Richard Santaniello

Review of Passages Addiction Treatment C...

I struggled and battled with addiction for most of...

I struggled and battled with addiction for most of my life. I tried many different ways and variations to get and stay sober. While I did manage to maintain long periods of sobriety there was always something missing. Always that void. I couldn t get passed that place where I would face and work on my core issues and deal with me. Finally at the end of my rope, more literally than you can imagine, I was sitting on my couch and the Passages commercial came on. I don t know how or why but before I knew what was happening the phone was in my hand and ringing. That call would change my life.
I was connected to a woman named Jennifer. I told her I think I need to come there and she softly replied oh sweetie if you are calling me I think you need to come here as well . Over the next few days Jennifer and Michael were not only admissions people they were kind caring friends that stayed in contact with me until I was ready to come in. I truly was hopeless. Life had become too much living and battling with addiction. I had lost my family and everyone including myself had given up on me.
Upon entering Passages I was truly amazed at how they made me feel. It was not entering a rehab or treatment center. They made me feel as if I was home. Everyone from the nursing staff, kitchen staff, receptionists, therapists, client supervisors and even the owners Pax and Chris immediately knew my name, who I was, why I was there and that there was hope. The scheduling and therapy sessions you are given are very intense and there is no game playing. Getting to the core of your issues is their goal and they get there quickly. The program is very busy and the amount of work, time and energy they put into you is like nothing I have ever seen. After many, many years of trying the conventional therapy systems and 12 step programs and never reaching the levels of work or learning and dealing with my issues as well as the support I was getting from Passages not only did I find a treatment center I became part of a family and support group I never thought I would have. Upon my discharge I was setup with a therapist in my area, which is on the other side of the country, and an aftercare plan. I was also given an aftercare coordinator and to this day get a couple of emails a month checking on my progress and making sure any needs I have that Passages can help me with are met.
Now it has been a few years and I can say I have a freedom today I never thought imaginable. I still practice the things I learned at Passages. I still am in communication with the staff that helped me and continues to help me. Never did I or do I feel like a number or just another client. I mattered and still matter. Many of the folks I went thru the program with are happy, healthy, sober and I am still in contact with. We get together. We see each other. We skype regularly and are involved in each other s lives and recovery. I am part of a family and one I am proud to be. All they say the offer they do and so much more IF you want it and are willing to do the work. God Bless Passages and everyone there that puts so much into helping people and changing people s lives. It sure has mine.