I came to The Refuge in September 2020 for 30 days after being at another treatment facility for 30 days. My diagnosis is T trauma, ADHD, chronic depression, anxiety, complex PTSD as a child and adult . I was recently diagnosed with DDNOS as well. After reading The Trauma Heart by Judy Crane knew their methods and approach to Trauma that this is where the real work would happen. I've lived with childhood and adult trauma my entire life. The residents refer to it as "trauma camp" and that's exactly what it is. The staff is dedicated and highly experienced. The house managers compassionate and caring. The other residents made me feel understood for the first time in my life. Being with others who are also being vulnerable caring and the feedback in trauma process groups helped facilitate my healing process . The grounds were beautiful, peaceful and well maintained. The cabin I stayed in felt homey. It was one of the older cabins but I liked it tucked on the edge of the property with an old growth forest behind it where residents had created trauma art and left their trauma there. It was a reminder of those of had come before me. A tiny bit rustic but I liked it. There are newer updated cabins too. But I loved my rustic cabin next to the grand oak trees with Spanish moss and all the wildlife that traveled through. Families of deers, turkeys wandering around, foxes, resident raccoons and beautiful cranes that wandered the property daily. The days as a PHP resident were filled with 1/2 day focused on coping skills, the other half trauma process groups. This is where the healing begins. Writing the assigned letters by my therpaist to address my traumas, reading them out loud in process groups and listening to others letters. This helped provide feedback, understanding and healing. I had the time between morning and evenings to work on my projects and assignments as well as evenings. The CBT and DBT skills lectures were taught by knowledgeable therapists who knew what they were talking about. The love and support was beyond anything I've ever experienced, it was authentic and healing. I had some rough days, who doesn't? It's hard work reliving and writing the details of what happened. Also sharing my stories for the first time in the right environment a trusting environment. It could be triggering and lead to some highly emotional days or moments. But the love and support is there. The house managers, doctors and therapists are highly qualified and dedicated to what they do. They know what they're doing. Even the administration office stays close to the residents and make you feel part of the community. The food was delicious and each meal made with care a nutrition. Something for everyone whether you had allergies, had religious limitations, or preferences. The lodge where we ate our meals a sense of community. Very little fried food, not highly seasoned or drowning in sauces. Fresh delicious fish daily, a salad bar, pizza night one day a week, and homemade cake for birthdays. The community was diverse all ages, backgrounds and socioeconomic as well. Also diverse on what they were working on. The population was Young adults, firemen, teachers, police officers, mental health professionals themselves, business professionals, new mothers, nurses, fathers, politicians, tech people, retired folks, college students. All walks of life and generations. People I could easily identify with as we shared our traumas, addictions, our stories. You are not alone. The residents I shared my time with inspired me. Made me feel loved, became friends who I shared things with I've never openly talked about. We are all there for the same The reason ......to heal. I enjoyed my big Schwin tricycle with a big basket to get from one place to the other and also exercise it provided. There was a nice gym if that's you're thing. There was massage available (which you have to pay for) but was worth it. Breathing techniques are offered, yoga nidra, meditation....things I really connect with spiritually for healing. Horses too. Support groups are also part of the evening programs. AA, NA, CODA, Refuge Recovery Meditation and sex addictions. They own a lake house and got to kayak, paddle board for the first time which I had always wanted to do. One day I was able to go down the river behind the property on a canoe. If you enjoy painting, art, beading they have that too. If I ever need a refresh this is where I am going again. Highly rec. read more

I came to The Refuge specifically for trauma treatment. I was referred and admitted for CPTSD, body dysmorphic disorder, agoraphobia, and multiple panic and anxiety disorders. Body dysmorphic disorder is an important part of this story because it has nothing to do with food or eating, and you would think staff at a trauma-informed facility would know that. The most consistently positive part of my stay was the other clients in the trauma community. They were kind, supportive, and genuinely looked out for one another. The food was good, and the cabins were fine overall, though there was some mold. Group therapy ran all day, which is typical for a trauma program, but a lot of the groups were very poorly facilitated. Many times, groups did not even have someone assigned to run them. Yes, this took place over the Thanksgiving holiday, but as a treatment center, you know you still have clients who need care. Staffing and group coverage should have been addressed and organized well in advance of the holiday. Where things went seriously wrong was with placement and leadership. After arriving and doing well in the trauma community, I was suddenly told I was being placed in Oak House, the eating disorder unit, even though I do not have an eating disorder. No one gave me a reason. I was abruptly removed from the trauma program and placed in a highly restrictive unit with daily weigh-ins, locked bathrooms, monitored showers, plated meals, and constant escorts -- none of which matched my diagnoses. I reported to my therapist that I was concerned about my safety while in Oak House. She told me she escalated my concerns to leadership, but no corrective action was taken. In a subsequent meeting with the clinical director, Shelly, I again asked why I had been placed in the eating disorder unit. Instead of answering, she deflected my questions. When I tried to explain why I did not belong there -- that I do not have an eating disorder and that body dysmorphic disorder has nothing to do with food -- she told me my questions were a "trauma response." As a psychology major with a 4.0 GPA, I know what a trauma response is. I told her directly that this was not one. This was one adult asking another adult for an explanation about a clear misplacement, and she was not able or willing to give me an answer. I was ultimately given an ultimatum: return to Oak House or leave the facility that night, even though I was over a thousand miles from home. I was also told I could not use a phone to call my husband unless I agreed to return to Oak House first. I went back only long enough to use the landline to arrange a ride home. Thankfully, I had a friend nearby who dropped everything to come get me. I am thankful for the other clients. But the placement decisions, lack of transparency, poor planning, and leadership response were confusing, dismissive, and not trauma-informed. People seeking trauma treatment deserve clear communication, respect, and care that actually aligns with their diagnoses read more

The refuge lied about everything. Total bait and switch. None of the promised benefits were available. We were kept in lock down and drugged. read more

They had me leave saying my insurance was terminated and that my treatment was not paid for the last 30 days. Found out it was not true, it was in fact paid for and I had another month to stay paid for by insurance. Clients in there did say they are scamming people and saying this to other clients and yet keeping the insurance money even thought we the client were not in treatment anymore. read more

Serious Legal and Safety Concerns at The Refuge, a Healing Place (Ocklawaha, FL) Please allow me to begin by saying my child is not perfect. He's the kind of young man who tends to find trouble wherever it hides -- as many parents can relate. But no family, no matter the circumstances, deserves to suffer what we experienced at The Refuge, a Healing Place in Ocklawaha, Florida. I am writing this review to warn others -- not out of anger, but out of a sense of duty to protect other families from the harm and negligence we endured. Misrepresentation and Questionable Referral Practices We were introduced to The Refuge by a man named Brendan, who identified himself as a licensed social worker helping families find treatment centers. We now believe this may have been a misrepresentation -- a serious ethical and potentially legal issue -- as no formal verification of his credentials was provided. Within just 24 hours of our first call, he had already checked our insurance and referred us to The Refuge. That alone raised red flags. Medical Negligence and Unsafe Practices Our son entered The Refuge for addiction, anger, and an eating disorder. He had two long-term prescriptions, one being Methylphenidate, a controlled substance. Within a a few days, The Refuge stopped administering his medication completely, citing an allegedly high heart rate -- measured only by machine. They substituted it with Gabapentin without consulting his primary physician parental consent, or a proper medical taper. This is potential medical malpractice and could have placed him in serious physical danger as Ritalin is not a medication you can quit cold turkey, it needs to be slowly reduced over a period of time. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Repeated voicemails to the nurse's line went unanswered for weeks.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Additionally, on our intermittent calls, our son would casually mention that his morning medications were withheld because of a high heart rate which was taken with a machine but NOT double-checked manually. Ultimately, staff admitted they restarted his medication after manually checking his pulse and finding it normal -- meaning they withheld a critical medication for several days and intermittently based on faulty equipment. Violation of Power of Attorney and Privacy Rights We had a legal Power of Attorney and two signed Release of Information (ROI) forms, giving us explicit rights to our son's treatment information. Still, The Refuge ignored both for most of the time. The case manager refused communication, claiming the POA wasn't notarized -- which violates both HIPAA transparency requirements and Florida patient rights laws. Meanwhile, Brendan, the salesman, was receiving weekly treatment updates about our son's private health information -- updates that we, his legal guardians, were denied. This constitutes a serious HIPAA violation. Neglect and Endangerment During Discharge Upon discharge, our son -- who had a known history of suicidal behavior -- was released alone to a motel with all of his prescription medication in an unlocked box given by Dr. Scott Kunce. This reckless decision created an immediate risk of self-harm and liability. Sending a potentially suicidal patient off unsupervised with unrestricted access to controlled substances is not only negligent -- it may be grounds for criminal and malpractice investigation. Widespread Safety and Ethical Failures After his release, my son revealed deep safety and ethical concerns during his treatment: Staff allegedly threatened patients verbally to maintain compliance. Patients used marijuana pens and other drugs on campus without consequence. No drug testing occurred after off-campus privileges, despite program claims that testing would be performed. Multiple HIPAA violations were observed -- patients' private information was routinely shared or overheard. These details point to systematic failure in oversight, medical ethics, and patient safety. Financial and Insurance Fraud Concerns The Refuge billed our insurance ~$45,000 for substandard, unsafe treatment -- and took $3,000 upfront, as our insurance copay. Given the misrepresentation, denial of parental authority, lack of care, and documented medical and ethical violations, we believe this constitutes potential insurance fraud. We are in the process of filing formal complaints with: Florida Department of Health Office for Civil Rights (HIPAA Enforcement) Office of the Attorney General (Insurance and Healthcare Fraud Unit) Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) Final Message to Other Families I entrusted this facility with my son's mental health and safety. Instead, I got silence, deception, and fear. The Refuge promoted itself as a place of healing -- but in reality, it endangered my child's life. If you are a parent considering this facility, please do not make the same mistake I did. Research thoroughly. Ask to verify every license. read more

Everything. Food is cold. Saw several roaches in bathroom. As of this minute my mother has been waiting 70 minutes for a diaper change. A bed sore on her buttocks, as well as on her heel are both getting worse. Not better. [[HIGHLIGHT]]My mother is crying requesting I return after 7 hours of visiting her there to change her diaper. I can not return....so I'm waiting and praying someone will take care of her.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] She got several pills in applesauce, the nurse could not identify the meds.....as is her right to know. I requested no muscle relaxers until bedtime. She was given relaxer prior to dinner I could go on....but would love to see these things addressed. Mary Newlin On behalf of Marlene Repka read more

Public Warning Regarding The Refuge If you want your loved one to receive appropriate, ethical care, do not place them at The Refuge. The facility advertises services on its website that are not actually provided, including equine therapy, kayaking, and other listed therapeutic programs. There are serious concerns regarding staff conduct and retaliation. Multiple residents report verbal and psychological mistreatment. Residents who question treatment decisions, assert their legal rights, or are not favored by leadership--particularly Shelly--have reportedly been retaliated against or administratively discharged. Many residents are brought from out of state and are left with limited or no access to phones or money, restricting their ability to contact family or advocate for themselves. Medication management raises significant safety concerns. Psychiatric medications have reportedly been stopped abruptly ("cold turkey") on multiple occasions, without proper oversight. Residents are also charged pharmaceutical fees while insurance is billed simultaneously, raising billing and transparency issues. There are reports that personal religious beliefs influence nursing care, which is inappropriate in a medical setting. There are also serious legal concerns. Emergency contacts are reportedly not notified when involuntary holds (Baker Acts) are initiated, despite legal requirements. Residents have reported improper use of involuntary holds, particularly when individuals assert their rights. They did an illegal baker act on my daughter then kicked her out of the refuge while she was in a baker act and then "attempted" to trespass us. They also REFUSED to release her medicine including ones we personally paid for. Additionally, the facility has demonstrated a lack of understanding of laws governing education, including attempts to withhold access to education as punishment, which is unlawful. Safety concerns have also been raised regarding resident population management, including reports of registered sex offenders being housed with very young adults and survivors of sexual assault, creating an unsafe environment. Multiple agencies and investigations are involved. Families deserve transparency, lawful practices, and ethical treatment. Based on repeated reports, this facility fails to meet those standards. I do also believe after doing some investigating they have unlicensed persons working in positions they are not qualified to be in. Shelley Beaurline is one of them. If 0 was an option I'd chose it. It's NOT even a 1 star. read more

Monique Findley (Medical) is EXTREMELY unprofessional. She SCREAMED at a "Client" in who was receiving meds in front of nurses and other "Clients." Unhinged is not a trait a medical provider should possess. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Submitted grievances and no follow up.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Additionally, [[HIGHLIGHT]]I met with Shelley (Tesch) Beaurline (Administration) about a grievance, she was smug, dismissive, condescending and used gaslighting in an attempt to make me feel I was crazy advocating for myself and for my fellow "clients" - their term, not mine.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]After meeting with Shelley, I filed grievances about her, her boss and NO ONE followed up.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Clearly Acadia Health (owns the Refuge) cares about profits, not people. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Kitchen staff (Justin especially) were great.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Matt and Randy (group leaders) were amazing![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The "Doctor" I cannot recall her name (heavy set black lady) was worthless. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Administration and medical do not want to hear the "Voice of clients" - any time we advocated we were shamed and yelled over told "This is neither the time nor place" and no alternative times nor places were provided.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

The Refuge is truly A Healing Place where the human soul can find connection and balance in a safe environment. This environment is one where the will to discover the true self is guided by emotional intelligence and finds resonance beyond its welcoming grounds. The hospitality for the soul leads to healing of the mind and body through cognitive therapy and dialectical curiosity and exploration. The Refuge is a benchmark for the future of trauma treatment and stands as a beacon of light in a society distraught with self-medication and maladaptive habits. Those who emerge from the Refuge find themselves stronger in the environments they once felt weak in; they have a greater sense of emotional intelligence and intuition for finding safe people, combined with a greater understanding of and compassion for the often unspoken generational and institutional traumas and negative core beliefs of those they had interacted with previously. If you know of someone who once had the vitality of an innocent child, and that someone was you, I challenge you to consider the kindness to yourself of finding your Refuge. Reader, we love you. read more

Worst care an individual can encounter. Voluntarily admitted. Left to own devices after poor living conditions. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Spent 6 1/2 hrs asking for help from 1PM to 6:30PM. 3 of which were in the admin building. Ignored the whole time, except to be lied to.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Someone is coming at said time, over and over......till no one was there and was told to leave bldg. when I said I wanted to leave, they said go ahead. So I did. Over the fence with their bucket of My possessions. Upon returning with police, and after a great deal of arguments, they magically produced my phone, toiletries, but no meds! Had to get emergency scripts. Police even admitted this happens often. After Doctor consults, it has been determined, they hide behind AMA to hold even those who "can" leave for 24hrs to get insurance reimbursements. What a scam! Truly feel for those who were duped. Should be investigated for fraud. read more

RUN!!!!! This establishment has to be shut down! Someone somewhere HAS to save us from this illegal, inhumane atrocious madness these people are running. I willingly admitted myself to the Refuge for PTSD and barely got out alive. My PTSD/Trauma is even more heightened now. This place is Hotel California: You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave. These "professionals" are subpar at best. They are running a prison. They take your freedom and your possessions. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They will only let you leave AMA. And you have to fight tooth and nail to get out-I had to fight 5 days to get out AMA with my husband calling them threatening them, telling them of his pending arrival.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Furthermore, [[HIGHLIGHT]]Their therapists are never available, their doctors are never available. I had not one on one counseling session in 2 weeks. None.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] And drama-it was a 3-ring circus! It felt more like a high school than a healing place. I wish I had listened to others warnings. We need to form a coalition to stop this madness. There are many in there still fighting to get out. SAVE YOURSELF THE TRAUMA & CONFINEMENT!!!!! read more

Broke my laptop, won't refund me, I've called a dozen times because my own therapist saw it was broken, they stole my headphones when they said they would mail them to me... still have not received them it's been several months, $300+ Bose headphones, said they would get my medical records to send me an email that did not work. While there a therapist named Randy, said that people said i talked to much in group about the "ex boyfriend". I was there for domestic abuse and i was mugged by a random stranger on the street, and they said i didn't talk about the robbery enough...I said pop slang to him that is often used (it is a cuss word so i understand being upset but he went on to say if someone said that to his daughter he would knock their teeth in. Never apologized (Mind you to an abuse victim) made me bawl my eyes out and have a panic attack. I also had a seizure on their watch. They sent me to the ER with no one and no phone. I was terrified. They never checked up after i had the seizure and didn't do anything to figure out cause. Terrible experience. I'm serious please do not send your loved ones here. There are some good therapists there but incredibly disorganized and no after care help at all. They don't answer calls or questions. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]At the beginning of employment working here was great. We had enough staff, great nursing team that worked together. Looked forward to coming in.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] About 6 months ago that all changed. Upper management decided to micro-manage the nursing department. They cut the number of nurses on each shift, got rid of CNA's that were invaluable to help clients when nurses were busy. I could go on. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Management (CEO/DON etc) never asked our opinions on these changes and how it would effect us or the clients. No nurse staff meetings to keep us informed of changes or what we thought of changes.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]If you decide to hand in your 2 weeks notice, which is the professional thing to do, they will have you leave your job right away. They don't even have the professionalism to say thank you, what could we have done better to keep you and let you work your 2 weeks...Nope![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Once, as an employee, you have a target on your back watch out!![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

I do not recommend going here. As another reviewer said, I ignored the bad reviews thinking they were just from disgruntled people, but everything I've read in the negative reviews is accurate. When I was there, incidents occurred that resulted in police being called after hours by a patient after staff was negligent - see the end of this review. First things first - this place is marketed heavily to people with PTSD and more specifically complex PTSD, but it is primarily a drug and alcohol rehab. They do not have separate tracks for trauma and addiction as I was told by their admissions team - I don't think the people at the admissions call center are connected to the physical location. There was no EMDR, or any evidence based treatment modalities for trauma. One on one therapy is for insurance review purposes, not for treatment of symptoms. They have an eating disorder program which is separate, and an addiction/trauma program - so two total programs, and they can not be combined. There are no therapists or doctors here overnight - only nurses who are attending patients who are detoxing. If you have any kind of psychiatric or medical issue after hours, they *may* send you unaccompanied to the ER in a cab without your cell phone, but otherwise that issue will not be addressed. When I was there it was 80+ clients and that does not include those in the separate eating disorders program, with a small handful of nurses there overnight but the rest of the staff are similar to adult camp counselors and get paid about that too. The clinical staff present during the day has NO idea about the chaos this place descends into after hours, and there are regularly after hours incidents. There is no security. The clinical staff from what I can tell has NO interaction or communication with the rest of the staff, so they do not have visibility into what goes on after hours. When I was admitted I was told the rules - "No f*cking and no fighting" (verbatim) but these things definitely happen, in fact the housing/overnight staff has a list that is supposed to be confidential of who they suspect is hooking up, but if you cozy up to them they might let you see it. In regards to confidentiality, this is a big problem. The majority of this program is group therapy, which includes people sharing detailed accounts of traumatic experiences including things such as suicide attempts, kidnapping, and child sexual abuse. This is all shared in a group setting, where there is no guarantee of confidentiality - it is an honor system which is commonly not respected by patients. Your story *will* get retold outside of group, the more shocking the story the more it will get around. If you choose not to share in group you will be told you're not "doing the work" or participating. I was motivated to write this review after looking at the photos... They are outdated and retouched. None of the photos show the actual cabins that patients live in - only inside of the medical building where patients detox. It's overall extremely unsanitary, I had sewer water backing up into my shower for weeks during which time I contracted a UTI caused by E. Coli - this was one of the "good" cabins. There are cockroach infestations - I watched cockroaches crawl inside coffee machines. They have couch cushions to use by the fire pit that are covered in feral cat urine. Pool is unusable - they will open it for an hour every few weeks but it is unheated and dirty. Vulgar graffiti everywhere, including violent sexual things... not great for a sexual assault survivor. There ARE some select few deeply caring staff members here who truly look out for folks the best they can, but half a dozen or so people, most of whom are NOT clinically trained in any way, can not attend 24 hours to a population of 80+ mentally unstable people. Case management does not do any discharge planning, and when they do they just pull unvetted programs off of a list and tell you to start making phone calls. I personally know multiple people who were discharged to deeply unsafe group homes where they had to leave on the very first day due to major safety concerns and had nowhere else to go. In regards to the more egregious issues: Multiple women were sexually assaulted and harassed by a client. He also broke into multiple women's rooms including my own, which I did not see but my roommate alerted me, and the refuge engaged in a cover up by saying I was delusional in my chart... everyone knew this happened. I have zero history of delusions. To be gaslit by your own therapist is deeply damaging. I do think this place engages in fraudulent insurance practices, I was encouraged to exaggerate my symptoms "for insurance" and even persuaded to say I have substance use disorder when I do not. Now my record has substance use disorder on it when I do not have that. I would love to be contacted by other reviewers so we can compare our experiences. read more

Why can't I give this place half a star? It's a beautiful facility, aestheically. But that's one of a small handful of redeeming qualities. The clinicians are undervalued, and set up for failure by dishonest and incompetent upper management who suffer from unprecedented levels of hubris and unparalleled ego. Luckily, egotism is the anesthetic that dulls stupidity, so leadership is undeterred by theirs. The place has amazing potential, and once upon a time, I'm sure it saved a bunch of people. I don't know when that was, but definitely before my time there. Maybe one day it will return to its former glory. I've heard it was great. I can attest it is not great now. Shame on those that are taking money from clients desperate for help. There are some great therapists and I've connected with many of them. The groups were hit or miss, but for the most part, they were useful - just nothing I couldn't get at home for much less than the cost of this place. I hope they figure it out so that people will be able to learn to deal with their mental health effectively and successfully. As long as it is managed the way that it is, I don't predict that outcome. read more

If this is a 'top notch' place for healing (as advertised), I cannot imagine a mediocre setting. This is from the perspective of a parent of a 56 year old woman. We watched, with great concern, from a distance, for many years as our daughter spiraled downward due to alcohol and prescription drug use. This finally culminated in destroying her family and taking up with a boyfriend. Finally, upon learning from an outside source that she was being abused, physically, emotionally, and financially by her new drug addicted, felon, boyfriend, we intervened, strongly encouraging her to seek help at the highly recommended Refuge. Huge mistake on our part. In response to our 'interference', our daughter's therapist chose to focus on lashing out at us rather than the core issues/decisions which led to our daughter's current dismal situation. Upon checkout day, our daughter sent off a letter to us which has completely fractured our entire family. What therapist thinks this is a good idea? Wouldn't it have been more productive to suggest family counseling to address misunderstandings, decisions, family dynamics, etc., during her stay! Now, we all are left adrift. The tragedy is our daughter has burned her remaining bridges and has no support system going forward. Do NOT encourage your adult child to attend this 'healing place'. read more

The place is dirty rundown and not anything advertised is true whatsoever. Rude staff especially Caleb very rude would scream at the patients and claimed he was jealous of them because he couldn't afford to go here. What he did that was the most degrading was he took my vape to charge and I guess he thought no one was looking and I saw him rub it against his junk because he was a spiteful b that didn't like me. Also all rooms are unlocked all day so anyone there (employees and other )clients can go through your stuff and take whatever. Don't go to this place price is rediculous and you can get so much nicer for way less money and there is literally one tv no entertainment what so ever and the "lake" is a swamp that you can't swim in.0/10!!!!! Please don't waste your time and read more

Do NOT WORK HERE! DO NOT BE A CLIENT HERE!!! It is a very toxic environment! They have fired several therapists and BHAs and are extremely short staffed. They do not care about their employees or the clients. All they care about is the numbers. They have put several policies in place to make it harder for clients to discharge. There is so much corruption starting from the very top. Acadia was supposed to come in and clean house but didn't. That place has really gone down hill fast and it's too bad because it has so much potential. There is so much clique culture. If you're in the clique then all you have to do is show up and receive a paycheck without actually having to work while the outsiders carry the heavy work load and get yelled at for not doing a stupid chore because of being busy doing all the work. The select few can get by doing absolutely nothing and if you complain about it, you are dismissed or labeled a complainer. They promoted the most inept, lazy grease monkey as team leader. He was the most unqualified for the position. But as the saying goes in that place, " do little and get promoted. Do much and get taken advantage of." A certain male staff was seen by several staff and clients acting inappropriately with a female client which was brought to the attention of supervisors but nothing was done about it because that male staff was in the clique. But I share my book with a select few clients that I had published because I thought that it would HELP them and I get fired for crossing boundaries and taking money from clients and four other mysterious violations they wouldn't name. These clients were really struggling with their trauma and I shared my book to relate with them. One client even came out of her shell and opened up more because she read my book. I never received any money from clients. They only ordered it off Amazon. I wrote my book to help people. It was never about the money. I have never received any money. The refuge isn't interested in helping clients. They are only interested in filling beds and collecting the mighty dollar and the clients have even caught on to that and KNOW that they are just a number. No client seeking treatment should ever have to feel that way. There are very few staff who actually do care but feel helpless and are angry about how things are being ran. These staff have very few belongings there because they feel like it won't be long before they are next to be walked off the property in the middle of group or at the end of your shift after you worked hard all day being short staffed. It's a very toxic and hopeless environment. For some staff we are there to make a difference and this place isn't about changing lives for the better. They only further traumatize clients by putting dangerous policies in place such as, having male staff check female cabins and female staff check male cabins because of the staff shortage and not having that guarantee of appropriate staff to do the rounds. This not only potentially traumatizes clients further but also puts staff in a dangerous legal position if allegations were made just for doing their job. The Refuge would just dispose of that employee in that case even though they were the ones to put that staff in that position in the first place. The good staff see the handwriting on the wall and are looking for other employment opportunities and keeping their options open. The refuge is just a temporary miserable job until something better comes along. If you are a client, be warned, if you get there and find out that it is not the place for you, they will do everything they can to keep you there or delay you being able to leave so that they can squeeze more money out of you because that is all YOU are worth to them. $$$ Run for the hills from this place, client and potential staff alike. "A Tumultuous Life A Story Of A Little Girl Who Rose Above Adversity," by Andrea Sherman found on Amazon. read more

Dr bruce and his staff are miracle workers been to a lot of places and they are the best

I know you are all very busy but I hope you will take the time to read this. For the past 15 years, my daughter Jianni has struggled with severe depression, anxiety & PTSD stemming from childhood trauma. She repeatedly tried everything, in-patient, out-patient, IOP, PHP, residential facilities, therapists & psychiatrists. All helpful but nothing providing lasting healing. She would do better for a little while then the soul-crushing cycle would begin again. We were on the verge of losing her and had truly lost all hope. Until we discovered The Refuge. This amazing facility & it's programs actually healed the underlying trauma that was causing her PTSD, depression & anxiety. My daughter is now doing more than just surviving each day. She is actually happy & enjoying life. I have my daughter back. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE send anyone who is struggling here. read more

I've struggled for awhile about whether to write a review of this place at all, and what to say if I did. I stayed at the Refuge for between four and five months about a year ago. First, the good-- the other clients I met while I was there were almost all amazing people and I feel I learned a lot from them, even people I didn't happen to get along with. I became committed to sobriety. I made a lot of art. I got to spend enough time outside of an unhealthy living environment to realize how unhealthy it was. I say this so it is clear I'm not writing the negative parts of this review out of malice. I will always be thankful for the good I found there. The largest issue with the Refuge is the misrepresentation and outright lying involved in their advertising. They should absolutely not claim to treat eating disorders. On their official website, on the "our staff" page, you will see none of the staff listed are Certified Eating Disorder Specialists, and no dietitians are listed. The therapists and medical staff appointed to work with clients with EDs are deeply underqualified. During my time there, I witnessed clients with EDs being told damaging, misinformed things about their bodies and weights by staff members, and given very little meaningful support. I continuously lost weight while I was there, despite my sincere attempts to maintain and gain weight, because of this lack of support. Clients struggling with anorexia were complimented on their weight loss by clinical and medical staff. If this has not changed, I would not suggest going to the Refuge for ED treatment unless you have already made progress in your recovery to a point that you feel able to manage your meals alone. Please, please, please do not go here for your first round of ED treatment. You deserve better. A year ago, staff told me they were hiring a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist. According to their official site, that still has not happened (no CEDS listed in anyone's qualifications). For that matter, the staff lied to me about their intentions quite often. I was often made promises by therapists only to have them secretly change their mind, behind my back, with no real explanations. To be clear, I accept that the staff had the right to make decisions about my treatment, whether I liked those decisions or not. I do not accept being directly lied to repeatedly. When being lied to made me uncomfortable sharing my story to my therapist, I was accused of sabotaging my treatment for kicks. Another therapist accused me of lying about my own trauma. Another concerning matter was the frequent instances of medical neglect. In as little detail as possible to preserve privacy, a client had a concussion that went unattended for over a week, and another client had a brown recluse spider bite that went unattended for a similar length of time until risk management found out and took that person to an emergency room. Other clients were often sick, injured, or otherwise unwell and ignored by medical staff. Transgender clients were often treated with disrespect. The administrative system was a complete mess. I didn't have a treatment plan for a few weeks. Rules were inconsistent. Clients were accidentally given each other's medications, and medicine went missing. A client was arrested and taken to a psychiatric ward mistakenly instead of another client who had been sexually harassing female clients and threatening to kill them, and remained in the psychiatric ward for several days while the other client continued to harass. A month went by before staff intervened in a matter involving a male client stalking female clients, despite multiple women bringing the matter to their attention beforehand. More than one instance of staff abusing a client took place in this timeframe. It feels terrible to acknowledge, given that many members of the staff clearly do care for their clients and certainly would not wish abuse upon anyone. However, the general disorganization and miscommunication enabled those instances of abuse to take place at the Refuge. I was given no real discharge plan. The paperwork claims I refused the clinical recommendation-- to go to a different facility that my therapist and I had discussed and agreed did not have support in the areas I needed. I had to return to unsafe living circumstances without any clinical support. The records I requested from them came months late and were full of errors (inaccuracies regarding my medications, incorrect substance use history, and more). The location is beautiful. Some of the staff are very kind. Some clients have had great experiences here. You will meet incredible people, and know you are not alone in whatever you are struggling with. However, I would have wanted to know all of this before my choice to go there. It is not a safe place for clients with sensitive medical issues, or with active eating disorders. Some staff members are not safe. Please take this into account before attending. read more

Please spare yourself. They are undergoing an immense amount of staff overturn right now. I was there for a total of 15 days and never saw a therapist, and I had to beg to see any form of medical care. This facility is now making "donations" to another recovery PHP facility to "get back into their good graces". The refuge did not follow up with me after my stay, but they were sure to follow up with the individuals that send them the money. There are good mental health care facilities out there, and this IS NOT ONE. read more

I was referred here by someone who claimed their experience was 'magical'. However, her time here was 4-5 years ago. It is no longer magical. I would have to say that this place cares about money and not clients. I came for trauma, PTSD, depression, anxiety, depression and eating disorder. The main work at the Refuge is done in the process groups. However, these groups, while I was there, ran 22-28 people consistently. At the good end 4-5 shares were achieved during a 2 1/2 hour group. Can you see how long a person would wait for a turn. One of my groups had a few days while I was there where only 1 person processed that day. My therapist didn't know me at all after having only one appointment per week for 50 minutes. And two of those during my four week stay were symptom checks where we didn't talk about anything but symptoms and groups and activities I intended. Sadly I could go on and on. There was very little coordination of care. When I dissociated and had a panic attack the nurse could get no one from clinical (therapists) to come see me, despite my own therapist being on site that day. I would NOT recommend this place if you want to really do the work and try and resolve some trauma. I feel I barely scratched the surface and had no one to speak to about anything deeper than the reading I shared. There was no follow up about feelings felt or ideas experienced. I am sorry I went. read more

I wish I could say this is a healing place. The land is truly incredible but the people that run the place are pure evil! The admissions lady Megan prior is a liar . I came here looking to heal ptsd and they amplified it. Sadly the day I checked in some decided to take their own life. Also if you want to hook up with patients this is the place for ya! Ask me how I know !... because they used my cabin. Next I had an ingrown toe nail , after days of begging for help the nurse thought it was a good idea to take a scalpel to my toe.. note she did not numb it. Sadly in my discharge papers they claim they helped me. Witch is a lie. The complaint forms I turned in where also not in my documents.. wonder why that is? Good thing I have copies. I also had a meeting with the nursing staff about my toe situation and guess what? It's not In my documents!! Sadly this place was bit for me. The day I left it took me approximately 2 hours to find someone to help another patient that told me they where about to commit suicide! Can you imagine trying g to find help at a facility for two hours?!? And your at a treatment facility ! This is what happens to people that are trying to heal. Some treatment facilities care about the money only. I will not stand and let them destroy my name or my journey. The best part is they allow cell phones , which typically would be terrible at a treatment facility. But for me I was able to document so much! I pray any one that goes healed really does their research . I did look for places for almost a year, the pictures of this place and the fake reviews are what made me say yes! I rode my motorcycle 1200+miles to seal therapy. 14 days later I signed out. And again my documents show nothing about this. Can you trust someone that changes your journey? That re writes your story?! read more

The Refuge A Healing Place - Here's my toe after having to walk on it for over a week.... is this what you call help?! Again this is not I. My documents... - Rehabilitation Center Near Me - Ocklawaha, Florida

This place saves lives if you let it. It's a safe place. My experience in the beginning was a ruff road. My priorities were non -existent and my thought process was distorted. I had multiple issues and was stuck, numb, angry, isolated by both Trama and Substance. Not until I was admitted into the refuge was I able to start making changes in my life that had a positive influence on me an others. The staff is here to help if you want help. In some cases people don't want to help themselves - and I learned that you cant control them - only your own reaction to what is happening at that particular moment. This applies to people in and outside this facility. With that being said this is a very safe place for Trama and all aspects of life. Negative or unruly people have the opportunity to change or they are removed. Therefore - some questionable reviews. Like I had indicated this is a very safe. From the beginning I was treated with respect and trust. Not until I broke that trust was I coached on redirecting my efforts to more positive actions. I must say that this is a World Class treatment facility with the management team in control - with a clear vision. The staff is responsive from house keeping to the CEO. In cases where the CEO needed to step in to help a shift manager who was short staffed to do hourly checks on the patient's in semi-privet cabins - she did it. I asked for something to be faxed it was done immediately. Many other request not only from me but from others were welcomed and addressed in a timely manner. 5 stars for dedication and service to the residence. Even the residence who have managed thru detox are extremely helpful and are happy to be there and give you insights about the 90 acre campus. Walking the campus is like hiking thru the forest with wildlife in abundance. ( Mostly squirrel's an a few raccoons at night) I have witnessed the house manager's take situations where it seemed hopeless and make it into a positive experience. House Managers love their jobs and are intense on providing the best service to the residence possible. They work on Trust and Respect for others and self. They believe you must take care of your own needs first - before others and the treatment teaches one how to gain control of ones life. I am living truth and a believer in the systematic approach and the healing process managed at this facility. The new Medical Clinic and the nursing staff will welcome you with open arms. Once thru the detox process ( Which #@#@*() sucks) you will be assigned a cabin where you share a very large bedroom. Bedrooms are equipped with your own queen size bed and furniture. You will be presently surprised and happy with the surroundings. If i could I would leave my number so if you had any questions I could answer. I am a believer and love my new family. I will always be a Refugee. If you are looking for a treatment facility for yourself or for a loved one you can stop looking now. You have found a home here. read more

WARNING: Do not go here if you suffer from an eating disorder. They DO NOT treat them. They DO NOT offer EMDR They DO NOT offer somatic experience The place is referred to as "trauma camp". Should be referred to as nursery school as they offer a lot of nap time. If you need help for trauma/PTSD, mood, eating disorder, addictions or chronic pain, GO TO SIERRA TUCSON! I promise you will get help. read more

I was so disappointed in this place. So sorry it did not work out, I wasted so much time and energy to get there, lot of work to get this place approved, leave from work, etc., overwhelming to be doing it all on my own but I packed up my car, my cat, dropped him off for safe keeping, drove 2000 long miles and a night in the worst hotel in the worst area. The website/video misrepresents this place. I had looked into this place once before, just seemed impossible to go. I thought i asked all the right questions, I knew exactly what I did not want in a place and was so afraid this place would be like that and it was, I would never have made that horrible trip had I known. I give it 2 stars, the property is beautiful but unfortunately you don't have access to all things, which I was told I would, some of the work/groups I was looking forward to and liked the ones i did go to, would have been very beneficial and people were very nice. Only made it 4 nights, I tried but on my 5th day I felt so deceived, lied to and had no outlet available, I wanted out. It was just such a let down. I went to leave, I got the run around for several hours, the usual of trying to talk me out of it. Then I was told I was not willing to deal with my trauma. I told him I was more than willing, just not there, after being deceived about the program I did not trust the place. That is just wrong to say on so many levels to someone with trauma and complete lie, you used my trauma against me to get me to stay. I don't think anyone would stay after being told that. I may be broken but I still have standards and clients and staff agreed with me and how the place is misrepresented, has gone downhill and the website is incorrect. Update you website please!!!!!! your misleading good people who are voluntarily coming to you for help to live better lives and some of them this is there last hope, it was very triggering for me and others. We deserve respect and honesty from you and should be well informed to make a decision, not deceived into making a decision based on false facts, that only causes more trauma. I also hear there is a class action law suit filed or about to be filed against this place as some clients left there worse off. So do listen to the bad reviews, I did not and I wish I did. read more

Without a doubt this place brought me out from a rreally tough place I was in due to some traumatic events I have dealt with in my life. The level of care here from the entire staff and the therapists is amazing! The community environment was remarkable. Take any of the negative reviews on here with a grain of salt. If someone is willing to put the work in to get better, this place is amazing. If a person is not ready or willing to do the work, no place can help that person. The therapists at the refuge truly care about their clients. The food is amazing and my entire month there was truly a life changing experience. Thank you to the entire staff at The Refuge. So proud to call myself a Refugee! Never did I think I would ever go to a place like this but man am I glad I dId. read more

I am in the process of looking for an inpatient facility. I called over a week ago to run a VOB. The first person I spoke with was very nice. Unfortunately, I never heard back and called every day to see if the benefits were run. I was told someone would be in contact when it was done but that never came to fruition. Today, after the 7th day of calling for an update, I was told they came back and sums of money were "communicated" in an automated cold manner. After, I was asked in a very scripted way if I wanted to move forward. I have spoken with my treatment liaison about this facility and she said that it was once a wonderful place, however the reputation has severely diminished since being bought out by Acadia. I have first hand experience with facilities before and after Acadia and the quality of care is unrecognizable from what it once was. The lack of care for clients is very apparent as is the focus on the bottom line. read more

Truly a healing place where miracles happen. Unbelievable love given here Before our eyes we saw the chains of trauma and addiction being broken. I can't say enough about this place. Healthy food. The therapists are very good. read more

The Refuge truly is just that - a safe hideaway nestled in the lush Ocala National Forest where miracles happen every day. Literally. Anyone struggling to conquer their demons can leave here on a path toward healing IF they're willing to be honest, "do the work," and continue their recovery beyond the program. I've personally witnessed several lives being transformed here, and am a loyal supporter of their style and environment. Highly recommend to anyone seeking 'a healing place.' read more

After I left the Refuge, Diana , a contract therapist who I decided not to work with anymore because she was critical of my art, called it complicated and insisted on giving me back advice deliberately reached out to my young daughter and complained about how I didn't like working with her. She intentionaly harmed my relationship with my child. Her behavior was completely unprofessional while I was at the Refuge. And after I left the refuge, she went out of her way when there was no release in place to damage my family relataionships. Her ego cost me my relationship with my daughter. This woman was so full of herself she had to hurt a patient and destroy her family life in order to feel good about herself. She violated the therapist bond. Do not allow the people at the Refuge to contact your family, they will first "do harm". I have contacted medical professionals to take action against this emotionally unstable ego centric hack. read more

I wouldn't be alive without this place. I don't know what else to say. Everyone has a different path and treatment plan, so I can't even tell you what it'll be like for you. read more

Not going here was the best thing that ever happened to me. This is the first review I've ever written, and I hope it serves as a warning for those looking for treatment. Warning: If your insurance doesn't cover this place, good luck getting in. I've suffered from trauma my whole life and spill my guts about everything that's been going on in my life to one of their administrators . After she completed her assessment of me she called me back and told me I needed to be more dramatic to get insurance to cover some of the cost since it was out of network. I guess writing a suicide note last week wasn't enough? So I fabricate some details like I hurt myself to try and appeal to this insane request. Fine, whatever. So she calls me back and says that she forgot to ask me if I had a - no wait till you hear this - a more specific plan to hurt myself - as if being suicidal wasn't enough. So I tell her I'd hang myself... which you think would surely let everyone get off their high horse and let me go to this treatment facility. Nope I don't even get a call back from the employee at the Refuge. I hear from the coordinator who found the place and she says I got rejected because I said I planned to kill myself. So I call the employee back hoping to get an explanation and she tells me it was the specific plan of using rope to hang myself that got me rejected. She tried to explain to me they turn down anyone planning to harm themselves with a rope because they have it on the property. As if I'd be any less of a risk if I said I would hurt myself with a razor blade????? So at first I wasn't sick enough for them, and then I was too sick for them. Steer clear of this place. I dodged a huge bullet TL;DR One of their employees tricked me into giving a a false statement to disqualify me for treatment because they're shady and couldn't admit they turned me down for someone else with more money read more

If you or a family member has trauma and/or substance abuse issues this is a top notch rehabilitation facility. I would recommend to any family member, friend or client. read more

I came to the refuge for treatment of PTSD and it was highly recommended. However, my experience was terrible. I was kept in medical for 3 days with only one change of clothes and no shampoo, not for any medical reason, but because they were changing around cabins. I continually communicated how distressed I was being kept there (I could not go anywhere or have any of my belongings and this triggered my feelings of being trapped terribly.). Multiple times I became triggered and communicated to the staff, and was not given any access to therapists or anyone who knew how to help me. I sat in the medical unit for hours with no contact from anyone on who was coming to help me, until I self-harmed for the first time in 16 years. When I finally got access to therapists, they were very helpful, but I think they are overwhelmed by the number of people at the facility. Administration is terrible, I constantly communicated with them, even on a conference call with my home therapist (who was very angry about my treatment) but nothing would ever change. Finally I contacted my home therapists and they supported my decision to remove myself after 10 days. When I left (having spent thousands of dollars of my own savings) I was severely re-traumatized, with intense dissociation and agoraphobia which required me to use a therapy dog wherever I went. I was completely unable to work. I found a different treatment center (The Center - A Place of Hope in Edmonds, WA) and the experience was completely different. It was highly organized and patient-focused. This place is only focused on taking your money and the administration obviously knows nothing about treating patients with PTSD and trauma. Please go somewhere else. read more

The Refuge saved my life. They provided hope for me when I had lost all of mine. All of the staff that works there cares so much about every single client. I highly recommend this treatment center for anyone who is struggling. I will forever be grateful for The Refuge! read more

I checked into The Refuge at the beginning of June after an acute hospitalization in North Carolina for suicidal thoughts and mood instability. I was there until the end of August. I was really scared to go to residential treatment for the first time, but the staff at The Refuge made me feel very comfortable about my choice. I switched therapists about a month into my stay and my new therapist was easily the best therapist I have ever had (I have had a lot of good therapists). The groups were helpful, the sense of community was something I've never experienced before in my life, and the cabins were clean and comfortable. If I needed residential treatment again, I would 1000% go back to The Refuge and I highly recommend it to anyone who has PTSD, mood instability, or substance use issues. The staff are compassionate and really know their stuff. The therapists are amazing. The behavioral health techs (Known as HMs) are wonderful. The food is prepared by an excellent and kind kitchen staff. I have struggled with mood instability and anxiety for most of my life. I have struggled with Bipolar Disorder and PTSD since 2013. The Refuge truly is a healing place. Many of the clients lovingly refer to The Refuge as "trauma camp" because, for most of us, it was our first experience being around a group of people who truly understand what we've been through. It's hard hard work, but it is truly helpful. I see that someone complained about having a lot of nap time, but that wasn't my experience. My experience was that there wasn't a ton of down time and that I was exhausted at the end of every single day. They do offer EMDR and ART therapy. I would want people to know that the pool is only offered for one hour a day each day and that it gets closed a lot because of thunderstorms, so please don't go expecting to go for a quick dip in between groups. read more

A healing place is an apt slogan for the refuge. I was on the verge of death when I showed up there, and now I live a healthy, sober life. The therapists at the refuge are the best in the world. They will push you beyond what you think is possible for yourself. If you let them, they will take you to previously unfathomable heights. The medical staff, and the house managers, are the sweetest people in the world, they genuinely care about each and every client. I could go on and on about how much I love this place, and how thankful I am to have found it, because it saved my life. read more

The facility's focus has changed. I did not feel this was a safe environment in any way shape or form. The assistant clinical director Dirk H represents everything I detest about the field of recovery. His main concern is not the welfare of the clients but maintaining his ego and appearance which he works very hard to project. There is a great deal of enabling, negative reinforcement, favoritism, convoluted and confusing mixed messages. Their medical facility is completely illequipped and negligent. In general the refuge has a wealth of information however I did not see any of those modalities truly utilized unfortunately it was a great deal of empty promises. There is no control over the clients there is a serious lack of communication and I would personally be concerned for anyone admitting there. To wrap it up I feel the refuge talks a great "game" but once you become a client everything falls to the wayside as they cash your checks. read more