ABOUT HICKEY HOUSE
Located within walking distance of the Chattahoochee National Forest, Hickey House is a long-term residential treatment program for men struggling with chemical dependency in northern Georgia, less than an hour from North Carolina. Founded by a married couple with a background in counseling, psychology, and chemical dependency treatment, the program emphasizes a natural, outdoor lifestyle to help clients develop a sober lifestyle free from drugs and other harmful influences.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
With an 11 p.m. curfew set in place, along with urine tests, drug screenings, and alcohol breath tests administered throughout treatment, the Hickey House philosophy is rooted in accountability and commitment. Residents also partake in a work-study program, as they are expected to remain gainfully employed throughout treatment.
Hickey House’s residential treatment program is highly structured and focused on long-term recovery. Residents attend group and individual counseling, mandatory Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings, and are held to find sustainable employment within the community. There are also programs on sober living skills, vocational enhancement, financial responsibility, community living, and relapse prevention. To facilitate a smooth transition process, clients and their counselors take to aftercare planning prior to program completion.
Many graduates remain close by after treatment to assist current residents through a mentoring program, and alumni are encouraged to return each year for an annual Gratitude Dinner on the Tuesday before each Thanksgiving.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
Per the facility’s website, all staff counselors are certified by the Georgia Addiction Counselors Association, and are encouraged to develop personal relationships with each resident, with the goal of creating individualized treatment programs that guide each in figuring out what it will take to achieve a sober, successful life.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
Close to fishing lakes, hiking trails, and state parks, the Hickey House retains the feel of a summer camp. Residents bunk two to a room in comfortable homes with huge front porches and breathtaking views. The setting is homey, not fancy. Residents meet weekly to plan meals and make a shopping list specific to their needs and wants. There are coffee pots and microwave ovens, along with large flat-screen TVs in the living rooms.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
Feedback from the five former Hickey House residents polled by Best-rehabs.com to date is mostly positive. Alum G.M.F. praised the “good counselors and location and program.” Similarly, alum Douglas, who cited the country setting as a key reason for his choosing Hickey House, rated the program an overall score of five out of five, adding “it was what I needed.”
Yet Carter, another alum, felt that certain staff members, having revealed personal preferences, were biased when it came to determining who stayed in treatment. “This isn’t how you keep a healthy recovery environment,” he added.
Nevertheless, Hickey House also received an above-average rating of 4.4 out of five stars from 13 Facebook reviewers as of this writing, where former clients consistently thanked the center for helping them put their lives back together.[1] “Saved my life” were words shared by two separate alumni, and that sentiment is carried throughout the site with numerous five-star reviews. Only two reviewers gave the facility one out of five stars, and neither of them left any written commentary.
FINANCING
The cost of residential programming is $125 per week.
[1] https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hickey-House/146215102089598