Program Details
Much of the counseling at Gaston House occurs in the context of daily living activities and interactions with others in the community. It is not limited to sit-down, office-based sessions, although that is an integral part of our program. Types of therapy include:

Individual Therapy– Each client is assigned a masters-level trained therapist who provides at least one personal counseling session per week. 

Group Therapy – As part of living in the Gaston House community, clients are required to attend three group therapy sessions per week. These groups emphasize personal accountability and the understanding that individual actions affect the larger community. 

Family Therapy – Our belief is that addiction is not an isolated disease, but affects the entire family system. Clients participate in counseling sessions with significant family members in order to open communication and resolve on-going family conflicts as they relate to recovery issues. Family members are also strongly encouraged to participate in recovery themselves through Al-Anon and working the 12 steps. If family members are not available to meet in person, phone sessions with family are also available.

Bible-based Recovery
For those clients who wish to follow a Christ-centered path of recovery, the options of fellowship, discipleship, Bible study and individual prayer are available. Each staff member is willing and trained to provide Biblically based counseling and/or prayer at the client’s request.

Independent Living Skills

Securing Employment
Our goal is also for each client to pay at least 30% of his earned wages toward the cost of his stay at Gaston House.

Chores

Money Management

Educational Opportunities

Peer Counsel/Phase System

Character First

Character First is an optional, Christian-based recovery model for clients who prefer a Christ-centered path to sobriety. This program promotes Jesus as the source of healing and reconciliation. This track offers Bible studies and a Christian 12-step program (Celebrate Recovery) as well as outside recovery meetings. Character First enrollees are also given opportunities for strong fellowship within the local Christian community including Christian processing groups and church services. Character First also utilizes traditional treatment that includes relapse prevention and one-on-one counseling.

When Jesus Spoke again to the people
he said, “I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness
but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12

The Gaston House

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Our Team

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Gaston House strives to maintain affordable costs. Our current per diem rate, which includes all charges and therapy provided at the home, is lower than many other residential programs in the market.

If family is paying for care, we will strongly encourage the resident to seek employment and offset some of the cost himself. On admission, we require a non-refundable deposit equal to 30 days of room and board ($ 2,500.00).

We also require a damage deposit of ($ 250.00) for any needed cleaning of the premises, unusual wear and tear to the premises (including common areas) or any rent or other stated amounts owed to the owner of Gaston House.

Please note that a $ 500.00 administration fee will be assessed toward any resident who does not complete the suggested 90 – day stay. The average stay for most residents, however, is six months. Lastly, it is suggested that each resident establish a personal cash account in the amount of $ 200.00. These monies are monitored by the staff, and are used for incidental purchases such as a monthly bus pass and toiletries.

Rules of the House

Visitors

All visitors must respect the privacy and confidentiality of the residents. Visitors should understand that who they see and what they hear while at Gaston House is not to be disclosed.

Female visitors who are not family members must be 18 years of age and can only be in common areas.  All family visitors (friends, girlfriends, wives) are not allowed in client bedrooms.

NO EXCEPTIONS

Residents are asked to introduce visitors to the community and staff.

Visitors who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs are not permitted in the house. Staff members may drug test any visitor suspected to be in violation of this policy.
Staff members and house managers have the right to deny visitation privileges to anyone.

Visitors are not allowed to randomly visit members of the community.

Visitors are subject to the same curfew(s) as the community, and are forbidden to stay in the house overnight.

Safety of Residents

Gaston House prohibits alcohol, illicit drugs and weapons on the premises; Gaston House may immediately discharge any person in violation of this prohibition.

Gaston House forbids clients to engage in disruptive behavior, physical abuse or verbal threats; Gaston House may immediately discharge any person in violation of this prohibition.

Tobacco Products

Gaston House forbids smoking, chewing and spitting tobacco in the house. Residents may smoke in the outside seating area, on the front patio or in the front of the house.

Medications

Gaston House does not allow clients to take any drug classified as a benzodiazepine.

The Director reserves the right to pre-approve any client’s medication, prescription or otherwise.

All medications, prescribed and over-the-counter, are locked and stored in the staff office.

Medications are dispensed daily by the Gaston House staff and must be signed for every time.

Service/Community Work

Each client at Gaston House is expected to serve others in the house as well as the local community as part of the recovery program. We believe that true recovery is only found in helping others and learning that all actions, positive and negative, have an impact on those around us.

Work Crew

In addition to individual chores, each Saturday morning, clients spend at least two hours doing work that benefits the house community or the surrounding area. Landscape work, trash pick up, bus stop cleaning and general area beautification projects are just a few of the ways clients will spend the morning reaching out to others.

Sponsorship

As part of a 12-Step Program, each client is expected to secure a sponsor within two weeks of admission. A sponsor is someone with more long-term sobriety who helps clients work through the 12-Steps. As clients work through the process, they eventually become sponsors as well.

Sharing the Message

Outside of sponsorship, clients are invited to participate in educating others about addiction and recovery. Many clients speak about their battle with substances at other centers such as Serenity High, Dallas 24 Hour Club, Salvation Army and Phoenix House.

Fun Sober Living

“We aren’t a glum lot. If newcomers could see no joy or fun in our existence, they wouldn’t want it. We absolutely insist on enjoying life.”
–Alcoholics Anonymous p. 132

Gaston House clients are encouraged to participate in having sober fun with the other men in the community. Located just east of downtown Dallas, there is no shortage of activities available to clients. Some examples include:

-Boating/wakeboarding/waterskiing
-Horseshoes
-Playing basketball in the back drive
-Working out in the weight room
-Fishing
-Nearby golf courses
-Local tennis facility
-Enjoying nearby White Rock Lake
-Listening to local live music
-Running or Biking down adjacent historic Swiss Avenue
-The 6th Floor Museum and Kennedy Memorial in downtown
-Playing board games with fellow clients
-Clients can earn video game privileges as well
-Playing with our rescued and very lovable housedog, Johnny Cash.

Occasionally, entire group outings involving all community members are planned. Some events include:

-Indoor group ropes course two to three times a year
-Shrine Circus
-Hurricane Harbor
-Texas Motor Speedway
-Whirlyball
-Authentic Crawfish Boil

Peer Counsel/Phase System
A team of residents serves as a Peer Counsel, which, together with staff, evaluates residents weekly on the satisfactory completion of their assigned tasks, and then determines their appropriate Phase level.

Phase 1
NO ELECTRONICS, NO EXCEPTIONS
That means no IPODS, no CELL PHONES, and NO COMPUTER!!!
You can watch T.V. after 5pm.
To move off Phase 1 you must be working 25+ hours a week.
Have a sponsor and working The Program.
CURFEW;
Sunday thru Thursday: 10:30pm
Friday and Saturday: 11:30 pm

Phase 2
You become eligible to obtain IPODS, cell phones, cars (at counselor’s discretion), and may use computer.
NO XBOX, NO PLAYSTATION!!
Have to work 25+ hours a week.
If not working 25+ hours a week you may be moved down at anytime to Phase 1.
You must be consistent on chores.
To be eligible to move to Phase 3 you must show consistency
as well as getting nomination form peer counsel and approval form staffing.
CURFEW;
Sunday thru Thursday: 11:30pm
Friday and Saturday: 12:30am

Phase 3
You become eligible to obtain IPODS, cell phones, cars (at counselor’s discretion), and may use computer. You may
Play XBOX, PLAYSTATION.
Have to work 25+ hours a week.
You must be doing chores on a consistent basis.
CURFEW;
Sunday thru Thursday: 12:30am
Friday and Saturday: 1:30am

All Clients must be working a 12 Step Program of some kind. Attending four 12 step meeting a week.

Have to be working 25 hours a week for all phases. You have to pay 30% of your paycheck to the house. Upon paying your 30% you HAVE to turn in a paycheck stub.
If you work at a restaurant you must pay 30% of your tips, no matter what you do, not just waiting tables.

MORNING MEDITATION
Must be DRESSED, BED MADE, ROOMS CLEAN and ON TIME.
If ANY not done you will have to attend the 7AM 24 hour club meeting the next morning, then have to pick up a trash bag full of trash from our lot and the block, then YOU MUST show a staff member or peer counsel member, to show you completed the job.