ABOUT ABLE TO CHANGE RECOVERY
Able to Change Recovery, located in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. and founded in 1999, is a modern medical treatment center that offers residential, partial hospitalization (PHP), extended care, and intensive outpatient programs (IOP) to individuals struggling with substance abuse and/or co-occurring mental health disorders. It is part of the 15.8 percent of facilities in the state that offer detox services on site.
This facility on Rancho Viejo Road houses the administrative offices and the Chemical Dependency Treatment Center. Other Able to Change Recovery locations include six gender-specific residences, such as the Lake Forest Men’s Facility and the Monarch Beach Women’s Facility.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Able to Change Recovery takes an individualized approach to recovery that combines 12-Step with evidence-based treatments. Each client’s program is developed through a psychiatric evaluation and a computer-assisted clinical software program called the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) assessment.
After the initial assessment, treatment is broken down into three phases depending on an individual’s needs: primary treatment, intensive outpatient, and exit planning. The first phase lasts 28 days, the second lasts 56, and the third is 84 days.
Primary treatment can be either residential or partial hospitalization and begins with 24-hour supervised care that decreases as clients stabilize. Only 18.5 percent of California facilities offer a partial hospitalization option. The program consists of multiple group therapy sessions and daily 12-step community meetings, as well as fitness activities, individual counseling, and an intensive family program. Individuals are also required to meet with their primary chemical dependency counselor each week. Holistic options, such as yoga and Tai Chi, are also available to patients.
Upon completion of phase one, the client often moves into the intensive outpatient program. This phase is a transition phase that combines primary care with employment and school assistance to prepare the client for reintegration into the community. Clients are required to attend 10 hours of weekly groups, counseling sessions, and 12-step meetings on-site. They must also obtain employment within two weeks. Moderate supervision is provided.
The final phase of Able to Change Recovery’s program is the exit phase, where clients begin planning for discharge from the rehab. The discharge plan includes employment opportunities, living arrangements, setting up finances, continual medical compliance, creating a support system, 12-step activities, and follow-up outpatient treatment. Minimal supervision is provided and clients are required to attend alumni group therapy once a week. Family counseling and individual therapy sessions are also available if needed.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
The facility supports a robust staff of licensed therapists, certified addiction counselors, specialists, and program directors. It boasts an impressive staff-to-client ratio of 3:1. It is part of the 27.9 percent of facilities in the state to be CARF-accredited.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
During residential care, residents begin their day typically at 6 a.m. Individuals build a recovery-oriented community through completing daily house chores and participating in weekly outings. The 22-bed facility offers opportunity for ping pong, Tai Chi, life coaching, yoga, and meditation. In addition, clients meet weekly with a nutritionist for cooking classes.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
Alumni surveyed by Rehabs.com gave glowing reviews of the facility, noting the caring staff and learning needed to maintain a happy and healthy life. All three of the alumni surveyed at the time of this writing gave the facility a rating of five out of five stars when asked if they would recommend treatment at Able to Change Recovery.
In addition, the alumni offered perfect five-star ratings for the respect shown to clients, level of staff support, and cleanliness of the facility. “All of the staff at Able to Change seemed to care about my well-being – both in the office and at the house…This program completely changed my life,” wrote alum Beth.
Reviewers on third-party sites tended to agree. On Yelp, the facility received an excellent rating of 4.5 out of five stars across 19 reviews.[1] Likewise, 16 reviewers on Google gave an average rating of 4.8 out of five stars.[2] “Able to Change Recovery not only saved my life but taught me to love myself and to see the world through clear eyes,” Jamie wrote in a representative review on Yelp. Many others continued to praise the staff, describing staff members as “exceptional” and “amazing” while crediting their continued success in recovery to Able to Change.
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
The sole loved one polled by Rehabs.com to date was less enthusiast, offering low one-star ratings for the facility's family program, qualifications of staff members, and level of staff support. Overall, the loved one was very critical of the facility's overall price. Also giving affordability a one-star rating, the loved one wrote: "WAY WAY to expensive."
Two mothers and an aunt on Yelp praised the facility for saving their children’s lives. For instance, Laura, a parent, wrote: “My son was so far gone, he wouldn’t have live much longer. I credit ATC for saving him.”
FINANCING
Able to Change Recovery is in network with almost every major insurance provider. The rehab also works with Prosper Healthcare Lending to provide financing options for potential clients.
[1] http://www.yelp.com/biz/able-to-change-recovery-inc-san-juan-capistrano-3
DrugAbuse.com is a third-party resource for consumers seeking addiction treatment.
We list thousands of treatment providers throughout the U.S., often including alumni and staff ratings and reviews, and DrugAbuse.com 360 Guides that provide valuable information for people making difficult decisions. DrugAbuse.com is not influenced in regards to its ratings or reviews by any treatment center or its sponsors, and we clearly designate advertiser relationships with “Sponsor” or “Ad” or “Advertisement”.