Welcome to the Gabel Center! Thank you for taking some time to learn more about us. My name is Jerry Bowling, and I am the founder and CEO.
As someone that has battled addiction and PTSD, I know the struggles you or a loved one are experiencing. I want you to know first and foremost that there is hope. Having experienced major traumatic events early in life, I carried around tons of baggage. This ate away at me, and led me down a path of self-destructive behaviors. It also took a tremendous toll on my family and professional life. I could no longer function. After finding recovery I sought training and became a board registered interventionist. Having completed hundreds of interventions with individuals from all walks of life, I have found tremendous joy in seeing others find recovery. During this time, I also dealt with substance abuse and mental health issues with a child.
As a parent, I can tell you that there is nothing more frustrating, hopeless and painful than watching one of your children
Meet our Founder, Jerry Bowling
experiencing the devastating results of substance abuse and addiction. I feel that one of the shortcomings of most treatment centers is their failure to find ways to get the client to engage in treatment early in the process. For most people, sitting in a therapy room all day just doesn’t do it. It was out of this frustration that the dream for the Gabel Center was born. I have always enjoyed being on the water, on the beach – and experiencing the healing properties of nature.
The Gabel Center was designed to make use of the incredible environment of Ft. Myers Beach, and incorporate that environment into our curriculum. As the only treatment facility in North America that incorporates sailing into our therapy program, clients learn self-reliance, problem solving and team building skills. They process with their therapist in the environment, not just in the therapy room. Perhaps most importantly, they learn that they can have fun in recovery! Our program is not a wilderness program; we utilize traditional and holistic modalities as well. This is called a blended program, and it insures that there will be an element of our program that will best fit you or your loved one.
I have learned firsthand the importance of a strong family support system, and thus the Gabel Center provides unparalleled family support. I invite you to learn more about us by exploring this website. We are always available to take your call at 1-800-679-0026. It is my true desire that you and your family will experience the healing grace that can be found in recovery from addiction.
With Grace and Respect,
