These people are hacks and liars. I went to St. Jude's after becoming seriously dependent on alcohol. I was interested in the relationship with detox facilities they advertise. That relationship does not exist, and I detoxed at a local hospital. After detox, at the retreat, my counselor (teacher as they call it, since no one who works there has any real credentials. Not an exaggeration.) was very open about how he worked nights as a bartender. The activities coordinator was the 19 year old son of the owner. No training. He actually hit on some of the female clients. They do nothing to help you once you leave, i.e. Placement in outpatient continuing care. They do not understand, or are unwilling to accept the model of addiction put forward by every single professional treatment association or peer review board that I know of. It would be very bad for business, I'm sure. They prey on desperate people with false promise and puffy statics provided to them by an "independent" research group that they convieniantly own. None of the people I interacted with on a daily basis had any personal experience with addiction recovery, although they will show off the alleged past heroin use of the owner and writer of the course book. The $20,000+ program is structured in two hours of "class" a day. Often times this is just watching YouTube videos, the rest of the time it is reading out of the book they have written. This 200+ page tome seems tailor written to dissuade the reader from buying in to other treatment programs. The whole program is cleverly designed and worded to avoid it falling under the pervue of any regulatory body, so it does not have to be held accountable for the utter BS they are slinging. The facility itself is registered with the state as temporary housing, not a treatment facility. If you are considering St. Jude's, please just know, you're addiction is an affliction of your mind, body and soul; these people are not equipped or motivated enough to deal with problems of that magnitude. Your addiction is also a medical issue and rest assured, detox from alcohol in a facility like this can kill you. At the very least, if you are in New York State, look for a facility that is OASAS certified. After seeking the help of a true addiction treatment center, I have been sober for almost a year, and my life continues to get better and better, in spite of engaging in all the programs St. Jude's tells you to run from. I can't wait to hear the response they whip up to this. I'm sure they will try to take credit for my sobriety and trivialize my statements. Or perhaps take the high road congratulate me on my sobriety. Let me make this clear: at my wits end, and needing to get sober or die, trying to utilize the tools this program gave me almost killed me. The Tepurpedic mattress that St. Jude's advertise seems to be a good analogy for the whole place: It's just a normal mattress with egg crate foam on it. read more

I had a nice room with a balcony and private bath. There was always plenty of hot water and clean towels. There was week day maid service. I was there in summer and the AC was also quite adequate. The food was wholesome, fresh, tasty, and served promptly. There were always plenty of snacks and leftovers if you get hungry between meals. The staff and management were OK, but surely you should not expect to find any Rhodes scholars among them. There also is a pool, hot tub, fishing pond, and good walking with lovely views and hills, depending on the weather of course. My instructor was a nice retired guy who had been a primary school teacher in his previous life. He seemed to believe in what he was teaching, but had apparently been the teaching from the SJR manual for a long time, and seemed a bit detached from the process. I guess it's hard to stay enthusiastic over the long haul, especially when teaching one nut case after another, and being very poorly paid to do so. SJR is NOT a therapy center and has no state license to counsel or treat any disorder. You will receive 1 hr per day of instruction to help you thru their guide to a "better life". With another half hour a day of study you can be #1 in your class. Weekends and the other 22.5 hrs per day are free time, so bring your lap top and reader. Perhaps unfortunately I finished all the course work by myself in about 10 days, which left me with even less to do for the remaining 20 days. 2 weeks is probably about the right duration for a stay at SJR, but of course that would not allow the owner to charge for 30 days. One theme that constantly reoccurs during instruction is that a human will, at the end of the day, do what makes them happiest. This certainly turned out to be true in my case. It was great to sober up for a month, but I went back to my daily tokes and evening martinis almost immediately, since doing so clearly makes me happiest. I did however, over the 30 days I was at SJR, learn that I am in fact in control of my life, and that if I wanted to stop using I could do so with reasonable effort. But as I said, I quickly went back to what makes me happiest, this time with less guilt however, because of what I was taught at SJR. In a word SJR is a good relaxing place to sober up for a month, but don't expect any lasting results unless you are extremely motivated. read more

First and Foremost: There is no support network when you leave. YOU ARE 100% ON YOUR OWN - there are no 12 step style meetings anywhere for The Freedom Model. They don't provide a phone contact for emergencies other than "you can always call the house." A handful of people I was there with stayed in touch via a communal text thread but after a year or so it fizzled out. Second: I really don't think that this is a good program for heavy opiate users - Or heavy meth users..People who's daily life is 110% consumed by using substances. The philosophy here is basically to just say no - you're not an addict - you don't have a disease - abuse is a choice. So choose not to use. When I was there one person left after 3 weeks and died a couple days later. Within a month or 2 after I left 2 others died. All opiate deaths. My point is that the, um, freedom that this program gives can be very dangerously anti-productive for certain people. Third: There are no professional counselors, psychologists, or psychiatrists. And that is my biggest complaint. I could be wrong but the majority of people regularly abusing drugs are "self medicating." To spend 6 weeks away from home and work and not be provided with the forum to address the core of the issue was, in a word, sad. It was disappointing. Somewhat of a waste of time and a bunch of money. You have ALLOT of free time - I would go on 2, three mile walks per day simply to burn energy and I read at least 15 novels. Others just slept or watched TV..the once per week outdoor activity is on Saturday's - if the weather was not cooperating it's cancelled with fingers crossed for the next Saturday. They really need to provide professional therapy sessions to fill the time in. Forth: I have nothing negative to say about the house or the kind staff..and I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to accommodations and food. Finally: I hope that whomever reads this can find their correct path. PS. I know my family was exited about the "success rates" that are claimed. I've never been contacted about my success not have the people who fronted my bill. Also - keep in mind that this is not a total abstinence program either - which makes success not as clear as a simple yes or no. read more

I am currently at the retreat (to leave in an hour) and find the one and only review quite telling. This is a business and not a counseling or mental health rehabilitation retreat. You MUST do all the work yourself without much, from at least my presenter, help from their "presenters." I don't think of you pay out of pocket over $25,000 you should be the squeaky wheel in your therapy. I've been a teacher for over 25 years and I didn't expect my students to teach themselves! And if THIS business says I'm acting "immature"; isn't that what brought me here? The first two weeks were great (I got back into shape and worked out like never before) and I dove deep into the material; however, after those who weeks; things started to unravel (a get-away for repeat offenders or people dumping unwanted family members; or better yet, someone's child). Like the previous "yelper"; this place is run by who knows who and not people who are necessarily qualified for the job. Pat (grounds keeper) David (chef) and Maria (maid) work hard during the day; and Barbara and Mary Catherine work hard during the night shifts. All of the drivers were awesome; very personable and explained a lot about the areas we traveled. Theresa is the director and she has a kind soul. I enjoyed my card nights with Eric; also. The meals are worth "some" of the money (but goodness ... The waste and throwing away of perfectly good food). The chef was always accommodating for clients likes and dislikes. The night before I left, he made some of my favorite dishes ... An Indian meal made for a queen. The retreat itself is gorgeous; that's the executive retreat that I'm referring to. My room; once upgraded for more money, was very comfortable! I was the only one (except the kiddo and her mom) to use the gorgeous pool! Their weekend excursions are a great way to break up a week; too (white water rafting, shopping at the outlets, horseback riding ... To name just a few places) But is it worth $25,000.00 .... My opinion .... Only if you have it to throw away. Does this really sound like a place where you learn to think and live another way; I beg to differ. It just takes you out of "reality" for awhile. And lastly; their success rate. If they were curing people wouldn't this place be plastered all over the media and hard to get into. They take anyone that can pay them. That doesn't resonate success to me. I hate to end on mean note; but unlike St Jude; I want you to get well ... And if you live in a fantasy world; St Jude is the place. read more

My husband and I went to Saint Jude's retreat into thousand five. It looks a lot better now than you did then, but it is a wonderful place. We have now been sober for six years and would never look back. The food is amazing, and now that they have yoga I want to go back LOL. So if you are thinking about going here, they really do want to help you. It is expensive but it's very worth it and you were eat like a king. Also you go on many outings, and you're never bored there. All in all I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking to get sober, whether it be from pills drinking or anything else. Give them a call he will not be disappointed. If you have any questions,you can reach out to me. Good luck and God bless. read more

Freedom Model At St Judes Retreat you learn the how to escape the tread mill of addiction and recovery and how to manage or stop your substance use, by challenging yourself to analyze the way you look at it. You come to understand there is not a battle with addiction that you have to fight your whole life and that it doesn't have to be a difficult process. Happiness is a choice and you can choose what what will provide you with the greatest amount of joy in your life. The 30 years of research, science and experience Mark Scheeren, Steven Slate and Michelle Dunbar have put behind their program is impressive, it provides a much needed alternative to the 12 Step-based programs which frequently do not work for many people. In a beautiful Upstate New York country setting you will work privately and closely with instructors who help you understand the Freedom Model philosophy. They have a staff of compassionate and positive people that work as a team to support you in reaching your goals; which in turn helps you to succeed. The rooms were very comfortable, the house was open and inviting, the food was delicious, healthy, and nutritious, and there were many activities to partake in during down time, such as hiking in the Catskills, going to the gym, movie night; on site there is a hot tub and swimming pool (summer) and a fireplace in the great room for cold weather relaxing. Living at the retreat is like taking an immersion program in another country to learn a new language. I left with the skills to carry forward with my life unencumbered by the burden of addiction. After searching 33 years for answers, it is without hesitation that I recommend St Judes Retreat. read more

My experience at SJR was different, not good, not terrible, but different. First of all I was attracted to the fact that they are totally non 12 step and I felt that would be a very positive change for me. Having been in a couple different inpatient rehabs, that were 12 step, I thought I had an idea of what this place would be like. I was totally wrong with all my pre assumptions, this place was great! They have a maid, a "chef", snacks, drinks, we're called "guests." Now let's get to the "classes" for lack of a better term, in these groups we went over chapters in a FIRST FULL DRAFT version of their "Freedom Model." I found this entire book very intriguing and informative, maybe a bit repetitive, but it's a draft. The "presenters" as they call them and the staff as whole aren't very educated, they have other jobs, they're not professional, they are profoundly naive to what is going on around them and they just shouldn't be doing what they're doing. Ok so I went here to get away from 12 step, not to talk down upon or make it an evil, but the presenters here call all 12 step a cult and say it doesn't work and discount the people it does work for as an anomaly or as uneducated. I don't agree with their presenters or any staff what so ever. Ok so I'm going to name names, Duane or Dwayne I really don't care how you spell it, you don't give your "guests" advice on their mental health meds, or disclose information about a previous guest to a new one, Diana, STOP talking so much and so loud, you know nothing about what you're saying half the time, just stop please, you're so unprofessional and you, Duane, and peter being in charge really show how much of a joke this place is. Anyways I did end up drinking while there and I GOT CAUGHT, the 5 other people that were there while I was didn't, I was shown a drawer full of empty bottles in one of the rooms. Like I said this place is a joke and basically just a way overpriced vacation to a terrible part of New York read more

I had a wonderful experience at the St. Jude Twin Rivers Retreat. I am a 52 year old man from New York City who works in the entertainment industry and I had never been to a "substance rehab" before for my heavy alcohol use. But after many detoxes followed by periods of abstinence, followed by continued abuse, I felt it was time to get some help. Nothing about the 12 Step concept made sense to me and it's a shame that society (and Insurance companies) seem to believe 12 step treatment and recovery is the only solution for people with substance problems. After thorough research, I came upon St. Jude Retreat as an attractive option. I read all the material available online and their free, abridged Freedom Model booklet. And I read all of their independent research papers supporting their 62% success rate of abstinence, which is legit. 12 Step programs have less than a 10% success rate and my experience and research showed that many, many people who go through the 12 steps come out even worse abusers of substance. I spent 4 weeks at St. Jude Twin Rivers retreat and from top to bottom it was a success. The Freedom Model program was enlightening, empowering and logical. It dispelled all of the myths I had learned about addiction. And the program is surprisingly simple and effective and lets me now have a "take it or leave it" approach with alcohol. I don't have to live with a monkey on my back, always fearing relapse of a non-existent disease. I don't live in fear of "triggers" or the idea if I have a glass of wine, I will suddenly need a bottle of wine because I'm "sick and have no control". As far as the St. Jude Twin Rivers Retreat is concerned, you are treated as a guest, not a patient or a client. The house is homey and comfortable. My stay was in the winter. There are 5 fully renovated and modern bathrooms with heated floors. The beds are as comfortable as can be. They make 3 meals a day, all of which are professionally prepared by chefs at the house and are delicious. Usually a fish and a meat choice as the entree. The chef will also make you special dishes if your diet requires. There's also a 24 hour salad bar and snacks, ice cream, treats and left-overs always available. If you need to gain some weight, this is the place to do it. I didn't want to gain any weight, so I was careful and left there actually losing a few pounds. There is a driver that takes guests to the gym in the morning and afternoon. I liked to go in the afternoon. There's an activity almost every evening and on weekends if you choose to want to participate: bowling, hiking, comedy club, trips to Walmart, YMCA, laser tag etc. There's trips to the laundromat twice per week, yoga twice per week. The guests play board games together. There's billiards and ping pong table, chess. A bunch of guitars and drums if you're musically inclined. You can watch movies and TV. Classes are twice per day at an hour each. On your own time, you can do homework for the classes, watch TV, work on your computer, make phone calls. Yes, you can have your computer, iPad and cell phones here unlike rehab. The staff at St. Jude was super nice and professional and treats you with respect. From the directors, to the presenters (Life Coaches), to the kitchen staff, drivers and maintenance folks, everyone was terrific. Regarding the guests: I had a nice mix when I was there from a 16 year old kid, a few 20-somethings, a few 30-somethings, 40-somethings and a couple folks in their 60's. We had men and women from all over the US, most of which traveled across the country to come to the retreat. I would say 1/2 were for alcohol and the rest mixed substances including opiates and methamphetamine. It was nice chatting and exchanging experiences with folks from such diverse backgrounds and most everyone was forthright and friendly. Of course there will always be a few who stay to themselves, which is fine. Most of the people who entered were in rough shape and you can see them improve day to day. All around, a life-changing positive experience that I would highly recommend to anyone who is suffering from heavy substance abuse and wants to get well and have a better understanding of the causes of the perceived addiction. Insurance does not cover the treatment/retreat, so it will cost you between 10-20 thousand dollars for a stay, which is pricey. But that's what rehab would cost if you had to pay out of pocket. For me, it was worth every penny. - Mike read more

To All Readers. The Freedom Model Retreats formally known has The Saint Jude Retreat is a thriving non 12 step program offering an executive retreat. read more

The alternative to AA....This was my first rehab and had no clue what to expect...actually I had no rehab expectations...I just wanted to get better...I have to admit this was the best 6 weeks of my life...i would never trade in this experience for anything...i have met life-long friends, experienced things I would never have done, and felt like a person again....unfortunately....a great majority of my "classmates" ...as well as myself....have relapsed... so I am not sure how successful their program is...but the experience of being at the program is amazing....wish I could go back and walk around the lake every summer!!!! read more

St Jude Retreats have provided a life-saving alternative to the victim- oriented, self-serving rehab industry for over twenty-five years. Their approach has worked for hundreds of individuals who failed after traditional "treatment". To completely turn around one's life and move on past ideas of "disease" is possible at any age. This is a great place to do just that. read more

I do not recommend this place. A very close family member had a near death experience due to a drug overdose, he was sent to Saint Jude for six weeks at a cost of $15k. We choose saint jude because he was scheduled to go their upon his own wishes prior to his overdose. Saint Jude says we prep them to come out make positive choices, make goals,and that the success rate is 62%, however it is three weeks after my loved one came home and not much has changed and we suspect he is using again. He was clean way longer after being in a 12 step program. Saint Jude is good if you need a 6 week soul search/vacation from real life, not for someone who has a drug addiction (family addiction history) problem for so many years where the chemistry in their brain has changed. I am very disappointed in this place and the false hope given to me and my family --stating they have the highest success rate in the country. One of the staff members said to me, " if your brother doesn't make it here, I don't know where he will go from here." I like to thank them for their encouraging words -- shall i now just wait for a disaster to happen?!?!? I recommend you do your research before considering this place, you may sadly regret it. I know people will say, the person has to be ready and I agree, but Saint Jude stated they would give him tools a 12-step program couldn't. I would think based on how saint jude spoke about their program and its effectiveness that my loved one wouldn't fall off track after such a short amount of time!!! I can't express enough what a disappointment this place was and I how we threw away our money. I think if saint jude is going to dote on their success rate as much as they do, they should have a money back guarantee! read more

The St. Jude retreats is a unique programs in contrast to other options for addictions. I attended the 6 week program many years ago for opiate abuse and was very please with the program. It was exactly what I needed. In My opinion the Saint Jude Retreats House is the best option for anyone struggling Alcohol and Drug abuse issue. read more

Hey guys! I just graduated from St. Jude's program and simply wanted to provide some tips via hindsight on how you can make the most out of your experience there, should you choose this route. I was and, to a certain extent, remain a problem drinker. To get this out of the way, I can tell you about where I was when I signed up and where I am now, although that is not what i would like to focus on. When I came in, I was drinking all day long and suffering from severe anxiety problems. I drink less now, no doubt, but I do still drink. And that's ok. Maybe. I learned in the program that the anxiety problems were in no way a symptom of my drinking problem, nor was I actually seeking to treat my anxiety problem with my drinking. Apparently, I drink because it's fun. Perhaps simplistic, this explanation makes sense on paper, particularly while I'm sober. This information can definitely be helpful to one striving to become a more functional adult, but it takes tons of work. St Jude's will not force you to do this work. They don't claim that they will. If you expect something not explicitly stated as a service of this program, the blame lies with you. That being said, there are vast resources available to you at this treatment program but, in many cases, they do have to be requested. BE A SQUEAKY WHEEL! This place costs a ton of money. If your instructor seems to not be very invested in their job, they may not be. Ask for another one! You can get another one! These people aren't drug counselors, they don't claim to be. They are simply trained to teach this course. The instructors are clearly not compensated to the same degree as someone who would have to take an oath for their job, which I think might be a common misconception among customers. While most are very interested in this field and care deeply about helping people put their lives back together, some got the job because they live in the same apartment complex as someone who works there. It's not difficult to tell the difference. You'll probably notice that many members of the staff in various capacities seem to be blood related, which isn't really known to be the most efficient talent vetting procedure. You're entitled to an instructor who takes this as seriously as you do. Don't worry about hurting someone's feelings. If you bought a fifteen thousand dollar car and it fell apart, you wouldn't just assume the person who made it was doing the best they could and cut them some slack. Be proactive and get what you paid for. Spend as much time as you can with the staff and let them know your concerns. Most of them are very loving sensitive people and will happily accommodate you and make sure everything is living up to your standards. Just don't wait until you're four weeks in, someone else gets results after making a stink, and you realize you could have marched in yourself in week one and gotten the attention you felt was lacking the whole time. All this being said, the final chapter in the workbook at St. Jude's will inform you that anyone who doesn't come out of this program with the tools to lead a productive, happy and functional life has no one to blame but themselves, and they're right! If you put yourself fully into the work and perhaps even neglect some of the social aspects, i.e. working on homework instead of going to the movies, this program is an intellectual's ideal for drug rehabilitation. Mostly amazing people, the ones that I may not have been as impressed with were DEFINITELY the minority, but above all SPEAK YOUR MIND! Its not AA! They're totally okay with it! read more

Throughout this program or as I'd like to refer to it as a journey, I struggled in the beginning, not with the ideas and information I was given but by feeling completely out of my element (comfort level). As I made the choice to stay and actually not combat every alternative to the AA model I started to see a change in myself, no by meer sobriety but by my outlook on life in general. St. Judes gave me more then just clarity, and self awareness St Judes gave me insight to my own emotions, my own triumphs and tribulations. This allowed me to place accountability where it was always lying, within myself. After realizing something I was doing in my life i.e: self medicating wth prescription drugs was solely my own fault ironically I felt freedom for the first moment in a long time. ST Judes placed me back in the drivers seat of This vehicle called life and I've never been more greatful. I found the ability to take accountability for my own shortcomings and downfalls which can work just the same way when used positively. I feel the world has opened up in vast amounts because I make my own descisions, no chemical, drug, or alhaloic beverage possesses the power to drag you to rock bottom. With this new mind set, from my newly found courage and the models laid out from ST Judes I see nothing but success in my future because thats what I CHOOSE as my new pursuit of happiness. I will take these studies, the conversations I have shared with everyone at ST Judes and be forever grateful for their candor, no nonsense approach, and like I said earlier helping me place myself back in the drivers seat :)" read more