The Guest House Ocala

Before you leave your loved one here for treatment, ask the owners, John and Audra West, about Audras own mother. The mother she abandoned 16 years ago because she did want to deal with her issues. Issues like ptsd, trauma, anxiety, depression after her husband of 48 years (Audras father) died, and is now physically disabled. Repeated efforts have been made to contact her by her mom, and others, but Audra ignores them. Her own mother needs more help than anyone I know, but shell happily take your money and buy a $5000+ purse. The irony is amazing. They will do everything they can to hide this post, but its all true. Zero empathy. Scary
Jan 21st, 2023

I have not been to Florida since 2009 so by proxy haven't attended The Guest House in any capacity I DO however have a rather lengthy and wonderful experience with Judy Crane, John West, Mark Rosen, Jessica and probably more than 2 dozen other staff members from The Refuge where Judy first saw her dream of an all encompassing thorough no nonsense recovery process built on a foundation of LOVE. There is NO WAY that any facility in which Judy Crane is involved with is monetarily motivated. Zero, zilch, nada. I was extremely fortunate to have had the love and support of family and friends who did their do diligence when researching for a treatment facility for me that went above and beyond the normal parameters of care. Having relapsed for the umpteenth time at the age of 40 and never longer than 3 years it was clear that there was something missing. I had been through 4 or 5 other treatment centers and 12 step programs. Yes, I had a sponsor, yes I went through the 12 steps, all of them rigorously and honestly. I experienced the "sit down and shut up" old school style and the lovey dovey mode as well. One thing had been overlooked was the fact that I had experienced blunt force trauma to my skull that resulted in the loss of my left eye a crushed orbital socket cheek bone and cracked skull above the left eye which is frontal lobe adjacent. While I had no apparent brain damage, science has since learned that frontal lobe damage will likely rear it's ugly head in severe other manifestations. Not to mention that having played both football and lacrosse from junior high through college I sustained anywhere between 10 and 15 concussions. I digress, after my 15th detox I went off to Ocklawaha Florida kicking and screaming. I arrived sullen and sceptical. If the campus hadn't been 20 miles from the nearest pay phone, home, farmhouse, ANYTHING) I may have jettisoned within my first 3 days, that and the fact that I was still not feeling my best AND that I was being fed extremely well, was looked in on just enough to check that I was doing ok oh yea and the fact remained that despite my wanting to hate this place and everyone within a 50 mile radius I could not help but feel Loved, yes LOVED. Cared for, and in a way that made me feel dare I say significant?. Not an easy task when we can't seem to stop breaking our families hearts, cheat steal and lie to protect our addiction and in general have a low opinion of ourselves. But guided by Judy and her love you until you can love yourself code i actually started to believe that I was worth saving and being loved. By the time week 12 rolled around I didn't want to leave. I had grown to love the place and everyone there. I relapsed a year later this time by not following my sponsors advice and basically running my own show and returned to Ocklawaha this time for 6 months. After completing I returned home only to pack up my belongings into my SUV and drive back to Ocala 15 miles shy of Ocklawaha to engross myself in sober living. I made friends there that I will remember and cherish for a lifetime. Not ONCE did I ever get the feeling that money was a driving force. Oh, did I forget to mention that after receiving the call from my parents that I had relapsed after a year Judy told them to get me a ticket and to the airport, cost would be absorbed as part of a scholarship program? I did forget to mention that didn't I? Well, it's true and so that is why I am appalled to read anything that assumes Judy Crane cares more about money than saving lives? Even to call the Guest House a con? Please, and I'll say it again even though I've never been there I would bet my right eye and thus my vision that any treatment place where Judy and the rest of the incredibly loving talented staff are involved money is the LEAST important component. Peace and Love always D. Ward Turco
Apr 29th, 2023

Hands down the worst treatment experience of my life. If you could even call it treatment. My experience lines up with most of the 1 Star reviews and in fact most of the 5 Star reviews are from employees or other individuals that have a financial interest in the treatment center. But back to my horrible experience. If you are willing to spend money they are willing to help you but once you get to an out patient level of care and the money dries up my experience was these people could care less. The staff (female house manager) was the rudest most inconsiderate person Ive ever had to deal with. The only thing she did was make sure that I was completely uncomfortable during my time there. The clinical team was constantly late if they even showed up at all. If you want quality trauma treatment please dont call these people. You will leave more traumatized than you showed up.
Feb 15th, 2023

Hands down the worst "treatment" experience of my life. If you could even call it treatment. My experience lines up with most of the 1 Star reviews and in fact most of the 5 Star reviews are from employees or other individuals that have a financial interest in the treatment center. But back to my horrible experience. If you are willing to spend money they are willing to help you but once you get to an out patient level of care and the money dries up my experience was these people could care less. The staff (female house manager) was the rudest most inconsiderate person I've ever had to deal with. The only thing she did was make sure that I was completely uncomfortable during my time there. The clinical team was constantly late if they even showed up at all. If you want quality trauma treatment please don't call these people. You will leave more traumatized than you showed up.
Feb 9th, 2023

The best of the best! Great staff and anazing property. If you can be helped, this is the place/people to do it! Love this place and these people!
Sep 1st, 2022