What you will find at Bayshore is a large home on a bayou with a resident heron on the dock. Your eyes might linger on the original artwork on the walls as you relax in the den reading a book. Your taste buds might even thank you for the fresh crab cakes with a lemon buerre blanc, wilted spinach, and mashed potatoes. You might finally get a complete night’s rest on the extra long pillowtop mattress in between the 300+ thread count sheets. Being only one of just six people at a time might allow you to be heard AND allow you to listen. You just might even find you again.
ABOUT BAYSHORE RETREAT
Nestled on Florida’s panhandle in the town of Destin, Bayshore Retreat provides non-medical detox, residential care, and aftercare services to adult men and women struggling with a chemical dependency. The organization expresses pride in providing a non-12-step path to recovery.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
To gain admittance, individuals partake in a free, comprehensive initial assessment to determine their drug abuse history, mentality, and physicality. Treatment is holistic in nature, targeting all aspects of the person.
During their 30-day stay, clients engage in group and individual therapy, paired with physical exercise and sauna therapy to rid toxins and heal the mind, body, and spirit. Though 12-Steps is not required, there are daily Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings available, and clients may participate in any type of spiritual activity that suits them, including religious services, meditation, or yoga. Residents also may take advantage of deep tissue massages and nutrition education.
Activities are scheduled for the entire day from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Clients develop coping skills, relapse prevention skills, communication skills, healthy relationships, and other life skills both during and after treatment. Individualized aftercare plans are developed for each client and may include referrals to community groups, employment aid, and continued counseling.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
The clinical staff at Bayshore Retreat includes a medical director, clinical director, and consulting psychiatrist. There also is a master’s level mental health counselor, dietitian, yoga instructor, life coach, and group facilitators. The staff to client ratio is 3:1 and many staff are experiencing their own recovery.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
This exclusive and upscale facility only admits six clients at a time. Residents stay in either private or shared rooms with private baths and flat screen color TVs and may take advantage of the home-like and cozy common areas. Gourmet meals are prepared on-site.
A true waterfront location, residents enjoy a dock to the bayou as well as weekend outings to movies, golf, deep sea fishing, sailing, and more.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
Eight former clients polled by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing submitted highly favorable feedback about Bayshore Retreat. With only one exception, they reported positive experiences. As a result, most awarded the top five out of five stars to treatment effectiveness, accommodations/amenities, and meals/nutrition. Alumni appreciated the small client population and individual attention they received. Some, including Richard, noted: “The staff was extremely understanding, caring and professional.” One alum wanted Best-rehabs.com to know: “The management is great at working with you and making sure you are on track for a healthy and sober lifestyle when you head home,” which was confirmed by another: “I can’t say enough good things about the owners, staff, and support. They stay in touch, and truly care about me and my success!”
Many expressed pleasure with the living and dining options with representative comments such as “The chef is amazing and provides delicious nutritional meals to prepare you for your day of healthy living” and “The food was absolutely exceptional. The on site chef (a real chef not a cook) could and should write a book.” One alum considered Bayshore Retreat: “A well balanced program that allowed me to get back on track emotionally and physically.” Another wrote: “It’s a pleasure and an honor to recognize the Bayshore team as an integral part of my recovery. I will be forever grateful to all of them for helping save my life.”
A single negative review was left by S.R., who gave two stars for treatment effectiveness and wrote: “Some of the employees were extremely unprofessional, rude and disrespected me continually…The accommodations, program and cuisine is exceptional, but I feel some staff members are not fit for this type of caring, loving and safe environment.”
WHAT STAFF SAY
Two staff members to date provided Best-rehabs.com with positive feedback regarding Bayshore Retreat. They gave perfect five-star ratings to treatment effectiveness, accommodations/amenities, and meals/nutrition, and reported no negative aspects. Alicia praised the programming clients undertake, and both she and Frank noted: “The atmosphere and location is ideal for treatment.”
FINANCING
Bayshore Retreat does not directly accept insurance. Clients pay for the program; those with insurance may receive reimbursement from their carriers after discharge, but the facility notes there is “no guarantee.”