If you don't want to read this dissertation of a review, I overall do recommend Seasons Beach…read moreCottage. I stayed there from May 30, 2024 to June 27, 2024. Admissions process, stay, food, therapy modalities, staff, and facilitators are all A+. I took a star off for the experience I had with the MD and discharge related issues. Admissions: Kathryn was awesome! House staff members: The house manager, site managers, client advocates, and chefs were all genuinely kind, helpful, and went out of their way to make me feel comfortable. I am a highly anxious person, even more so in new environments. I felt safe and reassured throughout my entire stay. Danielle is an absolute ray of sunshine and gave the best hugs and pep talks when I needed them the most. I could list all of the other staff members I loved, but it'd literally be everyone. Oh, what the heck. Noreen, Nancy, Bryan, Cary, Pepper, Avery, Ray, Veronica, Iyanna, Doris, Rashi- you guys rock! Primary therapy: While at Seasons, you see your therapist three times a week. I was matched with Dr. Q and feel like I got so lucky! She is positive, brilliant, and really helped me reframe my perspectives on things. I'm really happy I got the opportunity to work with her. Craniosacral therapy: Lisa is wonderful. She is so present and engaged throughout the whole session. After the first cranio session I had with her, I felt so relaxed, dizzy, and lightheaded that Lisa had to help me up to my room! Hypnotherapy: My first two sessions were with Barbara and I instantly liked her. Unfortunately, she got sick and my subsequent sessions were with a different hypnotherapist. The replacement practitioner was very nice, but I didn't feel like our sessions were helpful. The morning of my last day, I was scheduled with Barbara via Zoom. That was our first in depth hypnosis session and I'm not exaggerating when I say it was life changing. Barbara has an amazing gift. Brainspotting: I saw Teri who was great. The first session I got nothing, the second session was better than the first, but the third session incurred a breakthrough! It was difficult, but cathartic and eye opening. Spiritual therapy: I saw Audrey and Christine. They are both spiritual therapists, but their approach is VERY different. I really liked them both. Audrey helped me pull my head out of the sand and call things like they are. It was especially helpful with a past relationship and healing my inner child. Christine has this quiet and gentle presence while still being effective and engaging. She helped me reflect on things and I felt like I was able to be vulnerable with her. Somatic therapy: Lynda helped me rediscover the mind-body connection and I realized how in tune I am with my body if I listen to it. Lynda taught me to turn toward difficult emotions without judgement. I found these sessions to be enlightening and Lynda was such a pleasure to work with. Massage therapy: Arlene is the best! She gave me four of the best massages I've ever had. You can tell she takes pride in her work and works hard to ensure you feel relaxed. Acupuncture/Gua Sha: Rachel is excellent at what she does and she is such a kind person! Group therapy: Group therapy was often run by one of the psychologists and they were all great. My favorite group was art therapy! Ako ran the groups and he is insanely talented. He broke down the paintings step by step and would help you if he saw you struggling. Equine therapy: Very memorable and meaningful experience. Chloe is awesome! Case management: I liked my CM and our meetings were like more therapy. I was told I'd still have three months of case management with her post-discharge and encouraged me to call/text whenever I needed her. Psychiatry: Dr. Lozano was nice and helpful. MD: In short, he refused to give me meds my doctor back home prescribed my first week there, which made me feel like he about my intense and chronic pain. Eventually, he acquiesced, but it was quite frustrating. Discharge/post-discharge: CM set me up with an IOP before I left, but it closed the day after I started. She did not help me find another one. New program could not obtain records from Seasons, delaying me starting by a week. CM stopped replying to me two weeks ago and no one from Seasons has checked on me. It's hurtful.

Christina designed teas for pain, bedtime and stomach upset for me…read more She was cautious in asking if there were ingredients i shouldn't have, and reviewing my symptoms to achieve my goals. I requested 3 teas, Pain, Bedtime, and Digestive. Christina did this out of her healing nature and care. With the tea for pain I noticed reduced arthritic swelling in my hands. The digestive brew...o my, I can't express how much I love it. The taste of licorice is sooo good. I always want a second cup even though my tummy settles! Bedtime, very soothing and relaxing. In fact, when my ADD wants to take charge, I brew a cup and it helps me breathe, comfort myself and lower the energy. If you haven't tried her teas see what they are about. There is a Happiness tea, but thats for you to discover!​

It may be hard to believe, but the month I spent at Summit was one of the best months of my life. I…read morefirmly believe that without the loving support of the staff and excellent clinical team, I wouldn't be alive today. Steven proved to be an indispensable source of strength and encouragement, as he is the person who gave me the courage to come to Summit. If he had not done my intake, there is no way I would have come to the program. He gave me hope and courage, while reassuring me that the experience was exactly what I needed to have a chance at a new lease on life. He was correct. The facility itself is gorgeous, and I highly suggest you do everything in your power to secure a solo room for yourself. The chef Mark makes food that is unbelievably delicious while still healthy. Suzy is the sweetest woman and so incredibly patient. She still reaches out to check on me. I can't speak highly enough of the staff, from playing frisbee and going to meetings with Kyle, to good conversation with JoJo. Oh, and Cory's cookies!!! I could go on forever. Thank you, to everyone at Summit, for saving my life and bringing so much joy into what was a dark time for me. I will forever hold you near and dear to my heart!

I spent the entire day lying in the hallway while staff walked back and forth. No one came to check…read moreon me, and no one seemed to care. This is a terrible hospital. I would not recommend it to anyone.

Unfortunately I've been to a number of rehabs and Cliffside was just okay. I got the impression…read morefrom staff there that it used to be substantially better but things started going downhill when it was sold to DBH. They have multiple houses, some nicer than others. I was lucky enough to be in the main house, which has a capacity of 6 (2 singles and 2 double rooms). Because there are multiple houses, things had a tendency to feel a little disjointed and disconnected. My main gripe is that I did not think my therapist was good at all. I was not alone in this feeling; one client actually asked to change out of her care and go to a different therapist. Groups were fine. Mostly short and sweet which I liked. I also enjoyed the outings and movie nights. The staff was great across the board. The food was pretty bad - lots of chicken and bland vegetables. There was a lot of food waste; leftovers were thrown away after 24 hours which I found sad as they could have been donated or given to staff. Little amenities like the laundry service were nice. The hot tub was broken for most of my time there which was a huge bummer. Overall it's an okay place to go to seek treatment but there are better places to go. The best part was the alumni network and follow-up experience - they excel at that.

Title: Extremely Troubling Experience - Please Read Before Choosing This Facility…read more My family recently had a deeply troubling experience involving Cliffside Malibu and their so-called "sister property" in Los Angeles. I'm sharing this to protect other families who may be searching for trustworthy, clinically appropriate dual-diagnosis care. For several weeks, my family member had been in regular communication with a Cliffside Malibu representative about potentially entering their program. We ultimately chose a different treatment center, but when a severe medication reaction occurred at that facility, he ended up hospitalized and in crisis. In order for the institution to discharge him safely, he needed confirmation that another program would take him immediately. He contacted the same representative at Cliffside and was told a bed was available. I personally called that evening to confirm. I was told again, very clearly, that a bed was reserved and that arrangements would be made the next morning for pickup. However, everything changed the moment I asked whether they already had his insurance information on file. Cliffside advertises that they accept his insurance in network. The representative told me he was "under the impression" we would be paying out of pocket--over $70,000 per month. When I stated that insurance would be used, the tone of the conversation shifted abruptly. The next morning, the same representative told my family member that Cliffside Malibu no longer had availability after all, but that they could place him in their "sister property," a location called Casa Palmera in Los Angeles. Given the urgent situation and lack of alternatives, he had no choice but to proceed. What he arrived to was nothing like what Cliffside promises on their website or in their admissions calls. It was literally just a house. There were only two other clients, one of whom left that night, leaving him and one roommate. Meals were ordered from Uber Eats. He was told he would receive group therapy consisting of himself and his one roommate, and a brief weekly Zoom check-in with a psychiatrist. This is not remotely "comprehensive dual diagnosis care," nor what Blue Cross believes they are paying for. In the midst of acute withdrawal and psychological trauma, he was asked to pay $5,000 upfront, which he did--only to discover that the entire experience was essentially a bait-and-switch. He left after one day, now even more distrustful of the treatment system and still in need of medically appropriate care. To make matters worse, the posted licenses for this "sister" facility were expired just days before they admitted him. This raises serious concerns about regulatory oversight and transparency. We will be notifying the insurance company, as the care provided in no way resembled the services they claim to deliver. I am sharing this experience so that other families can exercise caution and ask very direct questions before trusting what is being represented on the phone or online. Our hope is that no one else finds themselves in the same vulnerable position.

To say Alo recovery helped change my life would be an understatement. Alo recovery helped save my…read morelife. After 23 years of abusing alcohol and not dealing with my depression, I decided to check myself in to Alo. From the initial phone consultation I knew I had made the right decision. They had a driver named Mike who met me at the airport and helped ease my mind and answered my many questions on the drive to Malibu. Once I got to the Alo detox house over looking the Pacific Ocean, I was put at ease by the friendly staff and councillors, ( many of whom had some experience with recovery themselves). This was an extremely emotional time for me as I realized I would be getting to the core of my problems with Alcohol and depression over the following month, but not once did I feel it unsafe to discuss any and all topics with the amazing staff, therapists and psychologists. At the next phase my lodging was in a giant mansion with all the amenities including a pool and 24 hour staff on call to help with any issues. There was an absolute dream team of chefs who made all types of delicious meals to suite any and all dietary restrictions. Can't say enough good things about how well I was fed throughout my stay. The daily programming covered a wide variety of courses and the group discussions were where I found some of the most comfort and solidified some great friendships with other clients. Jared and Evan have created an amazing thing down there in Malibu and I hope they are aware of the impact they've had on many lives, including mine. All I can say is thank you, from the bottom of my heart to all the staff, councillors, and therapists at Alo House. I just received my 3 month chip ( the longest duration of sobriety I've had in 23 years) and Im slowly getting my life back in order. If you are thinking about recovery, please do yourself a favour and reach out the the team at Alo House. You won't regret it!

Shoutout to this staff for their incredible support and coordination. Every time we get a resident…read morefrom this facility, it's clear they've received thoughtful, structured care. Great partner in the recovery community.

I can't say enough good things about the team at Seasons; each of the counselors, therapists and…read morehouse staff, took my case to heart personally and the clinical coordination was unbelievable. I actually loved Seasons and was somewhat sad to leave after the connections I made. Seasons has changed my life by addressing my underlying trauma-exactly what I was looking for and the team understood thisl

The level of mental healthcare provided here is truly exceptional. The quality of care is…read moreunmatched, setting a standard that is both rare and admirable. This is top-tier mental health care in every sense.

Excellent, excellent care in a peaceful setting. You can smell the ocean from your room. Staff were…read morepresent, attentive, and truly caring. There's a book I recommend for insight: Alcoholism and Addiction Cure. The book was written by the founders and lays the foundations of the program. You're treated like an adult--free to use your phone, stay in touch, and even order food if the meals don't suit you (though they're surprisingly decent). I left early due to insurance costs, but I regret doing so. This place is worth the investment in yourself.

Unfortunately I've done my fair share of rehab stays in Malibu + elsewhere so I have a decent point…read moreof reference. The pro of this place: - it is absolutely STUNNING. By far the nicest place I've been physically (and that's saying something). The property is massive with a ton of outdoor space, unfortunately mostly unused, but there nonetheless. It feels spacious and free, not at all like a confined space. - the breakfast, lunch, and dinner is great, varied, and delivered on time or early by an onsite chef. Downsides: - while staff was friendly, they seemed aloof. It was a very weird vibe. For nursing teams (eg to get scheduled meds), there was a weird iPad system you would have to use to check in. Only time I've seen anything like this in residential treatment - treatment was definitely more holistic than therapeutic. There was a lot of sound bath, acupuncture, massage, etc. I was in a few "groups" that ended up just being me. I don't think I got anything therapeutic from the program. My individual therapist seemed great but I benefit more from group therapy which I just didn't receive here at all. - I was in a house literally by myself which felt really isolating and honestly bizarre - the rules and structure of the program are nebulous. It runs on a levels system (ie higher level = more permissions) which works in theory but in practice was muddled and very difficult to understand. Like I mentioned, it's not my first rodeo in Malibu. If you're looking for a strong therapeutic experience in conjunction with amenities, I HIGHLY recommend Rise (or Carrara if you can afford it but it's $$$).

By the time I got to Avalon I was completely hopeless. I was suffering from major depression and…read morehad been self-isolating for more than a year, alone in my despair. My previous efforts to get better in treatment had always failed. When my family begged me to give Avalon a try, I went reluctantly; for them and not myself, knowing with full certainty that nothing could change for me. After a few months, I can honestly say that I was wrong. The people who work here are amazing. Not just the clinical team (although my therapist was amazing!), but every single member of the staff played a significant role in making my recovery possible. They are all patient, caring and understanding. Their care allowed me to start trusting the process, and that's when the magic happened. Slowly but surely, I came to believe that I can change. I can feel whole, I can feel good. I am starting to believe in a brighter, more confident future. So I am leaving a different person, I have hope now. Edouard T.

I stayed at Avalon for over a month because I genuinely wanted to rebuild my life and believed I…read morewould leave with a much stronger foundation for my recovery and understanding of my own mental health. While the facility itself is beautiful and the accommodations are luxurious, luxury should not be confused with effective treatment. Reaching out for help was one of the hardest things I've ever done. Instead of leaving feeling empowered and equipped with the knowledge and practical tools I needed, I left frustrated and disappointed with the mental health care system. I don't feel I received the solid educational foundation or long-term coping strategies I was hoping for. They forced their views on to me. I felt trapped. I did not have a wonderful experience and if I ever have to do the rehab circuit again I will definitely be using places that are covered by my insurance. While there were staff members who genuinely cared and tried to help, my overall experience did not meet the expectations I had for such a highly regarded place. I sincerely hope Avalon continues to improve by listening to former clients and placing greater emphasis on respect, boundaries, practical life skills, individualized education, and preparing people for the realities they'll face after discharge. Beautiful surroundings alone cannot replace the knowledge, compassion, and lasting support that people in recovery truly need. I don't think most people understand how hard it is to ask for help. I only write this review so the next person can understand that Avalon is not for everyone. I brought most of my belongings with me only to have 98% of them taken from me upon arrival. Do your research before you spend tons of money on any program that doesn't improve your actual life and give you your own voice back. I'm still sober today but that's because of my connection with God. Hope you get connected to the right team. Thank You

It was horrible! Costs too much for very low end help. Certain rules for different clients, really…read morebad advertising! 5 minute DRIVE to the beach so you can't see or hear it. The place in Santa Barbara is actually the offices! No animal therapy, no tree house, no pool because it takes a week to heat it and they kept forgetting. One horse ride and because the stairs messed up my knees so bad, I couldn't do it! No drama classes, 45 minute painting 1 time a week, meditation? Maybe by yourself! I just pray that with these reviews that ppl will know not to waste their 82,000 plus flight, on something that doesn't help when you realize how fake all the information is. The manager Siena is aggressive and points at your face, raises her voice and patronizes you like a messed up teenager. She was trying to take away my vape pen saying "I'm trying to keep you from using that at home to try and fix your problems" I NEVER asked for that to be part of my changes, she just assumed she could change me that way."

From the owner: Amend Treatment Malibu - Rather than focusing on the re-shaping of behaviors, our team of Mental…read moreHealth professionals, is committed to partnering with each client in addressing the deeper, more difficult issues that impact their lives. We offer a holistic and collaborative approach that integrates the best of traditional, evidence-based, and alternative treatments, in both individual and group settings, and that are focused on the client's needs and goals.

They kicked my son out of the program. They also refuse to speak to us after the fact…read more My son is a sweet and sensitive person and they made him feel like it was all his fault. Please do not send your kids here.

I am saddened by the poor treatment my family and I have received at Paradigm Treatment Malibu. The…read moreintake folks are very eager to admit your child. They will make you feel heard and supported. They will spend hours on the phone listening to your whole story and they will seem very compassionate. They will call you multiple times to try to get your business. But in my opinion- they don't actually care about anything or anyone except money. The second your child is admitted- suddenly there's no communication. Suddenly the only way to get ahold of any real person is to call admissions. They always answer the phone. But the nurses at the actual facilities where they keep the children- hardly answer the phone AT ALL and they did not give my child the medication she needed. My child was attacked by another child and then they called me the next day- and told me that my child is too mentally ill to be at their facility. Zero accountability. Totally unprofessional. Totally unethical. To me it feels fully motivated by CAPITOL. In my opinion this place is an absolute disgrace.

My son needed help the therapy team provided excellent care. However, during his stay and upon…read moredischarge, his independent studies were not a priority and he fell far behind. After his discharge, I have received no follow through during the transition and we then had to transition right back into his school, which was not the plan. To this day, 2 weeks after discharge, I have not heard back from one single email regarding this issue. House...beautiful. Staff, when they stay... lovely. All of the surface things are perfect. Real life, after care after the isolation...terrible.

This team truly cares about kids. They are thorough and diligent in making sure the best care is…read morereceived in the most gorgeous setting creating a warm, peaceful and safe environment. It makes it easy for anyone to succeed and get back on the right path. Thankful they are around taking care of our youth. Thank you Key family!