- One
female client
went on an outing to
Walmart with her unit. In
that unit, the director restricts sugar. The client
bought some candy, and
brought it back to Clitheroe. This client was a very timid and reserved person.
- The Director was in a foul mood. She told the client that if she wanted the candy, she would be expelled.
- The client said she wanted the candy. She was expelled.
- Sugar vs
alcohol is a popular topic.
Different studies show different things.
Not many clients are going to leave treatment saying:
"I was not allowed to eat sugar. I was never told why."
"I think I'll stick with that diet, since I don't like it, and I don't understand it."
- The Director, who expelled that client in a fit of anger, left Clitheroe. She is now Director of the Alaska Women's Resource Center.
The
smoking rules are another oddity. Men smoke
anytime, women smoke at a few designated times. If a client asks
for an explanation, there is no rational explanation that can be given.
It is irritating to have to defend rules by saying "because I say so".
That kind of explanation is not beneficial to that population.
- One client went by her initials, "AA". The director of her unit decided that going by one's initials has a criminal significance. The client was made to use her strict legal name. Staff were told to report anytime AA told people that her name was AA. Even very conservative staff were scratching their heads over that. The director finally coughed up the hairball, and let AA use her initials. It was made clear that the Director was angry that her "authority" had been challenged by the client.
- AA was also a smoker. One day she asked for an explanation of why men had open smoking all day, while women had very restricted smoking. She was expelled.
She was "opinionated" and assertive (but never hostile).
