For 30 years, Promises Malibu and its expert staff have helped clients and their families heal from addiction and mental health issues and rebuild their lives. A world-class treatment team with specialized training in substance abuse and mental health disorders works with each client to ensure that all concerns and underlying issues are addressed. A wide selection of evidence-based therapies and alternative approaches offer clients an effective treatment experience with multiple avenues for recovery. Promises Malibu limits the number of clients in order to provide each person with the individual care they need to succeed in recovery. As the creator of the acclaimed “Malibu Model,” Promises was the first to implement treatment outside of a hospital-like setting and provide clients with highly personalized treatment in a luxurious environment where they can focus on their recovery.
ABOUT PROMISES MALIBU
Located along a hillside cliff in Malibu, California, is a Mediterranean-style mansion retreat known as Promises Malibu, a top-tier substance abuse treatment center. Clients receive a range of evidence-based treatments provided by individualized treatment teams, and many are attracted by Promises’ well-established reputation for luxury and innovative clinical practices. Medically monitored detox is available on-site.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Building upon over three decades of experience, Promises Malibu has developed a frequently replicated treatment approach called the “Malibu Model,” according to the center’s website. Intake involves a comprehensive day-long assessment to establish the precise nature of an individual’s addiction and develop the most appropriate course of treatment. Individual, group, and family counseling is supplemented by alternative therapies that include brain imaging, equine therapy, nutritional counseling and fitness, art therapy, neurofeedback, and acupuncture. Additionally, the center conducts on-site 12-step meetings. Though schedules are highly personalized, clients can expect fully packed days, as well as weekends that allow for family visitation time and social activities.
Aftercare options are available through an active alumni program, which involves weekly or monthly meetings in Malibu, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, and New York. Promises Malibu also offers a lifetime of ongoing personal follow-up and support for all its alumni. The center is specifically designed for individuals accustomed to luxury, including celebrities, business executives, and government officials.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
According to the center’s website, each clinical team consists of a primary therapist, family therapist, psychiatrist, medical doctor, and nurse. The facility also works with a variety of consulting clinicians specializing in complementary approaches such as acupuncture, massage therapy, and yoga. There is no physician on-site, but the facility maintains an affiliation with an M.D. who specializes in addiction medicine.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
Promises Malibu offers extreme exclusivity, with accommodations comparable to that of a five-star hotel. Clients can reside in private villas throughout the estate (at an additional charge), and programs limit capacity to a small number of residents at a time. Amenities include access to a private chef, heated pools, tennis courts, and a meditation garden with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
The three alumni questioned by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing provided positive feedback. On average, they gave the center a rating of 4.66 out of five stars when asked if they would recommend Promises Malibu. Two of the alumni polled gave five-star ratings for holistic treatment offerings, counseling options, and for the staff’s level of experience and training. One alum credited the center for saving their life, while another emphasized the friendly nature of the staff and their dedication to helping individuals. The third alum commended the facility for being designed to not only save an addict’s life but also change it.
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
The 16 loved ones polled by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing also provided mostly positive reviews. Only three loved ones did not provide positive reviews, and their main concern was the cost of treatment. On average, loved ones gave the center a rating of four out of five stars when asked if they would recommend Promises Malibu. Loved ones rated the center’s holistic offerings and exercise and leisure the highest, while affordability received the lowest rating.
Friends and family praised the accommodations, as well as the helpful, compassionate, and tolerant staff. One loved one wrote that their family member was positively transformed by the staff.
WHAT STAFF SAY
To date, the two staff members polled by Best-rehabs.com have provided differing opinions of Promises Malibu. One staff member recognized the facility’s exclusive location but highlighted some major concerns with management and the absence of clinical staff in the evening. The other staff member gave the center several maximum five-star ratings, acknowledging the center’s helpfulness while mentioning that the food could be improved.
FINANCING
Pricing information at Promises Malibu is not available on its website. However, alumni commentary reveals that treatment is expensive, and most PPO insurances are accepted but rarely cover the full program.