Gateway Rehab to Open New Treatment Program Dedicated to Women in Early Recovery

By Nancy Kennedy

Gateway Rehabilitation Center will soon open a new treatment setting dedicated to the needs of women in recovery from addiction. The new program is modeled on Gateway’s existing Ramsey Extended Services Treatment (REST) program, located at its main campus in Center Township, Beaver County. REST for Women will offer the highly skilled, compassionate, individualized treatment that Gateway is known for, in a residential environment designed to provide safety, healing and a renewed sense of well-being for women.

The REST program will serve women exclusively over a longer term residential treatment program for up to four months. It has been made possible through a partnership with the County of Beaver, which offered Gateway the use of a county building in Ohioville Borough. The program is set to open in April 2023.

Tracy Plevel, vice-president, Development and Community Relations, Gateway Rehab, says that the new program will enable Gateway to provide specialized, gender-specific treatment for women 18 and older with substance use disorder and to expand its existing programs. “With this expansion, we are able to provide gender-specific programming throughout all phases of our inpatient treatment program. This is an exciting opportunity for us; we can do unique things that make a difference in the early stages of recovery.”

Plevel states that the new facility is already built to serve as a residential program, so it will require only a minimal amount of construction to prepare it to serve as a treatment setting and meet licensing requirements. It is set in a rural area, offering opportunities for outdoor experiences, while maintaining privacy, and can accommodate up to 39 women in double rooms.

Jenny Wylie Carlin, MA, LPC, NCC, serves as the director of the REST program and says that the new program will allow women to focus on themselves – something that many women rarely have a chance to do. “Women need substance use disorder treatment as much as men do but are less likely to get it, for a number of reasons. Women are so busy keeping everything going: child care, jobs, household care, feeding their families. They try to help themselves. For many, child care is a barrier to treatment; in fact, it is the number one barrier to treatment for women. The REST program will include parenting classes and extended children’s visiting.”

Women also need a safe, secure treatment environment, Wylie Carlin says. “A nonthreatening environment is essential for women in recovery. If a woman has a history of trauma and relationship issues with men, she isn’t going to feel comfortable in group therapy with men.”

The REST program offers:

• Individual, group and family therapy

• Individual trauma treatment

• Therapeutic recreation and wellness, including equine therapy

• Art and music therapy with open studio time

• Smoking cessation

• General Life Skills development

• Plus more

There are a number of amenities in the new setting that further enhance the program. This includes a wide expanse of greenspace, with places to sit in the sun, appreciate nature or enjoy the outdoors. There is a courtyard space and plans to develop a garden. A large community kitchen is available, where staff will offer cooking classes, and a small library offers novels and reading materials. The bedrooms are large, with semi-private bathrooms. Exercise is an integral part of the program, and Gateway will provide a fitness room as well as a program in adventure-based counseling.

“Few services exist that are just for women,” Wylie Carlin explains. “We are doing something creative and new to this area, and we will fine tune it as we go. We’ll identify unmet needs and address those in ways that are specific to women. We have lots of support from executive management.

“The REST program will help women get stronger and restore their lives, through body, mind and spirit. At Gateway we understand that people need help, and help is available here. The staff at Gateway is skilled and caring; we know that recovery works and life can be good.”

Adds Tracy Plevel, “We are grateful to Beaver County Behavioral Health and the Beaver County commissioners for making this space available. It’s going to make a big difference in the lives of our patients.”

To learn more about Gateway Rehab and the REST program, visit gatewayrehab.org.