Client Testimonials
I was so glad when I found the Palm Beach Institute for my son. It was his third facility and his dad and I were very discouraged. When we first saw the facility we were thrilled. It was so inviting and not like the “prison atmosphere” that was at the other two facilities. It looked comfortable but secure. He had the freedom to move around in the house where he was living which helped him deal with the recovery. Then once we met the counselors and the people who worked there, we knew that we had found a wonderful place. The counselors really knew how to talk to the clients and really knew what they were doing. They understood what our son was dealing with and that allowed him to respect what they said. They all seemed to have as big heart for what they were doing. When we left there after attending the family sessions with our son, we were so encouraged. Just hearing our son’s words and how he was thinking made our hearts sing with joy. I would recommend that anyone dealing with addiction try the Palm Beach Institute.
Janet
I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude to you and the other staff members at Palm Beach Institute. My 15 year-old son entered PBI a very confused, scared, drug-addicted teen, with little to no self-confidence. Despite all of the previous attempts my husband and I made to give our son the tools to conquer his addiction, his impulsivity and desire to keep using drugs always won out... UNTIL we sent him to PBI.
Our son AND our family received all of the education, training, support, counseling and tremendous care that made all of the difference in the world. You, especially, Sally, NEVER gave up on him! You connected with him, encouraged him, listened to him, brainstormed with him AND my husband & me. You BELIEVED in our son, and when necessary, set him straight when his drug-addicted brain was thinking selfishly, instead of rationally!
After three months with you and the other wonderful staff members at PBI, we gratefully report that we finally have our son's true-self back. Our son came home from PBI better prepared to handle the people, places and things that were in his life, as well as his own self-sabotaging thoughts and triggers. My husband and I are better prepared, too. THIS TIME, we are not doing everything for him, nor are we continuing to accept walking on eggshells to keep him clean. THIS TIME, he is participating in his own recovery, diligently following your after care program by participating in IOP sessions and attending NA meetings several times a week. He has come up against a few triggers already... However, THIS TIME, he was so vested in his recovery, that he didn't want to blow it... Not for us, but he didn't want to blow it for himself, because he is putting in the work that goes along with recovery, THIS TIME!
Every day, he is stronger and stronger. Every day he is more confident. And every day, he inspires someone. He is truly walking the walk now. His attitude is more positive than I've seen it in years, his drug tests have all been negative, and he is now celebrating 5 months clean! Although I know this will be his ongoing process, of taking one day at a time, I can't thank you enough for saving our son's life. My husband and I are forever grateful that we stumbled on your website when we did.
Sally, please share my letter with the staff at PBI. Also, please feel free to share my letter with the parents of teens, either in the program or with families considering the program, as sincere words of hope. And when our son has another month of sobriety under his belt, he tells me he would LOVE to come to PBI to thank you all personally. He would like to share his experience and ongoing journey with the clients participating in the program, too.
Thank you!
Lisa P.
Going to PBI literally saved my life, and I want to say thank you!
I started using drugs when I moved to a new area at 11 years old. By the time I started high school, I was on a collision course of drug use. I kept making the same bad choices and could not stop myself. I needed to stop the world and get off for a while in order to get clean. My parents took me to three other places before PBI. The places they took me either concentrated on getting you stabilized in three days or they concentrated on behavior only. I tried to stop but I kept relapsing.
Thank you to everyone at PBI for changing my life! It was the first place I went to that didn't feel like an institution. It was soothing and homey, and I didn't feel trapped. I like that we actually went places together every weekend as a reward for good behavior, like the beach, miniature golfing, canoeing and the movies. It was nice, because we could practice being around people who were not in rehab and then go back to the safe environment of a rehab facility.
Thank you to the PBI staff. Sally is the most awesome counselor in the world! She helped me to take responsibility and realize that I am the one who needs to earn my family's trust back. She always listened to me and helped me with my anxiety. She helped me to stop and think before I blindly follow people who don't have my best interests in mind. Brenda and all the techs were also very nice. The techs took us on walks and they were all great. They introduced me to NA by actually bringing me to meetings, instead of just handing me a list of meetings to attend once I got discharged. In the past, that list just ended up in a drawer somewhere. At PBI, I was encouraged to go and get a sponsor and it became part of my weekly routine. I needed the steps in NA and a good sponsor more than I could known before.
I have been clean ever since I left PBI two months ago. I am currently in IOP three nights a week. I talk to my sponsor every single day, and I go to NA meetings at least four times a week.
Thanks for everything you've done for me.
Nick
It takes courage, awareness, willingness and love to leave our teens in the hands of strangers. As, I did my own son at 17. He went voluntarily with a Sober Escort. A young man who lives his recovery. As, I knew it would be better for Chris to transport Alex to PBI. Then a wavering, worried mother. It was the best gift I could have given my son. For me, to take a step back and let the Admission process of PBI guide us step by step to their integrating of the 12 step program, spirituality recovery and educate my son to the insane world chemical addiction disease had taken him to. PBI provide him with a safe place to heal and bringing my son back into a "sane" world. Sally High, LMHC Adolescent Therapist is a highly trained advocate for our teens. She is well versed in teens and their addictions and behaviors which go hand in hand. My only regret is that there isn't a 6 month program and that society at age 18 stamps our children as adults. The care Alex received from Sally and PBI gave him a start no psychiatrist, no out patient program or out bound program could reach him. They did and for days on they never wavered in helping Alex. They are true to their words and hours they put into their clients.
Kindly, Danielle
My name is Mike S. and I am a resident of New Jersey. After many years of sobriety I relapsed. I was again trapped in the miserable abyss of my active alcohol addiction and once again I was unable to stop my drinking.
I asked several friends of mine about rehabs. They recommended the Palm Beach Institute. I was fortunate enough to be admitted to in July of 2009 for 30 days. The facility was clean and comfortable. The staff went above and beyond to facilitate my journey to a stable foundation in recovery. Their program of recovery was simple, straightforward and made sense to me. They provided the counseling, tutelage and lessons I needed to get back to a sober life, one day at a time. I am eternally grateful for their help.
If you are willing to leave the misery of your addiction, I highly recommend the Palm Beach Institute.
Thank you again Palm Beach Institute and God bless.
Six months prior to my arrival at the Palm Beach Institute, I went to a NJ rehab reluctantly. There were over 125 people there, and it was very demoralizing. Even though the food was great and I was able to follow directions well, I was not like the people there. They had money, family, houses, had it all. When I left there, I drank within 12 hours. Six months later, January 14th 2008, I was escorted to the Palm Beach Institute. When I came to, I really did not know if I had money, family, houses or anything for that matter. I just did not want to live anymore.
My wife had a decision to make. By the grace of God, she got a PBI staff members phone number from a doctor that was trying to treat me for drinking. By that night, Jan 14th, I was delivered to the Palm Beach Institute. There were only 20 people there which was very helpful for me. Personal attention was first and foremost a key to my recovery. All the counselors were extremely knowledgeable. Together with EMDR and recovery methods, they helped me look at my life, my actions and problems.
Midway through my admittance, I had a spiritual awakening during my early morning walk. Something came over me. That obsession, desire for drugs and alcohol was lifted. I became more attentive, learned to meditate and, most of all, realized that I was not alone anymore. The Palm Beach Institute helped save my life and I will always be grateful for that. As my two-year anniversary approaches, I hope to visit the Palm Beach Institute and share my experience, strength and hope with all that have made it through your doors.
God Bless,
Joseph S.