Al
Good, bad, and the ugly
Good: compassionate staff who do not try to shame the patients. Montes teaches specifics of what occurs in the brain through substance abuse and why stopping is so difficult and why relapse is so prominent. Bad: 12 steps and religious. Part of Focus on the family. Some staff mock patients who think there are other ways to live recovery. There are though. Check out drugabuse.gov. Ugly: Not dual diagnosis, despite what admissions counselors tell you. Pervasive mental illnesses are ignored medically. Therapeutically the symptoms can be addressed, but even as a client for 10 months in outpatient, I was never suggested to be medicated, in fact the opposite is ENCOURAGED. Therapy can only help so much when symptoms are severe. Had to leave the state to clear my head and see an actual psychiatrist that believes that medications should not be approached from a one size fits all mentality. I was dealing with consistent suicidal ideation most of the time i was in treatment. Revolving door. This place might produce 2 people out of 150 a month that walk in the door who stay sober more than 6 months. But in recovery, the client is at fault for that, not the program or facility. Do i recommend this facility? Only if you want to be closer to Jesus and need to be reminded to get a sponsor, work the steps, and get involved in 12 step service. Or maybe if you are looking for a Florida vacation on your insurance company's dime.