Passages MalibuReviews of passagesmalibu.com

I have never written a review, ever. But since having such a life changing experience here at Passages Ventura I was compelled to share my thoughts. This is my 2nd time in a residential treatment center. The 1st place was 12 step based and, at the time, I considered it to be beneficial. We had groups every day and were required to attend AA meetings nightly on the premises. I did 3 days of detox and stayed an additional 3 weeks in the sober living they had. I returned to work without a solid plan for aftercare. I relapsed in less than 2 months. Here at Passages Ventura I have been surrounded by an exceptional staff of therapists and counsellors. The groups are night and day compared to what I had been exposed to previously. I feel respected and encouraged by my treatment team. The one on one psychotherapy and chemical dependency sessions have been invaluable towards discovering the underlying causes of my substance dependency. I spent 30 days in residential treatment and now live in the sober living they offer. I am enrolled in their PHP(partial hospitalization program). I have 6 hours of groups 5 times per week. I continue to see my psychotherapist and chemical dependency counselor, which for me was a major reason why I have chosen to stay an additional 30 days(60 total). My aftercare person and I have been working on developing a concrete plan for my return home. I am confident that this plan, along with the tools/techniques I have been taught here at Passages Ventura will enable me to live the life I have always dreamed of, free from the chains of addiction that have been robbing my family and I of my true self. If you are considering a treatment facility for you, or a loved one, in my humble opinion you would be doing yourself a disservice by not choosing Passages Ventura. Truly yours, Ralph

My time at Passages was truly a life changing experience. I checked into Passages Malibu in November of 2015 to deal with a long standing substance abuse problem. From the time I checked in the staff at Passages made sure I was comfortable,fed and checked into the detox center located on the grounds. I spent the next few days in detox where they helped with the acute withdrawal symptoms. The detox center is located just off the main house and has a unbelievable view of Pacific Coast Highway and the Pacific Ocean! I was able to relax and get my head around the treatment ahead. Once I was medically cleared I was moved into a private room for the remainder of my stay. My room was nice, my own shower, flat screen tv, desk, bed etc. ( I did get to see some of the other rooms and they were amazing but above my pay grade 😀). The days at Passages are filled from 8-6 most days. The days vary but a typical day would be breakfast, group therapy, physical activity, psychotherapist, hypnotherapy, family therapy, massage or acupuncture, and then dinner and time to reflect on the day. I can't say enough about the staff they were great! i never felt judged or felt as though I was somehow abnormal. They let me explore my issues and offered ways to deal with them. No one ever said that their way was the right way and I agree as I think the program as a whole is what ended up taking seed. I have continued to keep in touch with my therapists via email just to let them know how I am doing and it is always good to hear back from them. One of the things that also helped me during my stay was the other clients. It was amazing and comforting to hear that I was not alone in this battle and we leaned on each other for support. I still keep in touch with many of them and feel I made some great friendships. I am proud to say that I am going on 5 months sober and feel the best I have in years. Passages has given me the strength and tools I need to put the pain of my abuse behind me. If you have the chance or are looking for a treatment facility I would highly recommend Passages.

I can't say enough about how Passages Malibu saved my life.Mike bent over backwards fighting daily for treatment for me from my insurance. These guys saved my life. They are not just a treatment facility they are a family and you become part of that extended family once you attend. I never in my life had a chance to deal with the trauma from my childhood . I never felt like I could relax let my guard down.I could never open up. The first thing you will feel is how safe feel like living in a therapeutic cocoon.I never had that and was my first taste of that I was able to let go and let my guard down and for once in my life trust others.I can't say that I didn't have my own personal struggles . I did my mind was at war with my physical self ..Passages gave a road map to rediscovering myself. Accepting my faults as beautiful gifts and using them as postive assets to my life.Im ok and know I'm where I should be for right now in the universe.I rediscovered my lust for life and appeicate the small things as I did as a child that brought me so much joy and meaning to my life.Im not saying I'm not perfect or did I turn into a guy eating sprots and tofu which I tried there and was so good.I even relasped which im ok with because it was part of my journey to letting go of the pain and getting back on the right path .Ive learn to learn from my mistakes and embrace tham learn from them .the fact that I'm not perfect which is beautiful and that's ok.. I held on to all this pain for so long that it became apart of me.I blamed everyone but myself I wrongly after my Dad passed blamed passages. That was the old me repeating a pattern blaming others for my mistakes even my drug use. I again looked for a reason to use and blame others . This time I noticed what I was doing I've gain the insight and tools to identify what I was doing . I was able to stop think and turn things around.Pax and Mike and all of passages thank you for such a priceless experience and a journey that awaken my soul .,You can't put a price on peace of mind or self awareness or pulling me out of the purgatory I was living in and accepted this as my life forever.Im happy to say im on my own journey and everyday a new beautiful day filled with such beauty and joy. thank Pax and Mike for such a beauitful priceless gift .. Matt Overton ( Passages Family of 2015)

If you want to change your path, go! If you want to blame others for your inability to recover, stay where you are and save yourself some money and time. Because you will look for someone to blame everywhere you go. I believe they have the best treatment possible. It was my first and I hope my only one. I got to meet one of the co-founders and he is very down to earth, accessible and supportive. At first I was worried about the possibility of having a fun life without substances. At last I found all of the ways I could enjoy every day and be sober, thanks to Passages Ventura and its wonderful staff.

The accommodations at Passages are beyond anything else I've ever seen. I was impressed by the professionalism and curiosity shown by the staff members. I would recommend Passages to anyone and everyone who's searching for help for themselves or a loved one.

I came to Passages after being given an ultimatum my husband. Best thing he has ever done for me. I came in sober, much to his chagrin. I was able from the start to focus on all that was available to me. When I say my experience was life changing , I am not exaggerating . I had the best team of counsellors that anyone could ask for,. You are treated like a person not an addict. There are NO LABELS you are listened to, cared about. There's just not enough that I can say about my time spent at Passages. If you are considering rehab, Please give yourself the best gift by contacting Passages you will be thankful! Sandy V

Wow! That is the first thing I think about when I think of Passages Malibu. Hi my name is Misty and I am a 41 year young female that has let alcohol and drugs be a part of my life for 28 years too long. I have been through 15 different alcohol and drug rehabs- all 12 step-based and have never been able to keep a hold on my sobriety for long. Unlike 12 step drug treatment programs I had so many individual therapist being a chemical dependency therapist, a family therapist, a life coach, a spiritual therapist, a hypnotherapy therapist and psychotherapy therapist, along with 24/7 medical care. I am proud to say and to thank all of them for not only helping me find a new meaning to my life but helped to fix the source of my problem, not just the symptom of drug use. I have gotten in touch with my inner child and found the tools I need to keep my inner child at peace. They also helped me realize I had a lot of misplaced anger , help me to put the anger where it rightfully went and then helped me handle and overcome my anger issue. I have never felt more alive and I feel that if this place can do what it has done for me, it can help anyone searching to cure the reason of their use and abuse. Thanks to Passages I have now found the self love that I've been searching for. I have extreme gratitude towards this facility and all it has done for me. I now have an ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE that I have long searched for but have failed to find on my own. Thanks to Passages I have a new lease on life. Sincerely , Misty Sharp-Arnold

I'm from Tokyo. 3 years ago, I flew to Cali for the first time in my life: just to get sober, just to go to Passages Ventura. I had been to several rehabs in Tokyo before going to Passages, but none of them seemed to have worked for me. Then my family did a research and found this rehab in California called Passages. At first i resisted, but when I arrived at the facility, the staff were so welcoming & kind. And there, I met the therapist of my life. I finally found someone who i could fully open up to, and talk about my stress, cravings, and joy. As for the program, they have their own unique way to tackle addiction: in addition to group & individual psychotherapy sessions, there is cognitive behavioral therapy, DBT, art therapy, sound therapy using a Didgeridoo (very soothing!), yoga, meditation, hiking, exercise at gym with a personal trainer etc.. There were just so many options, and everyday schedule is given out to clients, everyone has a different schedule to follow, depending on their conditions. On the weekends, they took us to surfing, movies, miniature golfing, etc. Food they served was by far the best i had ever come across in rehabs. There was seafood, pasta, salad, vegan options, wheat grass and protein shakes etc. It's a great alternative to 12 steps. And the aftercare planners are skilled & knew tons of information sources. I liked the idea that they did actually include 12-step based outpatient programs as a follow-up, and referred clients accordingly, and not totally biased against AA/NA. I was a drug addict for 11 years, but now I'm not. I have relapsed several times, but i was able to come back on track with the tools i learned from Passages. Now I have a full-time job, and so so much happier than how I was 3 years ago before i went to Passages. I thank everyone at Passages, I thank my parents for finding this great rehab, and I thank myself 3 years ago for taking a giant leap of faith to fly to California.