Sarah Dean

Review of Sunrise RTC

I could not find the Washington campus reviews, so...

I could not find the Washington campus reviews, so I'll do it on here. First things first, it is an amazing house with large rooms and kind, loving staff (Washington Campus). Amazing. Saved my life from the moment I got there and allowed me to play out my toxic patterns to show I needed to change my ways. Trust me I wasn't a peach when I first arrived either; I was transferred from a mental hospital (UCLA psychiatric hospital to be exact, a facility with caring staff and therapists I would recommend to anyone in dire need of a safe place from themselves) where I had been on constant watch and heavy tranquilizers after multiple "attempts" and self harm, including eating disorder- and self destructive-like behaviors I consistently engaged in. I've been hospitalized a total of 7 times and 3 times in a partial hospital program. Sunrise was the last resort and my family thought they would lose me to my own destruction forever, but Sunrise saved my life. Sunrise proved to me no matter how deep you think you are, no matter how scared or how many "problems" you have, you can always get back up and start over. True, I agree some methods they have are rather harsh, such as being forced to stay back from fun outings and not being able to go outside when you're on the lowest level, sometimes they even woke us up to clean the chores we didn't complete and also withheld privileges from us. But guess what? I'm truly thankful for all those times because I wasn't sent there for a resort, I wasn't sent to have fun or be pampered with attention and clean towels and candy. I was sent for intensive, last resort therapy. I was trained and taught to take care of myself and look out for toxic relationships and situations. I was given skills to protect myself from my own destructions. I was given love and attention from staff and all they've done for me I am thankful for. It took me 11 months to finally recover and "graduate" and I'm truly thankful for every second of it, whether they were very dark or very inspirational, I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I can honestly say I was a very sick girl, I was very emotionally ill and sunrise helped me cure myself. They are one of the few places that don't focus on self pity and family bashing sessions, they focus on correcting innapropriate and self-destructive behaviors and they make you work your ass off for it. Sunrise has not only helped me with my emotions and psychological health, but with my gratitude for what I truly have and how I can help others in an interpersonal way. I can honestly say they that I would have been dead by now, and my family would've never been the same, but with Sunrise's help and my eventual determination, I was able to recover and love myself. I am now going off to college to study clinical social work and I plan on using my experiences and skills form SUNRISE RTC to help me do so. Thank you, Sunrise, for being my home away from home.