Family Workshop Experience at Gatehouse Academy
Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010Written by: Ethan D
For three weeks out of our year stay in Gatehouse we have family workshops. All separated by about a 2 month period. For some it is a very difficult experience but for most all it creates a lot of growth in their lives. I’m in the middle of my second. I have a variety of different emotion but am very optimistic because of how well my first went. The first workshop deals with getting everything out to our family, and letting them know where we have come from and what we are dealing with.
The growth my family experience through this workshop was mind blowing. I’ve never been able to connect to my family in the way I did this week. It has created a family atmosphere for us that we can now build on our recovery together, and not have any more questions of the past but only look towards the future. List work is a large part of the workshops. The first workshop only the residents have it but as the second and third approach the entire families enjoy this process. The question differs from what the certain workshop is dealing with but always proves a challenge for all. The list work is done in front of the rest of the workshop families and residents and is always followed up with feedback as well as advice and affirmations. These workshops clue into the idea that this is a family disease and that it affect us all. It is the key to a healthy life with our families and a milestone in our recovery. Without these workshops some of us may never be able to talk to our families again, but for some of us it is the first time we will every really truly talk to our families. I cannot thank Gatehouse enough for what they have done for me and my family.
Ethan is currently enrolled as a resident in Gatehouse Academy’s drug rehab program. He offers his review and testimonial by telling us about a lesson he has learned from our 12-Step curriculum.
