The Recovery VillageReviews of therecoveryvillage.com

Our son had been to 2 previous rehabs and had relapsed again. I heard about The Recovery Village and spoke with one of their agents. She took her time and answered as many questions as I could think of. It was apparent she knew from personal experience what I and my son were going through. Thank goodness he decided to go! He is 6 months clean and sober now and I finally have my son back!

My therapist was wonderful the classes are great, the bhts are kind and helpful. Highly recommend to any addict!

Couldn't ask for better.

Classes repeat themselves and I'm not sober. Did work .

My experience at Palmer Lake enriched my life. I made life long friends while living in an environment of self healing. I was guided by a staff who truly cared. I got the tools I needed. I took my experience very seriously, and my time at Palmer Lake was the event that started my new sober life. I am eternally grateful.

I found The Recovery Village when searching for the best rehab in the US. I had been to rehab before locally, but was finally in a position where I could choose from any rehab (almost) in the country. After researching then talking to "The Recovery Village" (In quotes because I wasn't speaking with them, but a sales-based call center I later found out), I decided this was where I wanted to go because I was told I would be treated with dignity, as an adult and be with others comparable in age and addiction. I booked my flight to Florida (I'm in Michigan) and flew down in late September 2016. I was picked up from the airport and 'checked in', which is a typical question and answer session followed by a strip search. Your suitcases are gone through thoroughly as was my purse and items they deemed to be a possible 'vehicle for alcohol or drugs' were seized. They took my conditioner, hair spray, body spray and styling mousse. I was left using their generic conditioner, that is, when the dispenser was finally repaired and filled. There is no consistency in the items they seize, other ‘clients’ (treated more like patients in an adolescent psych ward) were able to keep items deemed contraband. They also took all of my jewelry, Amazon Echo and cell phone. I was told I’d be able to smoke whenever I want, but in Detox they take your cigarettes and give them to you one at a time each hour. Some hours you’re allowed to smoke two, but there are hours you can’t go outside to the small enclosed smoking area and/or smoke and you’re not allowed go out after 9 pm unless the staff on duty let you go out one last time around 10 pm. People steal cigarettes when no one is at the desk (they are kept in a Tupperware container with your name on the pack) and you’re not supposed to be allowed to give others a cigarette. I actually brought a carton of Camels that can either be menthol or non-menthol (you squeeze a little pod in the filter and it releases menthol) to give to people that didn’t have cigarettes and they gave me a VERY hard time about it. When I started going to “residential” classes and meals, they made me give them away all at one time. The food is FAR from 5-star, there were meals that were so over-seasoned that it was absolutely inedible and I’m not a picky eater. In choosing my meals, I went with the healthy option (you are offered a regular meal or healthy choice) and the food was so-so. They won’t volunteer this information, but in the handguide it says you are able to request chicken breast instead of the meal on the menu and you’re allowed to request a sandwich throughout the day, but no one knew this, I found out the day before I left. When I did order it, they were cold and over-cooked. The salads are the best option. Oh, they also give you a snack, such as a granola bar or bag of nuts, but then seize them in “goodie raids”. Yes, the actually go through all the rooms looking for a confiscating snacks that they give you!!! Nevermind looking for drugs, they want the snacks. God forbid you save a cookie from dinner for later, you get in trouble for that. Attending the classes, what you are really there for, is only enforced for a few. If they like you, you can get away with skipping them, the AA meeting (which isn’t a meeting, it’s a speaker every night) and the evening “wrap-up” which is where they go around to all 80+ clients and see if they met their goals for the day. It’s also the time people ‘graduate’ and their friends all give them a send-off. I was at wrap-ups that lasted over an hour and this is supposed to be your personal time to smoke, relax, socialize, etc. You also end up waiting upwards of 45 minutes in line to get your medications. I am a 50-year old female alcoholic and was in with 90% males under 25 with most of the residents being young heroin addicts. I was PROMISED 1 hour a day one-on-one therapy with a licensed psychiatrist specializing in grief and depression. I received 2 hours a day group therapy, in which I wasn’t allowed to share because people that were there for 3 weeks and more were giving their life story. I had 2 meetings with my counselor, who didn’t like me because I’m outspoken and intelligent, the first was 40 minutes, the second was a half-hour and she diagnosed me as hype-something disorder and bipolar; the staff doctor (who I saw more than my personal counselor) diagnosed me as bipolar after meeting with me for a grand total of 2 hours in 9 days. These people are either very good or very corrupt, as you cannot give an accurate mental illness diagnosis until someone is sober for 6 months and you see them at least 3 times a week. When I decided to not spend the 2 weeks I had arranged, I was informed that I would be leaving AMA (against medical advice) and learned that even if I had stayed the full 2 weeks, I would still be under this classification. This means you’re on your own when it comes to a plane ticket home and a ride to the airport. They escort you to your room, give you your suitcases (which they’ve rifled through and repacked with no rhyme or reason), give you 15 minutes to pack and kick you out the door. You’re not allowed to talk to your roommates or friends you’ve made; you are hurried out like they caught you shooting up in the bathroom. I demanded to be treated with respect and dignity and was lucky enough to get a ride to the airport. I had my husband arranging a plane ticket for me that Sunday, but thank God I stopped him as he was clicking “purchase” of a $400 plane ticket. They let me call him from the counselor’s office (not mine, but a nice one I had met with at intake who heard me say that they promised I could come for just 2 weeks) because they don’t do outtake on Sundays. I would’ve been on the streets with my luggage and no place to stay or go but the airport. A taxi would’ve cost over $100. He purchased me a ticket for Monday afternoon but wasn’t able to get the flight information to me because the contact number he had kept going to voicemail (on a Monday morning and afternoon during business hours). He was LITERALLY ready to call the police for holding me against my will. When I did finally get the flight information – 3 hours before the flight – I had barely enough time to pack and get into the vehicle to be shuttled off. When going through the security check, I lost my conditioner, body wash, etc. because they packed them in my carry-on and I didn’t have time to repack anything. My purse was a mess, thankfully my driver’s license was where it belonged! I could go on and on about how you’re treated like an adolescent, only allowed an hour and a half a day to use the amenities such as the pool or massage (which is not included), how the staff talks down to you, how the mental health care is a joke, how they play favorites, etc. but I think the information I’ve provided should be enough for you to get the idea that this ISN’T where you want to go for recovery! I am still looking for a lawyer, as 8 other people want to start a class action lawsuit.

The majority of the staff are good people, some in recovery, that really want to help. I had a good therapist but not enough time with her, once a week max and part of that time is making a "recovery plan" which takes away from dealing with the reasons you're there. The groups aren't that helpful. There's a mix of people, different ages, some avoiding jail time and not really interested in recovery. It makes sharing and focusing on the topic difficult. The nutritionist doesn't have a lot to offer for recovery. They push AA but there's not enough work dealing with the deeper issues. The staff is overworked. They don't have enough resources. The place is new and the rules change frequently which is frustrating. It's clean, the food is good, the actual "therapy" part of it needs work and the management needs to be more consistent.

Can't say enough about the counselors, staff, and BHTs.