ABOUT SERENITY HOUSE IN ABILENE, TX
Serenity House, located in Abilene, Texas, offers residential, detoxification, and outpatient treatment to men and women struggling with addiction. Serenity House was founded in 1984 and has treated over 30,000 people since its inception. The organization operates two other locations in Texas: a 32-bed residential treatment facility in Fredericksburg, and an outpatient treatment facility in Wichita Falls.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
To be admitted, clients begin by calling Serenity House for a free addiction screening. Most clients remain in detoxification treatment for three to 12 days, and then proceed to a 30, 60, or 90-day residential treatment program. The facility is able to treat co-occurring disorders as well as mental health conditions and cross-addiction.
The facility’s treatment program follows the 12-Step method of recovery. Throughout treatment, clients receive individual and group counseling as well as educational lectures. Specialized treatment groups are available that address women’s issues and chronic relapse. Participants in need of detoxification may receive medication including buprenorphine under 24-hour nursing supervision. Families are able to participate in the treatment program through weekly lectures and family counseling.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
The treatment team at Serenity House includes master’s-level counselors, physicians, registered nurses, and chemical dependency counselors. The facility also employs “Peer Recovery Coaches” who are in recovery themselves.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
The Serenity House facility in Abilene offers 20 beds for detoxification and 88 beds for residential treatment. Residential treatment is co-ed, but housing for males and females is separate. Photos on the facility website show shared bedrooms with twin beds. Each bedroom has two sinks, and there is a shared toilet and shower located between each set of bedrooms. The facility also has a reflection pool and garden, a chapel, fitness and recreation areas, and an on-site dining facility. Clients are not allowed the use of cell phones, laptops, or other electronic devices during treatment.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
Reviews from the 11 alumni polled by Best-rehabs.com (to date) were excellent, and all of the reviewers said they would recommend Serenity House to friends or family members seeking treatment. The four alumni polled on the facility’s exerise and leisure options and cleanliness gave the metrics perfect-five star ratings on average. Even the alumni who were no polled on these metrics specifically rated the facility’s exercise options, leisure options, cleanliness, and maintenance highly, the metrics seldom receiving anything below a four-star rating.
The facility was also rated highly for family participation and affordability, receiving 4.8 out of five stars in those categories. Another reviewer added additional commentary, “I have been to 8 different treatment centers…Serenity House is, by far, the best.”
When asked to comment on facility weaknesses, one alum said the facility needs more funding. Serenity House received a notably lower average rating of 2.8 out of five stars for it’s holistic offerings.
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
At time of writing, five of the nine loved ones polled by Best-rehabs.com left positive feedback, indicating that they would recommend the facility to others seeking treatment. The anonymous loved ones gave the facility its highest average ratings in the categories of family participation, cleanliness, and staff experience and training; each of those received an average rating of 3.9 out of five stars. When asked about strengths of Serenity House, six of the nine reviewers complimented the staff and/or counselors. One loved one wrote, “Serenity House really seems to care about their clients…if you are looking for tools to provide you or a loved one the education and skills needed to cope in a stressful world without the drugs that once helped you through it, Serenity House is a great place to start.”
The facility’s lowest ratings were for holistic offerings, with 2.7 out of five stars, and affordability, with three out of five stars. Comments about facility weaknesses varied, with one reviewer saying more one-on-one time was needed for clients, another saying the facility needs to offer more activities, and a third adding that she wished there was more of an emphasis on holistic treatment.
WHAT STAFF SAY
At the time of this writing, there had been one anonymous staff member polled by Best-rehabs.com. The reviewer gave the facility excellent marks across several different metrics and said they would recommend Serenity House to a friend or loved one considering rehab.
On a scale of one to five stars, the employee gave the facility a five-star rating when asked if leadership of the facility is willing to put clients’ interests first. He or she also gave five-star ratings when asked to rate the experience and treatment credentials of the management team and when asked if facility leadership is able to inspire loyalty and a sense of community among clients. The staff member said that if they ever needed treatment, they would consider Serenity House as an option.
FINANCING
There is currently no information provided by Serenity House regarding its costs. However, the facility accepts insurance and also has a select number of scholarships available for individuals needing financial assistance.