New Found Life

New Found Life Long Beach California

At New Found Life in Long Beach, California, addiction and chemical dependency are treated with methodology rooted in 12-step programs. New Found Life treats chemical dependency as a disease and focuses on dual-diagnosis treatments. New Found Life offers programs that move patients through each step of the recovery phase, beginning with intervention. New Found Life’s positive and encouraging environment is the perfect setting for recovering addicts to come to grips with addiction and chemical dependency. Through one-on-one sessions, group therapy, family participation, and continuing care, New Found Life helps patients build the life skills necessary to achieve – and sustain – sobriety.

ABOUT NEW FOUND LIFE

On a palm tree-lined street a block from the beach in Long Beach, Calif., New Found Life (NFL) offers short-term and long-term residential care and outpatient treatment for adults seeking treatment for substance use disorders. Treatment for co-occurring disorders is also available. Medical detox is not provided on-site, but the center can give referrals to nearby detox centers. New Found Life has been in operation for close to a quarter-century.

TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT

Treatment at New Found Life begins with an initial phone assessment. An intake specialist interviews clients to prequalify clients for the treatment programs. Intake specialists are available 24/7 and can help schedule intervention services if needed.

The short-term residential program is 28 days long, making it similar to 13% of U.S. facilities. Clients enroll in the short-term program to begin their recovery. The program focuses on making significant changes to how clients live in order to break their connection with the influences of their addiction. New Found Hope also offers an extended residential program for clients who need a longer process.

In treatment, clients are introduced to the 12-step model of treatment, which is used in up to 48% of U.S. treatment facilities. During treatment, clients may attend 12-step meetings, study fellowship literature, and perform associated “step-work.”

Clients also participate in a range of holistic treatment methods that focus on spiritual, emotional, and physical rehabilitation. These methods include yoga, music therapy, and spiritual exploration options. Along with substance abuse-related concerns, the facility can also address mental health and eating disorders.

An aftercare program is also available for clients who complete the primary treatment programs. Clients can enroll in the program in 280-day increments. Most clients who receive extended care stay for eight to 12 weeks.

Following residential treatment, clients may move into one of the organization’s nearby supervised sober-living apartments, where they will continue to participate in 12-step programming and have contact with facility staff while returning to school or work.

STAFF CREDENTIALS

New Found Life employs therapists with master’s degrees, certified addiction counselors, as well as a Unity minister who serves as a spiritual advisor. The treatment team also includes a psychiatrist trained in treating mood and eating disorders as well as addiction. New Found Life is accredited by the Joint Commission and the California Department of Health Care Systems.

ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES

New Found Life offers 30 beds in shared rooms. Residents live in gender-separate, adobe-style homes with open-layout kitchens, comfortably and simply decorated living areas, and plenty of sunlit areas.

According to information provided to Best-rehabs.com by the facility, access to a gym or other unspecified exercise activities is provided, smoking is permitted, and no personal electronic devices are allowed. The center also touts involvement with Long Beach’s active recovery community.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY

The five alumni polled by Best-rehabs.com to date offered mixed opinions of the facility. Alum D.D. gave five out of five stars for its 12-step focus, experience of the staff, and facility cleanliness, writing: “I’ve been sober for over two years all because of my great experience with this rehab.” However, another reported poor aftercare support and characterized staff as “overworked and unavailable.” One common criticism among alumni was a lack of exercise opportunities.

Of the 16 reviews on Google at the time of this writing, which revealed an average rating of 4.5 out of five stars, only two were critical of the facility. The two negative reviews described overly strict practices, unhelpful groups, and insufficient therapeutic programming. However, most alumni claimed that the program saved their lives. “I will forever be grateful for New Found Life. Best place anyone could go for treatment!” Kristen, a representative reviewer, wrote.

At the time of this writing, there are 10 positive and one negative review on Yelp. Several alumni indicate that the program’s focus on aftercare was a strength, including Ryan who wrote: “The program teaches patients how to build a network and the important tools and practices to stay clean after leaving treatment.”

WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY

In keeping with alumni trends, of the five reviews submitted to Best-rehabs.com by loved ones, four were positive and one was negative. Three provided ratings for several aspects of treatment and accommodations, with one awarding all five out of five star ratings, and another mostly ones and twos.

While two reviewers appreciated the sense of community the facility fostered through the small size of the program and through opportunities to continue “involvement in recovery by volunteer work, peer support,” other loved ones did not feel that the program offered enough holistic options. However, friends and family generally agreed that the facility was clean and maintained in good condition.

Offering five-star ratings for the staff’s level of experience and training and amount of family involvement, parent Deb wrote: “The staff was very caring and observant.” Echoing this opinion, loved one J.L. added: Our family was involved and learned a lot attending the family weekends.”

FINANCING

Treatment costs $9,800 per month and $26,600 for three months. The center accepts private insurance and offers some financial aid, according to information provided by the staff to Best-rehabs.com.

CONCLUSION

New Found Life recently celebrated its 25-year anniversary and continues to spread information about treatment options in California. A recent blog post by the company was designed to show California residents the availability of an overdose reversal drug that is now available without a prescription.

[1] Google Reviews
[2] Yelp reviews
[3] Yelp not recommended reviews

New Found Life Reviews

Pros A. Nice location B. Great Food C. Most of the therapist and staff really care for and try to help clients within their ability Cons A. One shoe fits all approach. B. The management team has no influence over the course of a client the decisions are all up to one man C. There is no real Science-Based approach the owner and director himself claims to offer different methods for recovery but he himself is an Addict and therefore only supports a 12 step based solution for his clientele. D. No real transportation rides for clients to meetings and events are provided by staff usually piling unsafe numbers of people into small cars with not enough seatbelts. E. punishment for clients who do not follow protocol is usually a backslide stay back at detox where there is more chance for risky behavior which the client pays for. Here was my experience. I went through New Found Life twice. The first time I went through I left thinking the added money did not equate to better treatment than the government paid programs. I have to admit the accommodations were nice and the staff friendly and really caring. Of real substance, I feel like there was none. They did offer one Psychiatric appointment in the beginning and after discussing very difficult stuff and past psychiatric diagnoses and current symptoms I never saw the doctor again that whole stay. My second trip was to appease my worried grieving mother. After the loss of my father to cancer. My mom had reached out Because she feared for my life. I was actually clean for 6 days but not completely detoxed and was adamantly against her spending the money for N.F.L because I knew in my mind they weren't gonna offer anything new or beneficial. I didn't want her to waste 20-30 thousand dollars when I could get the same or better help for free. Against my own instincts, I caved to her plea and checked in to new found life. I could not bear to hear her cry anymore and I felt responsible for all the pain I caused. She spoke to a staff member and he was listening to mine and her concerns. I was to have a more structured program this time with frequent psych and therapy appointments. The program cost more than double the first stay and was supposed to be open-ended based on my progress. If I did well I would be there a month or two if needed maybe three. He talked a very good game but the follow through was not there. I did not see the Psychiatrist or therapist more than a couple of times and again most of the work for my recovery was put on me working a 12 step program. The classes were no different than the first time with that old tv and VHS tapes often being the teacher. Basic entry level cognitive behavioral skills were taught by counselors at times but there were no in-depth skills taught for people who had been through treatment before. its like going to kindergarten year after year. I suffered bad anxiety when I arrived at New Found Life. One particular instance, I was denied an ambulance call or ride to the hospital by by staff. I chose to leave against staff approval late at night and walk through a particularly sketchy part of town to ask a liquor store owner to call the paramedics because I thought I was having a heart attack. I was then as punishment forced to go back to a detox facility they work with. At the time I was sent there they were having a problem with drugs that had been brought in and people using and I oddly wondered which place was safer NFL or the detox with the drug problem. I went back to N.F.L and continued the best program I could because I had decided that no matter what I was gonna stay clean and make the best of the gift mom had tried to give me. I worked the steps again, did assignments twice sometimes if they weren't in my mind perfect. I met all the criteria and was set to transition to the halfway house. I had found a career job with a sober boss that was almost too good to be true. I graduated and was approved to start my new Job the next day. When I reported to the transitional living there was no bed for me. They put me in another man's bed who was out of town visiting his mom. No change of sheets. The first day at my new job and this part baffled me. I was visited by two staff members from NFL who wanted to buy me lunch. They were sent I thought to congratulate me? Maybe apologize for the dirty bed? Instead they wanted to let me know I had two options quit my new job and go back to the inpatient treatment or leave the program altogether. The only thing that makes any sense with this ultimatum is that they didn't have a place to put me. Nor did he want to finish the contract that my mother had been promised and that she had so gladly paid for just to keep her jonjon safe. I stayed at that job for a year and still do business with them today. Newfound life was more of a liability than a help. I wouldn't recommend them to anyone.
im still sober almost 4 years later, life is good!the 100% focus on the program of recovery. wish we could exercise more.
"We have to save her life!," were the words to me as we frantically searched for my daughter who was not at the spot where she was to picked up and taken to New Found Life facilities. We finally found her and she was taken in by staff. It was my daughter's third treatment facility and finally one in which she felt comfortable and assured. It wasn't love at first sight, but as time went by I could see the change in her. Less and less of her blame game and more and more accepting responsibility for where she was in her life. Now it is three and a half years later and my daughter is about to receive her MBA and is enjoying life because of this wonderful and capable staff. And yes, it is one day at time.
My cousin went through New Found Life, what an amazing transformation she went through. Our family was involved and learned a lot attending the family weekends. I can say enough about the good work these people do, they have been around a long time, tried and true. Thanks for what you guys do!!!
Do not get treatment here. It's expensive staffing is poor. Management bad mouths staff. A very uncomfortable environment. You are treated like a child and not a person