I was a participant in The Clearing's 28-day program after watching the transformative process of a close family member graduate from the same program. Having gone through a tough season of change in my own life, and a lifelong struggle with mental health, the healing and the tools that accompanied the program were invaluable. With the help of The Clearing's incredibly compassionate and wise counselors and staff, I was able to work down to the core of my upsets and begin healing in a way that I can only explain as powerful and life-altering. The attention to detail on the estate's property allowed for a peaceful, safe and comfortable space to learn and grow, without distraction from the important work at hand. I will forever hold The Clearing and Friday Harbor as a place of transformative love and growth-a place where I was able to start my life as a better, stronger, more authentic version of me. As a real-life success story, as well as a loved-one to multiple graduates of the program, witnessing the life-altering effects peripherally, I will continue to send anyone, whether they're managing substance abuse, depression, anxiety or simply a desire for a more rich, full, beautiful life, to this program. read more

This place is truly amazing. It's a tough program, tough to be accepted, and tough to finish. But those who do are transformed. People come in broken and are welcomed with love, compassion, and support in a magical safe environment. No guilt or shame here. Just "let's get on with the work to get folks' lives back." There are 2 big differences with The Clearing: (1) They focus on underlying core issues causing the addictive behavior, not the substance itself; and (2) It is a cohort based group vs. rolling admission. Cohort means you start and finish with the same group of about 9-10 people. No interruptions of people coming in and leaving each day. Everybody goes through together and you come out with tight bonds you can't imagine. If you commit, you'll see incredibly changes in your life. It all starts with commitment. Are you ready? read more

The clearing is a wonderful place. The program itself is amazing. Hands down this program should benefit your life at some level. I came in there completely broken. I was a member of NA for twenty three years and it no longer worked for me. I was looking for something different. I had just gone through a torturous year battling breast cancer and physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually dead. On my way there I had so many traumas overlapping each other I could see straight. I needed help. In my opinion the clearing is not about addiction at all. Anyone with issues would benefit. The clearing really helped me get a grip of my life. I left in much better shape than when I arrived. I'm not cured by any means but I'm doing much better. It is worth the time and money and I'm very grateful. It's like a spiritual boot camp. Personally I gave it 110 percent. I worked hard and did my best . They have a very thoughtful and caring staff. Every morning you wake up to yoga and tai chi. It's awesome. Your days are filled with workshop, meditation, book clubs, personal work, and much more. They train you to rewire your brain. The focus is self love. This program Is real. As a mater of fact the entire staff works the same program. They put their heart and souls into the program. They care. They created an amazing place. They taught incredible skills. They do their very best to accommodate you. They even have a well thought out aftercare program to support you when you leave. In other words, they don't just drop you. You are still working the program when you leave. They really do their best and they really care. My concern is that it worked wonders " while in the atmosphere." The problem for myself I needed more time to train myself. I almost wish it was a 6 month outpatient program so I had more time to process issues and get in the habit of personally integrating and utilizing the tools on my own. I needed more time to process my traumas. The program definitely helped me "crack the egg" but I was lagging behind and having a difficult time keeping up. I'm my opinion, If you have fatigue or physical limitations it could negatively affect your experience. It did mine. The rush to get my work done and get adequate sleep gave me more stress and therefore less processing. I would have benefitted more if it were a slower circicullum and more time. This is all my own experience. For the month I spent there. The staff members are all super. They are kind and loving. They do everything they can to make it as homey as possible. They are incredible people. All of them. Although there are some problems with the owners. They are both incredible people with their own issues. It was wonderful seeing them incorporate the teachings in their own life. Like I said it's incredible work and the the tools make sense. I used to be in NA for 23 years. I was done with the 12 steps and I admit it no longer worked for me . They do not bash the 12 steps but they say it does not do anything to help your issues. In my opinion they are unfamiliar with the real workings of the 12 steps and base their opinions on a couple meetings and rehabs. I have 23 years of experience and know the true potential of spiritual growth with "writing" all 12 steps. Although it stopped working for me so I needed something different. The following paragraph is my own experience. The owners are kind people. They care. But you don't want to get on their bad sides or you will be walking on eggshells for a month. Its almost like you are part of a little family with two parents you don't want disappoint them . I felt like a little girl trying to please my Parents. Another problem is if you are upset ( crying) while there is no session you have to isolate yourself. There were a couple times I was crying and one of the owners told me not to talk about my feelings with any of the other members because it disturbed their process. That personally didn't feel so great. One of the owners wanted me to sit in my room so I didn't expose the other clients to any negativity ... I understand what the were trying to do but it did not help my situation. This is an honest review about my experience at the clearing. There are good things and bad things. All in all it helped and I'm grateful For all the good things I learned. I do recommend going to the clearing read more

My brother is in his mid-50's, and has been a heavy drinker for about 35 years. I believe he found The Clearing through the hand of God, and spent 6 weeks there in 2017 working with Joe and Claire and the staff at The Clearing. Their love and guidance and non-judgmental approach gave Tom the impetus to break the cycle. He is sober for 24 months and happier than I have seen him in his entire life. I've met Joe and Betsy and the staff at the Clearing, and they are truly special people that are guided by their hearts to help their patients heal. The setting is breath taking and the food and accommodations are wonderful. I can not over emphasize how much I respect the work that the folks at the The Clearing do, and the transformational change that they helped by brother achieve!!! read more

One word to describe my experience at The Clearing ... Transformational! I had been drinking heavily for nearly 35 years and recognized symptoms of depression and anxiety. Using the tools of spiritual psychology, which I learned at The Clearing, I was able to identify and resolve issues from my life that were at the root of my mood and behaviors. I have been sober for over nine months and alcohol has no energy in my life any longer . More importantly I am leading the life I want and deserve! The staff at The Clearing are the most compassionate, understanding and caring professionals I have encountered in the treatment community. I have recommended The Clearing to my friends and family. I saved my life at The Clearing with the help of Joe, Betsy and all of the staff members! I am eternally grateful for the love, healing and education I gained at The Clearing. read more

You can tell the difference between the Clearing and other rehabs by simply talking to their people. They genuinely care about you and providing you with the help you need. Even if it doesn't work out that you are a good fit, they work with other placement specialists to help you find the right fit for you. Spend 5 minutes with Betsy or Joe and you will see the difference. I highly recommend these guys! read more

The Clearing is a totally different rehab experience. More like a intensive retreat than a rehab, just driving onto the property evokes a feeling of serenity. More importantly, The Clearing involves 120 hours of counseling, and unlike most 12 step based programs, teaches empowerment and self-counseling, not powerlessness. read more

If you are thinking, "I've already been to a treatment center, what makes this different", or "It will never work, my problems are different and I'll never be 'fixed'", I can tell you to stop thinking and apply. I am 52 years old, and for the first time in my life after graduating from The Clearing here is what I can share: 1. I love myself unconditionally and wake up every morning grateful and thankful for the person they helped me become 2. I have been sober for 2 days before I checked in, and for over 3 months since I've left and not even considered taking a drink because I don't need to feel numb anymore - I can sit happily with myself, my feelings, my life - and I feel SOOOOO much better in the morning than I have in 15 years 3. It was expensive, no doubt, but it was THE BEST money I have ever spent on myself and what I learned and gained will last a lifetime 4. What I learned and gained is helping my family, my friends, my community because I am a better person every day 5. If I could have found this before I raised my son, OMG, what a difference it would have made but now I can teach him and my grandkids how to be a loving, content, graceful, happy, loving being You will leave with an Affirmation that you will say 100 times a day, and soon you become everything in it, a different person, here is mine: I am enough! A naturally sober, confident, courageous and authentic women, full of conscious gratitude, grace and ease. I live in the abundance that fulfills my needs and desires. I love myself unconditionally, living in peace, joy and oneness with being. If you want any of that, and more, call now before you change your mind, get yourself there, and start a new life from Day 1. read more

Wonderful and picturesque location. The counselors are sub par and not worth the money you spend in order to attend there. I wouldn't recommend it. read more

Everyone's journey is different, as every human being is unique. But I did share one thing in common with millions of people, I was an addict. I abused alcohol to cope with demons I never new existed. The substance didn't matter as it was the result I was looking for....numbness. I fought this for 49 years and hit several low points until I was about to lose my family and knew I had to do something beyond the occasional AA meeting or 3 months of white knuckling not drinking. I searched for weeks looking for the right fit. AA had not resonated with me for whatever reason. I interviewed several inpatient programs from AZ to CA to OR...nothing seemed genuine to me. I stumbled across The Clearing from a friend and from the moment I spoke with Claire then Betsy I knew this was the place for me. I took my last drink on December 3rd, 2017 and graduated from The Clearing on February 7th, 2018 and have no more purpose or energy for Alcohol or any other substance. The Clearing literally gave me my life back, restored my family and changed me to live the life I always wanted but didn't know how to achieve. Dual Diagnosis was a key factor in my healing. I always focused on the Drug and not the fact that depression could also be a factor. The true genuineness of the counselors and staff was only the beginning of the healing. They gave me the road map and encouraged my on my journey to do the work.....once I changed, people around me changed. I'm living proof that the program works, my family is living proof that it works, my community can tell you that I'm living proof that the program works. Open up, do the work and free yourself. I did the work, but I owe, Joe, Betsy, Claire, Ed, Terrea and Tom a lifetime of gratitude for guiding me. I use the tools everyday and look back fondly to the caring environment that helped me get there. The family portion at the end of the program was icing on the cake. My wife and children were able to witness the tools that we would take with us and realize that my journey wasn't complete but just beginning. The difference being that now I was healthy to be with them, love myself and love us as a family. The Clearing was truly that....Clearing, Clearing the Mind and Cleaning the Soul. I'm Blessed. read more

I came to The Clearing completely destroyed, humiliated and broken. In searching for treatment, my final "hurrah" of hope, I knew there was so much within me and had no idea how to deal with. Like past attempts, I couldn't will it, breathe it, write it, hope it, nor talk all those feelings away. Upon initial investigation of treatment places, The Clearing offered something so profoundly different and it made total sense me to look at the underlying issues that caused me to drink, starve, or vomit in the first place. I was a participant in a group that all began and ended on the same day learning the strategies and tools to safely and lovingly look at past experiences and beliefs and heal them without shame. The Clearing is beyond trite sayings, surface practices, and "good feeling" methodology. Tools and strategies are learned from an emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual level. The staff was honest, authentic, skilled and very loving and fully there to help me (and all of us) heal at the deepest level possible. I finally came to a way to be with myself, with others, and ultimately in this world with greater ease and peace. read more

This review is based on my personal interactions with the two founders of this facility- Joe and Betsy Koelzer. I spent a weekend in a family training workshop and experienced first hand how I was treated by the proprietors as well as how my friend was treated there. The Clearing claims that it is a dual diagnosis rehab program. I am writing this review based on my visiting and attending a family training in support of a friend who attended. My friend had no substance abuse issues and was there to deal with chronic depression and anxiety. In meeting the therapists there and being introduced to their methodology I found that the therapeutic approach was limited and did not waiver according to who their client was. If a client did not respond well to the therapy approach presented, that client was accused of not having the mental health issue that they were there for. My friend was called a liar and an actor who really did not experience depression and anxiety. I was present and shocked when I saw these therapists accuse my friend of not having a depression and I also was treated personally by these therapists in a rude and condescending manner. This was a damaging experience for my friend. If you connect with the program that's great. But if they can't help you they were aggressive in attacking the individual for not being well. The therapists are only versed in the therapy approach they present and have no deep knowledge and training in alternative approaches. I strongly would not recommend this program. read more

If you're looking for a rehab that delivers on their promises, call The Clearing. The program is amazing, addressing core issues on all levels to facilitate real healing. That said, be prepared to get to work - the 28-day program is basically the equivalent of a two-year Master's in counseling. In workshops and therapy sessions, you go deep into all those issues you've been avoiding for years. But don't worry, all of this is done in an incredibly welcoming and supportive environment. The farm location itself is beautiful, but the people are what make this place so special. Every staff member I encountered truly cared and went above and beyond for us. They paid attention to the details and took great care of us. I loved my group and felt so fortunate to work alongside the other participants. (Also, it's worth mentioning that the guest house was nice and cozy and the food was delicious.) It was the experience of a lifetime. I highly recommend The Clearing! read more

The Program at The Clearing went far beyond my expectations of expansion of self-awareness and healing core issues. As a trained counselor and body worker, I was grateful to discover that I can personally go deeper and wider along my healing path. I appreciated how holistic the program is, offering a wide variety of classes interspersed with free time in which I could wander the grounds outside or engage with classmates or be contemplative. The tools and skills I was taught are powerful and will be with me for the rest of my life. Saying intentions and my affirmation before giving a presentation has made a huge difference in my anxiety level and regularly contradicts my inner critic. The staff was totally accessible and supportive, kind, fun and wise. They are what I refer to as 'earth angels.' Of course, it helps that this facility is in a stunningly beautiful, pastoral setting, with moderate temperatures and lots of trees. I've been able to share much about what I learned at the Clearing with my family and friends and they in turn have experienced changes in perspective. I recommend The Clearing wholeheartedly to anyone wishing to heal their life. read more