Stepping Stone Center for Recovery

I didn’t always agree with how everything was run, but overall the program was truly worthwhile and helped me tremendously. The therapists were exceptional, and I credit them—along with other staff members—for my engagement and my desire to fully commit to and benefit from my time there. The programming was a major strength, especially the medical sessions led by doctors and nurses, as well as the psychotherapy sessions led by trained therapists. These were pivotal to my success. They also offer nightly 12‑step meetings, typically hosted by outside groups such as AA and NA, which added meaningful support. The living arrangements exceeded my expectations. The dorm room was comfortable (the beds were genuinely great), the food was very good with a wide variety of options every day, and there was a healthy balance of structured programming and downtime for reading, homework, movies, and rest. One thing that particularly impressed me was their weekly Town Hall, where patients can openly raise concerns, complaints, suggestions, and compliments directly with leadership, including the CEO, Clinical Director, Nursing, Maintenance, and BHTs. While the facility is clearly short‑staffed, I never once felt unsafe or discouraged from voicing my concerns. Some of the rules could be frustrating, but they are clearly in place for patient safety. I am 44 days sober today. When I arrived, I was angry at the world, ready to leave AMA, and intent on drinking myself to death. I left with a powerful desire to live and to continue doing the next right thing to stay grounded in my recovery. Stepping Stone—especially my individual therapist and the classes—saved my life. I will be forever grateful.

Stepping Stone will always have a place in my heart. I would have never found my way out of opiate addiction if I had not walked through those doors in 2008. Saved my life and I will always be grateful!

Five years ago I realized that I needed medical help with my chemical addicton and checked myself into Stepping Stone. I took time away from work, showed up really optimistic with a positive attitude, blew a 0.0 at intake because I was committed to doing it the right way and realized I would die if I didn't make a change. My four days at Stepping Stone were so incomprehensibly terrible that it destroyed my faith in the addiction recovery industry all together and it made me completely give up hope on recovery actually being a possibility for someone like me. I went home and nearly drank myself to death for the next six months because I felt better about it as an option than returning to Stepping Stone, which is probably the worst possible thing one could think about a recovery center. The night I left, a staff member laughed and told me I would never get sober without Stepping Stone. Next week I'm coming up on four years sober, I've had zero relapses or close calls, I have moved on with my life and everything is going amazing. I don't even know where to begin describing my brief stay with Stepping Stone. I told myself I would trust the process as I had no prior experience with recovery programs and I assumed altruism was a given. For 3 days I was shut alone in a room for 24 hours a day with no tv/books/cell phone and told I couldn't leave. During that time I hallucinated and went through withdrawals in an empty room alone with nothing but my thoughts and no food was delivered for three days. I wasn't allowed to use the phone as promised to let my family know I was doing ok, and when my family called the facility after I fell radio silent knowing detox can be dangerous, the front desk staff laughed, blew them off and told my panicked family I might be alive, I might be dead and they can't say. Nobody told me that they called. My fiancee called the county coroner every few hours for two days because she feared I was dead. After three days of being in total isolation staring at the wall and not having talked to a single member of the staff besides the nurse, I had a great, rational, calm talk with her that left her in tears by the end realizing how badly the ball had been dropped. I wish I remembered her name, she was awesome. She dropped everything she was doing and went to the therapist with the message that I was going to be going home early. At this point, a therapist from the facility called my family, informed them they had just spent time with me and that I was "dangerous", a "threat to them and myself" and nothing I said should be believed. This person had never met me but had no problem destroying my character if it meant the chance for another day of billing my insurance. At 11am, a guy walks in calling me "pal" and "buddy" wanting to have a "little pow wow" about what's going on. The guy was clearly sent in to retain my business and didn't particular seem to care one way or another, but he told me he understood, and that I was free to go as soon as the person with the "keys to the safe" got there in an hour to get my keys and wallet out. For the next 12 hours, I was gaslit about how the keyholder would be there any time, and then at 11pm I was told the man isn't coming. I asked if I could call a cab or a family member, and they flat out refused, but I was welcome to walk the 14 miles home at midnight with no keys, phone or wallet. I told them I was leaving, the night officer laughed and said "they always come back", and I walked 14 miles home until 3am while going through withdrawals because it beat the alternative of spending five more minutes at Stepping Stone. Everything happens for a reason and I wound up getting sober through Sophros Recovery/Breakthroughs six months later and the ownership and staff completely restored my broken faith in the recovery industry with the professionalism, ethics, caring and effectiveness of their program, and I can not recommend them more highly as your first call if you are reading this.

I was there this past June for their full three-week program. I can confidently say that Stepping Stone saved my life and got me on the correct path. The facilities are great, the food is really good, the overall quality of life while staying there is excellent - you are never left wanting. Most importantly, the staff genuinely cares and goes above and beyond to see you through a difficult period in your life with compassion. The therapists, medical staff, and all the support staff are there for you and are there to keep the whole group safe, secure, and working the program. Lots of great outside speakers, unique group therapy sessions, and general "real world" life assistance. I hopefully never have to go back, but I am confident that anyone who is need of guidance and support to get through their addiction, Stepping Stone would be the place to start (and hopefully finish!)