HOFH Elite Care Center Spotlight: Stonegate Center
Nestled on a peaceful 130-acre ranch in Azle, Texas is a Christian, faith-based recovery program, Stonegate Center. Serving the communities of Fort Worth, Dallas, and as far as Oklahoma and New Mexico, the privately-owned program offers gender-specific long-term residential treatment for men and women struggling with drug and alcohol addiction.
At the heart of Stonegate Center’s treatment is a faith-based recovery program that embodies spiritual development while also addressing the physical and mental issues that can result from addiction. Day in and day out, the focus is on accountability, acceptance, and grace.
“Stonegate Center was one of the first programs in Texas with a faith-based focus. From the start, our goal has been to offer a program that mirrors how we live our lives,” says Will Stoy, M.A., LPC-S, Executive Director, Stonegate Center. “We are about drawing parallels between the Big Book and the Bible by living an honest, moral life characterized by following Christ. Our program is highly structured, with an emphasis on accountability. We speak truth in love on a daily basis.”
The atmosphere at Stonegate Center is conducive to modeling what it means to love well. Often times those seeking treatment define love as what others can do for them, weak boundaries, and minimal consequences. Our goal is to help the client and family redefine what is to love, using boundaries, discipline, and natural consequences. The team is trained to work with residents on the root issues of their addiction—whether it’s fear, shame, trauma, or guilt—in order to create positive change in mind, body, and spirit. The curriculum blends evidence-based clinical practices with quality medical care and fellowship for a thorough understanding of the 12-Steps.
“We want our residents to get vulnerable and get experience with not just laying it all out there, but not being judged after doing so. Regardless of what someone shares, we want them to feel what it’s like to do so in a safe environment that really comes from a place of love,” adds Stoy. “We go back to look at how God created us in his image. We help clients reframe the negative things that the world, the family, their loved ones, etc. told them.”
Sports in Mental Health
Over the years, Stonegate Center has welcomed residents from a wide variety of backgrounds, including professional athletes. Today, the center has signed on as an Elite Care Center with the Hall of Fame Health (HOFH).
“Everyone who comes here is on a level playing field,” says Stoy. “We treat everyone the same. We try to keep it simple so we can reach people. So, even if you’re extremely athletically talented and at the top of your game, you’re rubbing shoulders with people from all walks of life. You’re treated like a normal person. Being a pro athlete can be really lonesome, but here, you can get vulnerable in part because you don’t have to focus on your outside circle.”
One of the pillars that Stonegate Center addresses is life's purpose. Oftentimes, athletes have a hard time letting go of their playing days and shifting their identities. Stoy says a big part of this breakthrough is helping the individual see that being an athlete isn’t who they are, but something that they did by helping them replace that with a new definition of purpose.
“Change happens fast. Change comes from God. There will be days when you feel like you’re not fulfilling your purpose and in those moments, we encourage you to do the next right thing,” adds Stoy. “Take a step back and just focus on your purpose for that particular day. What are the steps that you can take that day? If we can help you stay focused on the here and now, and if you’re willing and open, God will provide you with opportunities. You’ll be more at peace living like that than just chasing what it is you think you should be chasing or whatever it is people told you to need to be chasing.”
As an Elite Care Center, Stonegate Center seeks to support even more athletes and their families. In leading the program's culture that emphasizes accountability, Stoy credits HOFH for being an organization that meets the standards that it set.
“We love the fact that it doesn’t matter where you are in your football career, Hall of Fame Health is there to guide you to access help, which is aligned with our mission,” continues Stoy.
“Stonegate Center is an incredibly impressive program that models our genuine care for the betterment of each individual,” says Ryan Cain, President of the behavioral health program for Hall of Fame Health. “We are proud to welcome them as an Elite Care Center and we look forward to working together to provide more opportunities for healing and recovery.”
Celebrating Each Recovery Milestone
One of the unique components of the program is the bridge ceremony, which is a celebration that takes place at the culmination of each individual’s treatment. The journey begins when a client first arrives at Stonegate Center. They are dropped off in front of a bridge that connects to the facility. The family and loved ones are not allowed to cross the bridge with the resident. Then, at the onset of the program, the client is given a jar. As treatment progresses, whenever the client finishes one of the 12 steps, they are given a stone. Each client’s jar containing their stones sits on shelves in a common area so as people go through the process, they can see where they are. At the completion of the
program, the Stonegate Center team holds a ceremony during which the client takes the jar with them and crosses the bridge back to their family and loved ones.
“During this ceremony, we read a passage from the recovery bible, Joshua 4:4-9 that talks about 12 stones that were placed in the middle of the Jordan and used for a memorial,” says Stoy. “In our program, the stones represent what God has done for you. You can put it in your home as a reminder of that, and also as a reminder to your family of what God did for you.”
The programs at Stonegate Center are based on a 90-day model but can also take 45-60 days. “Our goal is for each person to complete the 12 steps before they complete the program, and this is achievable, given a person’s willingness to surrender,” says Stoy.
The HOFH Elite Care Centers is a network of elite facilities across the country that specialize in mental health and substance use disorders. Each treatment center is vetted and accredited to provide high-quality, customized care to former players and their families, veterans, and beyond. Financial aid options are available through Fund Recovery, which serves athletes, veterans, their families, and others seeking assistance for mental health or addiction issues.
For more information on Stonegate Center, please visit https://www.hofhealth.com/elite-care-centers or call the HOFH concierge line at 866-404-HOFH.