Gentle Path at The Meadows

11/04/2025

🎃 Spooky Season at The Meadows! 👻

Our teams had a fang-tastic time celebrating Halloween across several of our locations! From creative costumes and themed treats to festive decorations and friendly competitions, it was great to see everyone get into the spooky spirit. 🕸️🧡

At The Meadows, we believe connection and community are key parts of healing and a little fun along the way helps too!

Swipe to see some of our favorite moments from the day ➡️

How did you celebrate Halloween this year? Let us know in the comments! 🎃✨

11/03/2025

🎖️ November is National Veterans & Military Families Month

“I’ve got this. I can do it on my own.”

That’s something Rob Petron Cole, Primary Therapist at The Meadows Main Campus, often hears from the veterans he works with — strong, resilient individuals who show up every day ready to fight for their recovery.

But here’s Rob’s powerful reminder 👇

“Addiction and mental health issues thrive in isolation. Healing happens when we lean on our community and support systems.”

As we move into the holiday season, take time to connect — with loved ones, with yourself, and with the activities that bring you peace. 💙

Because recovery takes a village.

10/29/2025

Healing Intimate Treason
📅 December 1–5, 2025 | 📍 Rio Retreat Center

This five-day workshop is for partners of s*x addicts ready to begin healing from the trauma of betrayal.

Developed with Claudia Black, PhD, participants will:
💔 Understand the biology and behavior of s*x and love addiction
💬 Explore relational patterns
🛡️ Strengthen boundaries
🌿 Move toward empowerment and restoration

This December, the workshop features special guest Maddie Corman and a screening of her film, Accidentally Brave, a moving story of hope, resilience, and healing. Learn more at https://hubs.la/Q03QBKlR0.

Spots are limited, reserve early!
👉 Contact Admissions at 833-757-5695 to learn more or register

10/28/2025

➡️Event Spotlight: Fragile Armor — Understanding Trauma & Addiction in Youth

Join us for “Fragile Armor: Adaptation, Trauma, and the Roots of Addictive Disorders in Adolescents and Young Adults”, an in-depth professional training exploring how trauma-related adaptations can evolve into mechanisms of disconnection, compulsivity, and addiction.

🗓 Friday, November 7, 2025
📍 Elaine’s at the Christine E. Lynn University Center
Lynn University – Boca Raton, FL

Presented in collaboration with Lynn University’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program

✨ Featured Speakers:
💚Dr. Claudia Black, PhD, MSW – Meadows Senior Fellow and internationally recognized pioneer in family trauma and addiction
💚Mike Giresi, CAC, CTP, ICADC, NMP, Chief Clinical Officer at Family First Adolescent Services – Specialist in adolescent psychobiological and attachment-based approaches

Schedule:
🥐 8:30–9:00 AM – Breakfast & Networking
🧠 9:00–11:30 AM – Presentation (Parts 1 & 2)
🍽 11:30–12:00 PM – Lunch
💬 12:00–12:30 PM – Q&A Discussion

Earn 3.0 Continuing Education Credits
(APA & NAADAC Approved)

This workshop will help you:
✅ Understand the link between trauma, attachment, and addiction in youth
✅ Identify sources of traumatic stress
✅ Apply trauma-informed clinical strategies

Don’t miss this chance to learn from two leaders in trauma and addiction treatment and connect with other mental health professionals.

👉 Register now to reserve your seat and CE credits!
🔗 https://hubs.la/Q03Qy8Yl0

10/23/2025

Men’s Advanced Sexual Recovery Workshop
📅 December 8–12, 2025 | 📍Rio Retreat Center

This five-day advanced workshop is for men in recovery from s*x addiction who are ready to take the next step in their healing journey.

Guided by Patrick Carnes’ Recovery Model, participants will:
💪 Move beyond shame
💬 Strengthen intimacy skills
🌿 Rebuild integrity and live in alignment with their values

Who it’s for: Men who have completed treatment, attended an intensive, are in therapy, or actively work a 12-Step program.

Spots are limited, reserve early.
👉 For more information or to register, contact Admissions at 833-757-5695

10/21/2025

🎥 In Case You Missed It: The Hidden Impact of Social Media on Teen Memory

This morning, Mark Baumgartner, LPC and Vice President of Outpatient Operations at Meadows Behavioral Healthcare, joined 3TV News on how social media may be doing more than just distracting teens, it could be undermining their memory and brain development.

🔁 From a clinical lens, Mark highlighted the addiction-like patterns seen in social media overuse:
• Constant reward loops (likes, comments, notifications)
• Decreased attention and memory recall
• Displacement of deep thinking and learning
• Signs of compulsive behavior and emotional dysregulation

👀 What can parents do?
✔️Set digital hygiene routines (tech-free time during meals, homework, bedtime)
✔️Model healthy screen habits
✔️Encourage memory-building activities (reading, journaling, mindfulness)
✔️Use tools like app timers and offline incentives

🧠 As Mark shared:
“If the brain is being taught at these young ages to be optimized for social media scrolling, then it might not be optimized for other things.”

We’re proud to see our team sharing insights on such a timely and important issue.

10/21/2025

📢 Upcoming Webinar: Exploring the Earliest Forms of Developmental & Complex Trauma
🧠 Featuring the NARM® Connection Survival Style
🗓️ Thursday, November 6, 2025
🕤 9:30–11:00 am PST | 12:30–2:00 pm EDT
📍 Live on Zoom
🎓 1.5 CE credits available

Understanding early developmental and complex trauma is essential for trauma-informed care. Join us for a powerful 90-minute session focused on the NeuroAffective Relational Model® (NARM®) and how it helps clinicians address preverbal and physiological trauma.

This webinar will cover:
✅ How early attachment and physiological disruptions impact lifelong identity and connection
✅ The clinical relevance of the NARM® Connection Survival Style
✅ Somatic-relational vs. cognitive approaches in trauma treatment

💡 Whether you're a clinician, therapist, or mental health professional, this course offers tools to deepen your understanding of complex trauma and support healing at its roots.

🔗 Register today and learn more: https://hubs.la/Q03Py5sy0

📩 For more information, contact:
Cindy Warren
📧 cindy.warren@meadowsbh.com
📞 (949) 899-4338

Describe how early disruptions in early attachment and physiology impact identity development and contribute to lifelong patterns of disconnection.

10/16/2025

At the Rio Retreat Center, healing isn’t one-size-fits-all, it’s deeply personal. 💛

From transformative workshops and professional trainings to private intensives, every experience is designed to meet you where you are on your journey of healing, discovery, and growth.

Take a closer look at the Rio Retreat Center and hear from Executive Director, Georgia Fourlas as she shares what makes this space so unique.

👉 Learn more about our programs and the peaceful environment that helps true healing begin. https://hubs.la/Q03NYBY70

10/13/2025

🧠 Helping a loved one in denial of mental illness.

Supporting someone who doesn’t believe they have a mental health condition can be challenging, but your approach matters.

Tips to help:
💙Normalize the range of mental health conditions
💙Show how it affects daily life
💙Emphasize that help works

Learn more ways to help here: https://hubs.la/Q03MGyfF0

10/11/2025

Every year, Mental Illness Awareness Week helps shine a light on mental health, reduce stigma, and encourage open conversations about mental wellness. 💛

One simple but powerful way to care for your mental health is through connection. This could mean connecting with friends and family, spending quality time with yourself, or nurturing your spiritual side. Engaging in connection helps support a regulated, stable mood and overall well-being.

This week, take a moment to prioritize connection. Small steps can make a big difference. ✨

10/10/2025

💚 “If you notice someone you care about struggling - speak up.”

Robbi, Therapist in Family Services at the Claudia Black Young Adult Center, reminds us how important it is to check in on the people we love.

✨ Ask how they’re really doing.
✨ Encourage self-care.
✨ Spend time together.
✨ Be a steady source of support.

A small conversation can make a big difference.

10/10/2025

🌍💚 Today is World Mental Health Day.

Mental health matters — for every person, at every stage of life. Taking care of your mind is just as important as caring for your body.

At The Meadows, we believe in breaking the stigma, fostering compassion, and providing resources that support real healing. Whether it’s through therapy, treatment, or simply starting the conversation, every step toward wellness counts.

✨ You’re not alone. Help is here. Healing is possible.