Simon here! Just spent some time in an IRTS home in West St.Paul, MN 55118. This place is called Theodore 1. Pretty good place for sure. This place is clean with good food and good staffing. Of course every staff has it's idiots and Theo-1 is no exception; however, most of the staff at Theo-1 are professional and that's no small thing.
Theo-1 is a duplex with six bedrooms, four double rooms and two singles. They provide everything you need other than clothes and cigarettes. The coffee was blended with decaf and they run out of sugar every couple of weeks. No Internet connection for the clients but I guess you can get connected if you're creative. Theo-1 doesn't have a way to transport clients to meetings but there is a couple within walking distance. Right now the staff is consisted mostly of women. They have four part time men working there and they work nights and weekends. The part time staff help keep the place clean and dish out meds. The best counselor there is a woman named Janice, she's very knowledgeable and can be a big help, all you need to do is ask for it. Janice actually cares about the clients. I've been around a little and I can tell the difference between genuine concern and roll play. She's not bad looking either. Then there is the house staff, Mellisa and Clair. There are a couple others but their roll is hardly worth mentioning. Mellisa and Clair really make the place a pleasant experience. Mellisa was my favorite staff person. Mellisa is very intelligent and great to converse with. I liked Clair also, Clair is the nutritionist and plans all the meals. In my opinion Clair is a real beauty (literally).
Next in line is Shanon, I liked her but there were a couple of people I met that didn't ? Janice and Shanon facilitate all the groups so you get to know them right away. Then there's the program director, Kia. Kia keeps a low profile. The last one of any consequence is Sheri. Sheri does the intake interviews and well, Sheri could work on her people skills. Theo-1's program is centered around DBT (dialectic behavioral therapy) which is a spin off from CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy). DBT is like a breath of fresh air after being bogged down in a murky cloud of twelve step. Twelve step programs haven't kept up with the times. I think we know a lot more about addiction than we did 65 years ago. For some reason AA is as stiff as a board, unable to change as we gain more knowledge. The notion that Bill W's spiritual awakening is the only way to get sober and stay that way is simply ludicrous. Bill W's spiritual awakening was Bill W's. Twains Maxim: "You can't grow old following another man's road". More on that as we go; anyway, DBT actually has its roots in ancient Eastern philosophy and is worth every bit of a trial. Stay tuned.
Theo-1 is a duplex with six bedrooms, four double rooms and two singles. They provide everything you need other than clothes and cigarettes. The coffee was blended with decaf and they run out of sugar every couple of weeks. No Internet connection for the clients but I guess you can get connected if you're creative. Theo-1 doesn't have a way to transport clients to meetings but there is a couple within walking distance. Right now the staff is consisted mostly of women. They have four part time men working there and they work nights and weekends. The part time staff help keep the place clean and dish out meds. The best counselor there is a woman named Janice, she's very knowledgeable and can be a big help, all you need to do is ask for it. Janice actually cares about the clients. I've been around a little and I can tell the difference between genuine concern and roll play. She's not bad looking either. Then there is the house staff, Mellisa and Clair. There are a couple others but their roll is hardly worth mentioning. Mellisa and Clair really make the place a pleasant experience. Mellisa was my favorite staff person. Mellisa is very intelligent and great to converse with. I liked Clair also, Clair is the nutritionist and plans all the meals. In my opinion Clair is a real beauty (literally).
Next in line is Shanon, I liked her but there were a couple of people I met that didn't ? Janice and Shanon facilitate all the groups so you get to know them right away. Then there's the program director, Kia. Kia keeps a low profile. The last one of any consequence is Sheri. Sheri does the intake interviews and well, Sheri could work on her people skills. Theo-1's program is centered around DBT (dialectic behavioral therapy) which is a spin off from CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy). DBT is like a breath of fresh air after being bogged down in a murky cloud of twelve step. Twelve step programs haven't kept up with the times. I think we know a lot more about addiction than we did 65 years ago. For some reason AA is as stiff as a board, unable to change as we gain more knowledge. The notion that Bill W's spiritual awakening is the only way to get sober and stay that way is simply ludicrous. Bill W's spiritual awakening was Bill W's. Twains Maxim: "You can't grow old following another man's road". More on that as we go; anyway, DBT actually has its roots in ancient Eastern philosophy and is worth every bit of a trial. Stay tuned.
1 comment:
Do you cook your own food? Can you come and go as you please?I have more questions, want to make sure I am going to get answers.
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