ABOUT BURNING TREE
Located in the small town of Kaufman, Tex., Burning Tree has been offering residential treatment for substance abuse and co-occurring disorders since 1999. The multi-phase program is long-term and specifically designed for those prone to chronic relapse. Detox is not offered on-site.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Burning Tree’s treatment model revolves around the 12-Steps along with individual and group therapy, chemical dependency counseling, spiritual guidance, nutritional counseling, and physical activity. Additional programming includes motivational enhancement therapy (MET), motivational interviewing (MI), resistance reduction, family therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and psychodynamic therapy. Duration of stay varies, but the facility’s website characterizes long-term treatment as six to 12 months.
Once clients respond well, they progress to the transitional phase of treatment, which affords more freedom and flexibility. They may engage in community service activities or find part-time work, and move to halfway housing to “test” their sober living skills.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
Burning Tree’s clinical team is led by a psychiatrist and includes licensed chemical dependency counselors and interns, licensed professional counselors and interns, and master’s level social workers.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
Residents stay in either Burning Tree Ranch or Burning Tree Lodge, which have oversized common areas, wood-beamed ceilings, exposed-brick fireplaces, and rustic-chic décor. Clients have shared bedrooms and prepare their meals as a group. Burning Tree’s highly structured schedule provides little downtime, however, several perks include use of the outdoor pool, scenic walking trails, and game room. Clients typically earn visitor privileges within the first three months of their stay.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
Based on responses from four alumni polled by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing, Burning Tree provided a good experience. They gave group meetings the highest average rating of 4.7 out of five stars, while leisure and holistic options along with cleanliness both received 3.3 out of five stars. “Tough program but they knew what I needed,” one anonymous alum told Best-rehabs.com. Norris agreed the program provided what he needed: “BTRR helped me with my substance abuse addiction and as important began to mold me into a growing human being by identifying other areas in my life that needed improvement.” Another former client considered Burning Tree: “Best decision I ever made.”
Feedback from other sources was mixed. On CiteHealth, two reviewers to date reported negative experiences. [1] They rated Burning Tree one and two out of five stars, with one alum claiming the facility lies and is only motivated by money while the other felt it was not adept at treating co-occurring mental health disorders.
However, on Yelp, eight reviewers awarded an average of four out of five stars; six reviews were the top five stars whereas two were one and two stars. [2] Many praised the staff and results, such as Marlena: “Burning Tree is unlike any program I have experienced before and I thank God for that. I highly recommend this program.” Rachel agreed: “I love this place and the staff here. GOOD recovery and good staff. Multiple alumni noted they had tried many other rehabs before and Burning Tree was the program that worked. Yet the one-star reviewer warned: “They will tell you anything to get you in the door . I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone.”
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
Two loved ones polled by Best-rehabs.com to date offered mixed feedback. Eugenia praised this “non-nonsense long-term program” giving the top five out of five stars for its treatment effectiveness, but three stars for accommodations/amenities and two stars for meals. She applauded the flexible length of stay: “By eliminating a hard timeline…the program offers a unique opportunity for healing and recovery to take hold.” In contrast, a parent rated treatment effectiveness two out of five stars and wrote: “Our daughter did not do well with the mixed groups. We paid up front over $50,000 and she left without a phone in the middle of nowhere, and bad things happened.”
FINANCING
Burning Tree is a self-pay facility; no insurance is accepted. Costs start at $12,000 per month for the first three months, then $8,000 per month thereafter. According to its website, “psychiatric services/medications and neurofeedback therapy are ancillary and billed separately.”
[1] http://citehealth.com/rehab-centers/texas/cities/kaufman/burning-tree-recovery-ranch#reviews
[2] https://www.yelp.com/biz/burning-tree-recovery-ranch-kaufman