WWW.TPEXTENDEDCARE.COM SEPTEMBER 2013 FAMILY MAILBAG IN THIS ISSUE • Recreation & Lifestyle “Four years ago, my son was probably only months from an overdose. I was able to Brownstone Park Trip get him enrolled at Turning Point, 1000 miles away from all the extraneous issues • September Activities Calendar that were interfering with his recovery. That was the best decision I ever made! • From the Family Catherine N. Turning Point lived up to every hope we could have had for it. It was an amazing • Unsung Heroes - Sam C. journey watching their phased approach bring Gordy back to earth and allow him to • Alumni Life - Greg K. become the wonderful person he is today.” • Resident Profile -Michael P. • Anniversaries - JE F F D. • Clinician’s Corner Facebook.com/TurningPointExtendedCare Search for Turning Point Extended Care • From the President’s Desk RECREATION & LIFESTYLE SEPTEMBER 2013 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Gym (PI) Gym (PI) & (PII) Movies (PII) Yoga (PI) & (PII) On-Track Go Karts (PIII) Archery (PII) Gym (PI) Hike Bear Mountain (PII) Gym (PI) & (PII) Gym (PI) Gym (PII) Gym (PII) Horseback Riding (PII) Art Healing (PI) Music Studio (PI) Mixed Martial Arts (PI) Flag Football (PI) Lighthouse Beach (PII) Music Studio (PI) Resident/Alumni Dinner (P*) Music Studio (PI) Music Studio (PI) & (PII) Family Visits Alumni Meeting (P*) Guided Meditation (PI) & (PII) Bowling Night (PIII) & (PII) Family Visits 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Yankees vs. Redsox (PII) Gym (PI) & (PII) Movies (PII) Yoga (PI) & (PII) Gym (PII) Archery (PII) NYC Metropolitan Gym (PI) Gym (PI) & (PII) Gym (PI) Mixed Martial Arts (PI) Six Flags (PIII) Museum (PII) Art Healing (PI) Music Studio (PI) Resident/Alumni Dinner (P*) Gym (PII) Gym (PI) Music Studio (PI) Alumni Meeting (P*) Music Studio (PI) Music Studio (PI) & (PII) Family Visits Bowling Night (PIII) & (PII) Paintball (PI) Guided Meditation (PI) & (PII) Movie Night (PII) Family Visits 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Rocky Neck State Beach Gym (PI) & (PII) Movies (PII) Yoga (PI) & (PII) Gym (PII) On-Track Go Kartin (PII) Sleeping Giant Hike (PII) (PII) Gym (PI) & (PII) Gym (PI) Mixed Martial Arts (PI) Gym (PII) Horseback Riding (PII) Gym (PI) Music Studio (PI) Resident/Alumni Dinner (P*) Cat Hole Pass Hike (PI) Gym (PI) Art Healing (PI) Alumni Meeting (P*) Music Studio (PI) Music Studio (PI) & (PII) Music Studio (PI) Bowling Night (PIII) & (PII) Guided Meditation (PI) & (PII) Family Visits Movie Night (PI) Family Visits 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Yankees vs. Giants (PII) Gym (PI) & (PII) Movies (PII) Yoga (PI) & (PII) Gym (PII) Camping Trip - Odetah Camping Trip - Odetah Gym (PI) Gym (PI) & (PII) Gym (PI) Mixed Martial Arts (PI) Campground (PI) Campground (PI) Art Healing (PI) Music Studio (PI) Resident/Alumni Dinner (P*) Archery (PII) Bill W. & Dr. Bob Off- Music Studio (PI) Alumni Meeting (P*) Gym (PII) Broadway NYC (PII) Family Visits Bowling Night (PIII) & (PII) Music Studio (PI) Durham Fair (PII) Movie Night (PII) Horseback Riding (PII) Gym (PII) Music Studio (PI) Paintball (PIII) BrownstoneZip Lining? Check. Parkbelow. “It was fun, and I had a really great time,” East Rock Hike (PII) Cliff Jump?Check. Brandon said. “The zip line was awesome. It’s just a cool place; I’ve never seen anything like it before. The 29 30 PI = Phase 1 PIII = Phase 3 Rock Climbing, Camping Trip - Odetah Gym (PI) & (PII) Rope Swing, [rec activities] expose me to new things; new things Campground (PI) PII = Phase 2 P* = All Phases that I normally wouldn’t do.” Gym (PI) Obstacle Course? Music Studio (PII) Brownstone offers other activities like rock climbing Guided Meditation (PII) Check, Check, Check. Silver Sands State Park and snorkeling, but many of the residents preferred (PII) Movie Night (PI) Turning Point’s Phase I residents recently jumping from one of six cliffs or flipping from a Family Visits enjoyed a fun-filled outing to Brownstone nearby rope swing. “My favorite was cliff jumping,” Exploration and Discovery Park in Portland, CT. Matt H. said. “Everything was pretty cool, and I had a With the scorching summer coming to a close, good time. They try to keep us occupied, and it’s good. the time was ripe for a trip to this local venue. We always have something planned.” The park offers a slew of exhilarating activities to According to Allan, the Turning Point’s Support suit varying interest levels, however the majority Staff Manager for Phase I, the recreational activities of the young men flocked to the more adrenaline- are “wonderful.” “It gives these guys a chance to go out pumping attractions, such as the zip lines and the and do some fun stuff in sobriety,” Allan said. “In a lot cliff jumping areas. of them, teamwork is involved, and it’s about getting The zip lines were the fan favorite, according to the guys out of their comfort zones. They do things Phase I resident, Brandon T. Brownstone offers that they normally wouldn’t do in recovery. The guys fourteen zip lines, including one that lets guests really enjoy it, and we take them on great trips. It’s drop from twenty feet to the water’s surface character-building for them.” n TURNING POINT NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT WWW.TPEXTENDEDCARE.COM FROM THE FAMILY UNSUNG HEROES Catherine sprang into action, enrolling John at a 28-day addiction treatment program in Pennsylvania. Following It is our distinct pleasure to announce Sam Cohen treatment, John transitioned to an aftercare program in as Turning Point’s Unsung Hero for the month of September. As a Florida where he stayed for almost four months. “He Phase I Case Manager, much of Sam’s responsibility revolves around was reasonably successful there,” Catherine said. “They helping the guys “Show up for Life.” He helps them concentrate Catherine N. is the mother were somewhat concerned about his commitment to Catherine N. on skills of daily living, including time management and personal of John, a current resident in the third and final sobriety.” Two months after discharging, John suffered hygiene. Phase I also places a strong emphasis on 12-Step Phase of Turning Point’s reintegration program. Over a relapse. Immersion, helping residents to build relationships in the local the course of John’s residency at Turning Point he has After being referred to Turning Point by a local recovery community and develop a relationship with a sponsor. demonstrated tremendous growth, immersing himself counselor and being impressed with what she heard, According to Sam, the most difficult aspect of his job as case in the 12-step recovery community, enrolling at a local Catherine presented the John with a life-saving manager is “manufacturing willingness,” where there sometimes University, and even earning the position of House ultimatum: to go to Turning Point or live on his own. is none. Many of the residents come to Turning Point involuntarily, Manager at one of Turning Point’s Phase III facilities. “To our surprise” recalled Catherine, “he said ‘I want to and Sam has been charged with helping residents recognize the true According to Catherine, John’s addiction surfaced come to Turning Point.’” nature of their disease and begin to move toward a solution. while he was away at college, and caught the family Catherine was encouraged by the fact that Turning completely off-guard. “It was truly a surprise,” Catherine Catherine has witnessed revolutionary Point’s program is designed specifically for young men said. “He was an all-around athlete in high school, and changes in John’s behavior since being admitted like John. She felt that Turning Point’s streamlined when he went to college he continued to play at a very into the Turning Point program. According approach would help her son to build the bonds and high level.” Catherine believed that drugs were not an to Catherine, John has become more mature establish the relationships that are so crucial for long- issue because John was leading a functional, active life and calm when dealing with life’s curveballs. term success. at the time. During the summer He has learned to keep things in perspective, vacation before his sophomore and has begun to embrace the importance of year in college, John’s behavior the 12-step program. John recently enrolled changed and he began to at Southern Connecticut State University to exhibit signs of frustration and resume his education in pursuit of a degree in depression while at home. exercise physiology, and he was recently offered a position as a Turning Point House Manager. During his sophomore year, “I would have to say the most rewarding part is watching [the John called home and broke the “Turning Point has been very helpful,” residents] build a sense of independence, a sense of self,” Sam said. news to his family in a desperate Catherine said. “I’m so pleased to have them as “Watching them overcome struggles that, on day one, they thought appeal for help, informing a resource. It’s so nice to look to them and know they could never achieve. Seeing the light of hope in their eyes when Catherine that he was addicted that they’re taking care of it. They’ve been very they overcome a struggle.” to prescription painkillers and positive, and encouraging to us. I don’t think could not overcome it on his we’ve ran into an individual whom we haven’t In his position at Turning Point, Sam has been given the own. Fearing for her son’s life, felt a connection with, and gratitude towards.” n opportunity to use his own personal history with substance abuse as a tool in helping young men recover.