Rehab Focus – Gunnebah Addiction Retreat

In the first of an occasional new series, we take a closer look at rehabs around the world. This one, the Gunnebah Addiction Retreat, in Australia’s Tweed Valley region, is close to our hearts, as it’s where publisher Nick Jordan began his recovery journey. Gunnebah therapist Sheila Murray writes:

Full disclosure. Always the best way to start anything. I work at Gunnebah rehab. Actually, total full disclosure: I live at this rehab. Also, I am not an addict.  

When I was approached to write an article about Gunnebah Addiction Retreat, I was a bit perplexed about what to write about. Yes, I work at a rehab as a therapist with people with addiction. But to hold myself out as someone who can honestly say ‘I know what you are going through right now’, there is not full truth in that.

It is extremely important to me to honour and respect the individuals I have had the privilege to work with over the past 18 months. Because to sell them short would be to diminish the honesty, hard work, effort, vulnerability, courage and commitment I have witnessed in each and every one of the guests who have stayed with us at Gunnebah. In my whole life and across every role I have undertaken, I have never witnessed such heartache, desperation, hopelessness and despair. Nor have I ever witnessed such hope, courage, determination and sheer bloody-mindedness as I see every single day in my work. I am truly inspired and in awe of all those that I work with. 

I suppose this is one of the reasons that I am writing about Gunnebah Addiction Retreat. Not only do I wish to tell you about it but to let you know that here, every single day we witness hope, success, love and the amazing community support that only others who have shared a similar pain can give to each other. The support of the community to each and every member cannot be overstated in the journey through addiction to recovery. 

On our website, we have a section that outlines what to look for in a rehab and I thought I might address these questions from an insider’s perspective. 

Are they upfront about the cost and is it all inclusive? 

Yes, we are. As at the date of this article there is a total cost of $10,500 for the 30-day program. Additional days are charged at $350 per day. For this amount, everything is included (except personal expenses). I will lead with the food as we have the most amazing cooks here, so much so that when past guests revisit us or come to give talks to current guests, they always manage to drop in around lunch time. The food is abundant, healthy and fresh and our own chickens lay the eggs. The food is so tasty and there’s always a line for seconds around the serving table. If you are lucky enough to be here when it is someone’s birthday, there will be an amazing home-made cake to celebrate with them. (It’s not unknown for the occasional guest to lie about their birthday just to have Mark make a cake for them!) Personal food and other items are up to yourself, and we visit the local IGA weekly so you can stock up on what you might need. 

Does the program have any religious or spiritual affiliations? Will guests be expected to participate in these practices? If so, make sure that you are comfortable with these.

Our program draws on a vast background of CBT, Solution Focused Psychology, Positive Psychology, Creative Therapies, Narrative Therapies and other evidence-based studies. We do a daily reading from a variety of books that cover Zen, Mindfulness and Buddhism. There is no affiliation with any specific religion. If, however, you do have a strong religious belief then this will be respected and accommodated where reasonable and possible. Our request is that there is mutual respect for everyone’s beliefs within the community. 

On this subject, I would like to add that my personal experience has been one where all guests who come to Gunnebah are treated with a respect, reverence and a grace that transcends any religious belief. We hold that all people deserve love, support, and help and we do our best to ensure that we provide a space that offers all of this, all of the time.  

What accommodation is provided? Are rooms shared or private? If rooms are shared, how many people per room and how are roommates selected and what can you do if you don’t like your roommate? Consider what you need to be comfortable for an extended stay. 

The accommodation here is lovely. I love it, and I live on site. We have 4 individual cabins which are made out of mud brick, looking out across the lush greenery of the northern rivers and our newly installed labyrinth. Mud bricks are a wonderful building material as they keep you snug in winter and cool in summer. We have another 6 newly built, individual cabins that are nestled within the trees or have an outlook towards Mt Cougal. There are 2 further mud brick buildings that have 5 rooms in each. Our bathrooms are newly renovated and suitably close to all the rooms. It is an interesting discussion around en-suited rooms. We did consider it, but we actually find that the opportunity to isolate and hide out in your room is diminished when you need to go out and use the bathroom. As you walk through the lush gardens to get to the shower, you might even find a green frog waiting for you there. It is important to get out and into nature and not to isolate and this is a way to start that happening. 

What are the qualifications of the staff involved? Particularly of those who provide training, counselling and group therapy sessions. Do they cover a wide range of disciplines, as necessary for holistic treatment? Do any of the staff have lived-experience with addiction? 

I may be a bit biased, but this is the best team I have ever worked with. The level of care and professionalism represented across the team is amazing. And this applies to every staff member here. The admin staff take you through the admission form and will ensure you have a clear and thorough understanding of Gunnebah, and how the place will work for you. Our therapists have a broad range of qualifications and experience across Psychology, Hypnotherapy, Art Therapy, Narrative Therapy, EMDR, Schema, DBT. All are degree holders with Bachelors and Masters qualifications across their disciplines and ongoing education is continually fostered at Gunnebah.  Among our staff there is a lived-experience of addiction, but it is up to the individuals if they choose to disclose any details. What we have is a team that are committed to your recovery and providing you with whatever support you need while you are in our care. The full team at Gunnebah are truly here for the guests. 

What does the daily and weekly program look like? How often are sessions offered for group therapy, personal counselling, medical check-ups? How are other activities tied into the program? 

There is just so much happening and yet there is still enough down-time for you to reflect and get the most from your environment. Through any week, you will have an opportunity to experience boxing and personal fitness, meditation, yoga, stand-up paddle boarding, golf, bushwalking / hiking, a relaxing morning at the spa, pottery, art therapy, bike riding, picnics at the beach, high ropes – the list is endless. Everyone will receive 2 individual therapy sessions a week. There are both process and psycho-educational groups throughout the week. Dr Jenny Parer is here to assess you when you arrive and is on-site twice a week and always on call no matter what time it might be. Any off-site medical appointments are managed on your behalf and we ensure you get there and back safely. We start each day with a daily check-in – sometimes around the fire on a chilly morning – and finish each day with our goals and gratitude, again around the fire. Coming together to begin and end our day as a community is very important to us. 

What is the approach that is used? 

Our approach is a holistic one. We focus on you the complete person. We know that to be truly well and on your way to recovery, you need to address the physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional aspects of a human being. Our program is designed to treat the whole person, to meet you where you are at and to journey with you as you find your way back towards the life of sobriety that you are seeking. We understand that it can be a road that has many diversions, roadblocks and potholes, but it is your journey to recovery and while you are at Gunnebah, we will walk beside you on that path every step of the way. Our approach is to support, love, care and guide in whatever way we can during your time with us.  

How long is the program? 

We start with a minimum of 30 days. But getting to rehab in the first instance can be a daunting prospect and we are here to work with you. We regularly have guests who book in for 30 days and discover that they need an extra 2 weeks or 2 months. The beauty of Gunnebah is that you can extend your stay once you have completed the initial 30 days. While the research shows that 90-day programs are at least twice as effective as shorter programs, we find that any days spent in rehab are good days and they are the beginning of your journey to sobriety.  I would encourage you to bite off just as much as you can chew and then as you move through your time, add a little bit more to your plate. 

I hope that I have covered what Gunnebah offers from an inside perspective and if you have any further queries, please don’t hesitate to give our director Warwick a call. He is always there ready to offer the support and hope that you need to bring you back to where you want to be. 

Gunnebah Addiction Retreat website

Sheila Murray, MCouns & Psychth, BHSc, ADipAT, Therapist
Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy, Bachelor of Health Science (Naturopathy), Advanced Diploma of Art Therapy, Sheila is trained as a Counsellor and Psychotherapist and also as an Art Therapist. She has a background in holistic medicine having worked as a naturopath for 25 years before shifting her focus to mental health and wellness. Sheila is passionate about helping people find their way towards living their best lives. Underpinned by a person-centered philosophy, Sheila uses a broad range of evidence-based practice with her clients, including: schema therapy, narrative therapy, art therapy and EMDR. Sheila has a broad role at Gunnebah and, apart from therapy, she also makes sure guests are comfortable and safe at night and lives onsite. In her spare time, she enjoys walking, being in nature and writing.