A Note From Ann Smith About What Makes
Breakthrough at Caron Special

Since 1984 when I first designed a residential program for adults from painful families at Caron, I have consistently observed something very special and unique about the people who take advantage of this challenging process. Yes, they are wounded and hurting in some way, but they also demonstrate a degree of strength and personal motivation rarely seen in our day to day lives. They are determined to get to the roots of their dysfunction and refuse to give up until they achieve the quality of life they believe they deserve. They come to our program at great personal sacrifice, in time, cost and major inconvenience in their work and personal lives. They fight their fears, confront their own resistance and sometimes face conflicts with well-intentioned friends and family who question the need for such a radical approach. They are to be admired and respected for their resolve.

These amazing individuals have challenged me and my staff to find better and better ways to help them to achieve this freedom. The design and approach of Breakthrough is the product of their needs, their feedback, and the great learning experience of working with the best clients a therapist could hope to encounter. I feel personally responsible for every client who comes to Breakthrough and have continually dedicated myself to creating and maintaining a level of quality that responds to the individual needs and goals of each person we have the privilege of meeting.

Breakthrough at Caron Format

The Breakthrough program has been designed in a 5 1/2 day format because we believe that the process of trust and intimacy within a group is best achieved when participants are away from familiar surroundings and immersed in the experience of interaction with others addressing similar issues. Weekend programs do not allow sufficient time for defenses to fall gradually as trust develops. In the context of privacy and safety, participants experience amazing willingness to reveal their authentic selves and to accept and support from others as they face their deepest pain.

Program Structure

During the five and a half days distractions are minimized and therapy time is maximized. Groups of 10-12 spend each day with two trained therapists in an intensive experiential group with a total of 26 hours of intensive group process throughout the workshop (not including lecture or break times).  Evening peer groups offer an opportunity for "real time" learning where participants are able to practice healthier ways of relating.  Breaks are taken as needed and scheduled periods of play and "quiet time" help to balance the intensity of the group process.  Every moment of the program has been consciously designed as part of the healing process and an opportunity for growth.

The Staff

My role is to open each week with an intimate experiential group designed to begin the bonding so essential to lowering defenses and establishing trust. At the end of their experience, either I or another therapist assists in grounding and re-entry, providing specific tools to prepare participants for a smooth return to reality. Throughout the week I am available to staff for consultation and have joined the group in times of special need. I have complete faith in my staff and am delighted when each Friday they say again, "This was the greatest group!"

Breakthrough therapists are chosen based on their level of personal growth, their passion for this work, their expertise in the art of experiential therapy, and their training and education, in that order. Their backgrounds include Master's Level Therapists and/or Social Workers, Certified Experiential Therapists, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Addictions Counselors and Certified Sexual Addiction Therapists. All have been doing this work for a minimum of five years, most for more than 15 years.

Breakthrough has a permanent staff that operates as a team. They care about one another and believe that their personal wellbeing is a very important ingredient in the special work that they do. Several of the original Breakthrough therapists with long term experience working in our programs assist with training new therapists and occasionally relieve therapists on a temporary basis.  We do not utilize interns, trainees or therapists who have not had extensive experience and are not trained in this specific type of residential group work.  My policy is to cancel a group before using an unskilled therapist. As our program grows, we will be training new therapists who will work as the third person in groups during their training period.

Our evening counselor, often referred to as the "mouse in the house," works every evening to provide a sense of security and emotional support from dinner to bedtime.

The Intake Process

The first telephone contact is intended to make a positive connection with each potential participant. Trained admissions specialists speak directly to each attendee, addressing clinical concerns immediately, as part of the admission process. I am available to personally answer questions as needed. Screening is done in a phone interview and any special needs are identified. If necessary, the staff and I consult about areas of concern and include the client's therapist in decision making. Decisions are made quickly and a reservation is confirmed. In rare cases, where we feel a client is not ready or appropriate for this experience, a referral and treatment plan is suggested. Throughout the admission process, clients report feeling cared about and connected from the beginning.

The Environment

We have been blessed with the perfect setting for this program. The Pennsylvania countryside provides the peaceful and private surroundings which allow a sense of distance from the chaos of problems at home.

The Breakthrough Mansion stands alone high on a hill on the private campus of Caron Treatment Centers in Wernersville, PA.  Breakthrough clients have full use of the house for five days with no outside interruptions. Because the mansion was designed specifically for this program it has the feel of a safe family residence where guests can make themselves at home very quickly, whether sitting in a cozy lounge or rocking on the front porch overlooking a stream.

Group Composition

Our average group size is between 9 and 10 participants made up of approximately 40% men and 60% women, with occasional exceptions in both directions. Two groups are held weekly, each co-facilitated by two therapists.  Exceptions may occasionally be made based on census.

To create an intimate environment, the two groups utilize separate floors in the mansion. Rather than selecting individuals for a group according to a formula, we find that groups tend to "fall together" perfectly when we let them evolve on their own.

With the small size, there is increased intimacy and a sense of family.  In our experience, people appear to develop trust faster, and get more out of the experience when they feel safe and know everyone they are with.

The Quality

I am extremely proud of several aspects of the program, which although not necessarily visible, are consistently felt and expressed by participants. They include:

• A thorough screening process assists clients in making appropriate choices for their therapy. Often we recommend something other than Breakthrough as a first choice. As a result, all clients are ready to do their best when they arrive.
• Experiential group experiences provides access to buried feelings and needs.  Nurturing, safety and an absence of shame are built into every aspect of the program.
• The amazing gifts of our staff and the way they work so perfectly together has been described as art. We are committed to the belief that our clients deserve only the best.
• Flexibility puts emphasis on individual needs rather than the "system" or "rules." We allow people to make their own choices about their behavior while supporting a healthier path. Breakthrough has been described as "user friendly."
• Sensitivity to each person's spiritual process is evident throughout the five days.
• A warm and friendly atmosphere is provided by the beautiful location and the Breakthrough staff. From the first call, the support services available at Caron and of course the transforming group experience, the passion for quality and respect for our guests is a priority.
• A personal touch, where staff, including myself, are human and available, before during and after Breakthrough, to ease fears, offer guidance and assist in a smooth transition back to their own therapy.
• Breakthrough remains committed to a dream, born in 1984, that individuals from painful families need a haven where they may leave their anger, grief and shame. With support and safety they are given an opportunity to move from survival to healthy living, discovering their "essence" and taking a leap toward full recovery.

We hope to see you at Breakthrough at Caron. Please share this information with others who may be considering this or other comparable programs.

Ann Smith
Executive Director, Breakthrough at Caron