Passages Addiction Treatment Center Review

Good therapy but I relapsed and went homeless after I left passages. I went to another treatment center that is 12-step based and am sober now. This place is not a cure, and it did not work for anybody that I know.
-former Client
RW

I get upset Everytime the commercials on. If your an addict you are an addict the rest of your life. Your never cured. I am an addict and told myself I was cured. Ended up in prison with a felony dui. You can never cure this disease. You can put in remission but only one drink away to be back at it. Didn't the voice that said he was cured died from overdose? That sounds like a cure for me!

A very close friend of mine who I have known for over ten years went for treatment at Passages. He is now stronger and healthier, both physically, and emotionally, than I have ever seen him. He has spoken nothing but the highest praise for his experience. I knew he was strong enough to get clean. However, the supportive and tireless work by counselors at Passages, helped him find that strength and made it an almost natural life transition for him. I couldn't be happier for him and I thank all at Passages who helped guide him to recovery.

This treatment center treats addiction issues but ARE NOT EQUIPPED for dual diagnosis unless you have a TINY touch of depression. If you have mental health illness I don't recommend this place.

Beautiful and luxurious! Outstanding services, very thorough,
professional and knows how to keep a client happy highly recommend!

I just want to say that this facility is phenomenal and is responsible for bringing one of my best friends back to healthy life. Writing a review is new to me, so excuse me for lack of detail or for not being super specific but I learned about the things that go on there after the fact and I agree with the methodology full on, so I'll try and list some things and my own opinion. I don't know much about other facilities; I had friends go to some in High School, but I never heard any details. I did however hear about a few things that I feel set it apart from the others. One being that they have several counselors/therapists that meet with their patients during the week, that the facility/living quarters itself is absolutely beautiful, and that there are many physical activities to help patients appreciate what normal life should be about. There are various forms of physically gratifying and mental treatment that go on constantly throughout the day, like acupuncture, hiking, yoga, sound therapy, and many others. These are all normal key things that you and I might do to decompress, (I'm a musician so sound therapy is my life,) but an addict most likely does not and doesn't know how to relieve themselves like a normal person. It's also in Malibu, which is known for it's beautiful scenery/beaches/trails etc and they are certainly taking advantage of that, as they should. I'm not an addict and don't have a history with addiction, but I do in my family, and it has DESTROYED one half of it. I do know that in order for someone to recover from something that intense you would definitely need to be pulled out completely from those situations and surroundings that encourage that behavior, your dependency, and the neglect for the reasons why you're actually taking drugs in the first place. Addicts need an area where they can whole heartedly, and not just temporarily put addiction to the side, and to be reintroduced to ALL the elements/ and positivity of normal healthy life. I certainly feel like this place is one of the best places to take care of that directly, and I have living proof. This review is the best way I can repay them. Thank you.

Very professional.. it was great to work with them, Thanks!

Beautiful rooms , nice relaxing view, family atmosphere, and an over abundance of outstanding individual Therapy.

Definitely a successful recovery treatment plan for anyone battling drug and/or alcohol addiction.

Addiction cannot be cured, only managed. They may be able to help with the "thinking disease" but cannot cure addiction. Only GOD can!!! And AMEN Karen. Once an addict, always an addict. I wish I was not one too.

Getting sober being sober works for individuals who say dear god please help me that usually takes years of using and misery. Advertising a beautiful place lush surroundings spa treatment and such will always come with a hefty price. A different approach taken toward sobriety. I've known Synanon since 1962 and all derivatives since including TC, social and others. Yourself, family and friends it is a fact if your sick and fed up it dose not take $100.000 $80,000 $20,000 or $5,000 detoxing on a couch with some asprin sick outside a hospital setting perhaps sounds harsh however it can and has been done thousands of times. Going to AA, get a sponsor, do the 12 steps do meeting's, fellowship don't steal, lie, cheat. All these different tactics further the addict from last use. If life is awful all it takes is willingness and persistence. Staying away from users changing ones life. It's a very simple process for complicated soul's therefore relapse is part of growing to a goal. Very, very few go first time to a AA mtg never use again it dose not take a small fortune in my humble opinion. Many good places abound go seek a Priest, Minister a Rabbi direction as a god or higher power is helpful and some places give sobriety with a religious background or overtones as in Los Angeles, Ca a Jewish 12 step program Beit T' Shuvah costing considerably less with better than average results 5 years plus of a addiction free life. Drugs, Gambling or Sex addiction. Compulsive and Obsessive behavior all the same. Best of luck finding a place or even a couch if you really want IT do IT !!!

UGH!!! the commercial just irritates me, telling " I was an addict for 10 years and now I'm not " complete bull, once an addict always an addict. Apart of healing from addiction is to get to the bottom of what caused you to use and work through it with the 12 steps, I was in denial of being an addict and I relapsed and white knuckled it and relapsed again it was only until I accepted the fact I will always be an addict who will never be cured from this disease and I have to live 1 day at a time and I have to work at it everyday. a fancy rehab ( I had been to 3, not fancy ) didn't make me come to terms with this I had to come to terms with it. And I had to come to terms of what I did and learn how to accept my choices and process it and move forward from it, and I owe it all to God and the fellowship.

I just finished chapter 3 of your book. Sounds so much like my life from college up until now. Lost jobs, lost friendships, bad decisions... All infused by alcohol abuse.

And figuring out the reasons I drink. They all kept popping into my head as I read chapter 3.

My stories are just as crazy and I was able to relate in so many ways to Pax's experiences.

I hear people saying the philosophy is bs. Dont be so quick to judge. Different things and approaches work for different people. So far the book and company blog have helped me a ton. If the in patient treatment is anything like the book and the advice I found in the blogs i'm sure it's great.

Thank you again. Your book and story created a foundation/starting point for my change.

The FREE blogs with tips are great as well on the the company site. They are FREE. What's stopping you? The price? Did I forget to mention they are Free :)

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This place is SAFE WONDERFUL BEAUTFUL AND OS HEALING

I Have been a addict for 30 years, its wrong to promise a cure, there is no cure only learning how to live without the drugs and alcahol, I THINK ITS SO SAD YOUR SELLING SOMETHING THATS A LIE, THE COMMERCIAL SAYS YOU WERE A ADDICT FOR 10 YEARS AND NOW YOUR NOT? IF YOUR CURED, YOU WASNT A BAD ADDICT, SO PITIFUL, TO PROMISE SUCH A WILD LIE, THERE IS NO CURE, JUST EDUCATION ON HOW TO LIVE SOBER! PITIFUL WAY TO GET PEOPLE IN YOUR REHAB, YOUR PRAYING ON THE WEAK TO MAKE MONEY, I WAS AN ADDICT FOR 10 YEARS, NOW IM NOT? WOW REALLY GUY?

People shouldn't review places they have never been. I went there 5 years ago and I love it. It was exactly what I needed. Afterwards I did go to 12 step meetings and they were all for it. I hardly ever remembering hearing the word "cured." They use the definition of cured as being restored to health.

This place is a joke. "Once an Addict always An Addict!" There is NO Cure. For what we have. You lie to people, you cheat them, and then you steal their money. So lame you have to have ur staff give you reviews. 12 Step program saved my life. Was a Meth addict for years. Thanks to NA and the 12 Step Program I now have 3.5 years clean.

The worst place possible. My 1st night there I did not get my meds because they forgot. That a common theme. Nurses at malibu seem bothered when they have to do there job, not all theres 2-3 good ones. There is no 24hr DR. You see doc once a week if lucky and if you really beg you can get your meds filled. Which now unless it's a controlled substance you uber yourself to get em. I went in on 1 med came out on literally 10meds. Food is good, that's honestly all I can say positive. Place is showing its age. Literally falling apart. They sold one therapy center and are selling one of the sober houses. I do not recommend this place due to the fact everytime I needed meds I had to literally give a week notice, then pretty much do all follow up myself to get it filled. They forget everything all day long. I was in the sober house too. 20client house with 1 worker on shift most of time. If you need something you get an uber. Hippa violations like crazy. There were 2 med sheets left right on a desk where I was taking my meds fully open to read. Shop around you can do much better than this for 80k a month. Actually they kick u out at 28 days for faster rotation. They tell you that if you meditate and tell yourself that your fixed that in a few months you'll be healed. Or if you want to think your a body builder you get almost the same results just by using the power of the mind. So do you wanna spend 80k here yet? That's just the first 30 days then they give you a day or 2 on whether you want to stay at the sober house or go home. I say sober loosely...more drugs there than tent city. The sober house is $100 a day or 3k a month. But Its negotiable. Some have paid 3k some have paid 300. That's fair right.

I had never been to inpatient treatment before and was admitted with a dual diagnosis situation. I had a fairly serious medical condition and as a result began heavily self medicating. I have heard about lots of others experiences going to "rehab" and while I don't want to dis any treatment modality, because if it works for you then great, but knowing my personality type I did not want to go anywhere AA/NA was the focus.

Passages treated me as an individual and did not use a "cookie cutter" approach to its treatment paradigm. Also, I was very opposed to going anywhere which group therapy was part of the program. Passages was the closest to meeting those two criteria. My therapy consisted of approximately 80% one on one sessions and the balance were in small groups. In hindsight, some of my group sessions were of my favorites. In part the small groups gave my brain a chance to rest from intensive one on one therapy, but it afforded me an opportunity to get to know the other clients and what they were going through. This proved to be especially valuable when during off hours and interacting in the milieu I grew a bond with several of the other clients who I will consider friends for life.

I am sure that every type of group living a treatment situation has drama and issues - just like life and treatment was no different. However, if there ever was an issue or concern they were heard immediately. I have to say that everyone from the housekeeping and ground staff to the therapists, administration and even the entire extended Prentiss family, Chris, Lynn, Pax and Joe were always warm, engaging and really took a personal interest in getting to know me.

No one day at Passages was the same. After detoxing and getting in a routine, Passages made tremendous strides to assist me in re-engaging with reality for lack of a better word. I learned so much about myself I feel like I could write on for days about my experience. Having put myself through so much trauma by self medicating and feeling shell shocked when I arrived, I can say that gratitude is one of the words I would use in describing my experience at Passages.

From a counseling perspective, I had a primary pscho-therapist, an addiction counselor, a family therapist, a hypnotherapist, a life coach, massage therapist, an acupuncturist, an adventure therapy counselor and an art therapy counselor. My day started around 8 am for breakfast and depending on the day would have counseling from 8 am until noon, or 9 am until noon, each session lasting one hour and then four more one hour sessions after lunch. That was Monday - Friday. One day I could have a heavy psychotherapy session from 10-11 am and then a session with my private trainer from 11-12 which may have been a workout at its onsite fitness center, or a power walk on the beach. Again, no one day was ever the same. Things like equine therapy and art therapy were enjoyable but always had a therapeutic component and it worked very well.

There were many optional activities on the weekends as you "leveled up" through the program. As you progress through the program you also are allowed more freedom. At first when you get there, at least for me, I was pretty exhausted. But as time went on, I started doing the early morning beach walks, which are optional, and a small group would be driven a couple miles up the road to Zuma beach, and some days I would walk on the beach and other days I would sit and stare at the ocean and contemplate life and try to absorb the view. The whole approach at Passages is to help you transcend back to a place where being high or drunk is not your reality or where you reside, instead bring you back to residing where being substance free is your normal natural zone.

Passages was amazing for me - and regardless of where u go and if you need help - go somewhere - get help - it will be the best choice you ever make !!! i give passages all five stars!

I have tried the Non-traditional approach to recovery.....it didn't work. After relapsing over and over, I finally realized that 12 step programs was the only way to recover. By attending 12 step meetings I have been living a healthy, happy, clean lifestyle for over 4 years now.....

A friend of mine was admitted here, and the level of care he received was astonishing. What seemed hopeless became achievable, and we will be forever grateful. Thank you so much. God bless.

It's so wonderful to see all of the lives being changed and saved by your program. Keep up the great work.

I never been there but just like others that have not and left bad reviews just because if their own beliefs I'll comment.. there are many different approaches to addiction for everyone. For you to shame people that have been here and say they will relapse because they don't follow your program is selfish.

So I paid over 100k for one month thinking I didnt need a 12 step program, well guess what you need post support and its gonna be a 12 step program. Save your money amd just go to mettings.

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.

I believe that Passages Malibu is a one-of-kind treatment facility. It s located so close to the ocean that you can hear the waves crashing down onto the beach.

The staff are kind and caring and try their best to accommodate client needs. The rooms are clean, the property is well maintained and food is delicious. If you have any sort of allergy (Food, environmental, medication), they can work around it. The staff will often go on Store Runs if you need anything from a Ralph s or CVS.

They allow clients to leave the property upon discretion of administration. There are activities such as: Tennis, Goat Yoga, Beach Walks, Outings to Target, Bowling, Movies, In-N-Out, etc. Clients are allowed to order food if they choose to and are allowed to ship packages to themselves.

You re absolutely allowed to bring and buy things to make you feel more at home, just as long as you re abiding by the set guidelines that are explained upon admission.

There is WiFi throughout the property so that you can stay in contact with your friends and families (If you choose to). They are open to allowing a client to go off of the property to practice the coping skills that they have learned.

The main thing I can say is that it is really up to the person that comes here. You must be open and willing to put in the energy and work to overcome the struggle.

Drug addiction is an excruciating experience for family and close friends. My sibling had been to treatment centers three times prior to Passages and while there would be a brief beautiful time of sober living immediately after, there would ultimately be relapse. The relapses took so much of a toll on all of us and I'm surprised and proud that our family stuck together and provided the support needed to try again at Passages. Chris and Pax are some of the most loving and supportive people we have ever met and as father and son understand the emotional strain on a family addiction can cause. We are eternally grateful to them. It has been a proudly sober four years. Thank you Passages!

The holistic and non-12 step treatment offered at Passages Addiction Treatment Centers is unlike any other rehabilitation program offered. I was impressed by the professional staff and positive experience I had with Passages. The Alcoholism and Addiction Cure book alone was incredibly helpful as well. Thank you Passages!!

Many people think Passages is just a spa or a resort but what they don't realize is that while a client at Passages, you have a day to day schedule. You have several one-on-one therapy sessions that are day in and day out, and help you heal from the underlying conditions causing you to use and abuse drugs and alcohol. This treatment works. It has for thousands of people from all walks of life and it can certainly work for you as well!

Passages is a joke and people post comments here you call complaining take the facts don't call it complaining accept it all truth passages does not work

LOL SCAM, YOU ARE A SUCKER IF YOU PAY FOR THIS GARBAGE

Everyone knows "once an addict, always an addict" you don't "get cured". Your commercials drive me crazy. Disgusting. Promising lies to people seeking to help and better themselves or help their family member they love. No such thing as "I was an addict for 10 yrs". You're still an addict.

Most teaching is askew at best and very focused on money over personal welfare. My friend felt violated and lied to. This place will cause more harm then good.

Passages Malibu is great to me :) Actually it was outstanding experience with Passages. They didn t leave any opportunity to make me better. I love their drug and alcohol addictions program and especially such a friendly, helpful and open-minded staff they are.

Passages saved my life. Before going to Passages my life was complete hell. My marriage and my relationship with my family was in shambles, all because of my addiction to cocaine. It was when I read the book the Alcoholism and the Addiction Cure, that something clicked in my head and really made me look at my addiction in a different way. Before the book, I thought that I was different from other people, and that I had an incurable disease that I would have to live with for the rest of my life. It wasn't until I read the book, that I found out a different way of looking at my addiction. To me the book and the Passages treatment program has a much more positive and self empowering approach to treating addiction, than other programs that I have been to. Once I found out that there were very specific reasons as to why I was abusing, and that until those were completely addressed and healed, only then could I make real progress. With the help of the wonderful therapists at Passages I was able to address my problems that I was facing at my job, and my marriage. To me this program is a gift. The reason why I feel this place is so great is because of the quality of their therapists, and their overall positive holistic approach towards treating addiction.

I was addicted to pain killers and tried kicking the addiction on and off for several years. It was getting in the way of school and work, and I was losing friendships. I've had relatives for whom AA and NA have worked, but I struggled with making the program work for me. Passages Malibu equipped me with the tools to fight my addiction in the real world without relying on the conventions of a typical program. The staff was incredible, and made my process as easy and painless as it could possibly have been. I'd be lost if I hadn't been referred to this place. It saved my life!

Growing up in rural America, I had a number of friends who had their own struggles with addiction. Some of them still do. A couple months ago, I had a dear friend contact me out of the blue. I hadn't heard from her since high school, so it was a nice surprise to hear from her. We caught up, talked about old friends, where we are now until finally I had to note how happy she sounded. She said it was thanks in no small part to Passages Malibu. I know she had done the 12 Step programs in the past, but Passages unique approach is what sets them apart from other treatment centers. Also, it doesn't hurt that it's a beachfront palace. Color me impressed. Five stars.

Passages is a first class, world class treatment center. I was treated with dignity and compassion. I came home a different person and have easily chosen sobriety for five years and counting. It isn't a struggle nor a day by day choice because I was able to find my cure by discovering my "why" for my dependent behaviors, thanks to their excellent staff.

Recently a friend of mine was treated at Passages Malibu. He traveled all the way from the East coast and was glad that he did. He suffered from a severe drug addiction that many thought he would not be able to overcome. My dear friend is alive today thanks to the warm staff who brought him back to sobriety. We are so thankful for the care and rehabilitation provided to him during his time at Passages.

Thank you Passages Malibu!

They'll only take you if you have the money. It's close to $100,000 a month now. There are plenty of real rehabs that are covered by insurance and are affordable which will work just as well if the person wants to get sober. You don't need to go to an overpriced spa to find recovery. Total scam.

Great experience working here. So great to see how much a resident can change in one month. Everyone here works together to create a unique treatment environment for residents who come in struggling. We love them to death until they love themselves. They walk in feeling supported and walk out feeling accomplished.

My girlfriend recently stayed at Passages and I have nothing, but positive feedback! She is doing incredibly well and we are both immensely grateful for her time there. Not only is it a beautiful seaside facility, but the counselors and staff truly put their utmost into creating a loving, patient and nurturing community for wellness. Thank you Passages!

It's been 25 years since I drank, and I was the worst drunk. I went to an AA meeting just yesterday. When I was a kid, we'd get high. All day. I got a call from a friend of mine from Arkansas. She said quit drinking! I... I did? I did some kind of drugs and drinking. There's a whole list of them.

Methamphetamine's ruining my life. Now I'm addicted to walnuts. Passages Malibu is ruining my life. I'm right across the street

Kindly accept my opinion as I am not a previous patient and will not remove my comment on behalf of your commercial. So long inbedded in addicts heads that once an addict always an addict and it takes corrective therapy. You can't be "Cured" from what many want to consider a disease. Please on behalf of every person, family member, friend, etc. Understand the statement on your commercial is legitimately incorrect. So you're the CEO maybe you should rethink your approach to possible patients you're basically giving them a dream you say "you were an addict but not anymore" maybe scientific proof that just because you've been clean/sober for 10 years that you're "CURED" and should never never have a relapse prove that I'm sure a lot more people would believe your story!!!

It was heartbreaking to watch my best friend repeat the same cycle of addiction throughout the entire time I've known him. It was even harder to watch him do this while we shared an apartment together. So when he finally decided he needed help I was more than relieved.

I must say, I don't know what the entirety of the curriculum consists of at Passages Malibu, but it definitely clicked for my best friend. His new found dedication to life and sobriety is outstanding. In fact, he's kind of my support system now. So for me this program is a twofer. My friend gets his sobriety and I unexpectedly have a new workout buddy and all around life coach. Who would've thought?!!

I have been working for passages for almost 2 years now and it has been a great and rewarding experience. To see where a person can go, not only physically but mentally in 30 days is remarkable. The staff are amazing and work together to provide the best care and individualized treatment plan for each new client that comes in. if your ready to take that step and take your life in the right direction or looking for a new great place to work, i highly recommend passages Malibu!

Two friends of mine had the opportunity to choose between Passages and a multitude of other treatment centers, something told them Passages was the one. They were right. Wonderful accommodations, and a very respectful and gentle staff. Albeit a tough endeavor, both friends said that the employees were extremely helpful in many ways. I want to thank you, personally, for the grace and guidance I've heard so much of. I'm so happy to have my friends back :)
about.
N. Urbina

I have had the opportunity to work directly with Chris who is an exceptional, positive, empathetic, and a highly emotionally intelligent human being. Every time I work with Chris and Passages, I attain a greater sense of humanity and compassion. It is great knowing that Passages knows that there greatest asset are their people! It is an honor and privilege to work with such an amazing group of individuals.

Thank you for all that you do.

Best,

Michael Che Romero

I Roy Martinez would Like very much to give one of you kitchen workers an AA+. He is very kind and goes far his job duties to assist and help all clients. Just this morning I over slept because of my meds. But Eddie made me and egg and bacon with a great smile on his face and asked me if I needed any thigh else. Eddie top employee and I commend his and truly believe the should be complemented in a special manner. I take my hat off to Eddie and look forward eat the lunch is preparing for us today. Again my sincere Thanks to Mr. Eddie and master chef and pray he will be noticed. Airborne All The Way And Then Some Roy Elias Martinez

Passages Malibu is a state of the art drug treatment facility with professional, friendly and helpful staff. Their treatment program really helps, really impressed by the quality of services they offer. Anyone out there looking to go 'sober', this is the 'must visit' facility.