ABOUT THE BRIDGE TO RECOVERY – BOWLING GREEN
Set on over 100 acres in Western Kentucky, in the community of Bowling Green, The Bridge to Recovery is a residential treatment facility for individuals struggling with substance abuse, compulsive behaviors, and mental health concerns, including anxiety and depression.
The program is based on the belief that trauma and unresolved pain are at the root of addiction and counterproductive behavior. Therefore, the center employs a variety of treatment modalities to address deeply rooted childhood wounds. No detox services are offered on-site.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Prior to admission, clients participate in a 45-minute phone consultation with a member of the center’s admissions team. This assessment covers the client’s current condition, trauma history, substance abuse history, medical history, and basic demographical information.
The Bridge to Recovery runs from two to 12 weeks, depending on each client’s needs. Designed to help individuals resolve deeply rooted trauma, the core curriculum consists of therapeutic modalities that are primarily experiential in nature.
Program components include equine therapy, yoga, narrative therapy, meditation, body movement therapy, empty chair work, shame reduction, grief work, and boundary building. Clients are also introduced to 12-step principles. According to the center’s website, Bridge to Recovery was “founded in the Christian tradition” but does not promote or discourage any religion.
The center also offers a specialized “accelerated” track for behavioral health professionals. A seven-day, intensive workshop, the accelerated program focuses on improving vocational effectiveness by working on boundary issues, caretaking, burnout, or other personal issues.
To involve loved ones in the recovery process, the facility offers a three-day family workshop, and family members are encouraged to work on their own healing process, whether that be via individual therapy or Al-Anon meetings.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
According to the facility’s website, Bridge to Recovery maintains a 1:3 staff-to-client ratio. The treatment team includes a licensed clinical social worker, a licensed marriage and family therapist, a certified alcohol and drug counselor, a licensed professional clinical counselor, executive chef, and trained equine therapists. Many staff members have a master’s-level education.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
The facility’s expansive, wooded grounds provide clients with a safe and secluded environment for emotional healing. Residents stay in gender-specific housing; Lorne’s Place, the women’s residence, houses up to 15 women, and Denski House, the men’s facility, can accommodate 12 men. Photos on the center’s website show large, cabin-like buildings with simple, shared bedrooms, comfortable group rooms, and cozy common areas that include fireplaces, exposed wood, and brick accents. Amenities include a sauna, workout facilities, and a recreational room.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
The two former clients surveyed by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing gave The Bridge to Recovery positive reviews. C.M. submitted mostly perfect, five-star ratings in the 15 evaluated metrics, including the center’s holistic offerings, the program’s alternative therapies, the facility’s cleanliness, and the center’s accommodations. “Not only did I leave a changed person but my stay there was wonderful. The staff, counselors, the lodging, the chefs, just everything was wonderful,” C.M. wrote.
The other surveyed alum was also satisfied with their experience, noting that they hadn’t had a drink in 20 years, but that they had been experiencing depression. “The Bridge dealt with many issues on different levels and worked the AA program out of the big book,” they wrote.
On Google reviews, seven individuals provided an average rating of 4.4 out of five stars. Most reviewers found the center’s staff to be well-trained and the program’s treatment to be effective. “I had an excellent experience and was able to achieve recover and sobriety with the help of the bridge,” L.A. wrote in a representative review.
Only one Google reviewer expressed dissatisfaction with the center’s treatment approach. “If getting screamed at and scream spittle on you till you beat a cushion to death with an oversized wiffle bat and ‘give your shame back’ is something you think can help in your recovery, this is the place to go,” Patrick wrote.
On the center’s Facebook page, which the facility can edit, The Bridge to Recovery received an average rating of 4.7 out of five stars, based on 37 reviews. Multiple reviewers characterized the program as life-changing and life-affirming. “I am greatful for the Bridge to Recovery not only for helping me understand my own issues that surrounded my growth but also to use them as a resource for my professional life,” Stacy wrote in a representative review.
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
The three loved ones polled by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing offered drastically different feedback, warning others to avoid the center. Each respondent characterized the center’s treatment as ineffective and ultimately damaging. “They were rude, aggressive and completely uncaring with me as a significant other,” Mark wrote. L.B. also felt that the family programming was sub-par. “The Bridge To Recovery does not support the healing of family relationships,” they wrote in their one-star review.
FINANCING
According to the facility’s brochure, program fees at the time of this writing are as follows: $8,900 for two weeks; $14,900 for four weeks; $12,000 for an additional four weeks; and $11,000 for a third month. Clients who make a 12-week commitment upon admission are offered a discounted rate of $32,000. Some opportunities for financial assistance are available.
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