Passages Malibu Reviews 51

Beautiful and luxurious! Outstanding services, very thorough, professional and knows how to keep a client happy! Highly reccommend!

When I first reached out to Passages I was scared. I knew I needed help but I was afraid to ask for it. Once I mustarded up the courage to reach for the phone and finally call for help, I felt I great sense of relief. For about a year I watched the Passages commercial on TV and found the message to be powerful and quite intriguing. After hearing Pax’s story and how badly he struggled with addiction it gave me a lot of hope that I could pull out of this hole I dug for myself. My troubles began with alcohol, then marijuana, then cocaine. I chased a high to escape from my insecurities, anxiety, depression, and trauma. I just didn’t want to feel anything. I wanted to be happy and confident but I was destroying my life with these substances. During my 90 day stay at Passages, my entire world changed and improved. All of the therapists help bring many things to light and helped me heal my underlying conditions causing me to use and abuse drugs and alcohol. I am so thankful I reached out and committed to changing my life with the help of Passages. My family, career, and relationships are all so much more stable. The best part about being at Passages was the care and support everyone there gives you. They treated me like family. I never felt so welcomed somewhere before. Pax and Chris made regular visits and interacted with us—they treated me like a normal person, not someone with a disease or sickness like they do other places. Thank you to everyone at Passages who helped me get my life back and save me from destroying my future. I am so grateful for this, every single day.

Passages gave me the tools to help me get my life back. The day I arrived I was really nervous, I was greeted with open arms by the entire staff. I felt like I was surrounded by my family it was so strange. I arrived after dinner was prepared and I was so hungry, the staff was so thoughtful they put a plate aside for me just like my mom used to do. My days were crammed pack with little down time, evenings were extra special spending time with others around the fire pit talking and spilling our guts. I needed a place where I could get to the roots of my addiction and begin to rebuild my life and that's exactly what I received at Passages. I found getting help is nothing to be ashamed of, it's a reason to celebrate and something to be proud of. I have recommended Passages to many People I know so they may have the same opportunity of living a Happy and Healthy life. Thank you to everyone at Passages, the list is long and I will never forget those whom saved my life.

C

When I first heard about Passages I was skeptical. I was not familiar with the philosophy as it is much different than other rehab facilities out there. After my first initial phone call with admissions I knew this was the start of something great. Insurance covered a large percentage of my 30 day stay. It was everything and more than what you see advertised. The grounds are immaculate, the staff is helpful and welcoming and more importantly that treatment sessions are world-class. Since graduating from Passages I have a better understanding on what was driving me to use and abuse drugs and alcohol. I now focus my time and attention on healthier alternatives to manage my stress and anxiety. I believe anyone out there who's struggling with addiction could benefit from the treatment offered at Passages.

I was one of the first 100 patients to walk through the doors at Passages Malibu, and receive treatment almost 13 years ago - I was but a mere 20 years old with absolutely no hope for my future. At that time in my life I couldn't figure out which way was up, and which way was down - I had been abusing heavy drugs daily since I was 15 years old and never thought I would be able to kick the bad habits I had created for myself in that time. My biggest fear when walking into treatment was that I would be ridiculed and made to feel that I was a lost cause, and that I would always carry the stigma of "junkie" with me forever.

Before I even left for Passages, I called and left a message on their hotline asking for more information - within 10 minutes of leaving the message, to my surprise I received a return phone call from Chris Prentice himself. (during what would have been dinner time on the West Coast) I was shocked that this man, this stranger; would take anytime to reach out to me directly, let alone take the time away from dinner with his family to reach out to me so quickly. We spoke for nearly an hour, and after hanging up with him, I was booking my flight and would be arriving the next morning.

I spent 5 weeks at Passages Malibu (even spending my 21st birthday there - which the staff and my group made one of my most memorable birthdays I have ever had to this day) and was able to learn so many wonderful things that have helped me become the person I am today. Not only was I able to regain a positive outlook for my life, I realized that I wasn't cursed, I wasn't powerless, and I certainly wasn't a "junkie" - I was a wonderful human being that just had many unresolved issues from my childhood and past that were causing me to want to "unplug from life" and drugs was how I personally chose to to do that unplugging.

I wish I could say that life was nothing but cupcakes and rainbows upon leaving, because it certainly wasn't - but I have always remembered what I learned and have no question I wouldn't be around today if it weren't for Chris, Pax, and the rest of the staff at Passages Malibu.

Today I am a successful, happy, and extremely balanced 34 year old. I have a wonderful home, a fantastic career, and a loving family.

The treatment program offered at Passages is one of a kind, and completely life changing. I encourage anyone out there struggling with addiction to reach out to them and simply speak to someone, you will surely get the same warm feelings I got 13 years ago when I made the phone call for help, and I promise after spending time at Passages - you too will once again regain the positive outlook for a bright future.

I have never written a review, ever. But since having such a life changing experience here at Passages Ventura I was compelled to share my thoughts.

This is my 2nd time in a residential treatment center. The 1st place was 12 step based and, at the time, I considered it to be beneficial. We had groups every day and were required to attend AA meetings nightly on the premises. I did 3 days of detox and stayed an additional 3 weeks in the sober living they had. I returned to work without a solid plan for aftercare. I relapsed in less than 2 months.

Here at Passages Ventura I have been surrounded by an exceptional staff of therapists and counsellors. The groups are night and day compared to what I had been exposed to previously. I feel respected and encouraged by my treatment team. The one on one psychotherapy and chemical dependency sessions have been invaluable towards discovering the underlying causes of my substance dependency.

I spent 30 days in residential treatment and now live in the sober living they offer. I am enrolled in their PHP(partial hospitalization program). I have 6 hours of groups 5 times per week. I continue to see my psychotherapist and chemical dependency counselor, which for me was a major reason why I have chosen to stay an additional 30 days(60 total).

My aftercare person and I have been working on developing a concrete plan for my return home. I am confident that this plan, along with the tools/techniques I have been taught here at Passages Ventura will enable me to live the life I have always dreamed of, free from the chains of addiction that have been robbing my family and I of my true self.

If you are considering a treatment facility for you, or a loved one, in my humble opinion you would be doing yourself a disservice by not choosing Passages Ventura.

Truly yours,

Ralph

My time at Passages was truly a life changing experience. I checked into Passages Malibu in November of 2015 to deal with a long standing substance abuse problem. From the time I checked in the staff at Passages made sure I was comfortable,fed and checked into the detox center located on the grounds. I spent the next few days in detox where they helped with the acute withdrawal symptoms. The detox center is located just off the main house and has a unbelievable view of Pacific Coast Highway and the Pacific Ocean! I was able to relax and get my head around the treatment ahead. Once I was medically cleared I was moved into a private room for the remainder of my stay. My room was nice, my own shower, flat screen tv, desk, bed etc. ( I did get to see some of the other rooms and they were amazing but above my pay grade 😀). The days at Passages are filled from 8-6 most days. The days vary but a typical day would be breakfast, group therapy, physical activity, psychotherapist, hypnotherapy, family therapy, massage or acupuncture, and then dinner and time to reflect on the day. I can't say enough about the staff they were great! i never felt judged or felt as though I was somehow abnormal. They let me explore my issues and offered ways to deal with them. No one ever said that their way was the right way and I agree as I think the program as a whole is what ended up taking seed. I have continued to keep in touch with my therapists via email just to let them know how I am doing and it is always good to hear back from them. One of the things that also helped me during my stay was the other clients. It was amazing and comforting to hear that I was not alone in this battle and we leaned on each other for support. I still keep in touch with many of them and feel I made some great friendships. I am proud to say that I am going on 5 months sober and feel the best I have in years. Passages has given me the strength and tools I need to put the pain of my abuse behind me. If you have the chance or are looking for a treatment facility I would highly recommend Passages.

I can't say enough about how Passages Malibu saved my life.Mike bent over backwards fighting daily for treatment for me from my insurance. These guys saved my life. They are not just a treatment facility they are a family and you become part of that extended family once you attend. I never in my life had a chance to deal with the trauma from my childhood . I never felt like I could relax let my guard down.I could never open up. The first thing you will feel is how safe feel like living in a therapeutic cocoon.I never had that and was my first taste of that I was able to let go and let my guard down and for once in my life trust others.I can't say that I didn't have my own personal struggles . I did my mind was at war with my physical self ..Passages gave a road map to rediscovering myself. Accepting my faults as beautiful gifts and using them as postive assets to my life.Im ok and know I'm where I should be for right now in the universe.I rediscovered my lust for life and appeicate the small things as I did as a child that brought me so much joy and meaning to my life.Im not saying I'm not perfect or did I turn into a guy eating sprots and tofu which I tried there and was so good.I even relasped which im ok with because it was part of my journey to letting go of the pain and getting back on the right path .Ive learn to learn from my mistakes and embrace tham learn from them .the fact that I'm not perfect which is beautiful and that's ok.. I held on to all this pain for so long that it became apart of me.I blamed everyone but myself I wrongly after my Dad passed blamed passages. That was the old me repeating a pattern blaming others for my mistakes even my drug use. I again looked for a reason to use and blame others . This time I noticed what I was doing I've gain the insight and tools to identify what I was doing . I was able to stop think and turn things around.Pax and Mike and all of passages thank you for such a priceless experience and a journey that awaken my soul .,You can't put a price on peace of mind or self awareness or pulling me out of the purgatory I was living in and accepted this as my life forever.Im happy to say im on my own journey and everyday a new beautiful day filled with such beauty and joy. thank Pax and Mike for such a beauitful priceless gift .. Matt Overton ( Passages Family of 2015)

If you want to change your path, go! If you want to blame others for your inability to recover, stay where you are and save yourself some money and time. Because you will look for someone to blame everywhere you go. I believe they have the best treatment possible. It was my first and I hope my only one. I got to meet one of the co-founders and he is very down to earth, accessible and supportive.

At first I was worried about the possibility of having a fun life without substances. At last I found all of the ways I could enjoy every day and be sober, thanks to Passages Ventura and its wonderful staff.

The accommodations at Passages are beyond anything else I've ever seen. I was impressed by the professionalism and curiosity shown by the staff members. I would recommend Passages to anyone and everyone who's searching for help for themselves or a loved one.

I came to Passages after being given an ultimatum my husband. Best thing he has ever done for me. I came in sober, much to his chagrin. I was able from the start to focus on all that was available to me. When I say my experience was life changing , I am not exaggerating . I had the best team of counsellors that anyone could ask for,. You are treated like a person not an addict. There are NO LABELS you are listened to, cared about. There's just not enough that I can say about my time spent at Passages.
If you are considering rehab, Please give yourself the best gift by contacting Passages you will be thankful!
Sandy V

Wow! That is the first thing I think about when I think of Passages Malibu.

Hi my name is Misty and I am a 41 year young female that has let alcohol and drugs be a part of my life for 28 years too long. I have been through 15 different alcohol and drug rehabs- all 12 step-based and have never been able to keep a hold on my sobriety for long. Unlike 12 step drug treatment programs I had so many individual therapist being a chemical dependency therapist, a family therapist, a life coach, a spiritual therapist, a hypnotherapy therapist and psychotherapy therapist, along with 24/7 medical care. I am proud to say and to thank all of them for not only helping me find a new meaning to my life but helped to fix the source of my problem, not just the symptom of drug use. I have gotten in touch with my inner child and found the tools I need to keep my inner child at peace. They also helped me realize I had a lot of misplaced anger , help me to put the anger where it rightfully went and then helped me handle and overcome my anger issue. I have never felt more alive and I feel that if this place can do what it has done for me, it can help anyone searching to cure the reason of their use and abuse. Thanks to Passages I have now found the self love that I've been searching for. I have extreme gratitude towards this facility and all it has done for me. I now have an ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE that I have long searched for but have failed to find on my own. Thanks to Passages I have a new lease on life.
Sincerely ,
Misty Sharp-Arnold

I'm from Tokyo. 3 years ago, I flew to Cali for the first time in my life: just to get sober, just to go to Passages Ventura. I had been to several rehabs in Tokyo before going to Passages, but none of them seemed to have worked for me.

Then my family did a research and found this rehab in California called Passages. At first i resisted, but when I arrived at the facility, the staff were so welcoming & kind. And there, I met the therapist of my life. I finally found someone who i could fully open up to, and talk about my stress, cravings, and joy.

As for the program, they have their own unique way to tackle addiction:
in addition to group & individual psychotherapy sessions, there is cognitive behavioral therapy, DBT, art therapy, sound therapy using a Didgeridoo (very soothing!), yoga, meditation, hiking, exercise at gym with a personal trainer etc.. There were just so many options, and everyday schedule is given out to clients, everyone has a different schedule to follow, depending on their conditions.

On the weekends, they took us to surfing, movies, miniature golfing, etc.
Food they served was by far the best i had ever come across in rehabs. There was seafood, pasta, salad, vegan options, wheat grass and protein shakes etc.

It's a great alternative to 12 steps. And the aftercare planners are skilled & knew tons of information sources. I liked the idea that they did actually include 12-step based outpatient programs as a follow-up, and referred clients accordingly, and not totally biased against AA/NA.

I was a drug addict for 11 years, but now I'm not.
I have relapsed several times, but i was able to come back on track with the tools i learned from Passages. Now I have a full-time job, and so so much happier than how I was 3 years ago before i went to Passages.
I thank everyone at Passages, I thank my parents for finding this great rehab, and I thank myself 3 years ago for taking a giant leap of faith to fly to California.

Passages is my first and hopefully last treatment. Everyone here has been really great and talking to everyone I realized you have to be ready if you want to change. Luckily, I feel I am ready so Passages came at a great time for me.

Great staff, great facility and great vibe overall. But be ready to change when you come... if you don't Passages can only help but not save. Nothing is perfect.

Thank you.

I attended Passages almost five years ago and personally found the experience transformational. The staff, the program, and the setting were all very conducive to my recovery. While I don't think anyone will have much success without the right frame mind and dedicated effort, the approach at Passages was just what I was looking for after being underwhelmed by the 12 Steps. Although I did have one brief slip shortly after leaving, I was able to right the ship quickly and have been sober over four years now. I believe my time at Passages was instrumental to my new way of living.

My name is Scott Anderson, and I was a True Addict/Alcoholic in every since of the word. Before I went to passages in 2010
I had been on an All Day Bottle to Tooth Vodka habit, as well as popping copious amounts of Morphine/Vicodin & Valum & smoking Weed. All after being white knuckle sober for a year after a previous 7day detox from Alcohol & Cocain.
My girlfriend gave me the Book on the Cure which I read while I was using. One night I had enuf!
I Made the call to passages and was picked up in the morning by a town car headed to Passages. That was the Best Decision I've Made in This Life.
What can I say?... From the moment I began treatment with a Team of Phsychologist, an Acupuncturist, massage therapist, what I called the "Resident Guru", who I'll never forget, that guided us daily in Meditation, Chi Gong, Tai Chi, Sound Therapy, Hikes through the canions, kayaking, surfing...
It was Just an Amazing. And we had the Best Chef! This was no Rehab! I called it "Therapy Camp". Reason being, this place helped me work out my underline issues that drove my addictions with the help of a collaboration of therapists daily. I stayed for 90 days by choice. At the end of each month I knew I had more work to do on myself. And the work I was getting done with my therapist was so deep and going so well I also wanted to keep it going. I made lots of great friends and we all helped Eachother along the way. I could go on and on. Passages Was A Truly Special And Life Changing Experience. It was hard work no doubt about it! But I put in the work that needed to be done because I truly would not be here today without my intentions and the help of every person at Passages.

At passages, I find the holistic approach to sobriety to be much more maintainable than any 12 step program. The staff (Doctors, nurses, psychologists, etc) care for their patients individually and don't treat them like just another number. If sobriety is really your main goal to maintain the rest of your life, passages is the place for you!

This was the best decision I ever made. The staff is so courteous and really treated me like a person and not just an alcoholic. My therapists really showed me that I could take my power back and live without alcohol. Thank you Passages!

I flew from Oklahoma to California to go to Passages and I'm so glad I did! It was the most pleasant experience you can have going to a rehab. They make you feel so welcome and care for you as best as possible from the nurses to the cooks(who make excellent food) to continuing care (Amber McCullough is the best and very helpful) and the rest of the staff! Calling and going to Passages was one of the best choices I have made in my life, they will get your life back on track to have a bright future!! Thanks to all at Passages!!

My name is Brian T. I can't express how thankful I am for the staff and counselors at Passages Ventura. I have had a drug and alcohol problem for over a decade. I first went to Passages in 2014 and did a lot of soul searching and left after 30 days. Like many other people, after a few months of just pure struggle I relapsed. And my relapse lasted a brutal 5 months. I had made a few good friends while rehab and we kept in contact. At the end of June I got word the a close friend who was with me at Passages, had unfortunately passed from an overdose.
I was totally shaken up. My thoughts were, that could be me, my friend didn't get a second chance. So 4 days later I drunkenly called Passages back, and July 11 I was back in Ventura.
Still upset, still angry, still disappointed in myself, feeling hopeless but very angry that I had failed in sobriety. The staff and the counselors embraced me by letting me know one thing, I did the hardest thing, coming back.
The staff of this place are amazing, I was going to walk out more than once, and their compassion and honesty kept me from leaving. I stayed 30 days in residential and another 30 in sober living, which made all the difference. Sober living showed me I can go and do things without being loaded. Again I can't say enough about the staff, from the cleaning staff to the cooks to the counselors. They all made my trip to sobriety so much fun.
Is it hard, you bet, but without all these people, I'd still be were I was, lost and angry. There are so many great people who work there that actually care about your well being, that want you to succeed, I could never thank them enough. I trully believe that without the therapy, without the caring staff, and most of all the sober living I would be right back were I was. This has been the hardest thing I've ever done, but Passages Ventura has made it so much better.
On January 11 2016 I have clean and sober for six months. And I'm happy, healthy, and ready to attack the next six months. Thanks to all you guys and gals at Passages Ventura. My family has their dad and husband back, and I have found my true self. Can't wait to come back for a visit, I'll see you soon. Love you guys. Brian T.