Week One

Orientation – The Process

By all outward appearances, a substance abuser looks, acts and may even state that they cannot stop or control their substance abuse. Their struggles can be a very convincing demonstration of a seemingly powerless lifestyle. This perception of powerless is, of course, a self-fulfilled prophecy. However, this does not have to be the case. People throughout the ages have been able to overcome enormous and impenetrable problems long before “treatment for addiction” became accepted. This perceived lack of individual power has led to the erroneous belief that addiction and alcoholism are diseases or “dependencies,” as the new holistic and alternative treatment movement now describe disease.

Some of these new “alternative” programs go even further and state that people suffer from “choice-based dependencies.” This is a contradiction in terms and simply cannot be. Either you have a fundamental belief in being dependent on something, or you have a fundamental belief in the power of choice. You cannot have both. These “alternative to 12-step programs” and “holistic programs” connect terms like choice and dependency as a slick marketing technique. The purpose of this marketing technique is to make you believe that their program will provide a solution based on choices and empowerment, all the while keeping the individual in fear of their “dependency.”

The Jude Thaddeus Program™ has no such double talk. In orientation, guests are empowered with accurate research refuting this modern treatment industry double talk. The Jude Thaddeus Program™ have PROVEN through 20 years of helping people and documented research that individuals with deep personal struggles are able to completely overcome substance abuse through the power of choice, determination, proper education, and positive option presentation. The very idea that people are incapable of stopping or controlling their unwanted behaviors, and further that they will always remain powerless over certain substances has created a generation of people who feel helpless and hopeless. The Jude Thaddeus Program™ Orientation begins the process of undoing these baseless feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. The Orientation then builds the foundation for common sense and personal responsibility to overcome the excuse making and self-destructive choices of substance abusers. This is also the stage where teacher and guest build a rapport. Together, they evaluate the guest’s needs to ensure these needs are addressed during the following 5 to 9 weeks.

The Jude Thaddeus Program™ has proven to be the most effective method for overcoming substance abuse. Research has shown that exposure to the conventional or disease based model and/or the new alternative holistic models, actually lowers an individual’s chances for achieving long term sobriety. Guests who have participated in conventional treatment prior to coming to Saint Jude Retreats™ have been indoctrinated into negative thought patterns such as “I have a disease,” “I can never fully recovery” and “I am powerless.” Of course, none of this information is true. The Jude Thaddeus Program™ Orientation provides guests with an opportunity to rethink some of these negative ideas. This course of action is designed to enable each guest to self-assess the level that previous treatment programs has influenced and exacerbated their substance abuse problems.

For those guests who are seeking help for substance abuse for the first time, the first week of the program focuses on substance abuse education and explains the flawed concept of addiction. Guests are introduced to the Jude Thaddeus Program™, a residential choice based social educational program. This orientation also contrasts the differences between the Jude Thaddeus Program™ and conventional disease based treatment programs and/or alternatives to 12-step programs. All guests learn quickly the truth about addiction; that it is a lifestyle, not a disease and not a choice based dependency, and as such the substance abuser, and only the substance abuser, has the power to change.

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Weeks Two, Three, and Four

Past Assessment, Current Positive Practice

During weeks two, three and four , the guests are guided through a course that first helps them to identify their behavior patterns, underlying problems and negative as well as positive thought patterns. They are then taught how to begin the process of changing their entrenched negative thought patterns and behaviors while reinforcing and expanding upon their positive traits and habits. As they move forward in the program, greater emphasis is placed on their positive traits which help them to “grow out of” the counterproductive behaviors of the past. It must be noted here that immaturity as discussed in the Jude Thaddeus Program™ is not defined by a guest’s chronological age and is not to be confused with those definitions that are often demeaning. Immaturity is defined as an unwillingness to positively adapt to life’s ever changing environment. Ineffective and counterproductive habits such as, drinking too much alcohol or abusing drugs, including mind-altering prescription drugs, keep substance abusers mired in an unsatisfying and unfulfilled life. Being unwilling or having a lack of knowledge, to choose and to implement more productive activities and goals are the immature characteristics the Jude Thaddeus Program™ helps identify and clarify . 

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Weeks Five and Six

The Future – Build the Plan

For many guests this is their most powerful time in the program. In this last phase guests build a future plan that is based on the guests’ own natural talents, wants, values and needs. This plan also takes into account all of the different ways that guests have learned to be more positive while at the retreat house. For many this stage of the program is where guests know in their hearts that they are ready to tackle life. The plan that they build will include virtually every facet of their lives, such as career, family, social life, material goals, spiritual goals, etc. The Jude Thaddeus Program™ and the instructor teach techniques and introduce new approaches to old problems. But, the responsibility for implementing these techniques and incorporating these new approaches into daily living rest squarely with each individual guest. Throughout the Jude Thaddeus Program™ each guest is on a path that leads to becoming responsible for their own present and future. The entire 6 week process actually teaches guests how to perform self-assessments and then put into action the needed changes. Rather than recoiling from responsibility and change, the process embraces, challenges, and creates the confidence for guests to succeed.

By teaching our guests the truth about substance abuse, helping them overcome their bad habits, their ineffective coping mechanisms and their possible behavior problems, the Jude Thaddeus Program™ guests are finally able to take control of their lives and become productive, happy and successful. If you would like to learn more or take a tour of any of our Saint Jude Retreats TM please call any of our reservations associates at 1-888-424-2626.

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Confrontation and Control through Fear Equals Ineffectiveness

The Jude Thaddeus Program, a non-religious residential social/educational model, is based on the fact that all human behavior is the result of choice. In contrast, conventional treatment is based on the erroneous “theory” that substance abuse is not choice based, but rather the result of a disease and/or character flaws and/or dependency. As such, conventional treatment instills fear (i.e. you are dependent) and exerts complete control over its patient (i.e. you must do exactly as the treatment dictates to recover from substance abuse.) Substance abuse counselors counsel patients that the patients’ thinking is “wrong.” Then, counselors instruct the patient “what they should be thinking.” This control method frequently causes patients to become treatment resistant, claiming not to have a substance abuse problem. Manipulatively, the counselor will then try to convince the patient that claiming not to have a substance abuse problem is a condition known as “ denial” and is one of the manifestations of the patient’s “disease.” The counselor explains that claiming not to have the disease is further evidence that the patient’s thinking is wrong and that the disease is present.

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How can every substance abuse program say they are the best?

The answer is; they can, but it’s not true! Why is it that when people spend the time to investigate different facilities and programs for treating alcohol or drug problems, they usually wind up frustrated, confused and feeling less hopeful than when they began? The reason is that the majority of treatment programs, intentionally, complicate the problem of substance abuse, rather than offering straightforward and permanent solutions.

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What is the Jude Thaddeus Program™?  

First it is important to know what the Jude Thaddeus Program™ is not: it is not treatment; it is not rehabilitation; it is not psycho-babble; it is not spiritual fantasy; it is not counseling and most certainly it is not 12 steps – in summary, it is not the control model.  It is, first and foremost, a social and educational experience leading to better choices in the future, which brings about a more positive lifestyle.  It is a program that develops social skills and eases social anxieties. It is a program that moves participants from fear and anxiety to self-confidence and positive motivation. In short, it is a life changing experience.

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What makes the Jude Thaddeus Program™ so successful?

The Jude Thaddeus Program™ is effective because it teaches common sense solutions, it builds on the hard work of maturing and changing negative habits into positive action, and it makes clear how to accept deferred gratification through stick-to-itiveness, and carefully constructed goal oriented plans. Although these principles are time tested, they require work, and the willingness to change.

The Jude Thaddeus Program™ promotes the truth; that the disease of addiction is a myth. There is no disease of alcoholism; there is no disease of dependency; and, there is no disease of addiction! This is just one of many areas where the Jude Thaddeus Program™ departs from conventional treatment and why the Jude Thaddeus Program™ is significantly more effective than the conventional treatment model. Teaching our guests the need for personal responsibility for their actions, rather than making excuses for poor behavior and choices, is the cornerstone to rebuilding their lives. A disease by its very nature is out of a person’s control. This is simply not the case with substance abuse. Substance abusers make the choice to abuse alcohol and drugs. Choice is a behavior, not a disease.

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The Jude Thaddeus Program™ Focuses on:

The Jude Thaddeus Program™, has four themes that, when completed in order, transforms lives: (the following include direct quotes from the program text book.)

• Happiness
  
  All people desire joy and happiness. That is why the shortcut to (temporary) happiness through alcohol and drug abuse is so alluring. The Jude Thaddeus Program™ demonstrates through an educational process that there is so much more to life than a quick fix.
  
  
• Empowerment .
  
  “You do not have the disease of addiction. Therefore, you have the power to change this habit no matter how deep-seated you may think it is.”  
  
  
• Analyze your entire life history, through the autobiographical process .
  
  “Let us look together at all the counterproductive choices you have made in your life, and then, examine these patterns in minute detail.” This process is completed by the end of week three and enlightens our guest as to how his (her) life became so counterproductive and in many cases destructive. This autobiography is a means to an end. It is not meant to be dwelled upon, but rather, it is created to make it clear how poor choices may have slowed the maturing process and caused grief and sometimes debilitating depression.    

• Create a comprehensive future plan built on assessed talents, positive goals and finding joy in a career, as well as family/friend relationships.
  
  This theme provides the gateway to a new life. It is absolutely imperative that guests have a well constructed plan before returning home. Being prepared for the future makes the transition from the program to the individual’s life at home a pleasure rather than a source of anxiety.   

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The Jude Thaddeus Program™ offers several services that customize the program to guest’s needs.

Guests can enroll in the Continuing Education™ Program , for an additional 4 weeks of education, if needed. This program, like the 6 week Jude Thaddeus Program™, is custom tailored to the needs of our guests. Along with giving guests additional time to build a solid foundation for their future, it also provides for additional help in career development, social skills training, GED preparation and acquisition, job placement assistance, college preparation, along with a myriad of other services based on the specific needs of each individual. Because Saint Jude Retreats TM has a maximum of twenty-four guests per facility, the ratio of staff to guest is one to two. The Saint Jude Country Retreat has a maximum occupancy of five guests and there is more staff than there are guests. Individual classes are available when indicated. To access more information on JTP Continuing Education™ ( please click here.)  

( If you do not find the specific information you need in regards to the Jude Thaddeus Program in any of the four sections covered on this particular page, there is additional information and topics covered in detail at the Welcome tab. We encourage you to read this information as well. Click Here for a shortcut to this additional information.)

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