certification for Recovery Specialist professionals. But the cost of certification comes with a big price tag.

“A Recovery Specialist Certification costs approximately $1,500; a cost The GateHouse pays in full for our Recovery Specialist team members,” said Mike. “It’s one of the biggest benefits of becoming a Recovery Specialist at The GateHouse.”

Supporting The GateHouse’s Entire Team

For our Recovery Specialists, no two days are ever the same. And working at The GateHouse in any other role is no different. Everyone has to jump in when they’re needed, regardless of who they are within the organization.

“The GateHouse team is a very supportive group,” said Mike. “If there’s ever a need, people always jump in. Especially during COVID in 2020, things were changing quickly, and we all had to wear several hats. When our Recovery Specialists and I needed help, our co-workers always volunteered to lend a hand, and we always did what we had to do to care for our clients. This is a special place to work.”

Join Our Team as a Recovery Specialist at The GateHouse

We’re currently hiring Recovery Specialists at several of our locations. In this position, you’ll oversee clients, coordinate activities, work with staff in client observation, and serve in many other capacities. Recovery Specialists develop positive relationships with clients, set good examples, communicate well with clients and staff, listen, and display a true belief in the philosophy of The GateHouse.

Learn more about becoming a Recovery Specialist and Apply Now.

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 addiction treatment services for long-term recovery with locations throughout Lancaster County, PA.

Open post Develop Healthy, Positive Habits in Recovery

The Power of Daily Routines and Positive Habits in Recovery

Humans, by nature, are creatures of habit.  We crave personal structure and routine.  It is the small choices we make each day that create our path in life.  Just like in recovery, habits and daily routines are a practice. It takes work and dedication for them to become a more natural part of daily life.

Kendrick Westmoreland knows the power of routines in recovery first-hand. Kendrick is the Clinical Director of Outpatient Services at The GateHouse, and he helps clients develop and maintain healthy habits to help sustain long-term recovery.

“I remember early on in recovery; I was sitting in a meeting where no one knew me,” Kendrick said. “At that moment, I realized that I could be whoever I want to be. I had a clean slate. I decided in that meeting that to become the person I wanted to be, I had to act like that person. I had to adopt the qualities of the person I wanted to become. That mindset changed everything for me.”

That mindset, for Kendrick, came down to the discipline of maintaining a healthy routine and holding himself accountable to see it through.

“For me, it started with making my bed every morning,” Kendrick said. “Years later, I still make my bed every morning. It’s a small routine but it’s been an important part of my recovery. It’s proven to me that I can make a change and stick to it.”

Sticking to Healthy Routines in Recovery Gets Easier When You Find the Right Routine for You

Recovery is different for everyone. The Outpatient Services team at The GateHouse helps clients determine the types of routines that will work best for them, then helps them create a plan to make the routine stick.

Here are a few of the practices that Kendrick and his team work through with our outpatient clients.

Choose Routines that Interest You

If you don’t like a routine, you aren’t going to stick with it. Start with your hobbies and interests. Choosing to practice and learn about a personal interest is a great foundation for a new daily routine.

“We each have different needs and interests, which is why there’s no one-size-fits-all routine roadmap,” Kendrick said.  “Take the time to think about your interests and what’s going to motivate you to keep your routines going.”

Focus on Routines that Can Support You Now and Down the Road

In recovery, you’re always evolving.  Look to add in a practice that supports your evolution.  Journaling, learning a new skill, meditation, and reading are a few practices that are relatively easy to implement and can become lifelong hobbies.

Set Realistic Expectations

Our outpatient teams are always reminding our clients that routines, like long-term recovery, are a life-long practice.

There is a theory that if you commit to doing a task every day for 21 days it will become a habit, and if you commit to continuing that practice for 90 days you have created a routine.  Sometimes it can be hard to envision life 90 days from now. Kendrick and his team suggest starting with what is in reach: tomorrow. 

“Get started, then assess as you go,” said Kendrick. “If getting into the new routine went well for the first week but then dropped off, step back and look at whether you’re interested in what you’re doing and whether it’s benefiting your recovery. If it is, then make small adjustments so the routine becomes easier for you.”

Know That There Will Be Setbacks, and That’s Okay

Clients need to know that forming routines in long-term recovery isn’t easy. According to Kendrick, setbacks are a part of the process. The key is to have a plan for how to deal with them and reestablish the routine you started.

“Habits don’t develop overnight just like the disease didn’t,” Kendrick said. “It’s about consistency over time.”

Switching up the time of day could help check new habits off the list. Try adjusting routines into higher energy times rather than waiting until the last minute or pushing for the first thing in the morning.

Ask for accountability from a family member, mentor, or friend. Tell them about the new routine and talk about the plan.

Establishing a Routine is an Important Next Step in Your Recovery Journey

The GateHouse now has a case manager dedicated to our outpatient services clients; one more resource to help you discover and develop positive habits in recovery. To learn more about our outpatient services, call 717-393-3215 to speak with one of the team members.

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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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GateHouse Transitional Living Earns PARR and NARR Recertification

Thank You to Our Transitional Living Team for Their Hard Work in Achieving This Recognition

Our transitional living team works incredibly hard to make sure that every one of our transitional living recovery houses is giving our residents what they need to live a safe and healthy life in recovery.

Thanks to our team, GateHouse Transitional Living has achieved its recertification from The Pennsylvania Alliance of Recovery Residences (PARR) and the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR) – the organizations setting the standards of care for recovery houses across our state and the nation.

Recovery Residences Must Meet a Series of Standards to Be Eligible for Certification

Achieving PARR and NARR certification takes the dedication of an entire team to pull off. There are 38 standards spread across 4 domains that a recovery residence must meet to be eligible for national and state certification. The four domains are:

  • Administrative Operations
  • Physical Environment
  • Recovery Support
  • Good Neighbor

Together, these standards check to see that transitional living facilities are operating with integrity, upholding residents’ rights, providing a home-like environment, facilitating active recovery, and much more.

Our Transitional Living Team Surpassed PARR and NARR Standards to Help Us Achieve Recertification

Leigh Chapman

Receiving recertification for all PARR and NARR standards across all eight transitional living residences at GateHouse Transitional Living is a true achievement and not easily accomplished. It took the hard work of our transitional living team made up of Leigh Chapman, Transitional Living Coordinator; Keith Stoudt, Director of Support Services; and Jim Marshall, Facilities Manager.

This was the first time through the recertification process for Leigh Chapman.

“It takes a lot of work and dedication to ensure our transitional living houses are meeting PARR and NARR standards,” Leigh said. “Doing the work to achieve recertification demonstrates that The GateHouse does whatever it takes to provide quality care to our residents.”

Meeting the standards for certification also required our team’s attention to the smallest details.

“I made my way down a long list of maintenance standards to ensure the facilities were ready for certification. I made sure the windows in each facility had screens, that all appliances were cleaned, that there were no fire hazards or leaks in any of the houses,” Leigh said. “It was a big job.”

Jim Marshall

Jim Marshall regularly maintains each of the transitional living houses at The GateHouse and handled the updates and repairs needed at each house to ensure they met PARR and NARR standards.

When asked about his contribution to the PARR and NARR recertification, Jim said, “It fulfills me to be a part of the experience and success.”

Keith Stoudt played a large role in helping The GateHouse achieve recertification in 2020 and was able to use that experience to help us meet the standards again this year.

“Meeting PARR and NARR standards proves that you’re providing the highest quality transitional living homes to your residents,” Keith said. “These standards hold all transitional living recovery houses accountable for operating with integrity. They require that we uphold a culture of empowerment and respect for our residents’ rights so they can actively engage in the beginning stages of their recovery journey.”

Keith Stoudt

Leigh, Jim, and Keith all agreed that the accreditation process took the entire team working together and that achieving the accreditation was only possible because of their dedication to excellence year-round.

“I appreciate and value the fact that all of us here at The GateHouse work together and hold one another accountable to high standards of work ethic that align with our mission, vision, and values,” Keith said.

“With this being my first accreditation, I relied on the team for support and guidance,” Leigh added. “We came together to get the job done. I couldn’t have done it without them.”

Thank you, Leigh, Jim, and Keith for your hard work in achieving this accreditation and for your dedication to our clients in recovery.

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When you or your loved one is ready to begin life in recovery, our transitional living homes are here to support you on your journey.

The GateHouse offers substance abuse treatment services for long-term addiction recovery with locations throughout Lancaster County, PA. We create a support system for each of our clients to break the cycle of substance abuse and get them on a path towards recovery. Whether they need a transitional living environment, residential treatment services, or outpatient support, it’s here for them.

We’d love to help you with your next step in recovery. Reach out to us today!

 

 

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!

 

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From Losing Hope to Living a Miracle: Marcia’s Story

The day she first stepped through the doors of The GateHouse, Marcia was at the very end of her rope.

“I was homeless, helpless, and had nowhere else to go,” she said.

Today, Marcia is a wife, mother, and a successful floral designer. She loves life and is grateful for every moment. But, back in 1992, her world looked much different.

“I had burned every bridge,” she said. “No one liked me. Including my family.”

Earlier that year, Marcia went through rehab at the Penn Foundation. The staff strongly suggested she go to The GateHouse to begin treatment for her substance use disorder.

“I didn’t want to go at first,” she said. “I wanted to go to a treatment center in Bucks County because I knew I could easily leave and just hitchhike out of there. But suddenly I found myself in Lancaster walking into The GateHouse. It was May 18, 1992. Some dates just stick in your mind because they change your life forever.”

The GateHouse Taught Marcia Accountability and How to Deal with Her Anger

The beginning of Marcia’s treatment wasn’t easy for her. She described herself as resistant, angry, scared, and quiet – like a deer in the headlights just wondering what would happen next.

Before The GateHouse, Marcia’s schedule consisted of nothing but finding her next drink or drug. She said that even food didn’t matter. Eating took time away from drinking.

“I didn’t know how to hold myself accountable,” she said. “I didn’t eat properly, and I had never taken care of myself. Then suddenly I’m having to sign in and out of the house, do chores, and keep a routine. These were things I had never done before.”

Her counselors helped her work through the emotional and psychological trauma she had suffered during the years she spent drinking and while homeless. Marcia worked through a lot of anger and other emotions that she had buried.

“My counselors taught me how to manage my anger,” Marcia said. “When I was angry, they listened. Eventually, I learned how to talk about my life and my situation without getting angry. I learned that I was accountable for my emotions, as well.”

She began eating healthy, managing her emotions, and taking care of herself.

“For the first time in years, I could lay my head on the pillow and actually sleep,” Marcia said.

While in Treatment, Marcia Began to Make Friends with Other Women – Something She Hadn’t Done in Years

“Women had always been my enemies,” she said. “I never trusted them and was never able to make friends. At The GateHouse, I found a way to connect with these women because we were all going through the same thing. We shared a bond. For the first time in a very long time, I wasn’t alone.”

Marcia also rediscovered cooking, something she forgot she enjoyed back before she suffered from substance use disorder.

“When you’re in treatment you have to get a job,” she explained. “I didn’t think anyone would hire me. But I applied for a job at the Giant on Centerville Road in the bakery department because I liked cooking and they hired me. I couldn’t believe it.”

After leaving The GateHouse, Marcia went from working in the bakery part-time to full-time. Giant taught her how to bake and her life started to get back on track.

Life in Recovery Wasn’t Easy, But She Kept Working Hard

Marcia did nothing but go to meetings and go to work after leaving The GateHouse. When she stopped going to meetings, however, she ended up relapsing for a year and a half. But, she said, she made it back alive.

“When I relapsed, I went to jail,” Marcia said. “I remember sitting there and saying to myself, ‘If I can get through The GateHouse and get clean, I can get through this.’”

This time around, she understood accountability and she held herself accountable for changing her life. She used the skills she learned at The GateHouse to work toward recovery.

The Friends She Made at The GateHouse Still Help Her Live Life in Recovery Today

“The women I met at The GateHouse are still my support system,” Marcia said. “We continue to hold each other’s hands and walk towards the light together. Inside we’re all the same. Before treatment, I had always felt like an outsider. At The GateHouse, I found others like me. They pulled me through the bad times.”

Marcia maintained her recovery after that slip. She became active in Living Sober, a group in Lancaster that supports men and women recovering from substance abuse. And she’s an active member of The GateHouse’s Alumni Association. She’s also a sponsor for a younger woman in recovery and has made a life of helping others just like her.

She Made it Out Alive and is Now Living a Life She Loves

After becoming sober, Marcia got married and had a child, something she never thought she’d do.

She then began a career working for Royer’s Flowers. They ended up sending her to floral design school and she found her passion as a florist. She’s worked there doing what she loves for the past 18 years.

“My life is a miracle,” Marcia said. “I tell people, ‘Don’t quit five minutes before the miracle. Dreams do come true.’”

***

The GateHouse offers addiction treatment services for long-term addiction recovery as well as residential recovery solutions with locations throughout Lancaster County, PA. We’d love to help you or a loved one get on the road to recovery. Reach out to us today!

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Understanding The 5 Stages of Addiction Recovery

We tend to think first about the hardship substance use disorder creates for the person suffering from addiction – many times forgetting that their family members and friends are suffering, too.

It’s never easy to watch someone you love battle addiction. But, by understanding the stages of addiction recovery and what your loved one is going through to combat their disease, you can better support them through their journey towards recovery – and better support yourself, as well.

There Are 5 Stages of Addiction Recovery Your Loved One Will Go Through

Every major life change we face follows the path of what experts call “The Five Stages of Change.” Recovery from addiction is a major change and is therefore no different. At each stage of addiction, we move from denial of the addiction to a place of wellbeing and continued recovery.

Understanding the stages of recovery can help family members and loved ones connect with the struggles their parent, child, or friend is facing, and better understand what’s required to overcome a disease as debilitating as addiction.

The 5 Stages of Addiction Recovery:

Stage 1:  Pre-Contemplative

In this first stage of recovery, your loved one likely doesn’t recognize their addiction as an addiction. They don’t believe they have a problem to confront, and they can be very resistant to any conversations that suggest otherwise. Because of this, it’s almost always difficult to have a conversation with the person if they’re in denial or unwilling to recognize the problem.

Most of the time when someone is in the pre-contemplative stage, they’re still suffering from their addiction but haven’t started treatment despite suggestions from family and friends to do so.

In some cases, it may make sense for family and friends to host an intervention to confront the person’s addiction head-on. If they’re open to it, there are opportunities for your loved one to receive an assessment through our Behavioral Health Outpatient Center here at The GateHouse to better understand what’s really going on.

Stage 2: Contemplative

Someone moves from the first stage to the second stage – the contemplative stage – as they begin to identify that they’re suffering from substance use disorder. But, while they’re now aware of the issues surrounding addiction in their life, they’re also having an internal debate about whether they’re willing to change.

During Stage 2, your loved one can struggle to identify which behaviors they need to change to support abstinence. They may not recognize that certain behaviors are undermining their recovery.

This is where The GateHouse enters the process. Most clients who come to The GateHouse have gone through a 90-day treatment program and are in Stage 2.

Our goal in this stage is to raise awareness with our clients about the specific behaviors that fuel their substance abuse and have caused relapses in the past. A person who’s suffering from a substance abuse disorder often makes decisions based on instant gratification. They’ve lost the ability to see the big picture, including the consequences of their actions. In Stage 2, we help them build new insights and objectivity so they can make decisions that better support their long-term goals.

Stage 3: Preparation

This is a pivotal stage in someone’s progression towards lifelong recovery. Stage 3 is the preparation stage. This is when your loved one really starts to gain an awareness of their addiction and identify the specific changes they need to make in order to reach abstinence.

For example, they may recognize the trigger of working at a job around alcohol and determine that they can’t work in a restaurant that serves alcoholic drinks. Or, if they realize that certain family members or friends trigger their substance use, they may think through the boundaries they need to set with those people in their life.

At The GateHouse, our counselors take the lead with clients in the preparation stage. They help clients gain an awareness of their triggers and create a plan for how to change their behavior, so those triggers are no longer in the way of their recovery. They also prepare them with the skills to manage the stress they feel as they move through this stage of change.

Stage 4: Action

Now, it’s about the follow-through. In Stage 4, the action phase, your loved one is ready to take action on the plan they’ve created to move towards lifelong recovery. At this stage, they’re typically employed, abstinent, and just starting to put their plan into action.

Our goal at The GateHouse is to help our clients reach Stage 4 by the time that they’re leaving one of our treatment centers and possibly moving into a recovery house.

However, there are also times when our clients move on while still in the preparation stage. And that’s just fine. Each of our programs is customized to a particular client – there’s no right or wrong treatment plan; just the plan that’s right for that individual.

Stage 5: Maintenance

After taking action, maintaining sobriety and the journey through lifelong recovery is the final stage. It’s here that we encourage our clients to take part in our outpatient services and stay involved with a community of men and women who understand the journey they’re on and can provide support along the way. Again, every client has different needs which is why we have multiple outpatient services, including intensive outpatient treatment, general outpatient treatment, and partial hospitalization treatment.

The need for support and community doesn’t end once the maintenance stage is reached. For many men and women recovering from substance abuse, it may be more important than ever.

One way we’re supporting our clients as they maintain their recovery is through The GateHouse Alumni & Friends Association. Here, people can keep the community connections they created in treatment that became so vital to the start of their recovery journey.

Your Loved One May Flow Back and Forth Between These Stages as They Head Towards Recovery

Despite the way we think about The 5 Stages of Recovery, these stages aren’t necessarily linear. Recovery is a lifelong process that takes work and determination. Your loved one may begin to prepare to make changes, but some days shift back into the contemplative stage as they consider the huge changes that recovery will bring to their life.

That’s okay. And it’s what our team at The GateHouse is here for. We work to help each of our clients navigate their own, personal road to lifelong recovery, no matter how long and windy it may be.

We create a support system for each of our clients to break the cycle of substance abuse and get them on a path towards recovery. We make sure that appropriate interventions are made at any level of care based on the client’s stage of change.  Whether they need our Residential Extended Care program, a transitional living environment, or outpatient support, we are here for them.

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 to work towards long-term recovery, 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!

 

 

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