NEW AND IMPROVED CUSTER CENTER LOCATION

We've moved! The Custer Center is pleased to announce its new home at Winona Memorial Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. Wed our doors in October 1998 at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Now at our Winona location, we delight in almost twice the space, 19 beds, and room for expansion! Trimeridian's corporate and staff offices are also housed on the unit. houses were held for the hospital staff and the public. Treatment professionals, recovering gamblers, families, former patients, and interested visitors toured the unit and sampled the lavish spread of refreshments! Our special guest, Lillian Custer, joined our staff and delightfully greeted the guests!

INTERNATIONAL EXPERT IN ADDICTIONS
VISITS CUSTER CENTER

Pnina Eldar and her daughter Talia were recent guests for two weeks at the Custer Center. Ms. Eldar is an internationally known clinician in the field of addictions and currently is the director of the gambling treatment programs in Israel. The colleague of Dr. Rugle first spoke at the National Conference on Problem Gambling and then came to Indianapolis to observe and participate in our program. "I wanted to see firsthand what was being done in the United States to address the problem gambler, and I chose the Custer Program because it is known as the best example of clinical practices utilizing the latest research." Ms. Eldar and Talia attended all groups, meals, staff meetings, and even presented several workshops on international issues and their work in Israel. Although we have had clinicians from abroad before, never have we hosted such a dedicated and tireless leader in our field. One very interesting surprise to us from this multilingual teacher; was that among the six languages she spoke, Spanish was one of her strongest. This delighted Henry S. and he was able to communicate the subtleties of the English language to her. "Her Spanish is better than my English, and I've lived here my whole life!" She spent many hours with the patients in therapy sessions and shared her understanding of their problems and challenges. She marveled at how many of them are working their recovery program without intact support systems. In Israel, only couples are allowed into treatment because the roles of the significant other are so important in the recovery process. She learned how we build support for individuals through money managers, sponsors, GA groups, individual therapists, and of course, spouses and families. At her farewell luncheon, she presented the Center with a framed certificate from her Center in Israel and a very special ceramic art plaque hangs proudly next to it. It is shaped like the "hand of God" and has a Hebrew inscription on it, "Shalom Bayit"--- "may peace dwell in this home".

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