They wrote up a false report of something that never happened in order to discharge me (with nowhere to go on a winters night, with, at first, no explainaton or opportunity to appeal) I was repeatedly outspoken about purposefully wrong information given about medications and pharmacology and other things in their program I found to be hypocritical, which I assume was the reason. They told all clients in my group that they were to have no further contact with me or else they would be discharged. At the time I was dealing with some serious stress from PTSD and, because this event was a serious trigger, it lead me to attempt suicide in their lobby with a razorblade, I was then transported to mercy across the street. It's all documented. Whilst on the psych unit after being stitched up, I got ahold of Bob (one of two shift supervisors at the time), and I'll admit, I was pretty pissed and was for sure acting like an ass and playing the blame game. He told me that the report said that I was verbally abusive and threatened another client. Obviously had this been true, I wouldn't have been so shocked and confused about the sudden discharge or reacted the way I did. I know very well what happened during the incident in question (a client yelling at me as I tried to apologize for an earlier argument, I shared a room with this client and so to have animosity would be an unnecessary stressor) as do the 3 clients who observed the entire thing 2 who reached out to me and 1 who I reached out to post treatment at Gateway Aurora. My messages to clients weren't delivered while they were still in treatment. They confirmed that staff would not bring anything I sent/said and also banned any contact with me through any channel or else they would be discharged. Upon discharge many did reach out to me and they also agreed that this "incident" never happened they were there the whole time and the staff who wrote the report came in partway through and actually didn't witness much of anything. Then staff said that they would interview other clients as to what had happened, 5 minutes later (give or take) I was pulled, walked to the lobby and informed I'd be discharging. No interviews were conducted besides myself and the other client in this exchange. When I asked why, I wasn't informed. When I asked to speak with the staff supervisor who put in the order (Bob), I was told that no, they would not put me in contact with him, it was "too late" (10 pm or so) however apparently not too late for them to call a few minutes earlier for him to authorize the discharge. I could not get a ride, so they told me the couple mile walk to the shelter was however, it would've been too late to check in at this time. so I'd be outside all night homeless in the snow which was a trigger. the staff at the front desk left the lobby to go back for something, I was alone. And in my panic I made the attempt and was subsequently brought to the mercy ER. From there and in the time that followed I discovered what happened from the other clients perspectives. Present day, years later, I am still banned from Gateway Aurora, and Gateway Lake villa. I am not allowed to go there, I had a relapse and tried to get into Lake Villa, they said there was beds open until they ran my name. Then after more using I went and detoxed with intentions of inpatient. Gateway was the only in network provider. My discharge planner confirmed I was banned still, Bob had a staffing and denied me admission, despite full knowledge I had nowhere to go, was homeless, and had been overdosing. I guess avoiding liability is more important than the "Saving Lives" part of the mission statement. And it's an interesting way to "treat those with complex needs like trauma and mental health disorders" by actually being a catalyst for a past suicide attempt and then dissociating from it entirely. If an institution subsists on lies and denial for self preservation, how effective can they be at treating a disease rooted in the same principals?
Other than that it's a pretty good program though. read more
