IN THIS ISSUE€¦ · • Unsung Heroes - Dave F. ... Recruiters began to call with offers from various col-leges, but Jordan’s drug use was escalating and taking an obvious toll

“I have started to see a change in Brian. His attitude towards success and obtainable

goals has been one of forward direction. He is once again becoming the young adult we

once knew before addiction took this wonderful person to a different place. Brian has

just begun Phase II of the program. He has a sponsor, is signing up for two classes next

semester and beginning to look for a “sober” job. This is all largely due to the Turning

Point staff working together to direct Brian during good and not so good moments.

- JE F F

F A M I L Y M A I L B A G

IN THIS ISSUE

A U G U S T 2 0 1 3

• Recreation & Lifestyle White Water Canoe Trip

• August Activities Calendar

• From the Family Malka B.

• Alumni Life - Nate L.

• Unsung Heroes - Dave F.

• Resident Profile - Nick M.

• Anniversaries

• Clinician’s Corner

• From the President’s DeskFacebook.com/TurningPointExtendedCare Search for Turning Point Extended Care

T U R N I N G P O I N T N E W H A V E N , C O N N E C T I C U T

PI = Phase 1PII = Phase 2

PIII = Phase 3P* = All Phases

1Gym (PII)Mixed Martial Arts (PI)Resident/Alumni Dinner (P*)Alumni Meeting (P*)Bowling Night (PIII) & (PII)

2 Gym (PII)Paintball (PI)Lighthouse Beach (PII)Music Studio (PI)

3 Gym (PI)Music Studio (PI) & (PII)Guided Meditation (PI) & (PII)Movie Night (PI)Horseback Riding (PII)Family Visit

4Gym (PI)Misquamicut Beach (PII)Art Healing (PI)Music Studio (PI)Family Visits

5Gym (PI) & (PII)

6Gym (PI) & (PII)Music Studio (PI)

7Yoga (PI) & (PII)Gym (PI)


9Gym (PII)Hammonasset Beach (PI)Archery Lessons (PII)Brownstone Adventure Park (PIII)Music Studio (PI)

1 0Gym (PI)Music Studio (PI) & (PII)Guided Meditation (PI) & (PII)Movie Night (PI)Farmington River Tubing (PII)Family Visits

1 1Gym (PI)Art Healing (PI)Music Studio (PI)Devil’s Hopyard Hike (PII)Family Visits

1 2Gym (PI)

1 3Gym (PI) & (PII)Music Studio (PI)

1 4Yoga (PI) & (PII)Gym (PI)

1 5Gym (PII)Mixed Martial Arts (PI)Resident/Alumni Dinner (P*)Alumni Meeting (P*)Bowling Night (PIII) & (PII)

1 6Gym (PII)Music Studio (PI)Bowling (PI)Sleeping Giant Hike (PII)Movie Night (PII)

1 7Gym (PI)Music Studio (PI) & (PII)Guided Meditation (PI) & (PII)CT Tigers Baseball Game (PI)Lake Compounce (PII)Horseback Riding (PII)Family Visits

1 8Gym (PI)Art Healing (PI)Music Studio (PI)Rocky Neck State Park (PII)Family Visits

1 9Gym (PI) & (PII)




2 3Brownstone Gym (PII)Flag Football (PI)Archery Lessons (PII)Music Studio (PI)

2 4Gym (PI)Music Studio (PI) & (PII)Guided Meditation (PI) & (PII)Jiminy Peak Adventure Park (PII)Allman Brothers Concert (PIII)Movie Night (PI)Family Visits

2 5Gym (PI)Art Healing (PI)Music Studio (PI)Hammonasset Beach (PII)Family Visits

2 6Gym (PI) & (PII)




3 0Gym (PII)Music Studio (PI)Sea Kayaking (PI)Paintball (PIII)East Rock Hike (PII)

3 1Gym (PI)Music Studio (PI) & (PII)Guided Meditation (PI) * (PII)Horseback Riding (PII)Lighthouse Beach (PII)Movie Night (PI)Family Visits

Turning Point’s most recent recreational activity was held in the running waters of Connecticut’s Housatonic River. Sev-eral of the Phase I residents made the three hour trip to West Cornwall to take a white water canoe trip down the river with the help of the friendly staff at Clarke Outdoors.

Many of Turning Point’s recreational trips involve exciting activities, but never before have there been two capsized vessels in one day. The swift river and treacherous rocks made for an interesting time in regards to navigation, but most of the crews made it downriver without an incident.

Daniel M. was in one of the flipped canoes. “We had some interesting experiences,” Daniel said. “Some people went through the trip like usual, but I was on one of the two that capsized. It was a lot of fun. I would definitely do it again, but I would try not to flip over next time. The best part of the recreational activities at Turning Point is being able to go back out and do fun activities in the community while being sober. It’s interesting to do things outside, and to find out that there’s fun in life besides a party.”

R E C R E A T I O N & L I F E S T Y L E

Matt F. was in the other capsized canoe, thanks partially to an unnamed stowaway who attempted turning a 2-man canoe into a 3-man. “It was inter-esting, and fun,” Matt said. “Having one person sit in the middle without being able to balance it did not work. The canoe trip was my favorite so far.” While Daniel’s canoe-mate abandoned him mid-river and chased down their canoe, Matt’s former canoe bud-dies also took off, leaving him to unsuccessfully deal with the overturned craft.

Mark H. made it down the river without flipping over his canoe, even taking the time to work in a planned swim break at the halfway point. “It was pretty nice,” Mark said. “I saw a lot of nice mountain sights, and I started to think that it was actually pretty fun. We were cruising down the whole time, chilling and talking about stuff. It’s pretty nice to get out and do things while in recovery.”

Recreational Coordinator Dave Freedman planned another awesome activity in the canoe trip, and he has many more fun trips planned for the near future. Living a life in recovery doesn’t have to be purely clinical or boring. Days like this help to show resi-dents that life is filled with opportunities to have fun without needing to add drugs or alcohol. n

White Water Canoe Trip

W W W . T P E X T E N D E D C A R E . C O M

AUGUST 2013PI = Phase 1PII = Phase 2

PIII = Phase 3P* = All Phases


2 Gym (PII)Paintball (PI)Lighthouse Beach (PII)Music Studio (PI)

3 Gym (PI)Music Studio (PI) & (PII)Guided Meditation (PI) & (PII)Movie Night (PI)Horseback Riding (PII)Family Visit

4Gym (PI)Misquamicut Beach (PII)Art Healing (PI)Music Studio (PI)Family Visits

5Gym (PI) & (PII)

6Gym (PI) & (PII)Music Studio (PI)

7Yoga (PI) & (PII)Gym (PI)


9Gym (PII)Hammonasset Beach (PI)Archery Lessons (PII)Brownstone Adventure Park (PIII)Music Studio (PI)

1 0Gym (PI)Music Studio (PI) & (PII)Guided Meditation (PI) & (PII)Movie Night (PI)Farmington River Tubing (PII)Family Visits

1 1Gym (PI)Art Healing (PI)Music Studio (PI)Devil’s Hopyard Hike (PII)Family Visits

1 2Gym (PI)




1 6Gym (PII)Music Studio (PI)Bowling (PI)Sleeping Giant Hike (PII)Movie Night (PII)

1 7Gym (PI)Music Studio (PI) & (PII)Guided Meditation (PI) & (PII)CT Tigers Baseball Game (PI)Lake Compounce (PII)Horseback Riding (PII)Family Visits

1 8Gym (PI)Art Healing (PI)Music Studio (PI)Rocky Neck State Park (PII)Family Visits

1 9Gym (PI) & (PII)




2 3Brownstone Gym (PII)Flag Football (PI)Archery Lessons (PII)Music Studio (PI)

2 4Gym (PI)Music Studio (PI) & (PII)Guided Meditation (PI) & (PII)Jiminy Peak Adventure Park (PII)Allman Brothers Concert (PIII)Movie Night (PI)Family Visits

2 5Gym (PI)Art Healing (PI)Music Studio (PI)Hammonasset Beach (PII)Family Visits

2 6Gym (PI) & (PII)




3 0Gym (PII)Music Studio (PI)Sea Kayaking (PI)Paintball (PIII)East Rock Hike (PII)

3 1Gym (PI)Music Studio (PI) & (PII)Guided Meditation (PI) * (PII)Horseback Riding (PII)Lighthouse Beach (PII)Movie Night (PI)Family Visits


Malka B. is the mother of Jordan, a recent graduate of Turning Point’s program. After successfully completing primary treatment at the Caron facility in Pennsylvania, Jor-dan came to Turning Point for extended care. While at Turning Point, Jordan put a great deal of effort into his continued recovery and plan for reintegration. He is now reaping the benefits of his hard work, having recently realized the cherished recovery milestone of 20 months of continuous sobriety.

According to Malka, Jordan began to exhibit signs of his condition around the age of 16. He was an excellent student in the early years of high school, and received several commendations for his diving. Recruiters began to call with offers from various col-leges, but Jordan’s drug use was escalating and taking an obvious toll on his daily life. “He completely fell apart,” Malka said. “He just wasn’t functioning anymore. All he did was sleep; I don’t even think he was eating. He would become very withdrawn, or very angry. We never knew which Jordan it was going to be.”

Malka did not understand the cause for the shift in Jordan’s personality and lifestyle, but when his behav-ior continued to worsen she decided to confront him and enroll him in an out-patient treatment program.

The once-per-week group meetings there were simply used as opportunities to exchange dealer information, and Jordan was later enrolled in Caron’s program.

Despite earlier setbacks and a relapse along the way,

Jordan eventually made the decision to approach his recovery with serious dedication. “He began to appre-ciate the magnitude of how risky his behavior was to his own well-being,” Malka said. “He realized what he was putting his family through. [Addiction] is a fam-ily disease, and it has impacted all of us.”

In his time at Caron and Turning Point, Jordan

began taking the necessary steps and putting in the work required to achieve a healthy, sober lifestyle. According to Malka, he sought out a 12-step spon-sor and began engaging in a program of recovery, in

I could not have asked for a better place for my son to be for the past year and a half.

F R O M T H E F A M I L Y

Malka B.


addition to working closely with his clinicians and case managers . “I think he slowly started being more confident in his recovery, and in himself,” Malka said. “His self-esteem really started to improve, and he became active in skateboarding. He learned to deal with his frustration in a more positive way.”

With the help of the staff at Turning Point, Jordan was able to complete his high school education during his stay at Turning Point. He currently resides in a local sober house, and is attending Gateway Community College with plans to eventually transfer to a four-year university.

“I could not have asked for a better place for my son to be for the past year and a half,” Malka

said. “[Turning Point] is where he learned the tools…how to continue with his plan and how to become a functioning individual in society. The support he received at Turning Point, and

I could not have asked for a better place for my son to be for the past year and a half.the dedication of the staff there is beyond my expectations. He has a beautiful smile on his face now. The passion for life is there now, I guess that’s where the beautiful smile comes from. The Jordan I have today is not the Jordan I would have ever thought I could have three years ago. I just have my son

back.” n


NATE L.A L U M N I L I F E

Graduate – Nate L. is a successful graduate of the Turning Point program. After years of hiding his addiction, Nate eventually opened up to his parents and asked for help. He is currently living in recov-ery, staying sober, and working to better understand the disease so that he can help people as a social worker.

“I was getting high for a long time, basically since the beginning of high school,” Nate said. “It progressed from weed, to pills, to eventually heroin. I didn’t think that I

had a problem at all; I thought that I was completely good. I knew that I was addicted, but I thought that I could do it my whole life. I didn’t have any hobbies when I was using. I used to go to the gym a lot, but I stopped doing that. I was anxious around people. I used to hang out with friends, but by the end I wasn’t even doing that. I was getting high by myself.”

It’s hard to explain how much better my life is now.

It’s a totally different life.

One night during college, Nate was arrested, and within a couple of weeks he broke down and called his mom. “Both of my parents were extremely understanding,” Nate said. “I’m lucky for that. When I told them, it was a surprise, but not a huge surprise. The lying and the shady behavior made sense. They did all the research to find me the best detox and inpatient. All they wanted to do was help.”

Nate immediately went to Gosnold’s facility in Cape Cod, where he successfully underwent detox and primary

in-patient treatment. “It was definitely a good introduc-tion,” Nate said. “The first time in treatment you really have no idea what to expect. In terms of learning tools, Gosnold was great. I learned a lot of good skills. After the 28-day in-patient, they recommended Turning Point, and once I was at Turning Point I stuck it out, I knew I couldn’t go back home.”


“At Turning Point I learned what 12 steps and AA are all about. They really reinforced and explained the tools that Gosnold introduced. Turning Point expanded on that and provided a helpful environ-ment. Everything went smoothly. I’ve been sober for 2 and a half years now. I can’t even connect with the person that I was. I was always on edge, and I had bouts of anger. That stayed with me, and I had to work on it. I’m a happy-go-lucky guy nowadays. I used to be anxious all of the time. I couldn’t talk to people without being high, and I couldn’t look people in the eye. Now, I don’t have to put my head down. I can walk around and look people in the eye. It’s a simple thing that people take for granted.”

Nate is currently attending Southern Connecti-cut State University, where he is studying social work, and he hopes to one day open a private prac-tice. “I like giving back to people like me,” Nate said. “School’s going really well. It’s much easier to do well when you’re not getting high. I’m actu-ally interested in the classes I’m taking. It’s hard to explain how much better my life is now. It’s a totally different life. I feel like I have opportunities now, where I thought before I would just be a drug addict for the rest of my life.” n

Dave F.Dave F. is Turning Point’s Unsung Hero for the month of

August. He serves as Support Staff Manager, as well as Activ-

ities Coordinator. Dave started working for Turning Point as

House Manager, and eventually became a member of the

Support Staff. Over time, he began taking on the additional

responsibility of planning recreational events, and he was

promoted to Support Staff Manager earlier this year.

According to Dave, his responsibilities often require him to

manage multiple tasks, including resident intake. “The most

difficult part of my job is seeing a resident leave before he

gives himself a chance to turn things around, seeing him give

up on himself. The most rewarding part is seeing the trans-

formation of the guys. I know how the program works. That’s

one of the main reasons why I wanted to work here, because

of what it’s done for me personally.”

“I love my job, and I love the people that I work with. I

really enjoy working with the residents and the other staff.

Everyone that works at Turning Point is great. I genuinely

love coming to work every day.” n

U N SU N G H E R O E S


Nick M. is a Turning Point res-ident, currently in Phase III of the program. Nick came to Turning Point after completing primary treatment at New Roads Treatment Center in Utah, and he is making great progress in continuing his life in recovery.

Nick first began using at the age of 18, when he attended college at Penn State. “It changed my whole perspective,” Nick said. “I thought that life was just a party, and that I could get messed up every. I didn’t think I had any respon-sibilities. I played lacrosse in college; I used to be really active. I stopped playing, and began wasting away. I was lazy, depressed, and miserable.”

Nick left school only a few credits shy of a bachelor’s degree, and returned home where things steadily began to worsen. “My parents realized that I had a drug prob-lem. They were very upset. They didn’t think that I would ever go down that path. They were heartbroken. They tried everything in their power to help me.”

Nick’s first treatment experience was soon after at a facil-ity in Florida, but he didn’t take the program, or recovery,

NICK M.R E S I D E N T P R O F I L E

My family is a part of my life now. I’m there for them.

seriously. “I stayed clean for about a week, and went back to what I used to do,” Nick said. He managed to cover up his relapse, and he continued to use for about three months before things started to go downhill again. At this point, Nick’s parents became involved again, and he was sent to

Utah for another treatment attempt.

“I was a mess for the first two weeks,” Nick said. “I relapsed in the second week, but they gave me a second chance. I stayed 60 days after coming back. I left in good standing, and came to [Turning Point], and I’ve been doing well since then. When I first

started, I wasn’t willing. I didn’t think that I had a problem with my addiction. I thought that I could go through life and just stop one day. I was just miserable, and I came to realize that I needed help.”

“I finally began making the effort to do the work involved with the program, and things are starting to turn around. My perspective has changed. I feel that there’s a lot more

things to life than just using every day. My family is a part of my life now. I’m there for them. I’m there for my friends. I have a better understanding of what life’s really about. I’m really glad that I chose Turning Point. They have helped me a lot since I got clean, and [the program] is really setting me up for a bright future.” n


A N N I V E R S A R I E S

O T H E R N O T A B L E A N N I V E R S A R I E S :

11 MONTHSMarcus C.

10 MONTHSEric V.Stephen H.Max S.Alex F.Dylan D.Ben K.Arjun P.Doug K.Peter D.Ryan C.

9 MONTHSJoe P.Gary L.John N.Adam S.Zeke F.Adam S.Greg K.

8 MONTHSAltay P.James T.Nick M.Nicholas B.Kyle C.Grant L.Beau F.

7 MONTHSWarren P.Andrew M.Sean M.AJ B.Dan W.

6 MONTHSJack R.Mack G.Jim L.Tim W.Ken W.Tyler S.Brad G.

5 MONTHSWill H.Mark J.Vinny C.Phil S.Dave O.Nick A.Johnny M.

1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

RECENT TURNING POINT GRADS:Tim H.Chris.

Matt E.Chris B.

Noah M.Max Y.

Jordan B.

20 MONTHSAlejandro M.

19 MONTHSKyle S. Jared E.

16 MONTHSTyler J.

Andrew S. Mark W. Michael P. Brian T. Wills M.

4 MONTHSConnor P.David E.Alex K.Gavin B.Joe F.Mike V.Tyler F.Phil S.Nick T.

3 MONTHSJon D.Eli O.Kevin S.Ryan C.Chris C.


C L I N I C I A N ’ S C O R N E R

All approaches to therapy share one common

objective: to support the client in effecting posi-

tive change. Although the ultimate goal remains

uniform, there is a wide range of modalities by

which a therapist can help to facilitate such change.

In this article, I will focus on an approach that I

have found to be very effective in the context of our

client population and clinical setting - Acceptance

and Commitment Therapy.

The core of the ACT model rests on the premise

that effective change begins with acceptance of a

need for change. As a clinician, I find that much

of my work at this acceptance stage involves

supporting clients in coming to terms with their

personal past, successes and shortcomings alike.

My role in facilitating this process involves offering

permission to the client to make mistakes as well as

to achieve successes. It also requires consistency

in supporting the belief that clients can endure this

sometimes very uncomfortable process of early

recovery. I find that this belief can be effectively

supported by using examples from the client’s own

life that are unique to his/her journey.

Mindfulness is a therapeutic technique that has

particular relevance to ACT. Teaching mindfulness

supports the recovery process by providing clients

with a new way to manage cravings and/or intru-

sive thoughts by simply observing thoughts as they

come along without modifying their actions. The

idea is to allow the person to identify the intrusive

thought, memory, or craving, and then choose not

to respond to it in a negative or harmful way.

An example might make the therapy a bit easier

to understand:

FAC IL I TAT ING CHANGE: A c c e p t a n c e a n d C omm i tm e n t

Prior to treatment, a client might say, “I’m

anxious about a big test and I can’t go to school.

I need to stay home and drink instead.” In time,

following treatment, the same person might say,

“I’m anxious about a big test AND I am going to

school.” The feeling and the action both exist in the

same sentence and enhance flexibility and change

in thoughts as well as behaviors.

Client: “I want to change but I am too anxious.”

Therapist: “You want to change AND you are

anxious about it.”

This subtle verbal and cognitive shift is the

essence of acceptance and commitment therapy.

Instead of opting for change alone, the most effec-

tive approach may be to accept and then change.

In other words, this is a shift from the content of

experience to the context of experience.

Turning Point’s integrated behavioral and clinical

supports offer every resident a unique opportunity

for change though promotion of client commitment

to recovery and development of a fulfilling and

meaningful life. The methods by which I, as a clini-

cian, support a client’s commitment to recovery are

continuously evolving as progress is made through

the Stages of Change. To be effective in my work

at Turning Point, I find that I need to be mindful of

demonstrating acceptance of my clients, listening

attentively without judgment, reflecting and high-

lighting strengths, and meeting clients where they

are at (not where I want them to be) – all without

judgment or foisting my personal agenda. n


FAC IL I TAT ING CHANGE: A c c e p t a n c e a n d C omm i tm e n t Jessica Hamilton, LCSW

Primary Therapist

A licensed clinical social worker

with 15 years experience in the behavioral

health field, Jessica Hamilton has provided both

direct care and clinical supervision for some

of Connecticut’s largest treatment providers

of addiction, mental health and co-occurring

disorders.

Jessica began her career in the mental health

field working at Hall-Brooke Psychiatric Hospital

in Westport, CT and has since provided a variety

of co-occurring clinical services for children,

adolescents and adults prior to holding clinical

leadership positions. With Liberation Programs,

she served as Clinical Administrator of Bridge-

port Services and provided programmatic

oversight for research studies for Yale Univer-

sity and The National Institute on Drug Abuse

(NIDA). Jessica was chosen as site supervisor for

mastered level interns for NYU and Fordham

University students. Most recently, Jessica was

Program Manager for Rushford where she was

responsible for clinical supervision of staff and

implemented evidence based practices and

overall service delivery for co-occurring outpa-

tient services.

As a lead clinician with Center for Change,

Jessica utilizes a client centered, strength

based approach with CBT and dual recovery

principles. In this capacity, Jessica collaborates

closely with Turning Point’s staff to offer clinical

oversight for implementation of interventions

tailored specifically to the unique recovery

needs of each of her clients.

FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK

Dear Friends -Inspiration: Be the last to

judge and the first to congrat-

ulate. Be the change you want to see in others. Be

the heart for the heartless and soul for the soulless.

Follow your moral compass. Quick research shows

there are an estimated 50 trillion cells in the human

body at any given time, working in unison for a

singular purpose. Believe you can work with the man

to your left or woman to your right. Believe you can

help the next person to cross your path. Reach out

your hand. When you want to scream or shout, say

“I understand.” Give yourself the gift of time and

thought - inaction to create new and fresh actions.

Think ideas of splendor and ideas of vigor. Live them.

When all else fails, simply try to be better than you

were yesterday.

Gratefully,David VieauPresident, Turning Point

TURNING POINT IS AN INTEGRATED PROGRAM THAT BLENDS A CLINICAL, MEDICAL MODEL WITH A TRADITIONAL RECOV-

ERY MODEL. DIVIDED INTO THREE DISTINCT PHASES, OUR “STEP-DOWN” APPROACH TO RECOVERY IS BASED ON THE

CONCEPT OF HELPING YOUNG MEN 18-26 WHO SUFFER FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS

MAKE GRADUAL AND INCREMENTAL STEPS TOWARD GREATER SELF-RESPONSIBILITY AND INDEPENDENT LIVING OVER

TIME. WHENEVER AND WHEREVER A YOUNG MAN AND HIS FAMILY DECIDE THAT A CHANGE IN DIRECTION IS NECES-

SARY, TURNING POINT IS HERE TO HELP.

W H E R E YO U N G M E N S U C C E E D I N R E C OV E R Y … A N D L I F E .

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL

2 0 3 . 9 3 7 . 2 3 0 9EMAIL US

i n f o @ t p e x t e n d e d c a r e . c o mWEBSITE

www. t p e x t e n d e d c a r e . c o m

Documents

IN THIS ISSUE€¦ · • Unsung Heroes - Dave F. ... Recruiters began to call with offers from various col-leges, but Jordan’s drug use was escalating and taking an obvious toll