March 2, 2006, Deerfield Beach, FL

Platinum Television Group is pleased to announce the selection of A Home Away, Retreat & Counseling for its innovative, educational television series, Today's Family. The company will be shown in a segment on "Breaking Free and Staying Free from Addiction" in our Touching Hearts and Changing Lives Series.

In the beautiful Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada, the professionals at A Home Away are helping people over age 18 that have problems with alcohol, drugs, compulsions, or simply feeling stuck in an unhappy place. It is a perfect setting for the staff to offer hope, healing, renewal and spiritual growth, with its rich natural beauty, fresh mountain air, fruit orchards and endless lakes.

A Home Away offers a unique approach as an affordable alternative to traditional treatment centers. The retreat is a warm, comfortable home setting where those who attend are treated with the trust and respect of a guest of A Home Away. Each guest enjoys the comfort of their own room and receives a professional complement of individual, small group and family programs. There are a maximum of 10 guests at a time creating a family-like dynamic. Each guest receives individual attention and 1:1 counseling sessions. The core Recovery program is a 28-day intensive, individualized experience designed to achieve sobriety, serenity and a healthy life balance. If one month isn't enough, the guest can stay for up to three months for the Extended Care program or return for the Renewal Retreat program. Guests are also encouraged to invite their loved ones for Family Sessions for three to five days where they practice open communication skillfully facilitated to allow for understanding and healing. "It is heartwarming to see family members come together, some after years of hurt or estrangement, and come to forgive each other and embrace in love and reconciliation," says John Derry, Program Director.

While the retreat is comfortable and homey, the program is highly professional and robust. A holistic approach incorporates state of the art counseling approaches, spiritual exploration, life coaching, relationship and communication skills, and the twelve-step philosophy of Alcoholics Anonymous. Recreational activities are incorporated into the programs for guests to remember that life is a gift to be enjoyed with balance. Activities vary by season and include skiing, snowboarding, hiking, golfing, and dinner and movies, just to name a few. Fitness is also encouraged through weekly classes or daily walks or jogs with the Home's chocolate lab dog, Cocoa. An art studio and musical instruments are available for guests to express themselves.

The program was conceptualized and run as the realization of a life's dream and personal calling by director John Derry, whose credentials and professional experience distinguish him as an expert in his field. The program aims "to help individuals living with addiction and unhappiness and those they love. I believe that every individual has an inherent capacity to heal and change. The transformation we see in peoples' lives is nothing less than a miracle and is what inspires us to do what we do. Addiction treatment need not be complicated and expensive. We simply love our guests until they learn to love themselves again. My hope is that this novel, simple model be replicated and that 'Homes Away' spring up in communities across North America," he said.

Contact: Sandi Newmark, Director of Public Relations
Platinum Television Group/New Line Media Solutions


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