Frequently Asked Questions

Did you take the time to truly look into the facility you are considering committing to, or did you merely skim over the brochure, looking at the pictures? Whether you are looking into programs for yourself or for a loved one, make sure that you check out all available resources to ensure a legitimate and life-changing experience.

One of the best ways to research any given facility is to call the admissions coordinator and ask for an alumni list. Ask if there are any alumni in particular that are open to receiving phone calls from potential clients. Many inpatient care facilitate alumni programs, in which past graduates of the facility can come back and participate in numerous recovery-related activities.

Ask the admissions coordinator for an example of the daily schedule (if you are not able to find one on the website). Take a look at how busy the facility keeps the clients on a daily basis – look for a schedule that is full of daily group therapy sessions, 12-step meetings, and recreational activities. The busier the schedule, the better. If you are looking into a holistically-based facility, check to see how many times per week the clients participate in activities such as yoga, nutritional counseling, and guided meditation. Make sure the actual program aligns with what is being advertised!

It may be a wise idea to look into whether or not the facility you are researching is co-ed. If so, make sure that the therapeutic group sessions are gender-specific, and that males and females do not live in the same residential facility. It has proven that separating men and women for the majority of care is more beneficial in setting a solid foundation for long-term sobriety, seeing as members of the same sex work through issues more openly and learn to create healthy and supportive bonds.

Would you prefer a more personalized experience, with a greater amount of one-on-one therapy sessions? If you don’t mind attending a larger facility, go for it – many bigger centers offer excellent care to each and every one of their clients. But if you have underlying issues that need special attention, you may want to consider attending a smaller, privately owned facility.

Location is important! After you have chosen a state (there is truly no better location to set a solid foundation for spiritual health than in the beautiful, scenic state of Hawaii), look into a center that is located in a safe area close to accessible 12-step meetings. While you may be tempted to search for a center that is located close to home, it may be wise to put a fair amount of distance between you and your loved ones.

Early recovery is a multi-faceted process, one typically comprised of three main stages – initial cleansing, inpatient care, and sober living. In most cases, a sober living house will be personally recommended by the clinical team at your inpatient center. Look for a facility that is affiliated with sober living homes, and will be able to recommend you to one once you have completed your time in recovery.

Like many recovering addicts and alcoholics, you may be suffering from a co-occurring mental disorder such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder. If this is the case, you may need to attend a dual diagnosis facility, which will adequately treat substance abuse as well as any underlying psychological disorders. If you struggle with cross-addictions, such as an eating disorder or compulsive gambling, you may want to look into attending a recovery retreat center that specializes in treating such disorders as well.

Look at the ‘About Us’ page of the website. Is the staff qualified and extensively experienced? Is there a licensed psychologist on the team? How many therapists are available to work with clients? Take all of this into consideration before making your final decision.  You will want to make sure that your loved one is entering a nurturing and professional environment in order to be treated sufficiently and set a solid foundation for lasting recovery.