Frequently Ask Questions (FAQ)
No. We take patients’ cellphones upon arrival and hold them for safekeeping until the conclusion of their stay. We believe it is vital that patients be entirely focused on treatment while at Retreat; links to the outside world like cell phones can be counterproductive and impede our patients’ efforts to introspectively focus on their healing, reflect on what brought them here, and find a path forward free of substances or negative influences.
Patients will not have access to cash during their stay, and they won’t need it for any extraneous purchases. However, they will be able to access an on-site vending machine at our Palm Springs, FL, facility; we provide each patient with a badge upon arrival that can be used like a credit card for the purpose of accessing the vending machine.
Yes, you can! Our patients love received notes from family members, and we encourage them to respond through handwritten notes of their own. Although snail mail is slow, it’s often the best way to reach your loved one during their stay with us. Visit our “Contact” page to learn where to send your letter.
At Retreat, patients’ days are filled with therapeutic components and a typical weekday looks like this:
- Breakfast
- 9:15 – 11:30 AM: Small group therapy (much of the intense programmatic work happens here)
- Lunch
- 1:30 – 2:45 PM: Psychodynamic therapy with our Clinical Specialists ranging on topics including dialectical behavioral therapy, Gestalt/Transactional Analysis Therapies, meditation and mindfulness, art therapy, music therapy, coping with grief, loss, and trauma, and more.
- 3:15 – 4:30 PM: Psychoeducational therapy with team therapists including emotion regulation, coping skills, understanding use and abstinence, and more.
- Dinner
- 6 PM – 7:15 PM: Campus Connection and holistic opportunities: This is an unwind time where patients can learn more about art, music, cooking, life skills, etc.
- 7:15 – 8:15 PM – Recovery Engagement Activities including AA and NA meetings, speaker meetings, life skills classes and more.
- 8:30 PM: Snack.
- 11 PM: Lights out. Weekends are more relaxed and focus on Acceptance Commitment Therapy
There are several options.
- Extended Care: A half-step down from inpatient, these programs provide 24/7 supervision and therapies throughout the week.
- Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP): A full step down from inpatient, these programs run 5 days/wk for 6 hrs/day
- Intensive Oupatient Program (IOP) These programs run 2-3 days/wk for approx. 3 hrs/session
- General Outpatient Programming (GOP): One day or night a week for a few hours – this is used when the patient reaches stable recovery and is focused on maintenance.
- Patients may also choose to do individual therapy, attend 12 step meetings, and/or family/couples therapy.
- Please speak with your patient care coordinator (PCC) and primary therapist about what options will be best for your loved one.
Work with your loved one’s primary to develop healthy boundaries. So many of the things family members and friends do out of love may unwittingly feed into a patient’s relapse. Find support for yourself – Al-Anon and Nar-Anon are great places to start. Take care of yourself! Not only is this important for your own mental health and stability during this difficult process, but it’s also modeling healthy behaviors for your loved one.
The acronym “MAT” stands for “Medication-Assisted Treatment.” Oftentimes, people who struggle with repeated relapse despite working a program will choose to use medication-assisted treatment (using medications such as Vivitrol, Suboxone, or Sublocade). MAT helps block cravings and/or prevent an individual from experiencing a “high” even when the person uses. Without being constantly triggered by cravings, the person can focus clearly on learning coping skills, life skills, and stabilization, allowing that person to achieve full recovery. Please speak with your loved one’s medical team for further details.