The involvement of the entire family is critical to the success of a resident’s stay at Gatehouse Academy.  In addition to our regular lines of communication, Gatehouse Academy also offers additional avenues for the family to be involved.

The Family Workshop Series is held for multiple families simultaneously and is offered throughout the year at approximately 90-day intervals throughout the resident’s stay. The Family Workshops utilize a variety of activities to bring about awareness and to reinforce our theme of “Loving Detachment.”

Family Workshop Overview

Gatehouse Therapeutic Health Services has developed a series of four comprehensive family workshops that complement the 12-Step recovery community program work. The four workshops are designed to be experienced by the residents and their families over the course of a one year stay at Gatehouse. In order to be prepared for the workshops we require that families be actively attending their local Al-Anon meetings. For meeting information:  Al-Anon:888-4AL-ANON, Families Anonymous: 800-736-9805

A commitment to attend the family workshops is required in order to enter the Gatehouse program. The timeframes are suggested as a method of matching the individual’s progress; a particular resident may be ready and appropriate for one or another workshop in other timeframes as well. If a resident exits the Gatehouse program before completing the series of 4 workshops, the resident and his/her family is required to attend the Sobriety Workshop and at least 2 of the 3 remaining workshops.

• At 90 days, after the families have participated independently in Al-Anon for at least 60 days, the first family workshop (Sobriety Workshop) will be offered.  The primary thrust will embrace the first 3 steps of the 12 Steps, and will be designed to help the families
  • face the magnitude of the addiction,
  • the patterns of other addictions in the family,
  • the family-wide powerlessness over these destructive patterns in their lives, and
  • the reality and availability of an effective Higher Power.
• At six months, the families will be invited for the second family workshop (Education Workshop).  The theme here will encompass Steps 4 and 5, and will be focused to
  • help all the family accept personal responsibility
  • clarify dimensions of responsibility
  • recognize the universality of character defects, thereby lowering judgmentalism, and
  • begin the process of receiving forgiveness.
• At nine months, the families will be invited for the third workshop (Integrity Workshop), which will revolve around Steps 6 – 9.  In this workshop the families will have the opportunity to
  • receive amends from the resident and extend forgiveness,
  • make their own amends to the residents as well as to other members of the family,
  • and begin preparations to make amends for other relationships around the family.
• Finally, at the residents’ graduation, the families will be invited for the fourth family workshop (Excellence Workshop), which will be the residents’ graduation process.  This workshop will center around Steps 10 – 12, and will be designed to
  • safeguard against relapse – the resident’s and the family’s,
  • consolidate the family’s commitment to a spiritual way of life, and
  • emphasize the universal principle of gaining personal strength through sharing strength, hope, and encouragement with others.

We hope that you will begin to look forward to attending the workshop series, participating with your whole family in the journey of recovery. We count it a privilege to be one of your coaches and guides along the way!

Call us now or fill out the contact form to the left to learn more about life at Gatehouse Academy. (888) 730.0905.