ABOUT ST. CHRISTOPHER’S ADDICTION WELLNESS CENTER IN BATON ROUGE, LA
St. Christopher’s Addiction Wellness Center, located in Baton Rouge, La., offers detoxification, outpatient, residential, and sober living treatment to men and women struggling with substance abuse and co-occurring disorders. Originally a halfway house opened in 1986, St. Christopher’s closed its doors in 1994. Halfway house alum Dwayne Beason re-opened St. Christopher’s in 1998.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
To be admitted, clients begin by calling the facility to speak with an admissions counselor, who gathers health and insurance information. In addition to detox, residential, and outpatient treatment programs, St. Christopher’s offers an extended care program that serves as an continuation of residential treatment as well as several men’s sober living homes. The organization also offers a program called HEROES (Higher Education Relaunch Or Entry Support) for clients needing support as they invest in their education.
The facility’s treatment program follows the 12-Step philosophy of recovery and also incorporates other treatment methods such as bio-feedback, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Throughout treatment, clients receive individual and group counseling, nursing care, medical examinations, comprehensive assessments, evaluations, and participate in recreational activities. St. Christopher’s also offers specialized treatment tracks for sex addiction, young adults, trauma, men’s healthy living, and professionals. The facility offers unique experiential therapies including music, art, and movement.
Families are included in the treatment program through weekly group family therapy sessions and a four-day intensive family program offered to the loved ones of every client. One year of aftercare is available for all clients who successfully complete the program and stay in the Baton Rouge area. Aftercare includes weekly group sessions and case management services.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
The treatment team at St. Christopher’s Addiction Wellness Center includes psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors, psychiatrists, licensed addiction counselors, medical doctors, certified sex addiction therapists, certified recreational therapists, spiritual consultants, health and wellness experts, peer to peer sober coaches, and peer to peer recovery advocates.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
St. Christopher’s has four different facilities for residential treatment, extended care, and sober living. There is currently limited information provided by the facility regarding its living arrangements and related offerings. However, photos on the St. Christopher’s website show shared bedrooms with twin beds, a large gym, comfortable shared living rooms and kitchens, and outdoor community spaces.
REVIEWS
At the time of this writing there has been one parent of a client polled by Best-rehabs.com. The reviewer had a negative experience with the facility and wrote that they would not recommend St. Christopher’s Addiction Wellness Center to others seeking treatment.
The loved one gave the facility four out of five stars for treatment effectiveness, three stars for the quality of counseling, and three stars for staff support. Despite being unable to visit the client during treatment, the parent said he stayed in regular contact with their son throughout his treatment at St. Christopher’s. The reviewer added that the client did not benefit from the care they received at the facility, and provided additional commentary, writing, “This facility turned out to ONLY be about the $$ and that is most important to them. Though we liked the counselors and their caring nature, they have yet to ONCE inquire as to our son’s well being after they kicked him out.”
On the facility’s Facebook page, which it can manage, there is an overall rating of 4.9 out of five stars based on 26 total reviews. Alum C.H., who gave five stars, indicated that St. Christopher’s has a particularly good program for young people. He wrote, “This place is life changing. Highly recommend to anyone especially under 30yo.” S.G., another alum, supported that viewpoint. He gave five stars and wrote, “STC is an inspiring program with a huge track history of turning lives around! Beautiful facilities and wonderful people!”
FINANCING
There is currently no information provided by St. Christopher’s Addiction Wellness Center regarding its costs. However, the facility accepts insurance. The facility refers clients who need financing assistance to an outside organization that provides loans for treatment.