Ascend Recovery

ABOUT ASCEND RECOVERY

Located in the small town of American Fork, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City, Ascend Recovery offers an individualized, three-phase residential treatment and lifetime aftercare for adults seeking treatment for chemical dependency or a co-occurring disorder. Medical detox services are not offered on-site.

TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT

Upon admission to Ascend Recovery, clients participate in an initial substance abuse assessment and psychiatric evaluation to help clinicians form an individualized treatment program. The facility’s holistic, evidenced-based program is trauma-informed and combines group and individual therapy with a range of experiential therapies and 12-Step participation. The 12-Step program is a favored option among 48% of U.S. treatment facilities.

To help individuals progress through the different phases of their recovery, clients move through three steps of residential care. During Step 1, clients stay at the Lake House residence, where they adhere to a highly-structured treatment schedule. Typically lasting between 30 to 90 days, Ascend Recovery’s first stage is a part of one of Utah’s 63 long-term treatment facilities. The initial phase offers the foundation for early recovery.

During this phase, clients meet weekly with a psychiatrist and attend three case management sessions per week. Clients are also introduced to the principles and practices of 12-Step and participate in a range of experiential therapies, including equine therapy, art therapy, and a ropes course.

In Step 2, clients move to Eagle View, a transitional facility where residents work to maintain the sober living skills formulated at the Lake House. During this phase, clients incorporate these skills into their daily lives. For instance, clients find a job and create a budget while developing a network of sober peers. Clients continue to live in a structured, scheduled environment.

Finally, in Step 3, clients move on to the sober living Riley House to begin the maintenance phase of the program, where clients begin to attend school, work, or make long-term career plans as individuals. Once a client has accomplished five months of sobriety and set-up a support network, they are considered ready to move on to independent living.

Ascend Recovery also offers an aftercare program for all alumni. Provided for a lifetime, this aftercare service includes weekly alumni groups, 12-Step meetings, as well as monthly recreational activities.

STAFF CREDENTIALS

Along with a resident medical director and psychiatrist, Ascend Recovery employs a staff of masters-level counselors, licensed social workers, a nutritionist, equine specialist, art and yoga instructors, case managers, and residence managers.

ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES

All three residential facilities are upscale, family-style homes with expansive and well-maintained lawns, comfortable furnishings, and spacious communal areas. Clients reside in semi-private bedrooms with twin beds and en-suite bathrooms.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY

The 15 alumni polled by Rehabs.com at the time of the writing submitted generally positive opinions of the facility. Although a vast majority of reviews were positive, citing the staff and its aftercare program as facility strengths, some respondents did question the facility’s perceived financial-driven motives.

One alum, Kevin, gave five out of five star ratings for the facility’s individual counseling, its inclusion of holistic treatment, and the treatment staff’s level of experience and training. “The caliber of care provided and the ability of the treatment team to individualize the care for each client is unmatched,"he wrote. Many alumni supported this positive opinion.

However, three alumni questioned the financial motives of the facility. “The main focus for my recovery was to get 90 days worth of fees paid,” alum Sam wrote. Alum N.M. agreed, adding: “They seem to be more focused on the business side of things from start to finish, and in my opinion this starts from the founders on down.”

On Google, Ascend Recovery earned an average of 4.3 out of five stars from 21 reviews at the time of this writing.^[1] Reviewers described how staff treated them with “respect, dignity, and care” and how they helped them to “uncover underlying issues that resulted in substance use.” One alum specifically identified “dual diagnosis treatment” as Ascend Recovery’s strength.

On Yelp, reviewers left two negative and one positive review.^[2] However, all three reviews are from 2014 and 2015, and may not be indicative of current conditions. T.J. wrote how the facility was “great in the community” and “hard-working,” while A.M. expressed disappointment with Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the program after writing how Phase 1 was “first-rate.”

WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY

Out of the four loved ones polled by Rehabs.com at the time of this writing, three survey respondents generally approved of most aspects of the facility. However, two loved ones did offer more polarizing opinions. While loved one Chris offered a five out of five star rating for the facility's ability to treat co-occurring disorders, a major claim of the facility, an anonymous loved one gave a two-star rating for this aspect of treatment. Praising the facility, K.S., a spouse of a client, wrote: “The family programs were amazing, providing great education as well as opportunities for change as a couple.”

FINANCING

The initial cost of treatment starts at $15,500 for the first month of residential treatment at Lake House, and $13,500 for each additional month. Eagle View costs $8,700 each month, while the monthly cost to reside at Riley House is $2,700. Ascend Recovery accepts private insurance plans, and financial assistance may be available to eligible clients.

^[1] Google Reviews
^[2] https://www.yelp.com/biz/ascend-recovery-american-fork