FAITH BY THE SEA

Families in Spiritual Healing - THE FISH PROGRAM

At Faith by the Sea we think one of the most important parts of recovery is to heal the family as a whole. It does no good to help only the addict. This is a family disease you are all affected, and you all need healing.

As your loved one is healing in one of our Recovery Homes you will have the opportunity to look at the disease of addiction with the assistance of an experienced and licensed therapist via:

· phone calls

· written communications

· and attending our family workshop.

HOW FISH WORKS

After your loved one is admitted, you will receive an email from our Family Program Coordinator to set up a series of phone interviews to get to know you and how your loved one’s disease has impacted your life. A questionnaire will be completed.

In the weekly phone calls with our Family Program Coordinator, you will get an update on your loved one’s progress, and address necessary issues to facilitate her/his re-entry into family life.

You will receive guidance to write “Impact Letters” to your loved one, which they will process in recovery meetings and with their psychologist during this time.

Letter writing will give you an opportunity to vent your feelings, express concerns and share your love. This process is healing as you reopen communication and deepen your relationship to a more meaningful level.

You and the family members of other residents will learn more about the disease of addiction and how to help without enabling. You will all attend an Al- anon meeting together with the other families. Then you will be reunited with your loved ones, along with the other residents’ families, for a powerful workshop experience which many have called “life changing”. You will be reunited with your family members at a church service Sunday morning and then spend a visit alone with your loved one.

Family Program Consultant

Barb Getchell, DCSW., LCSW., is a licensed therapist providing experienced help to family members of those suffering from substance abuse. She has worked with some of the leaders in the field including the original Medical Director of the Betty Ford Center and John Bradshaw who authored “Healing the Shame That Binds You” and “Homecoming For the Inner Child”. With these experts Barb was part of the team that conducted seminars and treatment workshops around the US and Canada.

In the 90's Barb opened and directed CenterPeace ®, a week long retreat for family members. She and a team of therapists utilized this model to bring God’s peace to those who loved alcoholics and addicts through specialized therapy and education. Home based in Virginia, this program was mobile and presented its model

In 2000 Barb Getchell opened a private practice on the Outer Banks of NC where she continued this work on an outpatient basis with survivors of abuse and adolescent substance abusers through the SAFE Program (Substance Abuse Family Education).

She now shares her expertise as the Faith by the Sea Family Program Consultant and leads their “FISH” model for the families of residents of their Recovery Homes. This model involves a monthly weekend education and treatment program for residents and family members as well as phone contact throughout the residents’ stay.