Category: Recovery

Open post Family Support Programs

Helping Families Support Their Loved Ones Through Long-Term Addiction Recovery

 

“We see a family’s eyes open when they realize what their loved one is going through and that they can have an impact in their recovery.”

– Verlina Velazquez-Millings

 

Family Support Programs Director Verlina Velazquez-Millings
Verlina Velazquez-Millings

Verlina Velazquez-Millings, Director of Programs at The GateHouse, has been in the long-term addiction recovery field for the last 20 years. She’s spent three of those years with The GateHouse, overseeing our residential program and facilitating family education within our Family Support Program.

We sat down with Verlina to get an understanding of why family support is so important to the long-term recovery of our clients.

TGH: Can you start by telling us why support for clients’ families is a central piece of The GateHouse’s recovery program?

VVM: Absolutely. Many clients have other family members at home, and they often rely on those family members for support. So, we need to bring the family into the treatment setting and teach them how to contribute to their loved one’s overall long-term recovery.

Families who get involved come into the process from various perspectives. Sometimes we find that a father or mother with a child suffering from substance abuse has very little understanding of addiction or how it feels to be an addict. We have other families who enable the behaviors that fuel a client’s addiction.

Addiction is a disease that doesn’t happen in a vacuum. People suffering from addiction are impacted by their home environment. When our clients make enough progress that they can return to life and their community, that same (potentially harmful) home dynamic is waiting for them if we don’t also work with the family to improve that environment.

When we educate the family about addiction and give them the tools to best support their loved one, long-term recovery is much more likely.

TGH: What types of tools are you providing to families? What does Family Support look like for families who go through the program?

VVM: Our Family Support Program has two components: Family Education and Family Sessions.

Family Education helps families better understand addiction, what their loved one is experiencing on a physical, emotional, and mental level, and the role they play in long-term recovery.

The education portion of the program is broken down into three modules that we teach over the course of our client’s treatment. The three modules are:

  • Module #1: Family Roles & How Families Impact Addiction
  • Module #2: Co-dependency & Self-care
  • Module #3: Families and Recovery from Addiction

The Family Education portion of our support program is a service we only offer when our clients are in treatment in one of our Residential Extended Care residences, not those in any of our outpatient treatment centers. Family Education is meant for those clients just starting treatment and who need the highest level of support we offer.

A big incentive for our families to participate in Family Education is that the completion of all three modules is required before we give our clients in treatment a family pass. A family pass is a day pass allowing the client to leave the Residential Extended Care residence to visit with family members. To earn their pass, the client has to be in good standing and up-to-date on their treatment work.

The other component of the Family Support Program is a series of Family Sessions. Unlike the education modules, family sessions are client-facing counseling sessions where we bring our client and their family together once a month.

Each family session is client-centric, meaning the discussion is framed around the needs of the client at that time. And, sessions only take place if and when the client is ready. The goal is to get the client and the family talking through issues they have, which many times are the issues hindering the client’s recovery.

TGH: What are some examples of the discussions that take place in a family session? And what are some common issues clients and families work through?

 VVM: Addiction is a challenging topic for families to discuss, so a lot of what we do centers around the encouragement of constructive communication and understanding.

Each family session is led by one of our counselors. Counselors know each client’s history and whether any childhood trauma or family issues exist, or if there’s a family history of substance abuse. So, before the initial session, our counselors understand the family’s needs. This lets them suggest topics to address.

As an example, we’ve worked with clients who’ve experienced issues with their mother and worked through underlying anger about the mother’s history of substance abuse. We may also conduct a session that allows our client to share his or her feelings about their addiction with family members for the first time.

The topics and lengths of the discussions depend on what the client needs. But they all aim to provide a safe opportunity for clients and families to find understanding. These sessions are often the first time clients have addressed these bigger issues with their family members.

Ultimately, we’re supporting everyone involved as they grow and rebuild their family relationships.

TGH: Is this level of family support unique to The GateHouse?

VVM: While other treatment centers offer some level of family support, at The GateHouse, we’re providing a higher level of care by offering treatment as well as programs that create structure and stability for each client. Our Family Support Program is one very important piece of the full approach we take to empower our clients and teach them how to be successful in early recovery.

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The GateHouse offers its Family Support Program to families supporting our clients through long-term addiction recovery.

Verlina and our entire team would love to share more about how The GateHouse can help you find the addiction treatment your family member needs and support them in their next step in recovery. Reach out to us today!

Open post Centralized Intake to Speed the Recovery Process

Centralized Intake to Speed the Recovery Process

A Centralized Intake Process Lets Us Provide Faster Addiction Recovery Support to Our Clients in Need

 

Every client we work with has a unique set of needs that requires a personalized recovery plan. For many, this means continued support beyond one of our treatment centers where they can create a foundation for long-term recovery. Our safe, caring transitional recovery housing program is set up to do just that.

One of the biggest indicators of successful life-long addiction recovery is how quickly a client begins receiving the support they need to transition back to daily life. The longer it takes for a client to go through the application process, be approved, and then be assigned to a home, the harder it is for that client to transition. And, not coincidentally, the greater their chance of a relapse.

For all of these reasons, The GateHouse recently moved to a centralized intake model. Streamlining our intake process will let us get clients in the door of their transitional recovery homes faster so they can quickly get the support they need.

Cyndi Reinhold is the Centralized Intake Coordinator at The GateHouse. We spoke with her to learn more about the importance of a centralized intake approach and how she’s helping clients quickly get the care they need to successfully transition back to their lives. Here’s what Cyndi had to say.

TGH: First, tell us what transitional recovery housing is at The GateHouse and where in the addiction recovery process someone lives in transitional housing?

CR: Transitional recovery housing at The GateHouse, which we call GateHouse Transitional Living, is one piece of the larger program we’ve created to help people transition back into daily life and do so successfully. After a client’s addiction treatment program is complete, most need additional support to make the transition back to their lives. At this stage, a client can apply to move into a transitional recovery house.

Transitional housing can mean a lot of things in terms of the type of support a client receives. Most go through our 12-step program which includes things like attending group meetings and events with other residents, getting a sponsor, as well as getting the ongoing treatment support they need.

Our goal with transitional recovery housing is to determine what each client needs to transition back and give them the skills and support to do so successfully.

TGH: How does the shift to centralized intake make it easier for a client to get into a transitional recovery house and get the support they need?

CR: The faster we can get a client in our transitional housing program, the better it is for their health and long-term recovery. By moving to a centralized intake model, we’re minimizing the steps they need to take to apply and get into the program.

Each transitional residence has a coordinator. These are clients who have done particularly well in the program and serve as a bridge between The GateHouse and other residents. Previously, the intake process would involve each GTL coordinator. It took a fair amount of time for me and each individual coordinator to meet and determine the best house for each client.

Now, with our centralized approach, I’m able to put each new client in the home that’s best for their particular needs. This frees up the coordinator to focus solely on the house and the clients they’re working alongside. So, not only are clients getting into the transitional house they need faster, they’re getting more attention and support from the coordinator while they’re there.

Another example is our application process. Applicants used to have to come to our administrative building in downtown Lancaster and physically fill out the application. We’re now moving to an online application which is much easier and takes much less time. This should greatly reduce the time it takes us to get a client into transitional recovery housing and get them the support they need.

TGH: How is transitional living at The GateHouse different from other programs?

CR: Someone working to overcome addiction usually lives in a traditional halfway house for about three months. These residences tend to provide a place for someone to live as they transition back to their life, but don’t always focus on community building or other emotional and social aspects of recovery.

At The GateHouse, our residents typically stay with us for longer than three months – most live with us from six months to a year. There’s no shortage of evidence showing the benefits of support for long-term recovery. We want our clients to stay with us until they’re ready to move on, and a longer stay gives them more time to transition at their own pace.

We also recognize, though, that there’s a much greater likelihood of a client successfully living in recovery on their own if they make the transition within 12 months. We don’t push them out before they’re ready, but we also set them up to be ready to transition within their first year.

TGH: Why is community building an important aspect of The GateHouse’s transitional recovery housing program?

CR: We put a large emphasis on community-building at The GateHouse – throughout all of our programs and treatment facilities, not only within our transitional recovery houses.

The support system residents build together is extremely empowering as they work toward beginning a new chapter in their lives. We believe that our clients are more successful when they have a strong community of peers behind them helping them down the path to long-term recovery.

The GateHouse offers transitional recovery housing services through GateHouse Transitional Living for long-term addiction recovery with locations throughout Lancaster County, PA. Cyndi and our entire team would love to help you with your next step in recovery. Reach out to us today!

Open post Case Managers

Case Managers Play a Special Role in Client Recovery and Reintegration

When a client arrives at The GateHouse and enters our residential treatment center, they instantly become a part of a community of advocates who want nothing more than to see them succeed. Our clients receive an incredible amount of support from our staff members and specialists, as well as other residents. And, while everyone contributes to each other’s success, our GateHouse case managers have a special role to play in the wellbeing of our clients.

Case Managers Guide Our Clients Step-by-Step Towards Recovery and Reintegration

Case managers are essential to the recovery process and reintegration of each of our clients. They serve as the liaison between our clients and all the types of support or service they may need. Determining what that level of support looks like is step one.

Quickly after a new client arrives at one of our residential treatment centers, we complete an assessment. From this, the case manager gets a clear picture of what challenges the client faces and the types of services they may benefit from the most.

Then, our case managers work alongside each client as they create their own series of goals for their treatment, recovery and reintegration back into the broader community. Once those goals are set, case managers pull in the right resources and the right support to set their clients up for success.

Case Managers Do Whatever It Takes to Provide Clients with the Support They Need

The types of support our case managers give to our clients take many forms. They truly do whatever it takes for the client to be successful. While it’s by no means a comprehensive list, here’s just a surface-level look at the areas in which our case managers help each client.

Case managers help their clients secure:

  • Employment
  • Housing
  • Psychiatric Treatment
  • Legal Counsel
  • Childcare
  • Spiritual Guidance
  • Financial Support

This level of involvement in a client’s recovery means that no two days are the same. Case managers may go with a client to find an apartment or to a doctor’s appointment. They may teach a life skills class on any number of topics like budgeting or parenting and then spend the rest of that day on the phone connecting clients to other recovery support services.

At any moment, our case managers may need to switch from working directly with a client on their goals to working with an entire family that’s supporting a loved one through treatment.

Other times, case managers have to stop everything and quickly turn to a client in crisis. They need to have incredible de-escalation skills, listening skills and be professional jugglers of multiple clients with varying needs every day.

Their job has no description – they do whatever needs to be done.

Every Client Has Unique Needs, but Employment Almost Always Tops the List

For most clients, finding employment and maintaining a job are two of the biggest goals in their recovery plan. And, two of the most intimidating. Getting and keeping a stable job is a major goal, and a case manager goes to work to provide access to life skills programs and services that can make that goal more achievable.

For employment support, the case manager brings in an employment specialist. Together they help teach the client how to write a resume and how to dress for an interview. They’ll also conduct mock interviews to help with preparation. In many cases, the client is entering the workforce for the first time and these basic interview skills are their first exposure to the hiring process.

Case managers see clients suffer through immense stress as they prepare for employment while still working through their recovery process. This is where a case manager’s ability to listen and serve as a sounding board becomes incredibly valuable in the recovery process.

Once the client does secure employment, the case manager shifts their effort to accountability, making sure the client is reporting to work on time and maintaining the job they worked so hard to find.

Case Managers Hold a Special Place in the Recovery Process

More than most roles that make up The GateHouse’s recovery treatment team, case managers must have a unique skill set. They need to be experts at making connections and finding the best possible resources and services for each client. What most people don’t realize, however, is that case managers must also be compassionate caretakers, attentive listeners, and advocates. Case managers end up going above and beyond the logistics, taking care of a client’s emotional needs and working hard to create an environment where they can be the most successful.

This “do-it-all” ability to completely dedicate themselves to the wellbeing of our clients is why our case managers hold such a special place in the recovery process.

Accountability and Support Through Aftercare

The work that’s done at The GateHouse is just as much about recovery from substance abuse disorder as it is about teaching the life skills necessary for our clients to care for themselves and live a happy, meaningful, and healthy life. The GateHouse’s case managers are critical to the success of each client, not only during their stay but long after they’ve integrated back into their community.

Recovery is a continuous journey, not a destination. Case managers continue to work with clients for several months after they leave our residential treatment care program, and well afterward if the clients choose. The work that our case managers do is never truly done – they, like our entire team, remain advocates for all of the clients who have ever stepped foot inside our center and who are forever a part of our GateHouse community.

The GateHouse also offers transitional recovery programs for men and women at separate locations, as well as the residential treatment centers and outpatient treatment services for substance use disorder. Our helpful case managers and our entire team would love to help you with the next step in your recovery. Reach out to us today!

Open post Employment Specialist James Ivery

Helping Clients Establish Careers for Long-Term Recovery

Long-term recovery from substance use disorder is deeply intertwined with sustained employment.

Substance use disorder is a disease that slowly erodes a person’s ability to go to work every day, hold a job, and become financially independent. Substance abuse ultimately creates a domino effect of negative consequences that can consume a person’s life, and recovery takes much more than simply removing the substance.

When our clients enter one of our treatment facilities, they undergo an assessment with a case manager and create a series of goals to achieve during treatment. Finding employment is a top goal on nearly every list. Just as much as treatment for their substance use disorder, our clients need us to teach them the skills necessary to find stable employment so they can rebuild their lives.

That’s where James comes in.

Meet James, Our New Employment Specialist

 

Employment Specialist James Ivery
James Ivery

James Ivery is the newest addition to The GateHouse serving in our newly formed role of Employment Specialist. He spent the past five years working with other recovery programs in Central Pennsylvania in a number of roles. Not only does he bring a great deal of experience to The GateHouse, but he also brings empathy and understanding to the clients he supports.

“I came out to this area in 2013 from western Pennsylvania with nothing but a trash bag with some clothes in it and without a dollar to my name,” James said. “I’ve experienced what it’s like to be unemployed, to be at the bottom. I found an addiction recovery treatment center in York, and they helped me find a job. It literally saved my life.”

He was most recently employed as the lead coordinator of medication-assisted recovery services for a Central Pennsylvania treatment center. He’s created connections throughout the addiction services community, partnered with businesses and other organizations dedicated to addiction recovery support, and helped countless people live healthy, productive, purposeful lives free of addiction.

Employment Provides a Sense of Purpose, a Key Element of Long-Term Recovery

When a client’s goal after treatment is to enter the workforce, James goes in and surrounds them with support. Sometimes they need writing skills, computer skills, or to develop a strong work ethic. Whatever skills or support they need to land a job and maintain employment, he finds it for them.

At The GateHouse, our employment support is client-driven. James isn’t finding them just any job. He’s working with each client to understand what it is they want to do so they can go out and build a career. This leads some clients to enter the job market immediately following treatment, while others get training through a trade school to prepare for the career they want.

James is Creating Connections Between Clients and Employers Where Everyone Benefits

Our employment services are focused on creating stronger connections between our clients and employers across our community. Our clients need employers who believe in second chances. They also need flexible employers willing to schedule work around their treatment schedule.

“We have some great partnerships with employers right now who are working with us to help our clients find a career path,” James said. “What we also see is how much employers benefit from this program. Our clients want to work and they want to succeed. These businesses are hiring dedicated, reliable employees which is good for everyone.”

The Road to Life-Long Recovery

During his time in treatment, James saw a lot of people get discouraged when they couldn’t find employment. The fear of leaving treatment without a job or any way to support yourself afterward can be terrifying for clients; a feeling he’s experienced firsthand.

“After going through treatment, having a job is what gave me a sense of purpose. It lifted a weight off my shoulders,” he said. “I had been homeless for a long time. Getting a job boosted my confidence which boosted my recovery.”

Employment is directly linked to long-term recovery, which is why our employment service is so important for our clients during and after treatment. By helping our clients reenter the workforce and sustain employment with our new employment specialist, we’re teaching them how to take back control of their lives.

“Learning to live life without drugs, positively cope, to go work every day, be committed, take responsibility – this is what we’re here to help our clients achieve,” James said.

The GateHouse also offers gender-specific transitional recovery facilities at separate locations, as well as gender-specific residential community-based treatment services. This is in addition to our general and intensive outpatient treatment services and Partial Hospitalization program that includes a housing component if needed Our amazing team would love to help you with the next step in your recovery. Reach out to us today!

Open post life in quarantine

GateHouse Transitional Living: Life in Quarantine

It would be nearly impossible to get through the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic without the help of others. Those fighting through the early stages of recovery need that support more than ever.

Residents at The GateHouse know this firsthand. While leaning on each other has always been part of the program, it’s been a godsend for seven women participating in the Marietta Transitional Recovery program during the quarantine.

For women in the final phases of onsite recovery treatment at GateHouse Transitional Living (GTL), the transition program is the last step before they return to their families and homes or start a new life. It provides positive influence, structure, and access to resources, such as 12-step meetings, clinical support, and life-skills coaching from professional team members.

 

The Typical Transitional Living Routine

 

Typically, the program houses women in addiction recovery for up to one year.

During that time, they make meals and share in household chores. They attend weekly outpatient group therapy and bi-weekly individual meetings with counselors. Sunday evenings the women gather together for house meetings.

They often see one another in passing as they go about their daily lives at The GateHouse. In preparing to transition to independent living, the women enjoy several overnight visits a month with family and friends. They work, run errands, go to doctor’s appointments.

 

Life in Quarantine: A New Wrinkle in Recovery

 

Under quarantine, life for everyone at The GateHouse has changed.

Several women with essential jobs continue to work while the others have been laid off until the quarantine is lifted.

Like many facilities that have remained operational during the pandemic, The GateHouse implemented extra safety precautions. But along with temperature checks and face masks, the women struggle to deal with one of the most difficult aspects of addiction recovery—seclusion.

“The quarantine adds a whole new level of isolation,” said Shanon, the women’s house manager and fellow recovery resident. “We all have to sit with our thoughts and feelings and confront our realities.”

The quarantine could have been an easy excuse to give up or return to old habits.

Yet, Shanon said the women she’s with are emerging stronger than ever.

 

The Separation Struggle

 

Initially, the pandemic created anger and fear, she said. The residents couldn’t leave for overnight visits with their kids or meet up with friends.

“There was a lot of depression,” Shanon, a mother of three, said. “Going through treatment is physically and emotionally isolating. Having to deal with your feelings is hard enough without being quarantined.”

As time went on, Shanon said the women came to grips with their emotions.

“We realized that once we’ve gotten this far in recovery, we can get through anything,” she said.

The women heavily rely on one another, she added.

“We’ve been there for each other,” she said. “An ear to listen, a hand to hold. Overcoming addiction is all about the support you receive.”

 

One Day at a Time

 

“Not every day is perfect,” Shanon said. “If you can get through those hard days without using, it makes you stronger.”

The quarantine has also given the women a new perspective.

“We’re really grateful for our jobs now, whereas before it was easy to complain,” Shanon said. “When this is over, we all want to make a conscious effort to appreciate things more.”

The women can reach out to family, friends, and their sponsors, but they aren’t able to visit them during the quarantine. They have the option to meet in person for group sessions, but most have opted to attend via Zoom until the quarantine has lifted.

Sometimes, the best people to lean on are others going through recovery because friends and family may be in active addiction or simply don’t get it.

“People who don’t have an addiction don’t understand the physical and mental part of it,” Shanon said. “They think you can just get over it.”

But anyone who’s ever suffered from addiction knows it is way more complicated than that.

“It takes time to get back everything you destroyed—relationships with your children and family, losing homes and jobs,” Shanon said.

Oftentimes, patients must make the difficult decision to cut ties with family or friends because they can’t support them in their recovery.

“It’s hard cutting people off, especially when it’s a family member,” Shanon said. “You have to grieve the loss of that person in your life.”

That’s where the recovery community comes in.

 

Finding Connection and Building New Bonds

 

“It’s very important to have support,” Shanon said. “You need people to talk to who understand what you’re going through and what you have to deal with just to stay clean every day.”

“The quarantine has brought us closer together,” she said. “Having someone to vent to when you’re having a bad day is so important.”

As much as they’ve come to rely on each other, the women do look forward to the quarantine being lifted so they can reunite with loved ones and get back to work. They’re extremely grateful for the support they’ve been able to give and receive while they’ve dealt with two incredibly difficult situations at once—recovery and quarantine, but this was certainly an experience these women will always remember.

The  GateHouse also offers a transitional recovery program for men at a separate location, as well as inpatient and outpatient treatment services for addiction. We would love to help you with the next step in your recovery. Reach out to us today!

Note: The GateHouse transitional housing residents, whose work schedule ranges from part-time to 50 hours per week, pay for their own food and rent. Insurance typically covers the rest.

Open post covid-19

The New Normal at The GateHouse

WELCOMING THE NEXT PHASE

Although Lancaster County is not currently part of Pennsylvania’s phased reopening plan, today’s news from Governor Tom Wolf and Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine brings with it some cause for optimism.

The state is moving in a positive direction and we hope that sometime within the next four weeks, Lancaster County and surrounding areas will begin to open back up on a limited basis. Like you, we here at The GateHouse are ready to emerge from the Commonwealth’s shelter-in-place mandate and get back to some semblance of normalcy!

What that “new normal” looks like, however, remains to be seen. One thing’s for certain, though–the COVID-19 quarantine has permanently changed how some things will operate at The GateHouse.

One question that is on many minds right now is whether we’ve had any outbreaks or positive tests for coronavirus at any of our facilities. We have not. While we’re very happy to make this announcement, we are still proceeding with tremendous caution.

We continue to follow the guidelines issued by The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) for keeping our headquarters, our Behavioral Health Facility, and our Residential Treatment centers and Transitional Recovery Housing locations clean and safe. We will continue to follow the Governor’s and the CDC’s guidelines for reopening, as well.

In March, we implemented several changes to our operations at all of our facilities. These included:

  • TEMPERATURE CHECKS: All clients and staff have been required to submit to temperature checks at every location twice a day to ensure any elevations are addressed as quickly as possible.
  • NO-TOUCH POLICIES: We implemented a no-touch policy at all of our locations, as well as our Behavioral Health Programs. Typically, when we close meetings, there are usually hugs, handshakes, and hand-holding during the closing prayer. We asked our clients and attendees to refrain from these behaviors indefinitely.
  • REMOTE 12-STEP MEETINGS: Residents at our Residential Treatment and Transitional Recovery Housing locations were no longer permitted to leave to attend 12-step meetings. Instead, we encouraged them to participate in virtual 12-step meetings.
  • TELE-HEALTH: We implemented Outpatient Tele-Health services from our Behavioral Health Facility on Cherry Street in Lancaster using the Zoom video conferencing program.

We believe that our swift actions in implementing these changes may have saved our residents from contracting the virus and potentially infecting other clients at our facilities.

In the middle of everything and with the help of our dedicated and driven staff, we were able to not only open a brand new recovery facility for men at our Mountville location, but we also were successful in implementing a new Electronic Medical Records program.

Overall, the morale of both our residents and staff has been remarkably positive. At the beginning of the quarantine, things were difficult as everyone adjusted to the new restrictions. Over the past month, however, we’ve discovered that our residents and staff adapted quite well. This was true at all of our facilities from Residential Treatment to the Recovery Houses.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine, we have learned a lot about what recovery looks like in this new environment. Even after the stay-at-home orders are fully lifted, we anticipate leaving some of these changes in place and we will likely make further adjustments to our day-to-day operations based on what we’ve experienced and what we’ve learned about our recovery community. These may not be dramatic changes, but we believe they’ll be impactful.

For example, prior to the quarantine, we didn’t allow residents to work third shift. Since the shelter-in-place mandate went into effect, however, this was something we had to accommodate to ensure our residents could continue to work and pay their bills.

We also will continue staggering shifts for our staff to ensure social distancing remains in place. The good news, however, is that we anticipate reopening our Family Support program sometime in the near future. We’re currently exploring how this can be done in a responsible way.

While we have no timelines in place for any of our reopening measures, our clinical, administrative, and on-site teams plan to meet regularly to analyze the guidelines form the CDC and the Wolf Administration as we look toward the phased reopening of the state starting this month.

Thanks to everyone for your amazing support!

Open post how to maintain your recovery during the COVID-19 quarantine

Maintaining Your Recovery During the COVID-19 Quarantine

 

 
Working from home during the COVID-19 quarantine is no easy feat, especially while juggling kids, worrying about aging parents, or dealing with a spouse. And doing it all while maintaining your recovery is even tougher.

The good news is that it can be done! With virtual meetings, telemedicine, and FaceTime, you can connect with others in your journey to stay clean. Combine these technologies with meaningful, engaging activities to keep busy. Read on for useful tips to maintain your recovery during the COVID-19 quarantine!

#AloneTogether

This viral hashtag binds us all together—social distancing while remaining together in spirit. As you remain committed to your recovery, you need others to lean on. While you may be alone physically, in spirit you are one of many fighting the battle to maintain your recovery! That challenge is difficult on a good day, but we are living in an unprecedented time when stress and fear have become part of daily life.

Options for 12-Step Meetings

Now more than ever, the technology that connects us is important. While close human contact is invaluable, we’re all learning to rely on other means to socialize, work, and interact. People everywhere who are fighting addiction need 12-step meetings to maintain their recovery. While it’s not ideal, virtual meetings are replacing in-person groups while we social distance.

Online meetings and online forums will connect you with others in the recovery process and dedicated professionals. If you don’t have access to technology or you aren’t comfortable with programs like Zoom, consider options like phone support and email. Check out these resources from The National Institutes of Health (NIH) to help people in recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Time is Your Friend

Time is something we all have in abundance right now. Use it to your advantage. Instead of a weekly 12-step meeting, you may want to attend one or two virtual meetings a day. Mix it up! Try a weekly online group, then connect daily with a sponsor via Skype or email. Figure out what works for you. On a rough day, take advantage of the time you have to reach out to as many people as you need to, as often as you want, to do whatever it takes to stay on the recovery path!

Teletherapy

Having your mental health needs met is critical while you’re in recovery. Many therapists and mental health professionals are offering teletherapy appointments and have more availability. It’s easier than ever to book an appointment when you don’t have to worry about leaving work or hiring a babysitter. Choose a time when your kids are studying or set them up with snacks and a movie. Worst case? You may be interrupted, but we’re all learning that comes with the territory!

Structure Your Day

While you’re working from home, the days can run together. You don’t need to be a schedule stickler, but at least come up with a general plan for your day. Build in breaks for meals. Choose a time for your workday to end. Make weekends stand out with something extra special like a favorite meal or family movie!

A Room of One’s Own

What’s really important while you’re hunkered down 24/7 with family or friends? Alone time. It’s more vital than ever. Pick a time of the day to be in your own space. Create a schedule to reserve a room for yourself or assign daily alone time for the entire household.

House Rules

The best-case scenario is that everyone in your house refrains from using substances in your presence.

If you live with family who insist on casual drinking, ask that they keep alcohol out of the house. If your spouse partakes in a virtual happy hour, have them choose a space out of sight, such as a patio.

You may find yourself, out of necessity during the pandemic, living with people who still use. That’s a tough spot to be in. Negotiate with them if you can, but have a back-up plan in case you need to leave. Check with local shelters or religious groups such as churches and synagogues, and contact friends or extended family for a place to stay. If you feel that your recovery is at risk, reach out for help!

**Safety Reminder** As always, if you fear for your safety or you are being physically abused, call 911 immediately!

Discover a New Passion

Like we said, staying at home gives you time. A ton of it. Check out positive social media to see how people are keeping engaged and active during the COVID-19 quarantine. Most people recovering from addiction seek other outlets and new activities. Now’s the ideal time to find your jam! Consider these ideas:

  • Learn a new language. Duolingo or Babbel will have you saying bon jour or guten tag in no time! Check out these online language options.
  • Channel your inner Julia Child. Grab your device, type in a few ingredients you have on hand and voila, recipes galore appear! YouTube tutorials, cooking channels, and foodie sites are all great ways to help you cook that gourmet vegan meal or decadent dessert you’ve been meaning to try.
  • Game changers. Uno, Monopoly, charades, Boggle…pick your favorite or try a new game! Take a look at these online options to play with friends and family.
  • Get puzzled! Jigsaw puzzles are trending right now! Get the fam together around the table in the evenings. Throw in some snacks and you’ve got instant entertainment.
  • Help others. While you are struggling, so are others. There’s no better feeling than helping someone else. Deliver groceries to an elderly neighbor. Donate blood. Buy a gift card from your favorite restaurant. Make a sign to thank delivery workers. Check out these inspiring ways people are helping others during the COVID-19 crisis. It doesn’t have to be big. A thoughtful gesture can mean the world to a person in need!

Move It!

Whether you take a stroll around your neighborhood or find a workout online, keep moving! It’s easy to get sucked into becoming a couch potato, but remember that exercise is proven to boost success when recovering from addiction. Put on your sneakers and get those endorphins activated!

The COVID-19 quarantine will pass. People will begin to come together again. Social distancing is not a forever situation. Remember that. Be kind to yourself, get connected, and stay safe! We at The GateHouse are here to help you. Reach out to us today!

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What is a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) for Substance Use Disorder

 

 

What is a Partial Hospitalization Program?

Partial Hospitalization Program, or PHP, is a short-term, comprehensive program of intensive outpatient therapy. At The GateHouse, Individuals attend group sessions four days a week for five hours per day. Patients also meet with their Primary Counselor twice a week as part of their individualized therapy.

Is PHP an evidence-based program?

The curriculum used at The GateHouse for PHP is evidence-based, which means the methods have been rigorously proven effective in the treatment of alcohol and substance use disorders.

What are the benefits of PHP versus solely attending a support group?

PHP provides individualized and specialized group therapies facilitated by professionals and specialists who teach proven strategies for managing specific problems such as trauma, gender-specific issues, and co-occurring disorders.

What classes are provided during PHP?

In addition to meditation, The GateHouse offers a life-skills group, which focuses on:

  • money management
  • budgeting
  • resume writing
  • job search assistance and resources
  • banking
  • other types of access to community resources

Psycho-education classes provide education on issues specific to those struggling with substance use disorders, including trauma, co-occurring disorders, cognitive distortions, and other issues. This includes a discussion with every person in the group to identify how they relate to each topic or how it occurs in their own lives.

What is a typical day of PHP at The GateHouse?

A typical schedule looks like this:

8:30 a.m. – Check-in

9-9:45 a.m. – Meditation and morning meeting –

10 a.m.-12 p.m. – Psycho-education Group

12-12:30 p.m. – Lunch

12:30-1:30 p.m. – Processing Group or Life-Skills Group

1:30-2 p.m. – Closing Group

Fridays include weekly progress updates and weekend prep work to keep clients actively engaged in their treatment program.

How long does PHP typically last?

PHP is a short-term, intensive service. The GateHouse facilitates person-centered therapy, which is guided by the client’s preferences. Most individuals may expect a period of four to six weeks of PHP.

How many people attend the program?

Groups consist of 10 to 12 individuals so that everyone receives the individual attention they need and deserve.

What health care providers or staff are involved in PHP?

The GateHouse has an extensive staff to support the needs of clients, including our Medical Director, Clinical Director, Psychiatrist, Case Managers, Peer Support, Clinicians, and Community Resource Providers as well as members of the recovery community.

Does The GateHouse provide housing for PHP clients?

GateHouse offers housing for those who need it at no additional cost.

What is the philosophy of The GateHouse in treating addiction?

The GateHouse strives to create a community where everyone struggling with addiction is able to pursue and ultimately restore their human spirit.

The GateHouse staff members truly embody the values of our agency.  We walk beside our clients and cultivate a culture that encourages opportunities for growth while supporting them in their journey to overcome addiction. Ultimately, our vision is for our clients to maintain a lifelong lifestyle of recovery.

Why should I entrust my loved one or myself to Gatehouse?

The GateHouse has been providing accredited, community-based recovery care since 1972. Our services are gender-neutral.

Click here to learn more about what makes The GateHouse stand out from other rehabilitation centers as well as our treatment outcomes.

What is the next step for those recovering from addiction after PHP?

One can reasonably expect to be stepped down to a lower level of care, such as Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) or other outpatient services. The GateHouse offers IOP and general outpatient treatment. Maintaining support is crucial in sustaining recovery.

Does insurance cover PHP?

The GateHouse works with medical assistance and county assistance as well as some commercial insurance companies to cover PHP.

If you or a loved one are looking for a trusted and effective partial hospitalization program to overcome substance use disorder, our caring staff members at The GateHouse welcome an opportunity to speak with you! Please contact us today by phone or email. All information is 100% confidential.

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Coronavirus Update

To Our Valued Clients, Employees, and Friends

First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers go out to those who have already been directly affected by the Coronavirus and COVID-19. Our hearts also go out to the many people in Lancaster County and beyond who are in the throes of fear and apprehension, especially when it comes to children, older adults, and other vulnerable members of our community.

Please know that the team at The GateHouse has spent considerable time developing and implementing safeguards and guidelines for keeping our clients, residents, and employees safe.

We are closely following the guidelines issued by The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) for keeping our headquarters, our Behavioral Health Facility, and our Residential Treatment centers and Transitional Recovery Housing locations clean and safe. The welfare of our residents, their families, and our employees and their families is our main concern as we navigate this unprecedented crisis.

At least for now, the risk is low for a majority of people in Lancaster County, but we have taken the following steps, so we can continue serving those in recovery while protecting the health of everyone in our care and community.

coronavirus update

We began doing deep cleans for all of our locations over the weekend. We hired cleaners to come into all of our locations and do a deep clean and sanitization, starting with our Behavioral Health Facility on Cherry Street, then proceeded to our Residential Treatment residences in the City of Lancaster.

This week, we will continue deep cleans of our Lititz and Marietta Locations, as well as all other facilities owned and operated by The GateHouse.

All of our Residential Treatment and Transitional Living locations are on lock-down, meaning no one is permitted to leave unless it is for essential services, work, or doctor’s appointments.

We have also temporarily suspended all visitation to our residences, as well.

coronavirus update

All members of The GateHouse team—both onsite and offsite–have been instructed to adhere to CDC best practices and obey the agency’s guidelines and instructions, which include social distancing, the utilization of hand sanitizing stations we’ve set up, and self-quarantining measures.

Out of an abundance of caution, we’ve also changed our staffing patterns so that shifts are staggered and we have less staff on-site during the day.  We’re doing this not only to reduce exposure risk but also to ensure that if staff members are taken ill for any reason, we will have backup team members available and ready to fill in.

Team members at our administrative offices, which includes centralized intake, will be working remotely for the foreseeable future.

coronavirus update

We are fine-tuning our clinical and outpatient services, such as Partial Hospitalization Treatment and Intensive Outpatient Services to ensure there are no group meetings larger than five people.

We are also encouraging any and all clinical and outpatient clients to avoid attending group meetings or treatment if they feel sick or experience any cold-like or flu-like symptoms.

Our centralized intake interviews will include some additional prescreening questions to protect our existing clients and staff and to ensure prospective clients are aware of our new Coronavirus policies and procedures. Once a new client is admitted, we will be taking extra precautions with them when they arrive, including new sanitizing measures and temperature readings.

We have indefinitely suspended our Family Program until further notice.

coronavirus update

  • TEMPERATURE CHECKS: All clients and staff are being asked to submit to temperature checks at every location twice a day to ensure any elevations are addressed as quickly as possible.
  • NO-TOUCH POLICIES: We’ve implemented a no-touch policy at all of our locations, as well as our Behavioral Health Programs. Typically, when we close meetings, there are usually hugs, handshakes, and hand-holding during the closing prayer. We are asking our clients and attendees to refrain from these behaviors indefinitely.
  • 12-STEP MEETINGS: Residents at our Residential Treatment and Transitional Recovery Housing locations are no longer permitted to leave to attend 12-step meetings. Instead, we’re encouraging them to participate in virtual 12-step meetings.
  • VIRUS CONTINGENCY MEASURES: While no one so far has exhibited Coronavirus symptoms at any of our locations, our plan, if they do test positive for the virus, is to use two of our empty locations to place them under quarantine. Our King Street location would be for women residents and our Mountville location would be for men.
  • TELE-HEALTH: We are currently implementing Outpatient Tele-Health from our Behavioral Health Facility on Cherry Street in Lancaster, and we plan to implement this service to all of our locations as soon as possible. We will be utilizing the video and web conferencing program Zoom to offer this service. To participate, please SIGN UP HERE or give us a call at 717-393-3215 for more information.

coronavirus update

The GateHouse has been in operation since 1972. Now in our 48th year, we value our residents, clients, and the recovery community more than ever.

Thank you for your cooperation, patience, and understanding as we all confront this troubling and unpredictable threat. We appreciate your kindness and generosity during this difficult time, and we know that we will all get through this together.

The recovery community endures!

Open post Pennsylvania Drug and Alcohol Programs Secretary Jen Smith

Finding Hope in the Opioid Crisis: An Interview with Pennsylvania Secretary of Drug and Alcohol Programs Jen Smith

In today’s highly polarized political climate, it might seem as though there are no subjects upon which lawmakers from the Left and Right can agree. Even here in Pennsylvania, legislators clash over taxes, health care, spending, and more.

Believe it or not, though, there is at least one critically important issue upon which Pennsylvania Republicans and Democrats are largely united: stemming the tide of drug and alcohol abuse in the Commonwealth.

A Nonpartisan Issue with Bipartisan Support

For Jen Smith, Secretary of Pennsylvania’s Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, the broad consensus around finding solutions and finding funding to implement those solutions has been a welcome change. Appointed by Gov. Tom Wolf to head the Department in 2018, Smith had previously served in the department since 2016, when she was a deputy secretary. She’s seen the General Assembly’s approach to the issue change dramatically during her four years in the Department.

“I am one of the very, very fortunate cabinet secretaries in that this issue and really everything my department does is pretty bipartisan,” Smith said during a recent interview with The GateHouse. “I don’t really get a lot of resistance from one side or the other. I think everyone believes in saving lives and keeping people healthy, which is our mission, so I’m very lucky.”

That doesn’t mean, however, that things have been easy—especially during an opioid epidemic that has transformed and evolved over the years, ultimately culminating in Gov. Wolf’s decision to declare the crisis a “disaster” in January 2018.

“It wasn’t until late 2016 early 2017 that we really started to escalate the discussion,” Smith said. “We recognized that it wasn’t just more people becoming addicted; people were really dying in just exponential numbers. That’s when it started to become known as an epidemic or a crisis. By 2018, we had picked up so much momentum. There was much more discussion about opioids specifically and addiction and overdoses in general.”

The Impact of the Disaster Declaration

The disaster declaration escalated the urgency of the crisis and allowed for specific action to be taken, starting with the creation of an Opioid Command Center that has since brought nearly every department in state government together on a weekly basis to assess and respond to the crisis. The declaration also changed how elected officials view the problem.

Last week, for example, Smith said she met with State Senators to review the Commonwealth’s budget, and the change in tone from her first year with the Department was remarkable, she said.

“It was just so drastically different from the very first budget hearing I participated in in 2016,” Smith said. “Back then, the questions were, ‘Well, how much does it cost to treat somebody?’ ‘How much money do you need to fix this problem?’ and ‘When are you going to have it fixed?’ The tone of the questions during this year’s hearings was much more thoughtful. Lawmakers were asking, ‘How can we be more helpful?’ ‘What’s the most effective kind of medication?’ ‘How do we get this medication into the hands of providers?’ ‘How do we ensure we have adequate capacity to treat people?’”

Smith said Legislators are much more educated about the problem now than they were in the past.

“They don’t just see it as a problem that simply needs to be fixed,” she said. “They now see it as a very complicated and complex issue. They also recognize that they are not experts on this, but they still want to be helpful where they can and contribute positively to the cause. That’s a huge difference from where we were four years ago.”

Maintaining Urgency

Secretary Jen Smith
Last month, Secretary Jen Smith appeared before the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight to discuss the ongoing opioid crisis.

The disaster declaration was a double-edged sword in some ways, however. As the death numbers from opioid overdoses began to plateau and even decline in 2018, so did the urgency surrounding the epidemic. Success is important, but it also must be sustained, Smith said.

“I have sensed just within the last calendar year that there’s much less momentum around the crisis,” she said. “Part of that, I think, is people get tired of talking about it and hearing about it. Part of it is seeing some successes in terms of changing the trend of overdose deaths. Those successes are good, but the decrease in momentum is also a little bit dangerous from my perspective because we certainly haven’t kicked this.”

Smith said the Commonwealth has a long way to go. In fact, as the opioid scare has started to subside, the Secretary said she has seen an increase in more polysubstance abuse, with individuals with substance use disorder combining opioids and stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamines. Alcohol use disorder, a persistent problem for generations, is also front and center in the discussion.

“I’ve sort of seen a waxing and waning a bit of the opioid crisis, but certainly not a waning of what I call the ‘addiction crisis’ in the state,” she said. “It’s an interesting cycling of substances and one that we have to really keep a close eye on. It’s important for us to make sure that the treatment system and the recovery support to accompany it are flexible and able to meet the needs of those changing trends.”

Arming police, EMS personnel and even park rangers with naloxone has been a big push in Pennsylvania and is clearly one of the reasons opioid and heroin death rates have declined in recent years. But when it comes to addressing and combatting the long-term issues associated with opioid use disorder, the approach by Harrisburg lawmakers over the last few years has been focused heavily on Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT). While MAT continues to play a key role, Smith also emphasized that long-term aftercare recovery centers like The GateHouse are “very important” to helping recovering addicts turn their lives around.

“Treatment is Treatment”

“For the last couple of years, we’ve sort of heard this consistent debate about MAT versus drug-free treatment; like ‘Which is better?’ and ‘Which is more important to have?’” Smith said. “In my mind, I have a very difficult time when the discussion heads in that direction because to me, they are two distinct things. For me, treatment is treatment and medication could be part of the treatment or it might not be part of the treatment.”

Smith’s vision of the perfect drug and alcohol treatment system is where providers have the ability to prescribe medication when it’s appropriate but also understand that it won’t be appropriate in every instance.

“Facilities like The Gatehouse are critical because they provide treatment to individuals in our communities who need it, whether they’re on MAT or not,” she said. “The messaging gets a little distorted because federal grant dollars are often tied to improving access to medication. That’s really because, for so many years, there were programs that were exclusionary to medication, and there was an attempt to move the pendulum back toward the middle. It wasn’t an attempt to say that anyone who has a substance use disorder has to be on medication, because that’s absolutely untrue.”

Treatment plans—medication-assisted or otherwise—are different from person to person, Smith said.

“There are substances for which there are no FDA approved medications, and there are substances like alcohol for which there are some approved medications, but they are not successful for everyone,” she said. “Then we’ve got folks with opioid use disorder, where we know that the standard of care would be medication, but what that looks like for each person could be different. There are folks for which medication is not appropriate, and there are some for which medication might be appropriate for a month or two until they get themselves stabilized and have received behavioral therapy and are at a place where they feel like they don’t need those medications anymore.”

In many ways, Smith has helmed the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs at one of the most pivotal moments in the Commonwealth’s history. The last four years have dramatically changed the perception of individuals with substance use disorder for not only lawmakers but the general public at large. While the stigma hasn’t been completely lifted, the shift in tone and the attention that the opioid crisis has commanded during Wolf’s tenure as governor have ushered in a new era of understanding and compassion. It’s made Smith’s job easier—and a lot more productive.

“I think the Legislature has responded very well to our initiatives, and it really has been great to work with people who, for the most part, understand what we’re trying to do and want to help,” Smith said. “That’s a very big difference from where we were four years ago. It’s very encouraging to have the Legislature as a partner instead of an adversary.”

For more information about The GateHouse or our programs and services visit Our Services page, or call 717-393-3215.

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