They saved and changed my life. I walked in there at my own will accompanied by a lifelong friend, whose life they also saved several years ago, I was drunk and broken in many ways I didn't yet even understand. At the end I couldn't function without alcohol and the taste of it made me ill. I could barely walk, my body didn't function, I was filling up with fluid, passing out. Three different doctors gave me less than a year.
Intake was very professional, as they dealt with a very drunk idiot. I began detox; my alcoholism was severe enough that it took four days; two are included, and the additional charge was minimal and well worth it. During detox there was some group and individual counseling, preparation to go into the rehab and minor integration between the groups. This was also a time where many evaluations were done; the therapists were all kind, caring, honest, and professional; most, if not all, of them understand our disease first-hand.
Our days were full beginning at 6AM and ended at 10PM. There were many forms of therapy available including massage, acupuncture, EMDR, equine, sports, and more. Counseling sessions were delivered in various forms of small and large group sessions as well as varied one-on-one counseling. There are med checks at various times of he day. Each of three houses has a group meeting at the beginning and end of each day, lead by a house leader.
The dorms are well kept, clean, and have bathrooms in the rooms. Each house has check-in point. There are laundry facilities in the dorms. They have nice pool, gym, tennis, and outdoor facilities. All of the buildings are well kept and comfortable.
They not only dealt with my alcoholism, they taught me to understand why I drank, the triggers that made me want to drink and how to deal with them. I learned how to be in social or business functions where others drink, and not be uncomfortable being sober. They also gave me intense therapy to help me deal with loss of a child several years ago. They understand that all the systems in the body inter-relate with our dependencies and the program includes blood monitoring, daily weight, blood pressure, etc., medical consultation, wellness consultation, nutrition consultation, one-on-one and group sessions with a trainer. The discharge plan includes coordination for any prescriptions as well as transfer of records back to your local doctor.
But it doesn't end there. For the first year they include an app that checks in to ask if you stayed sober that day, and, if applicable, if you took all of your meds that day. You'll be assigned a counselor who's usually readily available, and who will also check in on you randomly. Aside from the ST-provided after-care, you'll have a whole group of new friends who you just shared the most intense and rewarding life-changing experience one could imagine. Your circle of Facebook friends will expand and you'll have each other; in the first few months I had a couple friends I talked to almost every day. Many of us are still in touch and its nice to know friends just like us are just an IM away.
Thank you to all of the staff and counselors, and fellow patients, for all of the ways you've touched and bettered my life. Actually, you helped me get it back.
by john mason
xxx.xxx.138.65
October 23, 2018