Black Bear Lodge
Facility Highlights
- Commitment Therapy
- Acceptance Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Specialization
Adventure Therapy
Adventure Therapy provides an alternative to traditional forms of talk therapy and inspires clients to engage the outside world and develop positive habits. Program offerings include ziplining, horseback riding, hiking, and more! Clients are encouraged to utilize the healing power of nature to foster new passions and hobbies for lifelong recovery.Mental Wellness Assessment
Black Bear Lodge professionals administer examinations to assess clients’ memory skills, reaction times, stress responses, and impulse control in order to most effectively address each individual’s mental health. Individuals struggling with co-occurring mental health diagnosis and addiction are provided specialized treatment plans accordingly.
Facility Settings
- Wilderness
Meet the Staff
Adam Marion, LCSWClinical DirectorAdam Marion is the clinical director at Black Bear Lodge. Prior to this, he has served as a primary therapist, providing clinical treatment for dually diagnosed patients in an outpatient setting. Adam views his career as a calling to use his gifts and talents to help people in need and lift them up, something he is definitely passionate about. During college, he studied abroad in Argentina and Costa Rica, falling in love with Central and South America. He credits the varied cultures in the region with broadening his approach to his work back at home. At Black Bear Lodge, Adam sees it as a privilege to witness the dramatic change that happens during treatment. A southerner born and bred, Adam Marion grew up in a small town in South Georgia. He went on to earn both undergraduate and master’s degrees in social work from the University of Georgia. Adam initially put those skills to use working for a variety of wilderness programs, a career path that allowed him to merge his love of the outdoors and desire to serve others. Adam served as a supervisor, staff trainer and coordinator in back country locations stretching from Florida to Alaska. Much of this work was focused on individuals with co-occurring disorders and their families.- Paige Bottom, MBAChief Executive OfficerPaige Bottom has been committed to the field of addiction and mental illness since 1990, beginning with her work with adolescents diagnosed with both psychiatric and chemical dependency problems. Paige’s path began in direct clinical work in Virginia after completing her undergraduate work in psychology, but it soon branched into prevention and education. Throughout that time, Paige remained dedicated to making a difference in the lives of people who had been affected by addiction and mental illness. As a result, she returned to graduate school with a dual focus on counseling psychology and business administration. It was during this time that Paige moved out of direct care and into program development, operations and administration. Driven by a desire to have a greater impact on how care is delivered and to reach a larger portion of an underserved population, Paige’s ultimate goal was to provide services that result in a powerful, life-changing experience and greater rates of success in recovery. After receiving her master’s in business administration, Paige worked extensively in Wilmington, North Carolina, and Santa Cruz, California, creating and developing programs to increase their responsiveness, efficiency and effectiveness. As Group CEO of La Paloma and Black Bear Lodge, Paige brings a gentle, compassionate strength to the job. She was drawn to FRN because of our commitment to an integrated model of treatment and patient-centered care. Watching patients find themselves and their enthusiasm for life is what makes this work most rewarding for Paige. As patients heal, they reawaken their confidence, enthusiasm and commitment to a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. Treatment provides the transformative experience that allows people to become fully engaged in all the possibilities present in a life of recovery. Being part of the unique process of helping people walk the road of happiness and recovery is what Paige values most.
Treatment Center Links
Rehabs 360 Guide
ABOUT BLACK BEAR LODGE
In a secluded, forested area of Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia, Black Bear Lodge offers residential treatment to adults struggling with substance use disorder or co-occurring disorders. On-site detoxification services are also offered. Black Bear Lodge is one of 13 non-hospital substance abuse treatment facilities in Georgia to provide detox, which make up just four perfect of all facilities in the state.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Treatment at Black Bear Lodge is individualized. The facility utilizes a range of evidence-based practices, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and Seeking Safety groups for trauma.
Clients attend individual and group therapy, along with addiction education classes, 12-step meetings, and relapse prevention workshops. The rustic setting also allows for plenty of holistic and adventure therapies such as hiking, horseback riding, ziplining, and equine therapy.
The facility’s website states that it has connections to interventionists who can assist family mediations and can also help clients create an aftercare plan.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
According to the rehab's website, the treatment team includes a medical direcotr, a physician, and a registered nurse, as well as a licensed clinical social worker.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
Photographs on the facility's website show a wood-paneled main lodge with a cozy fireplace, several seating areas, and two televisions. Their rustic furnishings are echoed throughout the rest of the facility, revealing exposed beams, a quaint theater, and a wraparound porch.
Bedrooms have two twins beds, an armoire, and access to the porch. Clients have access to many outdoor activities and an outdoor pool.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
The majority of alumni (seven out of 10) surveyed by Rehabs.com at the time of this writing gave Black Bear Lodge positive feedback. Former clients praised the facility for its tranquil environment, its professional and positive staff, and its effective therapy. "Black bear changed my life!" G.L. wrote in a representative review. "I would recommend it to anyone. Staff cares, amazing food, atmosphere, location!"
Complaints from Rehabs.com reviewers, while minimal, included high cost and a lack of 12-step treatment alternatives.
The facility also fared well on secondary sites, where it earned three five-star reviews on Yelp [1] (one of which was "unrecommended"), as well as average ratings of 4.5 out of five stars based on 76 Facebook reviews[2] (which the facility has the ability to edit) and three out of five stars based on 31 Google reviews[3].
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
Of the five loved ones polled by Rehabs.com to date, three gave the facility negative reviews while two offered positive feedback. Unhappy family members reported that the rehab was overpriced the the treatment was ineffective. "From what I can tell, the treatments are "sufficient" but no better than what could be received (for a much better price) at any local rehab center," T.S. wrote in a review representative of negative feedback. "My major complaint is the way this facility treats visiting loved ones. Prepare to be treated like absolute TRASH."
However, the two satisfied loved ones reported that staff were compassionate, caring, and able to communicate well with family members. "As a parent, I have been very very happy with staff, treatment therapy and overall care," wrote an anonymous loved one in a review representative of positive feedback.
WHAT STAFF SAY
At the time of this writing, there was one former staff member, L.E., who was polled by Rehabs.com. This employee was an addiction tech/aide and indicated that s/he would not recommend the facility to a friend or loved one, would not consider entering the treatment facility personally, and would not recommend to a former client to re-enter the facility if necessary. L.E. wrote that a weakness of the facility was, “Lack of structure, lack of patient accountability” but s/he did note that the facility’s strength was patient centered care.
FINANCING
There is currently no information provided on the facility's website regarding its costs, however Black Bear Lodge notes that it accepts insurance, including BlueCross BlueShield, United Healthcare, Aetna, Humana, Magellan, MultiPlan, Exclusive Care, Value Options, and ComPsych.
[1] https://www.yelp.com/biz/black-bear-lodge-sautee-nacoochee
[2] https://www.facebook.com/pg/BlackBearRecovery/reviews/?ref=page_internal
[3] GoogleReviews
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