My review is for Jason Chane, the Owner/CEO of Augustine Recovery. Jason and I go way back, including when he was my Program Director, when I was a client at Mark Houston Recovery in Manor, Texas. Currently, the Augustine Recovery website reads: "Residents can expect a compassionate and highly disciplined environment." Has Jason Chane told you, the full story of where he learned all this discipline? Jason, in regards to MHR specifically - I really did not have a good time there, but I think you know that. I mean, I did tell you every day, the same thing. I left my job and my apartment, to go to a detox, and instead I wound up at Mark Houston. Zero detox. Locked in a prison for absolutely no reason. You talked to my family too. And after all that, you guys took away my PTSD medication, despite no one with any sort of medical background being involved. I have CPTSD. Going 100% off medication at that time was never my plan, yet it was yours. You wanted to run the show, and I was sick for months, lost everything. I know how you justified it at the time - how do you justify it now? Mark Houston Recovery and other places I know Jason from, are awash with pseudo-spiritual fluff, underneath which, is a shamed based, 'Cureall' version of AA, developed and injected into the AA community by David Elliott and others, like Mark Houston (former CEO of Burning Tree). You all acted like clients interacting with their families would enable the clients, and so clients were not allowed contact with family. In reality, THIS ENABLED YOU AND MARK HOUSTON AND THE REST OF THAT GROUP, to treat clients in the nasty ways that you did, which I think is fair to say, would have stopped a lot sooner if families were around to see, what they are paying over $10k per month for. It's really and truly disgraceful. You worked there for a while. Look up institutionalized abuse and neglect. And so you may imagine, when I see you are the head of a Treatment Center yourself now, naturally my first thought was, I hope the Jason Chane I see in charge of Augustine Recovery, is not the same careless man I know from Mark Houston Recovery. And I hope he can have some humility with how many mistakes he has made, even in his long term sobriety at that time. And not think he is a King in Sobriety, over his employees, his clients, or their families. The whole staff at Mark Houston Recovery lied, but Jason was my Program Director - do you think everyone lied but him? Read other people's reviews. You know exactly what I'm talking about Jason, but that's what you called part of your program of integrity. You can read my other reviews for more details. Similar to what you once told me: I hope you have matured into more of a man. Last time I saw you, you were a little boy with too much power. Of course that is the same with Mark and every staff member I had ever met at that place - but that's my point, you guys didn't seem to get any of that. You all were treating everyone terribly. Do you remember laughing at John S when he had a back problem and was bullied by the rest of the community? And now he is dead a long time. Have a quote you feel applies to that? Plenty of interesting memories from Circle. If I was writing a review for you back then, Jason, it would not be this nice. But it would say something like: I did not find your advice helpful, I did not respect the way you held yourself, and I did not understand how you could so freely use the words Integrity, Honesty and so on, all day over and over, barking in our faces; and then turn around and lie and lie, about who's staying how long, who is going where, how are clients doing when you speak to their family - all that can be done to drive a bigger and bigger wedge between the client and their family. Maybe you were too conflicted, or too financially involved, I don't know. But you did that stuff every day, Jason. For months directly with me, and you worked there for years. You knew my brother, who was also a client, and I visited him back at that time. Then I went through, and wow, there you are. That place was shameful. And I haven't forgotten. Jason is one of the people who used to ask me like this: "do you think everyone else in this room is wrong, and you are right?" Easy to say that when you have a big gang of folks behind you. And the question is supposed to be rhetorical, but I do think it warrants further thought - please read what I have to say about Steel on Steel in my other reviews. read more

In an urgent need to find help for my person, I accidentally discovered The Augustine Recovery Center. Today, my person's addiction is in remission, and he is choosing every day to live sober with the skills/abilities to live life on life's terms. He is now focused on building a new life in a new city and we both could not be happier! Affectionately called TARC, the care team executes a uniquely developed 90-day (with extra time if needed) intensive treatment program in a small group format focused on helping to heal the mind, body, and spirit of your person, impacts of trauma and that of their family who is also affected by the disease of addiction. I provided the team a letter outlining a timetable from what I knew about the traumas/past attempts at recovery & medication so that they had a foundation to start dialog and treatment from. It was important for my person that the campus had outdoor activities and not feel institutional. Social interactive outings, gardening, hiking trails, fishing, bird watching, art, animals and entertainment are also provided at later stages of progress. Your person lives in same sex accommodations and is expected to cook with/for others, perform assigned chores/cleaning, and manage cleaning their person/laundry in addition to actively participating in their recovery/therapy sessions. Peer support ensures everyone's participation - no sleeping in late/not showering! Following the AA Big Book, the 12 Steps are worked 1:1 w/dedicated counselor and reinforced within group sessions incorporating peer-feedback. Personal/family therapy focuses on rebuilding the spirit, identifying triggers, teaching and enforcing new coping skills/processes, self-directed goals & reintegration with family systems (SO important!). Focus, effort & required homework was crucial to successful progress. The AA Big Book uses older language requiring frequent use of the dictionary that spurred convo about what those words meant to 'you' in the context of your recovery. The term 'higher power' is substituted for 'God' for those who chose. Family is encouraged to attend a weekly TARC family Al-Anon meetings. We use daily readers/recovery-focused literature to spark dialog/discussions. Local Al-Anon participation is also highly encouraged. Solo/trainer-led fitness is combined with daily meditation and enhanced by neurofeedback/stimulation also brings transformation. "Neuro" was an activity sought out by my person and loved fitting in extra "gaming" sessions. The more positive changes that can be rewired into an addictive brain during treatment the better! Medicine/medical needs are managed by the staff and your person is routinely evaluated. My person experienced the value of these medications during treatment and after leaving TARC has continued and committed to their lifelong use. Weekly counselor progress updates-will answer questions, provide support and guidance/direction. No question is dumb, silly, or unwelcome. Weekly brief monitored call from your loved one. Letter writing is encouraged. Packages are accepted/inspected. ~6 weeks, intense family weekends (Fri/Sat) in large/small group teach about the disease of addition, grief/loss/feelings, family dynamics/roles. Invaluable to all participants. During COVID workshops/family therapy held via HIPAA-compliant video sessions. Incredibly helpful then/now to bring more engagement and safer without extra travel cost. Holidays are handled with care and family dynamics/triggers in mind. Support is always around for the asking. Sober Living (SL) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) available at program completion. TARC owns their sober living homes, reinforcing the same routines and rituals which were learned during treatment by live-in house manager. SL requires minimum time commitment. Frequent drug/alcohol testing, employment requirement, volunteerism, TARC Alumni & AA meeting attendance/sponsorship and chores are expected to be maintained. Highly recommended 'life on training wheels' time is invaluable to learn make mistakes as everyone begins to reintegrate back into open society/family. Relapse happens and is promptly handled w/dignity & care for the person who has the option to return to an abbreviated program to focus specifically on the underlying issue. Sober house members & those in the TARC campus will attend meetings to discuss what has transpired so everyone is supported at this time. Amazing! Individuals/family can continue with therapists who also live a sober-life and had unique perspective/challenges to my ways of thinking that helped me engage with my person. They have walked in your person's shoes, unlike other therapists who only read about it in school textbooks. Self-pay options are offered. ASK!!! Insurance is always welcome, isn't it always? DOCUMENT and accurately capture your understanding in your contract. Detox required prior to admission/TARC staff coordinates. HELP IS HERE - NO REGRETS! CALL TODAY! read more

Hello, I am an alumni of The Augustine Recovery Center. On January 8th, 2021 I arrived at the Center as my 3rd rehab in less than a year. I was 18 years old and turning 19 in 2 days. If you have a loved one struggling with addiction/ are a person struggling with it yourself you understand the depths of where I was before accepting help so I won't go into detail. I recommend anyone looking for help to reach out to "The Augustine Recovery Center", because the miracle's that occurred for me during my 4 months in residential, and 1+ year in their Sober Living home couldn't have happened on my own. The help I received was far beyond my own imagination. I came in broken, seemingly hopeless, and within a matter of days begging to feel "a part of" and "not alone anymore". What sets apart this Rehab is the Staff's care passion for sobriety and a beautiful new way of life. I met so many life long friends, instantly was connected with the AA community in St Augustine and felt supported from the begging due to the large network of people at The Augustine Recovery Center. I have now been clean for 2+ Years, and have decided to stay in St Augustine. The center gave me the tools to do so and I am forever grateful. They didn't just show me how to get sober they showed me how to have fun and learn to enjoy life/love myself so I can stay sober. Peace and Love, Oliver read more

I truly believe this is one of the very best recovery centers in the country. It's one thing to help an addict stop using and give them a roadmap to continue their recovery once they leave. It's quite another to provide the support St. Augustine offers to heal the traumas and pains that brought someone to addiction in the first place. An incredibly loving environment with strict parameters designed to keep the recovering addict concentrated on doing the work, with a strong connection to nature and physical well-being (read their website and you'll know what I mean). The staff is fantastic. This is a place where clients choose to stay longer than their initial 90 days because they are healing so deeply and they feel so safe, so understood and accepted and yes, loved. And the week-end surfing and cabbage ball and frisbee golf make the healing even more fun. If you are a family member or friend of someone who wants to escape his addiction (at this time the center only works with men of all ages, but they will be opening another facility for women in the future) this is truly the best place you can choose. read more

If you or a loved one struggles with addiction, The Augustine Recovery Center is the place to be. While their are many options this is the best! Call today and ask for Chris to schedule your tour today. You will not be disappointed with the care and attention each man receives. The recovered life is within reach and you can start today! read more