Ron
GBPositive Transformation Go here first! The Freedom Model should be taught in grade school! This is a truly positive program that can transform your life! I look forward to it's continued expansion. For me this has been the beginning of a whole new way of life without fear and dread. There is also no longer any need to rearrange external circumstances to try and make me feel in control. Life can flow and I can flow with it and still accomplish everything that I need or want to do.
Timm S.
GBAn eye opener I can honestly tell you that St. Judes not only saved my life, but made my life a whole lot better. I attended St. Judes in 2011 and to this day I speak with the counselors on a regular basis. They continue to share experiences that I can use in my everyday life. I can proudly say that many of them have become my friends. St. Judes to me is more of an education than anything else. It taught me to discover the reasons "why" I wanted to use drugs and alcohol. Once I knew why, I could really focus on how to make it better. I would and have highly recommended St. Judes. For anyone that really wants to live a better life... Oh and the food..... AMAZING!!!! 😜
Giancarlo
GBMountain Retreat - Inspiring I kind of stumbled upon Saint Jude’s Program during a google search marathon. And consider myself very fortunate to have done so. It was not the non-12 step method that appealed to me, as much as the all-encompassing approach towards life skills improvement. What I most appreciate about the experience was the perspective that my devastatingly destructive behaviors were in fact very logical. Drinking and drugging, as irrational as it seemed (for an extremely longtime I might add), had a purpose. A simple desire for pleasure, regardless of consequence. And, it was my responsibility to choose if that immediate gratification was worth it. Or, if there were more productive ways to spend my time and energy in search for pleasure, more difficult ways, more satisfying ways… Obviously this is easier said than done, and there is nothing revolutionary about instant vs. deferred gratification. But thanks to education on scientific concepts such as neuroplasticity and a thorough self-analysis I was able to gain the insight and perspective that I required to make the necessary effort to change. I’m definitely still a work in progress, and will always be… and that’s a good thing. I will forever be grateful for my experience at SJP. I’m a better person because of it, whatever the future holds. I took the program seriously and got involved with all the educational opportunities offered. Not everyone did, but that was there decision. It is definitely a lot of money to spend for a holiday. I was not an anti-12-step person when I entered SJP, but when I reflect on my using and drinking trajectory, my true ‘rock bottom’ was accepting powerlessness. Once I became ‘diseased’ my habits got exponentially worse. Saint Jude’s Program made it clear to me that I had the power to change my choices, and that it was my responsibility to do so, or not. I truly dodged a bullet by not attending a 12-step program again. The staff and educators were great, as was the food. The accommodations were good, but could use a little tune-up. The location was wonderful, with a lot of nature and tranquility. Highly recommend.
Shawn Meritt
GBI AM NOT DISEASED My name is Shawn, I am an ..... Wait wait wait. Let me start over. My name is Shawn I am not diseased. I am not powerless, I am not out of control, nor have I ever been. Now just to let you know before I got here I would not have said these things because I totally fed into the diseased mentality. Completely believed I was powerless. I prayed and prayed everyday for God to remove my obsessiveness and defects to no avail. Now if you're one of those closed minded people like I was you may be thinking, well if you really worked the program you would stay sober. To those I will say I went to 180 meetings in 90 days. Three and four meetings a day. I worked the steps to the best of my ability more than once. I still had the desire, and believed it was up to God alone to relieve me of the obsession. Now I know the truth. Now I know I and I alone am responsible for my decisions. I chose to drink and drug and until I faced this fact nothing or no entity was gonna save me from myself. realizing the power is mine, that my success is in my hands, is so freeing and empowering. I can change myself from the inside out. I can control myself and my thinking, How depressing it was to think one little can of cold beer would make me drink thirty more. I am not weak. I am powerful but had been brainwashed otherwise. My happiness and my life are mine to make whatever I want to out of. I have total confidence in myself thanks to Saint Jude Retreats. The best most productive years of my life lie in front of me. I cant wait to show people that I can succeed on my own.