Letter from the Director

As summer ends and fall begins, we all start to get back to our daily routines. A new school year begins for our kids and tans start to wear off had we been lucky enough to enjoy the sun. The world is now showing signs of the crisis weaning and we all look forward to a hopeful new year. I have realized that it has been almost a year since we last communicated with our friends and ex patients so I feel it is time I sent out a few updates about what we have been doing over the past months along with some exciting developments in the pipeline. (more…)

We are continuing our expansion of our units across Europe with the opening of a twenty bed luxury unit in Ireland. This is being staffed by some of the most experienced clinicians in our field and is squarely aimed at a discerning international clientèle. (more…)

It is our constant ambition to raise awareness about this illness to the wider community and also to provide support and encouragement to other people who suffer from this terrible illness. Over the past year, we have begun developing online solutions that will do just that and would like to give our friends a chance to be the first to have a preview of our efforts. (more…)

PROMIS France has been in operation for nearly 2 years this next September. The biggest development in the last 6 months has been the implementation of the « l’Aile PROMESSES » in PRC / Kent (Promesses being the french word for the promises).

Since there is virtually no private inpatient Minnesota Model treatment of addiction available in French speaking Europe, the project has consisted in creating a specific primary treatment program in french using the existing facilities and infrastructure available at PRC / Kent. The logistics of coming to PRC / Kent are particularly easy with the Eurostar serving Paris, Lille & Brussels to Ashford and Gatwick airport for clients coming from Geneva. (more…)

Russel McVitie is our Activities Co-coordinator. We asked him a few questions:

What consists of a typical day’s work at PROMIS?

I have a duel role, I am primarily here as a Twelve Step Counsellor but I am also responsible for the patients’ Health and Fitness wellbeing during their time here. My day is comprised of facilitating groups, writing up notes, spending time and being available for any of the patients (not just my focal patients) going through all the administrative processes connected with managing my focal patients. I am also responsible for monitoring the patients’ weights during their time here and I am involved with contolling how much exercise is appropriate for them. (more…)

True recovery is seen rather than heard. It shows itself in the way people live their lives, rather than in what they say.

Extract from A New Life (healing depression) by Dr Robert Lefever

Step 1 for Mood-altering Substances, Behaviours and Relationships

I admit that I am powerless over my addiction and that my life has become unmanageable.

My life is a mess and I have lost control of some aspects of it. Some problems persist despite my repeated attempts (occasionally temporarily successful) to be in control. I have attempted to use some mood altering substances, behaviours and relationships in order to feel better. These attempts to comfort myself have eventually turned against me: the mood-altering effects have been progressively less successful, while the damaging consequences have grown. I have felt increasing self-pity, believing that I deserve better and to have a better life, and I have increasingly blamed other people, places and things for my pain. I have used some mood-altering substances, behaviours and relationships, saying that I need them, deserve them, and could not reasonably be expected to do without them. (more…)

People with addiction problems find themselves constantly stigmatised by society. None more so that celebrities. Each time celebrities seek help they appear to be scorned and ridiculed just at the time they need the most help.

I recall the news last year that Robbie Williams had been admitted to a clinic in the US. I was horrified to see that the media had the gall to suggest that this was a stunt to improve album sales. Shame on them! (more…)

The Fellowships started many years ago in the Netherlands. This year Alcoholics Anonymous is celebrating their 60th year anniversary and Narcotics Anonymous their 20th, however, the 12 Step Treatment is quite new. Only three years ago PROMIS opened an office at the Keizersgracht in Amsterdam. Today PROMIS is situated in a beautiful 17th century canal house on the Herengracht.

PROMIS is one of the first private treatment centres in Holland where addiction is treated as an illness. Until 2 years ago addiction was not treated at all by the 12 Steps in Holland. The Dutch approach was, and to a certain extent still is, substituting one habit for another. (more…)