Solstice East RTC Review

Abusive. I have friends that went here and were neglected, tortured, kidnapped, isolated. I went to the west location. They’re both run by the same company that ran island view RTC, which was notoriously abusive. Please do your research. Don’t send your kids here.

Abusive. I have friends that went here and were neglected, tortured, kidnapped, isolated. I went to the west location. They’re both run by the same company that ran island view RTC, which was notoriously abusive. Please do your research. Don’t send your kids here.

research WWASP, CEDU, and Syanon before considering sending any child into the hands of a mismanaged "troubled teen" program. will take your money and your daughters free will and autonomy. the diagnosis of many leaving this program now includes C-PTSD and oother post traumatic issues due to their maltreatment at tthis facility

A friend of mine recommended me...She had got amazing support from staff and great experience there

I am continually impressed with the team of professionals that I encounter at Solstice East! Their care for and connection with their students is truly heartwarming. Amazing therapist!

Well, where do I start. They strip you of all your rights, and only try to get students to see everything in the world from their point of view. Opinions don t matter. I m traumatized from staying at solstice. I was there from April 27, 2016 to November 26, 2017. I was placed on con block, arms, and safety a few times requiring me to sleep in the upstairs common area only when I had just arrived there and was trying to learn from my mistakes before treatment. I was taught there that making mistakes isn t okay, and when you make one, you need to be severely punished for it. Whether it mean no talking or being placed away from the team you are on. They enable you to make your own decisions and you can t voice what you need to just to feel safe. After I got back to solstice from my 18th birthday trip... I decided it was time for me to sign myself out. It wasn t fair the way I was being treated and manipulated to believe things about the world that weren t true. I was taken to the homeless shelter, and was put into a situation where I couldn t take care of myself. I called solstice and they took me back, I was strip searched with a male staff in view of me, and with my trauma it made me extremely uncomfortable. I was then placed on con block and put in the basement away from the community. I signed myself out again... but I remained at solstice because my parents were figuring out a way to enroll me back at my private school. I was fed less food than the other students because I was no longer a part of the program , I wasn t allowed to communicate... even with staff, and when I tried to talk to my therapist about my plans and how I planned to change my life and not fall into old patterns; i was looked at like I was completely insane and that I wasn t going to make it out in society. It was funny how the person I trusted the most had the most doubt about how I was able to do things on my own. Your looked at as a minority, and staff tend to use their power against you... making you feel less than you really are. Funny thing is, I m graduating in 1 month and heading off to college and am in a stable relationship with the man who solstice claimed to have never loved and cared for me. Yet, I live with him, and he provides for me more than anyone else in my life has. If your looking to send your child to a program for care, this place is overly expensive and most of the staff seem as if they are doing it for money. I wouldn t think twice about sending my child here. I would look else where.

Solstice East is a great RTC. It not only helped our daughter, but also our family. The staff and therapists at Solstice East are the best!! They make everyone feel comfortable. As anything in life, you only get out what you put in. If you put the work in, and continue to work on yourself, you will reap the benefits. My family is using the tools and advice that we all learned at the workshops and continue to grow through our own work. I miss the people there because they treat you like family and really care!! Thanks to everyone there, especially Mark, Danielle, Effy, Lanese, and many others who have guided our daughter. Nothing is perfect, but we keep pushing ahead.

I'm graduating in about a month and I can honestly say that Solstice has become my family. Everyone here has changed my life for the better, and I'll forever be grateful.

This program has saved many lives. The staff are some of the most caring, highly trained professionals I've ever had the pleasure to meet. If you're considering which program to get help for your child from, Solstice East definitely should be at the top of your list. They know their stuff. The campus is gorgeous and is extremely peaceful.

I loved my time at Solstice East. The staff there became like my family. They were supportive of me and helped me through some of the toughest times of my life...

I am a former employee of Solstice and see both the good and the bad in the program, so will give my best to leave a fair review.

So Solstice has worked wonders for many of the teens who have been in the program, however it is not a great fit for all troubled teens. Their substance abuse program is a little lacking (this isn't rehab). Also please don't just send your child here if they are rebelling (rebellion is a part of adolescence, and sending your child to an RTC should be a LAST RESORT), or if they are extremely sensitive to critical feedback (it's big here!), as the program could result in more harm then good.

The program itself is pretty good and I benefitted from it greatly myself as a staff. In many ways it helped me find healthy mechanisms of coping with anxiety/depression and I left a better, more stable person. Most staff are warm and caring, but a few can be a little less so and are more strict than they need to be (tip: it's important to view each teen as a different individual with different needs). The food is pretty good and the setting is beautiful, and when things are functioning well it felt very homey/family like.

However, my biggest issue with the program include some of the mechanisms of "intervention". Students at times can be placed on "self-focus" or "safety" for various infractions, which are normally pretty substancial (ex. running away, SH, making threats, bullying). Part of these interventions include a "silent treatment" from staff and students. While this could be beneficial for maybe a day of self-reflection, I highly encourage Solstice to revise their policy for multiple day use of the "silent treatment", as it can be quite damaging, especially for adolesents. Additionally, I would also encourage Solstice to discourage the hands on approach if the student is not at imminent risk of harming self or others (not for things like refusals!! even in the most extreme cases! or punching a wall/other non-living things {put a pillow in front of it}). Apart from that and some chaos/bullying that comes with the setting (though discouraged and/or prevented by staff), it does not seem to be the worst RTC out there and is trans friendly which is a plus! However again, to parents, please try to keep your teen at home if at all feasible; RTCs in general are rather restrictive settings.

The staff and management of Solstice East did incredible and permanent damage to my family. At the advice of a well-respected educational consultant and a therapist at a wilderness program, we sent our daughter there in 2018. They offered us a contract for $12,000 per month which included treatment, room and board. We had visited the place once and the very limited staff we met, seemed competent. However, it wasn't until we dropped off our daughter that we were introduced to the "primary therapist" who had been assigned to our family. We had no prior knowledge or information about this person and was provided with no details on their background or experience. Our initial meeting, which lasted all of about 15 minutes, was rushed as we bid an emotional goodbye to our daughter. Nevertheless, in that short time, the therapist took the opportunity to share how incredibly lucky we were to be working with them because our family was one of the most troubling and damaged that they had ever come across. We left, upset and distraught that this person, who barely took the time to learn our names, would be our day to day contact. Things moved quickly from there. Within a month, it became clear that the therapist s treatment protocol was oriented around shaming and humiliating the parents of their patient. Their tactics during sessions were coercive and damaging. At one point they simply hung up the phone. Other times, sessions were simply skipped. Attempts by my partner and I to resolve conflicts with the therapist were met with damaging and harmful accusations of mistrust towards the therapist and negligence towards our daughter. Ultimately, after months of wasted time and money, we appealed to the clinical staff for a change in therapists. By then, almost $60,000 had been spent and significant damage had been done to our family. We offer this review to inform anyone considering sending their child to Solstice East to carefully consider their decision and conduct comprehensive, detailed, unbiased research on the therapist who will be treating your family.

I spent 14 months here, and the experience changed my life. The staff are amazing, and the people here feel like a family. I will always be grateful for having had the opportunity to go to Solstice.

Our family was really struggling and we did not know where to turn to find help for our daughter. When we made our first visit to Solstice East to see if they would be a good fit, we were instantly impressed. The staff is incredibly understanding, supportive, and knowledgeable. They described our daughter to us knowing very little about her because of their vast experience with other teenagers with similar struggles. Sending your child to RTC is the hardest decision in the world as a parent. Finding the right program and people you trust to provide your child with the help they so desperately need is equally challenging. The program at Solstice works. They provide a safe, supportive environment where girls can heal and rediscover themselves. At every step of the way they helped our family rebuild, rediscover trust, and heal. Our daughter spent 18 months at Solstice. During that time there were many struggles and hurdles for her and us to overcome. However, because of the staff and expertise they provide as well as the love, care, and guidance they give, our daughter is alive and thriving. If you are considering RTC, please go visit their campus and staff. They will help your daughter and your family find a healthy, positive future.

Solstice s Substance Abuse Program is completely scare tactic and ineffective. I left Solstice with even WORSE drug issues than I started with.
The girls constant bragging of their drug use in "SA," a group that s supposed to be a safe space, influenced me to return home and use hard drugs, (cocaine, xanax, meth, etc) that I would never have considered using prior to my stay at Solstice East.
Almost every girl who I keep in contact with who's been in the Solstice East SA Program has relapsed, and have worse issues than they did before. ALL of which say is due to the trauma and PTSD that they have from being at Solstice.
Solstice East did not take my issues seriously while I was there and I strongly advise against sending any child with Substance Abuse issues or a child who you're worried about being influenced by drug use here.

Excellent staff. The caring attitude is obvious and I see it all over campus

The staff truly care and want to help even the admission staff are so nice. They pair you up with a Big Sister, a resident who has been at solstice and knows the ropes to help guide you through the program. The teachers pushed me to graduate high school with straight A's. I love the Solstice Family. The therapists offer a wide range of therapeutic techniques tailored to the residents. The all girl environment is empowering. Kyle Gillette the owner, really cares about the girls and makes an effort to know each resident. The activities are amazing.
I got my life back. Solstice is my happy place, I never thought I'd say that.
Rob Jacoby is an amazing therapist and he offers equine therapy.

Solstice East is a premiere treatment center that loves and cares for their clients. I have been so impressed with the level of integrity and care at this facility. It is warm, friendly and really well done. Top notch.

I truly love coming to work every day. I love working with the students and all of the activities we get to do together. There are of course challenging moments, just like any mental health job, but the pros absolutely outweigh the cons. The stress can get exhausting at times but if I ever need to take some time for myself, I m able to with the support of my staff. It is a nice feeling like I am making a difference in the world.

I graduated from solstice in June 2016 and the nightmares have finally dwindilled down to once a week. In my time out I have been doing great, but with no thanks to solstice. My traumas were never addressed, and I ve had to work though them with a therapist of my own. Solstice is one of those traumas. The only thing they did was give me an unhealthy fear of punishment and a strong opposition to authority. And I make my bed every morning.
This is NOT an individualized program. Every girl is given a handbook of assignments they must complete to graduate, regardless of their reason for being there. They are given a therapist based on who has an opening for another client. We met with our therapists once a week. I didn t meet my therapist for an entire week when I first got there. It only got worse the longer I stayed there. At first the staff:student ratio (3:12) was small enough where you could actually talk to a select few staff members if you were having major issues. The facility could hold 48 girls. By the end it had been pushed up to 52. There was no room and horrible crowded. And they wondered why we were always on edge. We stayed in bunks with 4 girls to a room. The ceiling in my room leaked for months before something was done about it, and our toilet was broken for 5 months. With the amount this place costs, that was ridiculous.
I wanted to leave this review on solstices Facebook page, but they have turned off their reviews because having bad ratings looked bad for their compound.
This is a terrible, miserable place.

i'm a resident at solstice and if you are actually considering sending your child here, the google reviews aren't really helpful you should set up a zoom call talking to students and ask them about the program yourself. most the stuff on here isn't legit.

absolute manipulation horror show. About 90% of the clientle relapse almost immediately and are in therapy to deal with the issues this scam has dealt them

I came to Solstice East with the intention of learning and growing as much as possible. I was not disappointed. The people who trained me challenged me and helped me better understand myself as well as mastering the skills needed to succeed in the field of mental health. My co-workers are also people that I find to be trustworthy and dependable; I can t imagine having a better place to work at right out of college. Everyone here cares about what they are doing, how they could improve, and helping support each other. My favorite aspect of my job is getting to talk with the residents and guiding them through tough situations. I also like teaching them life skills by sharing my knowledge and experiences.

I had the chance to meet with some of the staff, they seem great and an awesome resource. Really pretty campus and an amazing location.

Solstice East not only helped our daughter, but our entire family. The staff and therapists at Solstice East are simply the best!! This program was a life saver for our family.

When I came to Solstice East, I was struggling with relationships because of trust issues. This program really helped me let my guard down and trust people again. The time I spent there was really helpful to me and my family.

Wonderful caring staff. A constant supply of positive reinforcement

Created more trauma and ive seen it face to face with people that have went there as an adolescent.

It s been many years since my time at this facility. Unfortunately I was not too impressed with this program. I am a college graduate...but it took so much for me to get here. I feel like my time at solstice hindered my academic abilities. I was not at all prepared for college. In fact, as soon as I started my freshman year I had to leave 4 months in. I was able to go back and complete my degrees.
However, I can t help but to think how different my first college experience would be if I had been properly prepared.
Furthermore, I felt that I was cornered frequently at this facility. Often I would feel pressured to follow protocols that I did not support. These included encroaching on my fellow residents treatment. I understand that the program is group oriented but it felt very invasive at times. I felt like I had no privacy at all. It was uncomfortable addressing other clients personal issues as well.
I spent about 8 months here they had asked me to leave. I think it s unfortunate that a residential program did not have the skills to deal with certain problems. I encourage any family who is considering different programs to do more research. Solstice East may look desirable on the outside, but it s regiment and culture is much different on the inside.
The last point I want to make is that the girls (who are women now) are the most important part of Solstice. It was not the therapy or the groups that made a difference for me. The takeaway I had was making strong bonds with other people. I still have many rich friendships from my time at Solstice. Some of these women have grown into successful people. That is really special to see such amazing growth.

I have had the opportunity of working with Solstice numerous times and would not hesitate to recommend them to my own family and friends. Solstice does an amazing job with the young women they work with. Their staff are thoughtful and engaged and it's clear that they care deeply about each of their students.

I recently had the privilege of touring the Solstice East campus. I was so impressed by the friendly, kind and knowledgable staff that spoke to me about the various facets of the program including their therapeutic program, equine therapy program, and educational component. They answered all of my questions and provided a comprehensive view of what life at Solstice East entails. The students I met on campus were smiling, happy and engaged. They even explained their journey through the levels of the program as they worked towards healing and achieving their goals. I would certainly describe my time on campus as a positive one and I appreciate the time taken by the team members to make me feel welcome.

This place gave me more trauma than I went in with. I went here about four years ago and i experienced psychological abuse and manipulatation from the therapists and staff. When I lived there and right after I left I was honestly brainwashed and I thought that the way they treated us was for the best, but I know better now and I believe that nobody should be sent here. The way we were treated is unacceptable.

In all honesty, I am brainwashed from this place. I used a different name to write this review because I don't want people knowing I went here and I also do care about some of the staff here and don't want to hurt them.
Their academic program set me miles and miles behind other kids my age. They did not help me prepare for the college process, left me a year behind in math and science so now I am taking 8 classes as a senior when most seniors only take 4. I also will still not have four years of math, language and science after this. Keep in mind, school was not a struggle for me before I came here. I was an honors student and wanted to continue focusing on my education throughout high school, but was not able to do that at all. It also was so incredibly expensive that my family will struggle to pay for college. The punishments here are cruel, abusive and traumatizing. I'm not saying that lightly. Some staff are kind and beautiful people, others use their position of power to control and manipulate students. I barely trust myself writing this review because they enlist fear in you if you do something wrong or differ from their opinions. It did help me in some ways, but not without it's long lasting negative affects. I could have excelled at a shorter, less intensive program. There is more I want to say that is both negative and positive, but I doubt anyone is reading all of this. I do not recommend, but hey Asheville's a cool area.

Maybe watch Paris Hilton's documentary before sending your child to an institution like this.

Solstice East was a lifesaver for our family. If you are even considering an RTC, then your family is obviously hurting and sending a child to an RTC is the most heart wrenching thing to do - both for the parents and the child. For the girls at Solstice, the program is not easy. It is for some the toughest thing they will ever do - which is face their issues and dig very very deep. It is hard work and it is difficult, as it was for our family. I can only recommend that you go there and meet the therapists and the others who work there. That's what my wife and I did. You know when you are in the presence of loving kind people. We knew it was the place for us when we sat down during our "exploratory" with three real "students" without anyone else in the room. And they were at varying stages of their journey and they were wonderful girls. Over time, through their quarterly family seminars, you get to know the other girls as well, and you learn how deeply beautiful they all are underneath their various traumas, anxieties, conditions, etc. We are at 9 months post graduation from Solstice and it has not been easy - even afterwards - yet we are so far from where we were before. And we have our wonderful, beautiful daughter back. Our daughter even demanded that we take her back for a visit several months after graduation. Every situation is different and every child is unique. Solstice is a safe, loving place. I highly recommend it. This involves your whole family; it is not a place where you send your daughter to get better on her own. You must go all in. You will need to look at yourself as a parent - both in a forgiving way and in a way to improve through your own therapy as well so you can "be" there for her.

worst experience of my life. they kept me in isolation

The program at Solstice East works. They provide a safe, supportive environment where girls can heal and rediscover themselves. They really helped our daughter. At every step of the way, they helped our family rebuild and rediscover trust.

Great place to work for! The community is extremely supportive.

I wanted to share this review because my life is very different after being in treatment at Solstice. My time at the program empowered me to change and take responsibility for myself. I'm grateful for this program.

Solstice East has been my safe space. I am not going to lie, it was hard being here in the beginning because i really had to be vulnerable and accept help. But eventually I've transformed to this secure confident healthy kid. Solstice east saved my life. I could never thank them enough. I only met nice, caring ,and loving staff, therapists, and peers. I learned how to express my healthiest self. I am graduating this program soon and I am sad to leave. Solstice has an amazing program and if your kid ever gets the chance to come, Solstice is a life gift.

Solstice has helped so many families... I highly recommend you reach out to their staff if your family is in need of a helping hand.

I was really struggling at home and even during my first few weeks at Solstice. But the staff never gave up on me. I became so close to my teammates, they are some of my best friends now. My life has been changed in such a positive way because of Solstice.