My boyfriend struggled with chemical dependency for a number of years, having tried the 12-Step approach for most of that time without success. That changed when he went through a month-long treatment program at Reunion, Practical Recovery's in-patient treatment center, followed by three months of out-patient care. Through Practical Recovery, he has learned methods for coping with his triggers and has undergone the psychological counseling needed to get to the root cause(s), or traumas, underlying his addiction. As a result, he no longer feels like a failure when he slips, and he does not let his addiction define who he is. He realizes his worth as a human being - something he had a hard time believing when he was using - and that has made all the difference in terms of establishing a healthy path to recovery. read more

horrible. Tom Horvath claims to specialize in addiction, yet he contributed to my father's denial and ultimate death from alcoholism. He told my mother that since my father said he wasn't drinking, that he decided to focus only on depression with my father. This evidences a compl lack of knowledge of dealing with addiction and addicts. read more

I honestly don't know if I would have survived without the support we received from Practical Recovery clinicians: Tom, Thad and Dan. I would trust these three with my life. I recommend them with all my heart, without any reservations. They are kind, open, smart, extremely well-informed and, in addition, sensitive to both the parent's and patient's concerns/fears. read more

After I have had several patients tell me what an amazing and professional experience it was working with Dr. Horvath, and the staff at Practical Recovery, I refer patients here without hesitation. I continue to get positive reports from patients about how helpful Dr. Horvath, and the staff at Practical Recovery has been for them. when I have called Dr. Horvath to consult with him, I find him to be very kind, caring, wise, and respectful. Highly recommended! read more

This is a follow-up for a review written back in 2012. If someone is going into a residential program, two things have happened. 1) You've screwed up pretty big, and you can't sweat talk yourself out this time. This part sounds bad, and its suppose to. 2) You're starting to look back, look inside, and look forward. This part also sounds unpleasant, and frankly, I'd rather start it tomorrow... For me, if these did not happen, at the rate my luck was evaporating, I would not have survived much longer... Its been four years for me, and while its not been easy or a picnic, it was very helpful, and I still use the tools and experiences today to prevent me from going back to a very sad a dangerous point of my life. I'm really thankful to all those met and shared a very unique time... Some have moved on, some have passed, and life goes on.... I'm glad to be a part of the life goes on group. I would like to say Thank You to Tom, and the all the wonderful people that have been a part of my road out of the muck! Its four years later, and I Thank you for all your compassion. read more

Deflecting my statement. You keep saying you have all the best reviews of the staff and the program. Why aren't they posted here then? Why hasn't a single one of these positive reviews been posted here? Sounds fishy to me. You can't just write down a quote and say its a review, you could have easily just made it up (not saying that you did) but it seems very fishy. Also, I have been around the staff more than you have and definitely interacted with them more than you so don't tell me all this stuff that isn't true. I would like to reiterate and specify. The staff RAs (female) are VERY unprofessional. They eat all the food/snacks, flirt with the residents, sit around and don't do anything else, and when you guys aren't here lounge on the couch watching TV while eating popcorn and sodas. Not to mention one of the male RAs watches porn in the office overnight. How do I know? I peeked into the office while he was out doing laundry or outside (no idea) and I saw porn on the computer and towels on the floor. I was disgusted in using those towels because I don't know what he did with them. I let another RA know in the morning, not sure what happened after. read more

What a scam. I am truly disappointed with the care given at Practical Recovery. Very expensive and not worth the cost. All these "personalized sessions" are a crock and could be something you get at any psychotherapist without having to pay 15,000 a month for. The staff is a bunch of new college graduates with no real hands on experience in addiction. More like a bunch of Psych majors looking for a human trial and error experiment., not to mention the founder who is as wishy washy as they get..No thanks, I will not be your guinea pig. Nothing genuine about the place. read more

I am currently at one of the facilities run by this company and so I am writing this anonymously as I don't wish to have to deal with the layers of BS that I have already been given from them. I read the comments of another poster and I am also am totally dissatisfied with some recent changes that have been made. The sober program I am at is being run now by an inefficient and inexperienced kid in his 20's, who seems to think that this is a frat house. We initially had good quality staff who were respectful, very caring and interested in our progress and although the sober house is in need of updating and repair, I overlooked it because I felt supported. Not any more. Without warning this young kid announced he was in charge and now I am paying good money to be treated rudely by a young kid whose momma didn't teach him manners. The only thing this company cares about is money. Their doctors attempt to charge huge amounts for unnecessary tests. I read what Horvath wrote in response to negative posts. Yes we DO have the choice as to whether or not we stay but if people are not happy and you are don't listen to the reasons then that's bad business practice. It shows you don't care. Update: If I could leave less than one star for this company then I would. Their 'administration' have totally failed to listen to us, the paying clients, when we have voiced our opinions. We are paying around $5,000 a month to live here and yet we are treated with total disrespect. We are not paying to be bullied and intimidated by staff. We are paying to receive support and mentorship. We had that in place before administrators stepped in, took that away our supportive house manager and replaced it with a rude young punk who lets his girlfriend secretly spend the night, is openly inappropriate with other female clients in front of the rest of us and has no clue how to do the job. Now we have staff members who are confrontational and aggressive, and an administrator who is so ineffective at her job that she's inviting a law suit. They will be loosing my business over this and I'm not the only one. Don't put your money into their pockets - there is no quality or customer service here. As a previous poster suggested, find a place where they care about their clients wishes and needs. Response to Tom Horvath. Giving honest feedback does not constitute behaving badly. You have not addressed the concerns I mentioned. 1. The young male staff member who entertains his girlfriend overnight and allowed another young female, in the bedroom of clients at 11pm, which is past the curfew and against policy of clients having others in their rooms. 2. Same young male staff member who enters the bedroom of a female client while she is sleeping and stands over her bed, despite being told by his supervisor 2 times that he will no longer try to have conversations in her bedroom with the door closed. 3. Same staff member who announces he is running the house before we even knew you had made the huge mistake of removing the existing manager and his wife. I have posted his Facebook page stating clearly he is the Sober Living manager. 4. Same staff member who is consistently rude and disrespectful to us, your paying clients. I want to also hear what you have to say about coming in to our IOP and telling us that you had fired our house manager and then telling us why. There were clients who didn't even know this guy and you told them his personal details. That is a huge mistake right there. Are you familiar with employment law? Clearly not. How about your female administrator who lies consistently to make things palatable? Stop deflecting. Complaints have been made. I have not read anything that states you will look in to these allegations and take action. Your response shows a lack of customer service and poor business ethics. You read on a public forum that one of your staff has had females that don't live in your sober living coming over and staying the night and being in the bedroom of clients and you talk about your clients behaving badly? No. I think your ethics are at question. read more

Practical Recovery - Sober Living Manager. - Counseling & Mental Health Near Me - La Jolla, California

I went to Reunion in December of 2011 and stayed for 21 days. I had been to a 12 step, state funded treatment center prior to going and I have worked in mental health and addiction services for 10 years. When I entered, I simply did not have the tools to get a handle on my meth addiction, or maybe I had them and needed to be assisted in putting them into practice. Overall, I was incredibly impressed with the quality of care I was given and the quality in the way I was treated. From the first person I talked to on the phone (Elissa, amazing) to the RAs to the President of the program, Dr. Horvath treated me as a competent and decent human being. I was shocked that you actually have one on one sessions with Dr. Horvath. He even eats lunch with you a couple of times a week. I had never seen the President of another treatment center be so actively involved. I was not treated as a defective or amoral person that needed to be fixed. The model of the program is based on research based principles and that have actually shown to be effective rather than just doing what has been done for years because it is tradition (12 step). I joked with them that they used the "everything but the kitchen sink" model but I am sure if throwing the kitchen sink had been shown to be effective, they would do that too. To name of a few of the valuable services offered was individual sessions, physical and nutritional fitness, EMDR, hypnotherapy, yoga, group sessions, and relapse prevention. The information I acquired while staying at Reunion was invaluable and I will never forget. It was clear to me that the people who work at this place do so because they care and truly want to make a difference. I was there over Christmas and New Year's and the staff took us to two musicals. There was one RA there named Chelsea that i particularly enjoyed. It was difficult to be in a bad mood around her. She is a prime example of how the staff at Reunion cares for their job and cares for the well being of the participants who are staying at the facility. I truly owe my life the this place and the people who work there and stayed there with me. A little over 9 months later i am still successfully sober. I have a job I love which I am valued and I am in graduate school (the staff helped me in writing my letter of intent for graduate school). This is quite the jump from where I was right before I entered Reunion. A week before I entered Reunion I was rescued from the street and put in the hospital due to meth psychosis. Look at me now! Is this place expensive? Unfortunately, yes. Was it worth every red penny? Absolutely. read more

I love this place so much! I went here in 2011 for 21 days and it was life-changing. I couldn't have been happier with the staff or the experience, sometimes I wish I could go back, although I don't have a reason to anymore! I felt supported entirely. I think Dr. Horvath is ahead of the game- innovative and expansive in his approach; he considers aspects of recovery that many rehabs ignore and makes sure that the residents have access to whatever they need. I would give it a thousand stars if I could. This experience has inspired me to pursue a career of Ayurvedic medicine with a specific emphasis in helping addicts. read more

As an outside provider to the residents at Practical Recovery, I'm always impressed with the work they do there. Residents frequently report that they feel the staff is warm, caring, and safe. Offering a plethora of supportive therapies such as massage and acupuncture, the residents receive whole-person treatment, not just psychotherapy. As I see residents progress, I notice that they are stable in their recovery and genuinely happier overall; this lasting change is the key to their success. read more

My stepson went there after attending various AA programs around the country for the previous two years. We were very concerned that he would never recover or worse. Even after the prior 3 month program, we had zero confidence that he could make it safely through a 24 hour period unsupervised. What a turn around he has made. He went into the treatment program for 45 days, then moved on to the sober living for the next 7 months. And now he has just moved into his own apartment. I cannot express the joy that we feel as parents now compared to two years ago, where he survival was in no way assured. 5 or more previous treatment programs over a two year peiord had made zero progress leaving him no better than he was when he start. He did understand the "disease" as well as the staff, but really not able to implement. But Practical Recovery was the real deal, the ticket to happiness, success, and fullfillment, and definitely to the wellbeing of his parents. I think that the non-12 step approach helped and the customized program. This was more than a life saver, it was a life fullfilling program!!! read more

Therapists were great. And it did work for me when i went to sort my life out after years of stimulant use..... However i have seen some recent changes that the management made that compell me to not recommend anyone to PRPG in the future. Specifically the removal of experienced beloved and caring sober living staff and replacing them with young inexperienced and non qualified people that is sure to change the supportive and drama free climate that i experienced during my stay. I also will note that getting a letter of recommendation or even my own medical records for legal issues that i am trying to clear up. The only help i recieved in that area came from the person they just let go. So i guess the $30,000 on therapy and sober living that I spent there is the only thing that Tamra and Tom really care about? ..... Still waiting on that file that really does belong to ME. Not practical recovery. read more

I am sober on the 4th of July 2013!! It has been 1 year since I found myself in the care of Practical Recovery's flagship inpatient rehab"Reunion San Diego". I could write a book on how much my life has improved in the past year. I will spare you the long read and just hit the highlights (in no order)of my experience with Dr. Horvath and the Practical Recovery team. 1. The Reunion San Diego house was very nice and I had my own Incredibly comfortable bedroom. It was so nice to have this privacy to escape to and reflect on all of my treatment sessions. 2. The Food was absolutely 5 STAR!! And I love my Groceries:) 3. The entire team of people working there treated me and each other with such respect and dignity. 4. I am a business man and the treatment was tailored to allow me to still run my affairs while in treatment. I was able to have conference calls, check emails and keep up with financial things back at work and home.** essential for me. 5. I needed dental work-they found an amazing dentist and took me! ' 6. I started feeling better and thought I could start getting back into things I once enjoyed-They transported me to Tennis lessons!! 7. I had 2-3 individual therapy sessions DAILY! I had sessions with Nancy(Dr. Shah) who introduced me to EMDR therepy. WOW this was amazing in helping me deal with past trauma and unresolved issues. I will always love her for this gift. I had incredible sessions with the entire team-the Clinical Director,Clinical Coordinator and EVEN with Dr. Horvath himself. 8.9.10. The Reunion treatment did not end once I returned home. The entire team has been there for me for the past year. I had to turn to them on several occasions for guidance after my discharge. They were always caring and helpful. My life is so much better than it has been in 2 decades. I hope for others to find the right place for them. This was absolutely the right place for me!! john read more

This is a follow up for a review written in September 2015. when i arrived at reunion for the first time. I did so thinking i knew exactly what it would be like. I had been to 7 inpatient treatment centers prior. What was really going to be different about this place, right? lets see horse therapy, group sessions with counselors telling me how bad i am at living life, if i have to watch 28 days or Father Martin again i'm gonna come unglued. I am happy to report i could not have been more wrong.That was my start on and experience that just keeps getting better. If you have never been to residential treatment or have been to a number of them PLEASE do a little research before you decide. 90 percent of the treatment centers in the USA follow a "traditional approach", 10% follow other approaches. After 20 year's of suffering, living in shame, misery and hurting others i believed i was fundamentally flawed and hopeless.Its not easy living a life of intentions that never match up to your actions. Its even worse when you know you are giving it your all and you still cant seem to succeed. Practical Recovery has and continues to help me see the flaws and belief patterns that i have lived with for more than two decades. I am fortunate to live in the area, so i go to the aftercare groups and smart recovery meetings. The place is extremely nice and the amenities are fantastic, but more than that everyone on staff at that place is at the top of there game offering services that you just wont find at most places. read more

I am a clincian and have referred clients to the Restoration Inn - a trauma-informed recovery center for women only that is operated by Practical Recovery. I have been truly impressed with the level of professionalism and care here. The program itself is integrative, offering clients various kinds of therapies and alternative healing modalities. I have witnessed lasting change in my clients after a stay here and have great confidence in the staff and clincians based on the changes I have seen. read more

After spending 2 weeks in a rehab in Florida that was absolutely AWFUL for me, I never thought I'd be writing a review for another center that was so wonderful! Practical Recovery: the staff, the facility, the program, the environment, the care & warmth, the respect for each other, the tools, etc etc. I can't say enough about how much I recommend this place. I have to first say a little about another facility I went to 2 weeks prior to finding P.R.: It is hard to do your research when you are in a situation where you are desperate (I was misusing alcohol badly). I found a 'highly recommended' facility in FL and gave it a try. If I only knew! We were treated like children/prisoners, very little one-on-one therapy, lots of groups spent listening to peoples sad stories of abuse, molestation, horrible family environments, etc. Lots and lots of focus on the past. AND lots of being carted around in white vans to AA meetings and back & forth to our meeting place. I believe the staff meant well - but many were not really qualified (in my opinion) to be helping the population. We did activities in the afternoons like painting, jewelry making, visiting (and painting??) horses, etc. Not sure what the value of that is...but it is what we did. SO ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS about the daily schedule, the amount of one-on-one help you receive, before you decide where to go for help. I was very disappointed in myself and nervous to have to go yet again to another place, but I knew I needed the help. Once I arrived at PR, I knew I was in the right place. The staff is very respectful to everyone, the 'house' is a wonderful environment - not like an institution or a hospital style facility but a place you wouldn't mind living!! But most importantly, the quality of therapy & the daily schedule WORKED FOR ME! You knew the night before what the day would look like, who you would be seeing, what the topics were. You are exposed to several different therapists (and therefore therapy styles) and have the opportunity to request the ones that you feel you 'click' with. It combined both the tools for dealing with addiction (SMART) with the insight into your life that may have caused the addiction in the first place. I really believe it is so important to deal with both because if you leave just dealing with one or the other, you only have half the story. There is no 'giving yourself over to a higher power' - you are responsible for your actions, and only you can change them. They are open to people using whatever tools or values work for them, and don't push 'their way' on you, but help you find 'your way'. I'm not sure what the 'success rate' is for PR, but all I do know is that it was a wonderful experience for me and I am so GRATEFUL to have found such a facility. Do your research, think hard about you as an individual and what will resonate with your personality. I prefer to be treated w/respect, warmth, and as an individual rather than being grouped in as a 'failing person that dwells on my past'. read more

I can honestly say that I will be forever grateful to Practical Recovery. Their program changed our son's life. Our son was resistant to the 12-step approach. We searched for an alternative. For those of you desperately searching for the right solution for your loved one, you know how challenging this can be. From my first contact with Practical Recovery, I felt like I'd found something special. They did not try to rush us to sign our son up using fear tactics like other programs I'd consulted with. Instead, they were transparent from the beginning about their program and fees. Dr. Tom Horvath's credentials are very impressive and he has built a team of professionals that value the individuality of the people they serve. Their program is not "one size fits all." It is individualized. Our son spent 5 weeks in the residential program. He was carefully monitored during detox and supported by caring staff and therapists. The food was fabulously prepared by fine chefs, the home beautiful and peaceful, with activities like yoga, massage, beach walks, bike rides, and hikes to augment his individualized treatment program. He's learned what he needs to be successful in life: self control, problem solving skills, healthy living habits and productive activities. He went on to the intensive outpatient program. Now he is healthy and strong and has the tools he needs to face his future with purpose. At Practical Recovery, our son got his life back. I'm a true believer in Practical Recovery's program and wholeheartedly recommend it. The 12-step approach was developed in the 1950's. Our world is very different today. Thank you, Practical Recovery, for your leadership in developing an alternative approach to recovery. read more

My son was a patient at Practical Recovery for three weeks. He did not want to do a 12-Step program, which eliminated about 90 percent of the programs out there. After extensive research, I took a chance with Practical Recovery based on reviews, the staff bios, a phone interview and their overall approach to treating addiction. My son has not had a relapse since being there. The therapists there help clients address the root causes of addiction, be it mental health issues, addictions within the family, physical pain, and predisposition to addiction. This has been life changing for my son. This program was the right program for him. If you are reading this trying to find a place of recovery for a loved one, consider Practical Recovery as a good option. If you have the luxury of time, read the book "Clean: Overcoming Addiction and Ending America's Greatest Tragedy" by David Sheff. He goes into detail about all the types of recovery options. I listened to the audiobook version after sending my son to Practical Recovery. It reconfirmed my choice, for my son. read more

I made huge progress in dealing with my methamphetamine addiction at Reunion, a 7 bed facility run by Practical Recovery. I can't recommend Practical Recovery enough, especially if the 12-step approach is not for you. Thirty years ago, people who had addictive problems were believed to be congenital liars with personality disorders; which is why so many recovery programs regiment you and keep you busy every hour of the day. Practical Recovery isn't like that at all: the calm and supportive atmosphere, and the time to myself, were crucial to my detecting levels of anxiety that I'd never even noticed before. My shrink assured me that I "wouldn't like" rehab; I had to have a talk with him upon my return, because I actually enjoyed every day there (despite some very difficult psychological work), I think this indicates the prevalence of regimented programs. If you hate stupid rules, and if you're thoughtful and intelligent and resist going along with crowds, Practical Recovery is for you. The clients are largely professionals, who lead vital and interesting lives; and the staff, following the principles of Smart Recovery, treats each person as a valued individual. (When there were empty beds, the rehab also treated people who had been there before, even though it was clear they couldn't afford the place; I was very moved by this). You are respected as a whole person, not labelled as an "addict." The staff respects your spiritual beliefs (or non-belief; a higher power is not required.) The methods are evidence-based. The care is holistic; you are welcome take advantage of yoga, massage, acupuncture, and even horseback riding at no extra charge. The residential units are small and intimate, and very comfortable; it's furnished like a real home, and purposely so. (It's also half the price of some of the more luxurious centers around). The staff carefully customizes care after evaluating each client. In general, you see two therapists a day after going to group; you may see different therapists every day, contrary to normal psychological practice; all I can say is that it worked splendidly for me. All of the therapists were excellent and insightful (though one was a bit green). The meals are excellent and healthy, and every member of staff waits on you hand and foot, at least when they are not in meetings. This is not a cheap place, but if you know what California requires residential programs to do (search rooms daily, count every pill in a patients med box every day, etc), the cost becomes more understandable. (There are cheaper facilities available for young men, and the staff can arrange outpatient treatment at a fraction of the cost of the residential rehab, so you may want to explore those options) After a week there, I began to understand the total commitment of the staff to my recovery; I was planning to move to outpatient treatment after that week, but I elected to stay for four weeks despite the extra cost. The staff is absolutely unobtrusive in performing its duties, which under other circumstances could be humiliating. Everyone is treated with utmost respect and trust (we had access to food in the kitchen and in a well stocked snack bar, in case the regular and excellent meals weren't enough. (I eat like a horse and the staff was happy to work with that.. ). The Rehab world is changing, in part because of the efforts of Tom Horvath, the head of Smart Recovery, a very wise, kind, articulate and dedicated person who comes to dinner once or twice a week. It sounds sappy, but just a few words from him helped me immensely. 12 step methods work for some people, but not everyone; my hope is we see more and more rehabs use the humane and effective methods used by Practical Recovery. The sad part is that most insurance companies will pay for nothing but 12-step programs; mine won't pay for residential treatment at all. But if you can afford it, this is the place to go. A note: two dissatisfied clients have written negative reviews of this rehab. Their comments in no way reflect my experience, which was one of the most profound I've ever had. Some of the staff are indeed college age, but they are NOT the clinical staff. I found them to be uniformly interesting and kind. As a Smart Recovery volunteer, all I can say is that no approach works for everyone, and that some people just aren't ready to change. And of course, more and more professionals recognize that relapses, however regrettable, often are part of the change process. Smart Recovery teaches you that your are powerful and can take responsibility for your actions; blaming any particular event or person or program for a relapse, well, it indicates that the lessons of Smart Recovery didn't penetrate. Which is fine; as I said, no program can fit all comers. read more

Ok, this has long been over due!!! My name is Michael and I didn't exactly come from humble beginnings. In fact, I was spoiled rotten growing up. Unfortuantely the material compensation wasn't a consellation to the toxic familial environment I came from. I acted out, I was entitled to do whatever I wanted to myself and to those aroudn me. It wasn't fair what had happened to me as a kid and I felt that it was everyone elses responsiblity. I turned to substances, I was particular to opiates and even turned to needles as the drugs numbed the heartbreak and devestation that I could not process at the time. After dropping out of college with only one semester left I went through a couple rehabs and eventually came to practical recovery. Being able to way pros and cons of every situation I faced allowed me to make informed decisions instead of impulsive ones. This program works wonders if you work it. The common thread I see in any type of recovery program is an element of humility, you must be ready to take the nec. steps to living a more conducive lifestyle. Dr. Horvath is an absolute gem, he is a wonderful man and I wish he could touch every suffering soul in the world. I am forever bonded with what he has dedicated his life to. I even lived in his sober living house for a while and it was the most non threatening environment and I needed that at the time. I wanted to take things and the staff understood and was compassionate to my mental capacity of the time. It wasn't until long after I left his program that I finally picked up his workbook "Sex, Drugs, Gambling and chocolate" I think that is the title:) and I started applying his Cognitive Behavioral practices to my daily life by putting pen to paper and carrying out actions that I really changed. I now have revolutionized my life. I am an avid crossfitter, I have an incredible career developing, I am ambitious, light hearted, I have fulfiliing personal relationships with women and men. I am healthy and confident!! I want to share more but in the spirit of keeping this short and having to get up for work in 6 hours my is #858 353-8976. Peace and Love and thank you to practical recovery....my heart goes out to who ever is reading this and suffering...please don't hesitate to call me if you need some advice or even if you want to go to a practical recovery meeting, I will make time.....Michael read more