Beach House Center for Recovery — Local services in Juno Beach

After researching residential mental health treatment facilities, I chose this facility and drove 3 hours to sign myself in on August 8th. I was engaged and participating in groups and socializing, but what happened the day made me sign myself out AMA and get treatment elsewhere. I was only finally allowed to leave with my belongings after 4-5 hours of expressing my concerns repeatedly and very assertively even though I had signed myself in and was there 100% by choice. While at the facility I was treated with unprofessionalism and disrespect by several providers and staff members including my therapist. I was asked to sign a treatment plan with treatment goals that were written by my therapist ahead of time, were centered around a diagnosis that was not my reason for being there, and were unclear goals. I told her that I did not understand the wording of one of the specific goals and asked the therapist to rephrase or explain several times. After I still did not understand a few minutes later I was told to sign the plan and that it didn’t really matter if I fully understood the goals. I eventually ended up just signing it and leaving her office. Considering that I have friends who are therapists and have worked with several therapists over the years I know for a fact that The patient is supposed to be involved in writing the goals (they are not supposed to be written by the therapist prior to the patient being asked to come sign them) and A provider should never tell a patient to sign something they dont understand. After participating in the groups, it became clear that because I was only there for mental health and the facility is primarily a rehab facility that the depth of mental health treatment and the facility itself was not a good fit for me. I then talked to a staff member and told her that I did not think the facility was a good fit for me or my treatment needs and explained what had occurred with my therapist earlier that day. She assisted me in calling my emergency ROI and said I would be able to leave that night but may need someone to come to drive me back in my car. Then a different staff member came and I explained the same thing again to him. he stated that I was “making an irrational decision” and told me that I could walk out AMA but that I would not be able to have any of my personal items (phone, wallet, KEYS, etc.) for another 24 hours after. At this point I obviously become upset. I was there by choice, and had told them it wasn’t a good fit and that I would get mental health treatment elsewhere but they were continuing to keep me there against my will because they wouldn’t give me my keys or phone etc for another 24 hours after AMA when had driven there. During the 4-5 hours before I was finally allowed to leave, I was offered Valium to which I told them that I was not anxious and that I was upset for a valid reason, I was told by an admissions counselor who does not know me, has never met me in person, and only knows my diagnosis that I was “manic” and needed to stay for treatment. I was treated with general disrespect the majority of the time by the male staff member who was physically present and was made to feel like my concerns were invalid. Finally they ended up allowing me to leave with my items at 10:30 pm AFTER my emergency ROI (my mom) confirmed that I was okay to leave even though I signed myself in and am an adult.The next day I enrolled myself in a different IOP instead of beach house. 08/12 the alumni team requested to add me on my personal Facebook account and sent me this dm “…This is Heather with Beach House Alumni. I just sent you a friend request so we can add you to our private, FB page... Remember, the opposite of addiction is connection!” This dm was incredibly tone deaf bc I had AMA after complaining about the facility was there only for mental health and had tested negative to every substance upon admission so they KNEW I do not struggle with addiction. to search for my person Facebook request to follow me and send a dm when I had left AMA bc of...

I'm giving Beach House a 5* rating because they did what I wanted and what I needed; to be sober and get on the path of recovery. Honest review. I'm currently 41 days sober. 21 of those days was spent at Beach House (BH). The Detox and Residential staff were all friendly and accommodating. Ke-Ke and Ray were the most helpful to me when I was there from a "living" aspect; and Ray actually gave me some advise and words of wisdom that made me realize I am an alcoholic and that I can't get or stay sober on my own. My therapist, Catherine, was also amazing. Catherine is very knowledgeable and she was able to dig into issues that kept me drinking for 20 years uncontrollably. Most importantly she taught me about the disease of alcoholism and gave me the tools to to stay sober. I suppressed all emotions during my drinking days and after a week of detoxing I started feeling emotions for the first time that I can remember. Catherine was able to help me manage through this process. Everyone is assigned a Case Manager and I was assigned Christina. Christina was key in helping me get aftercare in the state I live, and although we had difficulty, she didn't give up. She also set up appointments with my doctors and gave me all the information for AA when I returned home. What to Expect: The living situation was uncomfortable for me. When I arrived I went through the intake process and was seen by the medical staff. I was drunk when I got there, so I don't remember much. I was picked up but a staff member at the airport and she was kind even though I was an emotional and physical mess. In Detox the rooms can hold up to 3 people and the people in the room share a bathroom/shower. The rooms are small IMO although the placement of the furniture does give you some privacy (or at least the sense of privacy). Once out of Detox you are transferred to a residential unit where you share a room with 2 or 3 other people. Same thing, you and your roommate(s) share a bathroom/shower. The first 5 days +/- I felt like a zombie. The medication that was given to me kept me "high", and it wasn't until a couple days after my taper that I started to feel "normal" again. There is plenty of medical staff available 24/7. You basically have free roam of the place. There is no bedtime. You can hangout outside all night and smoke cigarettes if you want (and some did). With limited hours, you have access to an outdoor pool and fitness center. There is also volleyball, cornhole, basketball, and other games that you could play. There was a daily trip to the beach at 6-7:30am for those that wanted to go. Every night there was a different activity for people that wanted to attend. My favorite was karaoke. 3 meals a day are provided and for each meal there are a ton of options to choose from. It's served cafeteria style and you can eat in the cafeteria or take food to go and eat in your unit or outside at one of the many tables. Snacks anytime you want. Every meal I had was decent, and you can get as much as you want. Must Brings - At least 5 outfits (laundry is 2 days a week), don't forget socks and underwear. Deodorant, body wash, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, etc. Bring cigarettes and a lighter if you smoke. Insulated water bottle is helpful. It's not a good place to decide you're going to quit smoking. They have some stuff to give you, but it's like the stuff you would get in jail. They don't have shaving cream, so bring that too unless you want to use bar soap. Some people complained about lack of structure at BH, which I can see and I felt that way at times. You're not forced to go to any groups or classes (but encouraged). For the people that choose not to attend it's a good place to dry out, but if you actually want help it's there and offered from 8:15am-7:30pm. Time actually went by fast for me once I took advantage of the program and went to most classes. Anyplace can only give you the tools to help you get into recovery. You have to want it. I want it, and credit BH for...

I can only share my experience starting from the phone call of explanation of the facility, which i was lied to about. -“ The privacy and serenity of these surroundings, protected as they are from the distracting hustle…” that’s on their website; you are literally off a loud and busy highway, it’s not fenced in or protected. and there are no “walking trails.” -from their website again, yes they have an amazing cleaning staff, but no. your doors aren’t being cleaned every 30 minutes. -you do not get your cell phone until after 25 days. You get 2 15 minute phone calls a week in a communal setting. They will tell you multiple different stories about phone usage. -No it is not strictly 2 beds, they will put 3 in a small room. bring an extra blanket, bc it’s freezing inside. And know the bathroom has no door, just a curtain, so your roomies have access. No safes in room, check in all good belongings with staff, as there are no door locks and people can, and do, walk in and out of your room. -It is not on the beach, it’s in a reconstructed strip mall. Residential patients will get bussed to the beach between 5:45- 6:45 am. no, they do not have many different groups. it is the same thing each week with a new handout or youtube meditation. Go to progress group though. I wish i had Griffin as a therapist, bc i can not say better things about him: -no group therapies with art or music. -no problem effort in night time “fun.” bingo, karaoke, game night. If set up. -gym hours are quite limited, as are the uncleaned pool times. (basically during meal times.) -and NO, THEY DO NOT TREAT OR WORK WITH CO OCCURING EDS.

The staff never seems to have a handle on anything. You will get three different answers from 3 different people.

I barely saw my team in 3 weeks. It took me 2 weeks to say something bc the first one week I was so drugged, I barely remember. After that, I never saw the pysch and to talk about medication. While I was we minimally prescribed, I saw people getting things over prescribed.

Drugs and alcohol were brought in, causing OD’s. It is not fully fenced, so people walk off and the staff barely notices. With only a small amount there at night, it’s hard on the staff with so many patients.

A woman exposed herself multiple times, threats of stabbing people, use of coke, grabbing of men, walked off property multiple times, but they let her stay bc she was paying them money for a single one room. Many complaints were made, but they seemed that the one person meant more than the whole community filing complaints and feeling as if she was hindering their recovery, bc they got a few extra dollars. they seem to pick and choose how you get treated. act well, you are forgotten, act up, someone will bring you cigs, doordash or other things (non drug related) you want.

At one point, peoples showers started spewing up literal poop, but instead of getting matinence there asap, they filled residential rooms with detox patients. It took two days to fix an unsanitary problem.

That said, there are are some awesome people on staff that is work their butts to help you, but have minimal say in your progress. Shout out to all the techs, that deserve higher pay.

AA is great here, a comfy place for to detox (if needed.) I learned more from the people I met ( and the techs, and for that I am grateful. And a shout on it to Christi who worked so hard to try to find me a place to transfer to, I appreciate you.)

Beach house seems to be about beds being filled for money. they are understaffed, overworked. I have not seen so many people transfer to another facility willing to put their own financials out then stay in a toxic environment.

That said, if you still chose beach house, make sure you ask constantly about your recovery, attend groups or you will have a lot of down time and have 101 classes from people smoking on how to use. Bring outside resources like: -a journal and many pens. -Candy is always coveted. A watch!! there are minimal clocks so you lose track of time. -books! there...