Recovery often begins in small, quiet moments. A nod across the room. A shared laugh after a group meeting. The simple act of being listened to without judgment. These everyday interactions can carry enormous weight for someone working to rebuild their life after struggling with substance use disorder.
At The GateHouse, those moments aren’t left to chance. They are part of our culture. Community is woven into every aspect of the recovery journey. From group meals and shared living spaces to structured programming and peer mentorship, connection runs through everything at The GateHouse. It’s the foundation that helps our clients move forward.
Whether it’s a sponsor offering a steady voice during a hard week or a fellow resident sharing a story that hits close to home, these relationships are often what carry people through. Over time, connection builds confidence, accountability, and, perhaps most important, a renewed sense of belonging.
Breaking Isolation, Building Belonging
Substance use disorder often thrives in isolation. Recovery, in contrast, grows stronger through shared experience. At The GateHouse, building community goes beyond placing individuals in group settings. It’s about creating spaces where each person is treated with dignity and supported with empathy.
“I felt safe there,” said Dan Schultz, an alumnus of The GateHouse who first entered the program in the early 1980s. “I knew if I stayed in Rochester, I would never have made it.”
Dan spent years caught in the cycle of alcohol use and legal consequences before arriving at The GateHouse. What he found was more than a structured environment. He found a group of people who helped him stay accountable while offering steady encouragement.
That’s what connection does. It anchors people in difficult moments. It replaces shame with shared purpose. It makes healing possible.
The Role of Mentorship and Sponsorship
Mentorship is a core part of the recovery journey at The GateHouse. Our programs encourage individuals not only to seek guidance from mentors and sponsors but also, when ready, to become one themselves. This creates a network of mutual support where growth flows in both directions.
Judy Bohner, who entered The GateHouse later in life, found strength through this model. Now in long-term recovery, she has spent more than two decades sponsoring others in her local recovery community.
“My AA home group has become my chosen family,” she said. “That connection changed everything for me.”
For many clients, the presence of a mentor is the first time someone consistently shows up for them without judgment or agenda. These relationships help normalize the ups and downs of recovery and offer reassurance that challenges don’t have to be faced alone.
Why Group Experience Matters
Recovery doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It is shaped and supported by the people around us. That’s why The GateHouse prioritizes group-based healing, whether through formal therapy sessions, shared living spaces, or peer-led support groups.
In these spaces, clients begin to see themselves in others’ stories. Vulnerability is met with compassion. Accountability is delivered with care. As trust builds, so does the belief that change is possible.
One of the people who helped set this tone was Janice Potter, a former Recovery Program Supervisor and alumnus of The GateHouse, who passed away in December 2022.
“She treated everyone with the same dignity, respect, tenderness, and empathy,” recalled Executive Director Jodi O’Reilly. “She was an advocate for every woman here and spoke the truth, even when it was tough.”
Janice’s approach reflected a deeper understanding. Shame is one of the biggest barriers to healing, and compassion has the power to dismantle it.
Summer Can Challenge Routine, but Community Helps
Summer is a season that naturally encourages spontaneity, travel, and breaks from routine. While that can feel freeing, it can also become destabilizing, especially for those in early recovery.
That’s why summer is a critical time to stay connected.
The GateHouse reinforces the importance of consistent routines and peer relationships, even during months that might feel looser or more chaotic. For those living in recovery, it’s less about restriction and more about reinforcement.
“I want the life I have today,” Dan Schultz said. “In early recovery, it’s so easy to get overwhelmed.”
His advice?
“Go to meetings,” he said. “Keep it simple. Stay close to the people who remind you why you started this journey in the first place.”
Connection is the Common Thread
Every path through recovery is unique. Some arrive at The GateHouse following multiple inpatient stays. Others come directly from detox or court-mandated programs. But for nearly everyone, the turning point involves connection.
David Morgan, a GateHouse alumnus, had already completed five treatment programs before arriving.
“I was beaten down,” he said. “I came close to death a couple times.”
At The GateHouse, David found something different: a peer group that challenged his ego, a counselor who helped him shift his mindset, and a community that welcomed him without pretense.
Those relationships helped him find stability and over time, helped him grow. Today, David continues to stay active in the recovery community, sponsoring others and building a life around service, accountability, and purpose.
“My whole life now revolves around the people I met in recovery,” he said. “And it’s a great life.”
A Culture of Connection
For more than half a century, The GateHouse has built a community where people in recovery find connection and structure. It offers a place to belong. From the beginning, its founders believed in the power of community. That belief still guides the organization today.
Former Executive Director Bruce Caldwell was known for helping clients not just through structure, but through relationship. When Judy Bohner applied for a job while at The GateHouse, Bruce personally advocated for her while also setting clear expectations with the employer. That combination of support and accountability helped Judy thrive and eventually led to her joining the board.
That’s the kind of leadership The GateHouse fosters. It invests in people, even when they are still learning to invest in themselves.
Staying Connected, Staying Grounded
Recovery is a process rooted in connection. It grows through structure, compassion, and the daily decision to keep showing up—for yourself and for others.
Here at The GateHouse, community is more than a value. It’s a lifeline. During seasons when routine may falter, staying connected through mentorship, group support, and daily structure can make all the difference.
The journey through recovery doesn’t have to be walked alone. In fact, it works best when it isn’t.
The GateHouse is Central Pennsylvania’s leader in accredited recovery care, recognizing the unique challenges individuals face on their journey to recovery. For more than 50 years, we’ve helped individuals restore their lives and rediscover the strength of the human spirit.
We provide each client with a support system that helps break the cycle of substance use disorder and put them on the path to lasting recovery. Whether you need outpatient services, transitional housing, or residential extended care, we’re here to help. Reach out to us today.
