Van Ness Recovery House

I'll be quite honest,I have lived with my mom for 29 years and I screwed up my life and ended up here. Playing my guitar journaling also smoking cigarettes is my outlet. I choose to leave because of those things, this place is tough but if you want to be treated like a kid again and stop smoking cigarettes this is the place for you. It's a cookie cutter place for SOME people but not all, the look of sadness comes to mind when I see guys there for over 4-5 months at the house. Imo this house makes up tight boyscouts ready for duty when they come out. This place just wasn't for me and I feel free and this place is for select few. Not me. I respect this house but I dislike the way they run things. IMO
Aug 27th, 2023

I'll be quite honest,I have lived with my mom for 29 years and I screwed up my life and ended up here. Playing my guitar journaling also smoking cigarettes is my outlet. I choose to leave because of those things, this place is tough but if you want to be treated like a kid again and stop smoking cigarettes this is the place for you. It's a cookie cutter place for SOME people but not all, the look of sadness comes to mind when I see guys there for over 4-5 months at the house. Imo this house makes up tight boyscouts ready for duty when they come out. This place just wasn't for me and I feel free and this place is for select few. Not me. I respect this house but I dislike the way they run things. IMO
Aug 23rd, 2023

Jul 5th, 2023

I left on my 4th day for 2 main reasons.. Basically the strict rules did not support my co-existing eating disorder, and the staff triggered my ptsd with their aggressive verbal behaviors towards the other residents during groups, as well as myself. This method of communication was not suited for me as a victim of abuse, I'm personally too traumatized for their aggressive tactics... would not recommend to severely traumatized people seeking recovery. The program itself is decent. We did different writing and art activities, and different group talk therapy like sessions. The daily routine is very structured and very strict. I was only there a few days and chose to leave and pick a different center to recover at because I strongly disagreed with some of the rules. First rule I didn't like: NO EXERCISE ALLOWED, at all... no yoga, no stretching, no weights, NOTHING. The claim they make is that "we are supposed to be working on our insides, not worrying about our outsides." Second rule: no outside help, meaning that family and friends are not allowed to help by bringing any food or hygiene products to residents in the recovery program. Residents are expected to be 100% self sufficient and will tell their family member to take the food home and not bring any next time.. same goes for tampons.. I disagreed strongly about the food, being someone whose struggled with anorexia for more than half my life, having food delivered should not have been a reason for the staff to yell at me. This made me feel unsupported in my ongoing eating disorder, and triggered my trauma flight response as I hate being yelled at and I can't stay somewhere that risks subjecting myself to any kind of verbal abuse. I was honestly sad to leave this place, being someone who is so motivated to recover.. I really thought the Van Ness house could help me.. I'm sure I'll find a recovery program that better suits my needs somewhere else. This place seemed very fit for others who are strictly dealing with addiction, without coexisting disorders. But they do have a QUICK turnaround....
Jun 13th, 2023

Attended Van Ness for a short duration, just a little over month. This is far short of their recommended 4-6 month stay, so I want to be clear on that. You will learn things about yourself useful to recovery. You WILL. While I won't be returning to the Van Ness house for further treatment, I will say that you will benefit from trying it. What you will learn about yourself is worth taking with you whatever you do afterward. Also, Buffy rules.
Apr 11th, 2023