AVR is a special place. They break the mold of the standard residential treatment facility. Cell phone use is allowed and encouraged, so you never feel too disconnected from home and can effectively take care of business (it isn't realistic to be disappearing from the world for 30+ days). Tons of fantastic healthy snack options, along with the unprecedented option to have a small personal stash of your favorite snacks (again, helping me keep that connection with home). Amazing counselors like mine, Eddie and Joey, get you through the day-to-day. Every person there, from the Program Director to our "sober fun" escorts, short of the cook, is a certified counselor in recovery (at minimum, if not an LMFT); and is a fabulous sounding board and source of strength for your daily struggles in early recovery. And the cook is fabulous (man, did I eat well there)!!! You can tell everyone there, right down to said cook, really cares about the clients while they are there and beyond. AVR's program includes a wide breadth of education and therapy including: one-on-one sessions with an LMFT, family/couples therapy with an LMFT, tons of counseling staff onsite at any given time, public outings in the real world with various recovery meeting formats and "sober fun" events, CBT (how to handle those nasty thoughts), DBT (how to handle those rough emotions), traditional Process group therapy (get your gears grinding and open your eyes to reality and life), relapse prevention, anger management, self-esteem, top-rated-recovery-literature study groups, transition planning and assistance, and even alternative/eastern medicine therapy like Qui Gong Tai Chi, yoga, acupuncture, and eco-therapy. There is even regular visits from a certified personal trainer to make the most of the fantastic gym/exercise equipment! The environment is bar-none. The grounds are huge and beautiful for taking a walk or exercising. A wonderful garden to work in if you like. The house is spacious with multiple TVs for downtime. Along with board games, a pool table, a basketball hoop, a pool, and a hot tub. Lots of extra space for personal time and personal calls. And no more than 6 clients at any one time. Don't get me wrong. Recovery is hard. Lots of emotions, realizations, and work to be done. But the environment is incredibly comfortable and fosters personal growth. I spent 60 days there, and they flew by. Between the staff and the environment, AVR makes all that hard work as painless as possible. If you want to not only sober up, but get the tools to stay sober and enjoy the rest of your life with your family, this is the place to go for residential treatment. read more

Alhambra Valley Retreat - View from the corner of the house by one of the TV rooms. - Rehabilitation Center Near Me - Martinez, California

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This care facility was amazing. They offered a wide variety of coping skills, therapeutic techniques, and served very healthy meals. I was still in my addiction when the last review was left and was not fair in my assessment. This place is worth looking at as an option to begin a journey in recovery. read more

A Life changing experience. I spent three months at Alhambra Valley Retreat (January through April) recovering from severe alcohol addiction and working through some deep mental health challenges. I can honestly say this place changed my life. From day one, the staff and counselors went above and beyond. They didn't just focus on getting me sober -- they helped me rebuild my confidence, mindset, and overall wellness. The combination of CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) gave me tools to understand myself, manage emotions, and live with clarity and purpose again. Every single person there -- from the therapists to the support staff -- showed genuine care, compassion, and professionalism. It wasn't just treatment; it was transformation. If you're struggling and truly want to heal from the inside out, Alhambra Valley Retreat is a place that will meet you where you are and help you become who you're meant to be. read more

If I could have gave 10 stars I would have. This place is more then a treatment facility it's a home and a life long family who cares for you I owe my life to AVR and there staff. I was scared to get the help I needed I didn't think I had what I took to obtain sobriety but I just needed AVR they taught me how to love myself and how to feel my emotions and control my thoughts I love the after care offered as well with monthly alumni meetings and a staff that stays connected even after graduation this truly is the solid foundation that I needed for my mental and physical wellbeing I'm a addict and I will always be and today that's ok because I can help others on this journey to a happy destiny thanks everyone at AVR for every thing you did and continue to do on my recovery journey read more

Alhambra Valley Retreat - The view from AVR is amazing - Rehabilitation Center Near Me - Martinez, California

I can't say enough about how great Alhambra Valley Retreat is. From the moment I arrived It felt like I was home and not some facility trying to make a quick buck, this place truly cares about the clients that show up and want change in their life. Everyone on staff is always there for you and your well being, the knowledge you get from the groups they provide goes a long way in your own recovery. I was there for about 4 months and honestly sad to leave due to the fact the bond I made with the people that were helping me with my recovery. All of the counselors at this facility are there to help and won't tell you to figure it out on your own, Joey was my counselor and he was honestly great and gave it to me straight on how to beat this addiction, Pablo is another counselor who isn't there for a paycheck he really cares about his clients and will pull you aside if he notices something wrong, Every morning I got to wake up to Keith which is another counselor and he never treated you like a patient, he treated you like you were family like. He always brought so much energy to the house, just waking up thinking "alright whats keith bringing to the table today" ! If I could give this place more than 5 stars I would. they treat you like your family. read more

I spent 60 days in AVR and couldn't have had a better experience. My recovery is very important to me and am so fortunate to have started it here. The staff was very giving and knowledgeable, continually equipping me with new tools. If looking for a place to begin recovery, I couldn't recommend AVR more. If I could give 10 stars I absolutely would. read more

TL:DR - AVR is a beautiful place with well informed and understanding staff. The food is amazing. The house is clean. The groups are eye opening and informative. The therapy is emotionally intense and empowering. The program is inspiring and life changing. If you're looking for a therapeutic approach to the disease of addiction and ways to cope with mental health issues in positive ways than this is the place for you. I'm not sure I can express how amazing this place is in just a Yelp review. Alhambra Valley Retreat is different in all the best ways. Compared to other programs this place goes above and beyond to truly rehabilitate suffering people. The house is a beautiful place up in the hills of Martinez that is well maintained and includes a hot tub, pool, extremely comfortable beds, clean showers and bathrooms, a pool table, flat screen TVs w/ all the streaming services, gorgeous hiking trails, a gym, and an extremely well stocked kitchen. The food is healthy and amazing and your meals are prepped by an extremely talented chef that deserves his own Yelp review. Both Zack and Alex are incredibly gifted people who pour their heart and soul into every meal they make. If they aren't around and you get hungry don't worry, the kitchen is stocked full with an enormous variety of healthy food and ingredients to make yourself a snack. The staff is really what makes this place shine. The counselors are knowledgeable, compassionate and available at any time for support. The Program Director is extremely professional and understanding. The office ladies go out of their way to make sure you are as comfortable and stress free as possible. If there's anything at all that you need while here, they will make sure it is priority number one to get it for you. The therapist is extremely helpful and makes being vulnerable easy. The classes are taught by the well informed counselors and are very educational and emotionally intense. You will learn how to practice meditation. You will learn how to spot and correct negative thinking patterns and denial patterns. You will learn how to cope with anxiety and depression or other mental health concerns. You will learn relapse prevention and how to spot a relapse before it happens. Every group that you attend will leave you more educated and more mentally and emotionally confident. The small group of patients and relatable counselors make it easy to be vulnerable and open about what you're going through or have been through. You will never feel judged or alone during any process group. The yoga, tai chi, and acupuncture all deserve their own Yelp reviews. Each is taught or administered by wonderfully professional and understanding staff. The acupuncture is amazing and a great way to cope with mental health concerns. The yoga and tai chi are great if you're a beginner or even an experienced person. I went in there with zero knowledge and by the first week I was already hooked and looking forward to early morning yoga and afternoon Tai Chi. After 90 days I felt more flexible and limber than I've felt since I was a kid. All in all this review ended up being way longer than I expected and I still didn't get out as much great things as I could say about AVR. If you're looking for a change and are willing to be open minded and sincere then this is a perfect place for you to go. read more

AVR saved my life! I went into a treatment facility looking to only have a place to get over my urges and they opened my mind up to my personal underline reasons for my addiction. Befor AVR I didnt want to live anymore and made plans to party myself to death literally now iv had over a year without using anything or thinking about harming myself. I am convinced that AVR's duel diagnose treatment is what saved me, if it where to have been a standard treatment facility I guaranty I would have relapsed the moment i got out of treatment. I just cant say enough about how they helped me and changed my life. If you know someone that is struggling and wants the help, AVR is the place to go, they will work with you everyday on issues you want to confront and the underline issues that you dont yet see. They are there to help and from experience I can confidently say that they will help! read more

Exceptional, Phenomenal, and Stunning!!! Modified excerpt from Exit Speech prepared for AVR: Tony, Jo and Katharine have opened the doors of their home and welcomed all of us with open arms; people who are suffering from addiction, alcoholism and other issues. Without their help, support and generosity, none of the magic that happens here would have been possible. Katherine's vision planted the seed that flourished into one of the best recovery centers in Northern California. For that, I am truly grateful with all of my heart. How do I articulate my appreciation to the men and women of this facility who literally saved my life? My Counselor - You have given me such solid advice, time and time again, which has helped me in more ways than I can possibly write down. Early on, you helped inspire confidence in me. You pointed out qualities that I had long forgotten. (K) you helped me remember my loved ones, how much they mean to me and helped me stay grateful throughout life's challenges. You stuck by me when my daughter got Covid-19 and helped me through challenges with my wife As if owning a magic 8 ball, you intuitively knew what the right thing to do was and lead me down the right path. You helped me make decisions in such a way that I was happy with my choices. To paraphrase what I will take with me is - Don't Drink or Use, Don't Blow it ---- One day at a Time. You are the light in the darkness; you are an exceptional counselor and you showed me the path to an infinitely better life. My Therapist - You (D) have led me to many mirror ponds in our sessions. To drink from, to fish from and to look at myself when the waters are calm. I have overcome lifelong fears with you, personal challenges that I thought were so monumental I would never see the precipice of the mountain, nor be able to climb it and find acceptance. I have seen a few different psychologists in my lifetime. None of whom were able to accomplish as much as 10% of what we covered. I was able to establish trust in you quickly. From there we took a four-month journey through my life, highlighting pain points and depressive episodes, entry points for my disease. You helped me see life as a hero's journey in which one has to leave the comfort of my addiction and journey out into life for new experiences. From there, returning to my home and sharing my journey with others to be of help and service. You have been so kind in redirecting my thinking, in such a way that I feel heard, understood, appreciated and prompted introspection. There was a time when society was going through changes, and you stepped up to show us that one can stay sober no matter what. You showed me that, no matter what, we need to hold onto our dreams and fight for what/who we love. Alternate Counselor, Good Morning, Sunshine! At times, I have been a challenging client for you. However, you have such a wonderful quality about you in everything you do. You take the time to set me aside, highlight what I did and why it is a red flag/red dog in my recovery. I have learned so much from you and I treasure my time working with you. Without your caring approach to course correcting, I could have been in a bad place in my recovery. You helped me see that everything we do is recovery. I am grateful you are here to keep us all on the right path. Alternate Counselor- Thank you for giving me the gift of Tai Chi and The four Agreements. I have always enjoyed slowing down and meditating at around 4pm. Tai Chi will give me the opportunity to take a break during my day. I cannot wait to read more books and learn from your experiences. All of the staff at the facility go way above and beyond to ensure recovery is their top priority, 24 hours a day. The cook (A) is beyond phenomenal, the views are breath taking and I could not have been more pleased with every moment of my time with Alhambra Valley Retreat. read more

Alhambra Valley Retreat - My View from the balcony of the Master Suite! - Rehabilitation Center Near Me - Martinez, California

This was my first inpatient treatment center and I really and truly felt they cared about me and what was best for my life. The amenities here are superb and the house itself is beautiful. A very serene setting up in the Martinez hills and even get a few bucks and does in the backyard! My only complaint would be that the house was so new, there was a lot of confusion with the staff at times and it was hard to get information. Always felt like something big was going down or they were hiding something. Other than that, it was a wonderful experience that gave me a new drive in life. Sometimes you need to be aggressive when it comes to counseling and I was certainly, I always made sure to get sessions when I could. My rebellious attitude got me in trouble a couple times and I discharged early on my own accord, but that does not take away from a caring staff and unbelievable surrounding. I also always felt safe which is very important in this kind of setting. If you have Kaiser insurance, I would recommend. read more

Our son-in-law was at AVR for 90 days. He had severe depression and self medicated with alcohol. During his stay no one, not a psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist or counselor contacted his wife (my daughter) to keep her informed of his progress even after the she left numerous messages for someone to call her. During his stay he told the staff about his suicide thoughts several times. Apparently no one took him seriously or kept a close eye on him. He hanged himself and was found too late to be helped. He died the next day. We are beyond devastated. read more

They took such great care of my son it was just what he needed all the person care and attention he has been sober for one year and still talks about what a great place it was and how lucky he was to go there read more

This is by far one of the best Residential Recovery Facility's I've attendant. First off," it has a beautiful calming setting that's extremally welcoming. There are great amenities at this location. We talking a pool, pool table, trails, wild life it's beautiful and I can't forget the the excellent meals that are prepared 3x a day. Now don't get me wrong , the amenities are top notch, but the most important piece about Alhambra Valley Retreat is the level of Treatment that's provided and offered here. This is a holistic open facility, with some of the best staff that's always available. The best part is they meet you where you are in struggle. After residing at AVR for 90 days, I feel I've got the best treatment I ever had before. I have inherited a new family. I highly recommend AVR to those looking to change their lives. If there were more then 5 stars to give I would load them up. read more

I did 4 months at alhambra and it was the best experience I've had and the most necessary. I came in a broken man, no idea of how to fix what I had broken and how to get back into recovery and deal with my addiction in a healthy way. They gave me the tools I needed, helped me with past trauma, I mean I've been to plenty of programs before but nothing like this. It isn't the amenities that make it special it's the program they have and run and the support and knowledge they pass on. The people who work there truly care about helping others and have done the deal themselves and just want to pass on what they know. If your looking for a rehab center choose this place and don't be afraid to stay and squeeze everything out if the program as there is so much to be gained from this place. This will save your life as it has saved mine! read more

I can't say enough good things about AVR. They saved my son's life. He has now been clean and sober for one year, two months. The staff encouraged him to stay for a third month, which we believe was the true turning point for him. Like another reviewer, he was also there during Covid and the staff turnover, the latter of which caused a little drama and a few bumps but overall not many from what we could tell. The new management did tighten up on some things that we felt were kind of loose. The combination of individual and group counseling, emphasis on health, and helping clients manage conflicts meant my son came out noticeably more mature than going in. He did his share of acting out there, but was held accountable. He was dual-diagnosis and young, and his only "friends" were people he could get weed from, so he needed to see that teens and young adults could get and stay sober, and it helped that his main counselor was only a few years older than him but had gotten clean at around 15. He had been to a residential program once before (a typical 30-day program), but this was so different! Being small and men-only meant he couldn't "hide" and he could really work deeply on himself. Also, as a parent, I felt respected and included at AVR, whereas the other program made me feel dismissed. When he was ready to come home, his counselor worked with him and us on a very detailed discharge plan that included a contract for continuing to live in our home. She even went through his phone with him to remove and block contacts from his using life and taught us how to set time controls on his phone. She and the other counselors really went the extra mile to set him up for success. Today, he has a good job, has clean and sober friends through AA and NA, has regained our trust, and has made sobriety the center of his life. He just celebrated his 21st birthday clean and sober. I feel like AVR gave us our son back. read more

I attended Alhambra Valley Retreat for 90 days from mid November 2019 thru mid February 2020. It was my own choice to attend a clean and sober living program that was offered to me by medical provider. I did a thorough research and visited other rehabilitation programs and none of them even compared or came close to what Alhambra has to offer. They gave me the tools that has changed my life which I never thought could or would be possible. Their individual and group therapy sessions coupled with counselors being available 24/7, gave me the tools for me to remain sober. Every week families had the opportunity to attend a group session staffed by either their Therapist, Executive Director and/or Program Director to educate them how the disease affects their loved ones and the tools to set healthy boundaries. They truly care about each and every individual patients needs. They provide excellent food. The property is well kept both inside and out. It is serene and peaceful. I thoroughly enjoyed working out with an Exercise Trainer, doing Meditation and Yoga. I am Glen R. and I highly recommend Alhambra Valley Retreat to anyone and everyone who truly wants sobriety. read more