|
Gatehouse Helping Young Adults Change Their Lives
By Patti Jares, Special to The Sun
Ted and Gale Earl believed Wickenburg would be a great place to build a transitional living program for young adults who have determined to change their lives.
With more than 30 years of experience between them in their field, it proved to be more than just an educated guess. The couple founded Gatehouse in Wickenburg in 2000. There are two other Gatehouse programs: one in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada and the other in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Gatehouse offers accredited and licensed therapists, who the residents utilize during the week in the form of counseling and group therapy sessions. But the program has a depth beyond the therapy.
"The way we run the (Gatehouse) community," explained Men's Residential Director Bill Whittmire, "is we have set it up so residents are reaching out to their peers and the residential staff. Most of us engaged in residential staff activities are in the program as well. That's what makes our program unique - we're driven by the residential program; not driven by therapy."
Whittmire himself spent several years struggling with addiction and has been drug and alcohol free for 21 years, and this has given him insights into fundamental problems of the residents.
"Life happens at Gatehouse, and we give them (residents) tools to deal with life," he explained.
Each day begins with a "Morning Circle," where residen ts can bring up concerns, questions or conflicts amid their peers and the residential staff.
"The same problems that happen in life will happen at Gatehouse," explained Whittmire, "but we help residents resolve them without drugs and alcohol."
Besides residential involvement, the residents are involved in community service.
"It's a win/win situation for us and the community," acknowledged Chief Operating Officer Dave Johnson. "I'm so thankful for everyone being so welcome and open - the police, Lions Club, school district, and the Chamber (of Commerce) ... to name just a few - have all gone out of their way to be supportive in what we're doing."
In fact, some members of the Lions Club were so impacted by recent residents who worked with them on the Hassayampa River Preserve that they made it a point to attend their Gatehouse graduation, held at Wickenburg High School.
When the residents reach their 9- to 10-month point, they begin their Exit Strategy, a part of the program when the staff begins to prepare them for re-entering society.
It's a curriculum that involves where they're going to live, employment, school, and emotional support. The support includes an alumni network, the group of former residents who are drug and alcohol free.
And then, each month, they hold a graduation - celebrating the hard work and success of residents who make it through the program.
"Some of the kids don't want to leave," explained Johnson. "We employ 25 percent of our graduates for their first six months," he added. "It allows them to have some freedom, make a little money - yet have support from the community."
Gatehouse sees the importance of healing not only the resident but the rest of the family as well. Every three months, every family member older than the age of 14 comes for five days to participate in family therapy.
"It's beneficial in regards to allowing family members to repair or re-establish a solid relationship," Johnson said. "Most families don't know anything about addiction, and our goal is to educate and heal."
It is a powerful and moving time as family members who have worked through the year with their son or daughter attend their graduation. By that time, there is more empathy, forgiveness and understanding between the resident and his family, and a willingness to try again.
"One mother got up at a recent graduation," remembered Johnson. "She said, 'I believe this has saved my life, too.'"
|
