SL_RetreatShepardPrattGatefold_0622 - FINAL.qxp_Gatefold 6 / 28 / 22 2 : 25 PM Page 1 om Miller * had what he describes as a “ normal upbringing ” while coming of age in Pittsburgh . He loved music and played drums in various jazz and rock bands . His am - T bition led him away from Pennsylvania — first to college in Boston , where he studied economics , and then to Chicago , where he began building his career in the business world . Stable On Most people who met him considered him composed and hardworking , though his ten - dency to drink too much wine and hard alcohol — multiple bottles each day — often “ got in the way . ” He chose sobriety after 10 or more years as an active alcoholic , though he con - tinued to struggle more than even his closest friends or family members would realize . Ground Then , in the summer of 2018 , Miller treat by Sheppard Pratt , located in Tow - tation , acupuncture , and Chinese med - began to resolve a painful secret from son , Maryland , north of Baltimore . icine , among others — all of which he At The Retreat by Sheppard his childhood . There , he would live among fellow res - found particularly helpful . Likewise , “ I was sexually abused as a child , ” idents seeking clinical and therapeutic time spent with his attending psychia - Pratt , a man who struggled with he says . “ I have PTSD as a result of that treatment for substance use issues , trist proved enlightening to say the least . trauma . It took me until I was 35 years mood disorders , and other problems “ She helped me figure out who I substance use disorder , PTSD , old to deal with it . I was happy to deal pertaining to mental health . He was , what I needed , and how to live a and other mental health issues with it , but I got to a point where things promptly entered The Retreat , where stable life , ” he says of his psychiatrist . felt very hopeless . I didn’t know how his medical team diagnosed him with “ She taught me how to deal with what discovered “ a safe place where I to deal with it . It felt like too much . I bipolar disorder , in addition to PTSD happened to me . She put me back to - had been sober a year , maybe a year and alcoholism , and placed him on a gether . I had the gift of desperation could detach from the world and and a half , when I attempted suicide . ” co - occurring disorders track . working for me , and that made it less After his attempt to take his own “ It was a warm environment , and difficult for me to turn a corner . ” do the work I needed to do . ” life , Miller spent a week in intensive the staff was very welcoming , ” he says . Miller also took a great deal from care , followed by a stint in psychiatric “ It felt like a safe place where I could his sessions with Denise Connelly , BY BILL DONAHUE care at a hospital in the Chicago area . detach from the world and do the work LCSW - C , MAC , CAC - AD , ACRPS , an ad - Slowly , he began to see a path forward , I needed to do . I was open to whatever diction therapist with The Retreat by brought about in part by a condition of they thought was going on with me Sheppard Pratt . As someone who once his discharge from psychiatric care : He and whatever they thought would help had her own struggles with substance would need to enter a residential treat - me . I was desperate to get better at that use , Connelly strived to help Miller vi - ment program to help him address his point . ” sualize a life in which he could remain unresolved trauma and other mental Miller participated in various forms sober . health issues that had been hurting him . of therapy to help him heal and “ It’s a team effort , ” says Connelly . His doctors recommended The Re - progress — art therapy , yoga and medi - “ We have full staff meetings — psychia - Pratt Sheppard by Retreat The of courtesy Photos SUBURBANLIFEMAGAZINE.COM VOLUME 13 ISSUE 10
