Gateway: Carbondale, IL

In addition to treating drug addictions, we serve as an alcohol addiction rehab treatment center. Our services for alcohol addiction include:

• Behavioral therapy
• Medically supervised withdrawal
• Medications for withdrawal symptoms
• Support groups

Scientific evidence and compassion for our patients drive our approach to alcohol addiction treatment. We provide the same level of care to our alcohol addiction patients as we do to our drug addiction patients.

A JCAHO-Accredited Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center

We take pride in our accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). The JCAHO evaluates health facilities for their ability to foster a safe and healthy environment for patients. Since the JCAHO holds clinics to a high standard, their accreditation demonstrates that a facility provides high-quality care. Our team receives support from JCAHO to:

• Improve risk management and reduction
• Foster confidence in the patient community
• Strengthen efforts related to patient safety
• Enhance staff hiring and training

When you receive treatment from our staff, you can rest assured that you’ll get a high level of care.

Her Story, a woman’s path to recovery was developed to support women who suffer from trauma and addictions and need a safe place to transform their pain. Research shows that up to eighty percent of women who abuse substances have suffered some form of trauma. This women-only, intimate 12-bed program in Carbondale addresses substance use disorders, trauma including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), as well as their co-occurring mental health conditions.

Trauma comes in many forms. For some, it is a single event such as violence, sexual assault, an accident, or loss of a loved one. For others, it is repeated exposure to physical or emotional abuse or neglect. Trauma often results in symptoms of other co-occurring disorders such as anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, sustained feelings of grief and loss, and bipolar or psychotic disorders. Without addressing the underlying and comorbid issues, sustained recovery is very difficult to achieve.

For women to fully address these issues a safe therapeutic environment has to be created and trust established. For our patients to heal and grow we have developed a single-gender – women-only milieu. Carbondale is located on 14 wooded acres, in a serene landscape, where women can feel safe and protected.

Therapeutic Techniques to Address Co-Occurring Disorders and/or Trauma

Along with our nine core evidence-based clinical practices, specific therapeutic techniques are used to safely address and alleviate symptoms stemming from traumatic events and memories. Our staff of licensed psychiatrists, nurses, therapists and specialists are highly trained and credentialed to work with women and their trauma. Trauma services include:

• All staff are trained in Trauma-Informed Care
• The Helping Women Recover Curriculum by Stephanie Covington
• Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Individual and Family Therapy
• Art therapy
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
• Mindfulness-Based Sobriety
• Movement therapy, exercise, and nutrition

Trauma may originate from different sources. While it’s usually associated with tragic events such as war or sexual assault, it may also be a result of different types of incidents. Seeing a fatal accident, natural disaster or the loss of a family member are all traumatic experiences.

According to research on the treatment outcomes for women with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse, up to 80% of women who get treatment for substance abuse have a history of trauma. This figure only shows the percentage among those who seek treatment — the actual percentage among the population may be higher.

This high number is most likely due to the way traumatic events affect the brain. The instant effects of a traumatic event include perspiration, increased heart rate and hypervigilance. Long-term effects of the trauma can alter a person’s thinking patterns. Symptoms such as panic attacks, depression, anxiety and flashbacks will occur. In some people, PTSD may arise.

The likelihood of women developing PTSD is 10%, while for men, it’s 4%. That means women are twice as likely to have PTSD than men. A major reason could be because women are more likely to get sexually assaulted or raped.

Unfortunately, people suffering from trauma tend to self-medicate with alcohol and drugs to forget the tragic event. As they begin to desire more of the substance to experience the same effect, dependence can develop into an established addiction.

Trauma results in co-occurring disorders such as depression, sleep disorders, psychotic disorders and persistent feelings of loss and grief. When this happens, sustained recovery may be hard to achieve without addressing the co-occurring issues.

Signs of PTSD

Some women may not even know they have PTSD, particularly if they aren’t aware of the impact the traumatic event had on them. Common signs of PTSD include:

• Paranoia
• Difficulty trusting people
• Intrusion
• Withdrawal from social activities
• Hypervigilance
• Risky behavior
• Change in romantic relationships
• Avoidance
• Hyperarousal to situations

Women are more likely to seek treatment for trauma-related issues. But some challenges affect women’s addiction treatment.

Obstacles Women Face When Seeking Addiction Treatment

Some of the most common challenges women face when looking for addiction treatment include:

• Lack of services designed to suit women
• Inadequate finances
• Improper housing
• Lack of services for children
• Long waitlists
• Fear of losing kids
• Fear of divorce or separation
• Physical or sexual abuse
• Stigma

Apart from the challenges women face when seeking treatment, they also encounter treatment programs that aren’t suited to their needs. This is partly because most addiction treatment and rehab programs were not originally made to cater to women’s needs. So, when women started looking for addiction treatment, therapists thought the same methods that worked for men would also work for women. However, in many cases, this is not so.

A woman’s recovery needs to address relationship needs because they play a major role in her recovery. Family relationships are also quite important. Women who partake in residential addiction treatment usually struggle with feelings of guilt from leaving their family and home responsibilities behind.

Women also thrive better in community settings, so they need to build friendships and develop trust in support groups. When combined with improving self-worth and self-care, women can open up more about their trauma and deal with the main cause of their addiction.

Introducing a Women-Only Therapeutic Environment

We’ve built a safe, gender-specific environment to enable our clients to start and complete their healing journey successfully. The Gateway Carbondale facility is situated on 14 wooded acres in an environment where women feel safe and secure. At this facility, we have a 12-bed women’s trauma and substance use disorder program that provides PTSD treatment for women.

Women’s Trauma Recovery Program

In line with our nine major evidenced-based clinical practices, we also use therapeutic methods to address issues stemming from traumatic events at our women’s trauma treatment centers. Our services:

• Help women recover
• Provide eye movement desensitization reprocessing
• Take care of family and individual therapy
• Offer dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
• Provide mindfulness-based sobriety
• Incorporate exercise, nutrition and motion therapy
• Include medication-assisted treatment to manage withdrawal symptoms

For more information about this program, please call us at 877.505.4673 or send us a message through our contact page today.