Nice Things to Say.. |
We want to share with you some of the great things that have happened here at BIRD and the moving words of those who wished to tell you.
I came to BIRD two years ago, hopeless, in real pain. My family life was a mess. Mostly back then I was filled with shame, depression, despair, blocked around other stuff. I met with Scott Gillet, the director for an evaluation. He came back with a treatment plan right then in that first visit and presented it to me. He was able to pinpoint the exact things that needed to be addressed and how exactly that would be done at BIRD. Took time, did Individual, group and family work while in treatment there and I will say it was work, hard work to be honest. I began to grow, to heal, to learn what my core stuff was. I could not believe I looked forward to group, developed relationships with others, went to a couple of retreats. Something magical happened at BIRD. Even my brain was treated and I believe repaired. Feeling good today, even joy!
I have had the privilege over the last decade to benefit from the program at BIRD. Under the guidance of the director Scott Gillet, the Institute has helped me make the journey from my cognitive self to my emotional and spiritual heart. A huge transformative experience for me was group. I had been to therapy before but this was a different place, a unique therapeutic model for growth. Have participated in Individual and family therapy also and retreats for men. Having Peter (the spiritual director) co lead group was a calming, cleansing and renewing, healing process around childhood traumas. Peter is a special type of person who had an energetic influence on all of us while Scott would bring the clinical, Peter would bring the spiritual.
Originally I came to BIRD years ago about my brother who was a heroin addict and had other mental health stuff. The staff worked with him, but the focus shifted to me and also my wife Liz. We learned about the shame and fall out and the family of origin. Our life was about pain back then. Engaged in marital work, some group work and ended up working with the spiritual director, Peter. He is all knowing, wise a remarkable model of living in joy. With him we were given the gift of appreciation and have got to know that joy is possible with work and a path with a plan. With Scott Gillet, I now understand things about my wiring and brain that I never knew.
BIRDsaved my marriage. We learned how to communicate. We did not know howto talk and manage our feelings, did Imago therapy, Intimacy exercises,Family systems therapy. A team approach was used and another cliniciangot involved also. So many things shifted for us. We had a year inrecovery and a relapse had occurred in one of us and the marriage couldhave ended and someone’s life but the opposite happened at BIRD. They godeeper than any place we ever went to. The environment is warm, lovingand the physical space beautiful. With Peter we learned inner peace.