Gentle Path
A PINE GROVE PROGRAM
Pine Grove’s Gentle Path is a program for those suffering from sexual addiction, relationship addiction and sexual anorexia. It is under the direction of Patrick Carnes, Ph.D., C.A.S., world-renowned speaker, and author on addiction. Dr. Carnes’ 30-task-model serves as the basic curriculum for treatment. The staff on-hand is multi-disciplinary and includes psychiatrists and addictionologists. The Gentle Path program consists of two components: A Comprehensive Diagnostic Assessment (one to two days) and a Residential Treatment Program (average length of stay being 6 weeks).
Housing and the majority of treatment are provided in cottages on the Gentle Path campus on Emerald Lane, located approximately four miles from the main Pine Grove campus.
Gentle Path Video
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Gentle Path Staff
Front row L-R: Thomas Tullos, Tiffany Polk, Lauren Hoyt, Dr. Stefanie Carnes,
Dr. Ken McGill.
Back Row L-R: Andy Ricks, Dr. Patrick Carnes, Mark Bell, Jennifer Barbieri,
Dr. Ellen Ovson
Not Pictured: Deborah Schiller and Penny Potts
Gentle Path is a six week intensive program designed to treat sexual addiction, sexual anorexia, relationship addiction and sexual trauma. It is offered in a community setting and provides extended care through Pine Grove Behavioral Health Services, one of the South's leading treatment facilities.
The Gentle Path Program offers gender specific treatment to aid men and women in regaining their freedom from the disease of sexual addiction. Most patients are simultaneously treated for mood disturbance, anxiety or other addictions, such as chemical dependency. The Gentle Path Program has a special focus on working through past trauma and family problems. The program is designed to help men and women regain freedom from compulsive behaviors and develop a sense of healthy sexuality.
It's our mission to offer quality cost-effective care while at the same time offering a comprehensive level of treatment and services.
We provide a safe and secure environment where patients can work together under the supervision of professional, caring and effective staff members. Patients live in a community setting where meals are provided for them.
THE THIRTY TASK MODEL
The Gentle Path Program is based on the groundbreaking work of Dr. Patrick Carnes who developed the curriculum for the Gentle Path Program. The curriculum is based on Dr. Carnes' thirty task model which has been empirically validated to be an effective form of treatment of sexually compulsive behavior. Patients receive individualized attention as well as being incorporated into a group process. This cutting-edge program was designed to provide patients with the most progressive and well researched treatment available.
Multi-Phase Approach
Evaluation: Gentle Path employs a system which varies the intensity of care according to individual patient needs. During the Evaluation Phase, patients are assessed in our most structured setting. Patients receive a battery of psychological testing, a psychiatric evaluation, a physical examination, a chemical dependency assessment, in addition to a biopsychosocial assessment and a psychosexual assessment. This phase of treatment typically lasts 24 – 72 hours. The patient is then discharged to the first phase of treatment.
Phase I: Phase One is a six week intensive program that incorporates individual and group therapy and extensive psychoeducation. Patients are involved in a full day of treatment 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities and events are also scheduled on evenings and weekends. The program offers specialty groups and services designed to meet the needs of this population. All Gentle Path staff are either Masters or Doctoral level trained clinicians with specialized training in working with sexual issues.
Phase II: Phase Two is a 48 day transition phase, entered into upon the recommendation of the Gentle Path treatment team to further develop and implement recovery tools to support the recovery of the patient.
Schedule
| 6:00 | Wake Up | |
| 6:45 | Breakfast | |
| 7:30 | Meditation | |
| 8:30 | Community Meeting with GP Staff & Patients | |
| 9:30 | Psychoeducation Lecture | |
| 10:30 | Primary Group | |
| 12:00 | Lunch | |
| 1:00 | Psychoeducation Lecture | |
| 2:00 | Individual Sessions | |
| 3:00 | Experiential Group | |
| 5:30 | Dinner | |
| 6:30 | 12 Step Meeting | |
| 8:00 | Inspection | |
| 10:30 | Curfew | |
Because we understand there are many different types of addictions, Gentle Path offers a variety of treatment options, each prescribed and suited to an individual patient's needs.
Our goal is to get results, teach coping skills and to explore underlying issues that often contribute to an individual's addictive disease. To get the results our patients need for long term recovery, Gentle Path provides comprehensive treatment services based on a 12-Step Program. Our interdisciplinary staff of physicians, nurses, counselors, clinical assistants, social workers and a certified addictionologists, provide patients with a full continuum of care. The Day Treatment Program includes:
Individual therapy Family Care program
Group therapy Exercise and fitness program
Weekly psychiatric consultation Eye movement desensitization
Cognitive Behavioral therapy reprocessing
Experiential trauma work Shame reduction work
Big Book/Step study Spirituality group
Relapse prevention counseling Yoga
ROPES Course Grief Group
Consultation with Dr. Patrick Carnes
FAMILY CARE PROGRAM
Family plays a vital role in recovery from sexual issues. Dealing with a friend or family member with an addictive disease can be stressful, frustrating and emotionally draining. To assist our patients' loved ones in dealing with these feelings, Gentle Path offers an intensive one-week Family Care Program. During this week, we encourage family members and patients to identify the problems they are facing and set goals for recovery.
The Pine Grove Family Program offers special services to spouses of patients, including marital therapy and our spouse support program.
By working together as a family, we believe that recovery can continue for a lifetime. There's no extra charge for this service. To find out more, click Family Care Program.
AFTERCARE
Primary therapists are available to provide assistance with discharge planning and aftercare services. Pine Grove can offer additional services to transition patients back to everyday life or assist them in finding a specialist in their community from our wide network of aftercare providers.
PRIMARY GROUP
Patients meet daily with their primary group and therapist. During this time patients focus on homework geared towards the completion of the 30 Tasks. For example, they may present their First Step, report their sexual timeline, do some experiential trauma work or go over their "secrets list". Patients have an extensive amount of reading and homework that is geared towards self discovery and task completion. Patients will have the opportunity work on over fifteen of the thirty tasks while in treatment.
EXPRESSIVE THERAPY
The collective mediums of art, movement, music and drama therapies are combined to form Expressive Therapy. All Gentle Path patients participate in Expressive Therapy, and family members are also encouraged to participate during Family Week. Expressive Therapy allows the patient to: Explore feelings that are often suppressed; Gain insight into ineffectual behavioral responses; Elevate self-esteem through discipline and accomplishment; Examine methods of communication to determine effectiveness.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing)
EMDR is a progressive and empirically validated treatment for healing trauma and reducing anxiety. In the Gentle Path Program, patients can receive weekly individualized EMDR treatment by our certified therapist.
ROPES
Also known as R.E.A.C.H. was originally used for chemical dependency treatment as a result of works conducted by Outward Bound in North Carolina.
This therapy is a combination of an obstacle course and group therapy. Its application in treatment is focused on the expression and resolution of feelings, self-esteem enhancement, problem solving, building of trust, communication, leadership and team-building skills.
ROPES therapy is experiential and provides the opportunity and environment for strong and lasting change to take place in a non-conventional setting. The ROPES Course consists of more than 40 elements located among the pine trees surrounding Pine Grove. Our highly trained professionals lead each participant safely through the course.
DUAL DIANGOSIS
Patients with a dual diagnosis can be treated at Gentle Path. The treatment team works toward stabilization of emotional and psychiatric problems. It offers a 12-step based program which utilizes physicians who are board certified in psychiatry and addiction medicine.
EXERCISE FITNESS THERAPY
At Gentle Path, our patients live in a setting in which they perform daily living tasks that can aid in recovery. Not the least of which is a physical exercise program. Gentle Path maintains a relationship with a local fitness center to allow patients to participate in regular exercise programs such as aerobics classes, weight training and jogging. This state-of-the-art fitness center is near the Gentle Path campus and transportation to and from the workout facilities can be coordinated through Pine Grove.
CONSULTATION WITH DR. PATRICK CARNES
Dr. Patrick Carnes conducts individual consultations with each patient and the patient's primary therapist. Occasionally he is involved in providing psychoeducational lectures and facilitates the group process. To learn more about Dr. Carnes, click here.
PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL LECTURES
The Gentle Path Program uses a psychoeducational approach to teach patients about sexual issues and recovery. Over the course of the six week program, patients receive education on 36 different topics related to sexual addiction, relationship addiction, sexual anorexia and sexual trauma. Examples include: ""What is Celibacy?", "Managing Shame Attacks", Cybersex", "Addiction Interaction", "Working the Steps", "Relapse Prevention", "The Ten Types", and "The Nature of Shame, Trauma, Abuse and Your Brain". The lecturers use an interactive format that encourages patients to ask questions and apply the material to their own lives.
DOCTOR INVOLVEMENT
All Gentle Path Physicians are certified by the American Society of Addiction Medicine. Maintaining regular contact with physicians and therapists and other referral sources is a top priority with our staff at Gentle Path. This is accomplished through weekly telephone conference calls as well as written progress reports and treatment updates. Prior to discharge, the referring therapist or physician will receive a written Discharge/Aftercare Recovery Plan on each patient.
LENGTH OF STAY
Length of stay will vary depending on individual patient needs, but is typically six weeks.
HOUSING AND ACCOMODATIONS
The facility is located at 304 Emerald Lane, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, just minutes from the main Pine Grove campus . Hattiesburg is centrally located in South Mississippi and is easy to get to many metropolitan areas. Patients may book flights into the small airport in Hattiesburg or into one of the larger airports in Jackson, MS, Mobile, AL, Gulfport, MS or New Orleans, LA. Transportation will be provided from any of these airports. Financial arrangements can be made through the Assessment Office by contacting our toll-free number.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Friends and relatives are encouraged to write to the patient. Mail should be addressed to:
Gentle Path
304 Emerald Lane
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
REFERRENT INVOLVEMENT
All Gentle Path physicians are certified by the American Society of Addiction Medicine. Maintaining regular contact with physicians and therapists and other referral sources is a top priority with our staff at Gentle Path. This is accomplished through weekly telephone conference calls as well as written progress reports and treatment updates. Prior to discharge, the referring therapist or physician will receive a written Discharge/Aftercare Recovery Plan on each patient.
For Gentle Path Admission Criteria, click here.
For Gentle Path Costs, click here.
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