Caron Renaissance in Florida

[Anonymous]

Has anyone been a patient or had a loved one be a patient at Caron?

I have a loved one there now, and I'm a little worried for her based on the reviews I've found and my recent dealings with them. (allegations of abuse, suicides, counselors sleeping with patients, etc). Can you share your experience?

[Anonymous]

You will find huge numbers of complaints about Caron Renaissance on line. Some of them take pains to separate the post-rehab Renaissance facility in Florida from the rehab in Pennsylvania, with the latter having a fair number of positive reviews. Except--they warn you about resisting their efforts to put your loved one at Caron Renaissance post-rehab. Also a bit of a scam. Caron is one of the few not for profit private rehabs. However, they are known to run financials on patients' families and direct those with money to Renaissance, which essentially is a very expensive half way house, and then recommending others to cheaper places.

It's been a while since I read the complaints but one that stuck with me is that there is no effort at Renaissance to separate recovering addicts who are vulnerable people like victims of abuse from those who are bullies and have a history of abusing. This can have very bad results.

I'd take your loved one out right now. There are plenty of half way houses in DC that are perfectly fine and don't have large question marks over them. Or have her stay in the Boca area at one of the hundreds of other places there--it's pretty much rehab city. That can be a positive as there many businesses that cater to those who are recovering in a positive way--lots of coffee shops instead of bars, for example. Of just have her come home and get active in AA or NA.

In the interests of full disclosure, I have had a child at Caron in Pennsylvania. She managed to get out after a week but the whole experience was terrible; the finale was them dumping her without our knowledge at a locked psych facility in the middle of winter. They did not wait for someone to take her in, and no one at the facility responded to her repeated ringing of the bell. She ended up spending the night outside in the snow.

[Anonymous]

My advice would be to also review the many more helpful and detailed reviews about the program rather than trust someone's misguided attempt to fear others from getting help. Caron renaissance saves lives and I believe in their philosophy and approach, but instead of giving up, speak to your therapist about your fears. You also have the option to contact their executive director and he will certainly hear your concerns and support you with a solution.
This is a tremendously difficult time for any mother but please find out the truth for yourself rather than reading some unregulated review online from someone who may be unhealthy themselves.

[Anonymous]

I had a brother who went through Rehab at Caron PA. He stayed clean for a long while. I thought the program was good.

[Anonymous]

Check out this blog that cr moms created for this reason: http://caronrenaissancefamilies.com/familyresources/

[Anonymous]

Caron Renaissance treats the entire family not just the loved one in treatment
Speak to your family counselor. Go to the CR family support groups to help you with your own journey of recovery.
Our son went to both Pa and Fla at 19. It was Renaissance that got him to do the work he needed to do for his recovery. And they did the same for us, as we too went to the rooms, therapy and listened and learned. The effort was so worth it and today our family is healthier than we ever were and our son almost 26 will celebrate 7 years of continuous recovery. Give it time and trust the process. Every person is different and recovery is not cookie cutter. And there will always be good and bad reviews about this industry. What's important is your story and experience. Have an open mind and open heart. You are in a wonderful place. Those folks know what they are doing. It took you awhile to get to treatment now give yourself the time to work recovery.
2010 Caron Parent Alum

[Anonymous]

Renaissance saved my son's life. Before he went there, I also found negative reviews and felt very much like you do now so I completely understand. With the reassurance from parents at the local Renaissance Parent Support Group meetings and conversations with the Renaissance staff, my fears were alleviated as much as they could be. I would strongly suggest finding out about and attending one of the local Caron Parent Support Groups. You can also go to this website to read other parents comments and get additional info. http://caronrenaissancefamilies.com

[Anonymous]

Amazing number of Caron supporters here.

They do do a good job at PR and have a place in Bethesda where they do development work and have parent get togethers. I can't think of any other rehab with this kind of resources. They have them because they are not for profit, which allows them to have all kinds of gala fundraisers with celebrity guests, while at the same time charging at the higher end for the rehab and maybe the highest for the Renaissance halfway house.

All I can say is that our experience there was a nightmare and I would caution anyone who asked to not send their child there. If you are thinking of going the route of rehab/halfway house for your loved one go in person beforehand and check it out, staying alert for things like only letting you talk to selected patients.

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to clarify if I am following this conversation correctly. First of all, let me state that I am a family therapist who specializes in working with the addicted family system.
Initially, I assumed you were speaking of Caron's Renaissance and Ocean Drive programs in Boca. Although I use facilities throughout the country, I have had great success working with both Renaissance and Ocean Drive.
Perhaps you have this confused, because Caron does not have any halfway houses or sober living homes anywhere in the country. If by chance you are talking about Caron, I would be happy to help facilitate any issues you have with them. I have absolutely no affiliation with Caron, but hope you can get these issues resolved....I know they would want to help resolve any issues. - recoveryandintervention.com Phil

[Anonymous]

Renaissance may or may not have a rehab program where people in active addiction go. I don't know.

What I do know is that Caron uses Renasissance as a follow on program ("aftercare") to their rehab in Pennsylvania. They refer the Pennsylvania rehab patients to Renaissance after they have looked at family financials and know they have the wherewithal to pay for Renaissance, which is pricey. The other people leaving the Pennsylvania rehab facility they refer on to halfway houses/sober living programs. These people are all at pretty much the same stage of recovery. How is Renaissance not a halfway house or aftercare/sober living facility?

[Anonymous]

Our addict daughter went there after detox; after legal issues and relapsing and being in four other highly regarded residential treatment centers. None of them offered this: Long-term behavioral therapy (7 months, which as far as I can tell, totally 'rearranged' her neurology ie behavior, way of thinking, attitude on life, hope replacing fear); At some point she became wise enough to view the vocational program as an opportunity, and with resumes and interview advice, got a job which is now a career. The therapists are extremely tough but their decency is transparent. And then, what is addiction if not tough? We had, by choice, no contact with our daughter for the majority of time she was there. We trusted her team and most important, we were exhausted. Burnt out. With no where to turn and at the end of our resources. We let her go. Being tough herself she was able to recognize tough approaches when needed. She learned how to live clean and sober. I believe this happened fast, because of what she learned there. My suggestion to fear and doubt about Renaissance that can engulf you: Go to meetings. There is so much wisdom in the recovery community. Whatever it is we were doing on our own all those years wasn't working. Something has to change. Addiction breaks every rule of social decency. An effective response to addiction is not soft and fuzzy. It's challenging and tough. It involves the family. It involves not being alone, and finding others. Everyone must be willing to change. Reach out to people who have their lives back and are no longer living in dread and fear of a loved one's addiction. Keep going back. Renaissance is by far the best program we have experienced. By miles and miles. Our daughter has 3 years now, 3 solid years, thanks to Renaissance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just wanted to clarify if I am following this conversation correctly. First of all, let me state that I am a family therapist who specializes in working with the addicted family system.
Initially, I assumed you were speaking of Caron's Renaissance and Ocean Drive programs in Boca. Although I use facilities throughout the country, I have had great success working with both Renaissance and Ocean Drive.
Perhaps you have this confused, because Caron does not have any halfway houses or sober living homes anywhere in the country. If by chance you are talking about Caron, I would be happy to help facilitate any issues you have with them. I have absolutely no affiliation with Caron, but hope you can get these issues resolved....I know they would want to help resolve any issues. - recoveryandintervention.com Phil

Yes, I'm talking about Caron Renaissance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You will find huge numbers of complaints about Caron Renaissance on line. Some of them take pains to separate the post-rehab Renaissance facility in Florida from the rehab in Pennsylvania, with the latter having a fair number of positive reviews. Except--they warn you about resisting their efforts to put your loved one at Caron Renaissance post-rehab. Also a bit of a scam. Caron is one of the few not for profit private rehabs. However, they are known to run financials on patients' families and direct those with money to Renaissance, which essentially is a very expensive half way house, and then recommending others to cheaper places.

It's been a while since I read the complaints but one that stuck with me is that there is no effort at Renaissance to separate recovering addicts who are vulnerable people like victims of abuse from those who are bullies and have a history of abusing. This can have very bad results.

I'd take your loved one out right now. There are plenty of half way houses in DC that are perfectly fine and don't have large question marks over them. Or have her stay in the Boca area at one of the hundreds of other places there--it's pretty much rehab city. That can be a positive as there many businesses that cater to those who are recovering in a positive way--lots of coffee shops instead of bars, for example. Of just have her come home and get active in AA or NA.

In the interests of full disclosure, I have had a child at Caron in Pennsylvania. She managed to get out after a week but the whole experience was terrible; the finale was them dumping her without our knowledge at a locked psych facility in the middle of winter. They did not wait for someone to take her in, and no one at the facility responded to her repeated ringing of the bell. She ended up spending the night outside in the snow.

This is my understanding as well. I've found the treatment so far to be one sized fits all - we thought initially it would be individualized. (One size fits all for the lowest common denominator).

They have all sorts of people at Caron Renaissance, like convicts, and they make no attempt to separate them. This is worrying to me because my family member is a sensitive person, and she should not be treated like someone who should be in prison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My advice would be to also review the many more helpful and detailed reviews about the program rather than trust someone's misguided attempt to fear others from getting help. Caron renaissance saves lives and I believe in their philosophy and approach, but instead of giving up, speak to your therapist about your fears. You also have the option to contact their executive director and he will certainly hear your concerns and support you with a solution.
This is a tremendously difficult time for any mother but please find out the truth for yourself rather than reading some unregulated review online from someone who may be unhealthy themselves.

Are you talking about the therapist they assign you at Caron Renaissance? I tried that btw - and they took my pain/grief and used it against me in a teleconference with the whole family. They also called my loved one a liar about something I know she did not lie about.

[Anonymous]

My impression is that the really tough love approach at Renaissance is best suited for the almost hopelessly recidivist and hardened drug users, albeit ones with lots of family financial resources. The premise is that the family is extremely dysfunctional and needs to be restructured and that the addict needs to go through a process of individuation from the family.

It is not particularly suited to nonhardened drug users who are sensitive owing to mental health problems or a history of abuse. (Victims of sexual abuse are twenty times more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol.) These people are crushed by a tough love approach. As with most rehabs and aftercare places, mental health care is not a forte, quite the opposite in fact. If this is the case of your loved one, I would start looking immediately into an alternative.