Reflections

   Take a moment and imagine a best friend. Think about all the times that your friend was loyal to you in being a good listener, offering supportive counsel, or bringing a smile to your face. Think about a sibling who would drop everything to be by your side, offering a vital organ if necessary, or reminiscing about all the family's trials and triumphs. Now think about when your child was born and how the first moment when you saw him/her, you knew on the most intimate level that your love for this child and desire for his/her well-being would forever be the yearning of your heart. Every step that your child took brought a freshness and innocence that only grew with leaps and bounds. As your child grew, you nurtured, laughed, sweat tears, jumped for joy, watched with pride, guided, taught values, and shared in a love that flowed outwardly to make the world a better place.

   Now imagine the next time you see this person is from the side of a long dusty road. You see this person from a distance and what you see is unthinkable, unimaginable, and so utterly heart-breaking that your breath is taken away.  You see this person, your child, your brother, your friend, surrounded by men so barbaric in nature that when you finally get a glimpse of your special one, He looks so tiny and frail in comparison. At a closer look, He is barely noticeable due to the unfathomable brutality that was bestowed upon His body. Blood is dripping down His face due to the thorny crown piercing through His skull. His back is torn in shreds by the many lashings He received from the monstrous and brutal men who held Him captive. You see one of His captors turn and spit on Him while laughing and mocking His every step. His eyes are red with abysmal sorrow and His footsteps areas heavy as maneuvering through quicksand.

   Your precious someone who you have held in your arms, who has brought miles of smiles to your face, who has lifted your heart above the skies, is now on the fatal path to his death. No words can explain, no eyes have seen, no ears have heard, the agony and pain that is outpouring from your heart. And you can only stand by because you know that He is fulfilling His destiny and is choosing His fate for reasons that are beyond your understanding, except for the sheer Truth that the Father's will is being done. "Jesus called out with a loud voice, 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit,'" (Luke 23:46).

   Three days later He rose from the dead. And from that day forward what was the most dreadful moment in all of history (His-story) became the day of liberation for all of humanity. He is our brother, He is the son of a mother, and He is our friend to the very end.  To you my most Precious Lord, I commit my spirit, will, and eternal love for evermore.

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Services at Meier Clinics  

• Day Program for Adults is available at the following Meier Clinics:  Wheaton, IL; Richardson, TX; Bothell, WA.
• Sexual Addiction Intensive Outpatient for Adults (Pathway to Freedom) at Meier Clinics in Richardson, TX.
• After-school Intensive Outpatient Program for Teens (Breakaway) at Meier Clinics in Wheaton, IL.
• Residential Care for Women and Teens at Timberline Knolls in Lemont, IL, with a Meier Clinics Christian track.

For additional information about these programs, visit our website at www.meierclinics.org or give us a toll free call at 888-7 CLINIC (888-725-4642).

Utilizing DBT in Treatment  

   At Timberline Knolls, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an important component in our treatment of eating disorders, substance abuse, mood disorders and more.  The ultimate goal of DBT is to create a meaningful life, which complements our intent for every woman or girl who comes to us for treatment.   We want every person in our care to be set free from her addiction or disorder and go on to live a balanced, joyful, healthy and productive life; in essence, the life God had intended for her.

   DBT emphasizes teaching women how to experience emotions and create a life worth living, despite past challenges. It is especially effective in treating those who have experienced repeated relapses of self-harm, eating disorders, co-occurring emotional illnesses, or addiction. 

   The four primary aspects of DBT skills training include:

�         Mindfulness. Learning to control your mind so it does not control you.

�         Distress Tolerance. Learning how to make it through crisis situations without making matters worse (without engaging in negative or unhealthy behaviors).

�         Emotion Regulation. Learning how to tolerate and regulate your emotions in productive ways.

�         Interpersonal Effectiveness. Learning how to be more effective in communicating with others and being aware of your own limits in relationships while also observing the limits of others.

   When an individual comes to Timberline Knolls, we ask her to consider how she would define living a meaningful life. In those initial days, her response could be as simple as "living a life where I can eat without hating myself," or "living a life where I don't have to use drugs every day." The amazing aspect of this initial response is that this definition is not chiseled in stone.  As women progress through treatment, the definition can expand to include so much more, such as the possibility of loving relationships, or choosing a new career path. 

   We also introduce our residents to the tenants of DBT and encourage them to start practicing them right away.  Mindfulness is perhaps the most important one, in that the other components naturally stem from this state.  We want our residents to practice slowing down, being present and living in the moment.  This is not easy since most of them have utilized their addiction or disorder to numb their minds and escape from their personal, painful reality. 

   Throughout treatment, we want our residents to return to a life that includes emotion.  Some have existed in a feeling-free world for so long, they can have difficulty recognizing an emotion when it presents itself.  Since these emotions are usually unpleasant, and our residents can no longer rely on bingeing and purging or drugs to vanquish them, our women and girls learn and practice the skills of emotion regulation and distress tolerance.  They soon discover that emotions, though difficult, are not lethal, and that they, through their own power and with God's guidance, can choose how to react and cope.

   The fourth component of DBT is interpersonal effectiveness; this is also taught and practiced by our residents.  This tool is designed to help women get their needs met in a way that is respectful to both themselves and others.

   Not only are DBT skills practiced in structured groups, but they are also integrated into expressive therapy activities. Additionally, our entire staff is trained in DBT to better support and facilitate each resident's recovery.

   Mothers come in many forms.  There are women who went through nine months of pregnancy before becoming mothers; there are women who chose their precious child through adoption; there are women who long to be mothers but can't so they find other ways to share their love and provide nurturing; there are even men who become mothers because the woman is no longer available to care for the child.

   Moms have one of the most important jobs there is!  And that job often comes with challenges and heartache.  We want to reach out to all types of "moms" who need Christian counseling care.  Your donation can make that care available.

   All contributions to Meier Clinics Foundation are tax deductible within IRS regulations. There are three easy ways to donate:

Mail: MCF, 2100 Manchester Rd., Ste. 1510, Wheaton, IL 60187-4561

Phone: 800-848-8872

E-mail: www.meierclinics.org.  

   To all mothers, we say "thank you" for showing God's love and care to your own children and to many others.