San Cristobal is a specialized treatment facility for families seeking permanent change in their loved one — the kind of change that must start from within. Many of the young men who come to us have never had to struggle financially and have always found a way to avoid challenging themselves. They resist independence and believe that their problems are unique. They do not realize that there are people who have been through what they are going through and can help them identify an healthier direction in life.
QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE:
How do I know if my child needs treatment?
If you are here, reading about our program, chances are very good that your son needs help and that he needs it quickly. If you will recognize that your son needs help, and get him that help, we can start the process to give you your son back. If you fail to recognize that your family is in crisis, and your son continues on a path of increasingly self-destructive behavior, then you will lose your son to a lifetime of addiction, incarceration or death.
How can I be sure you’re the right program for my son?
San Cristobal Treatment Center is a nationally recognized leader in the treatment of young adult men ages 18 to 26 who are suffering from a combination of chemical dependency with co-occurring conditions. We use highly-effective, evidence-based methodologies and adapt them to the needs of young men. Typically, young men come to us challenged by substance abuse, emotional/behavioral issues, psychiatric concerns, low self-esteem, legal problems, low motivation, few practical life skills and little or no sense of a future direction in life. If any of that sounds like your son, then we are the right program for him. No other treatment center in America has our experience in addressing the problems of young men in this difficult-to-treat niche.
How do I know this is the right time?
You need to get your son into treatment as soon as possible. The sooner you seek treatment, the sooner your son can begin to lead a happier, healthier life and the sooner your life can regain some balance. If your son is an addict, chances are very good that your own life is in chaos right now. Our message of hope is that your son’s addiction is not your fault, and that something can be done ab out it, but that for young men between the ages of 18 and 26, there is no time to waste.
How do I know that your approach is right for my son’s situation?
We are specialists in treating young male addicts and co-occurring disorders. Our multi-faceted approach helps break the cycle of that addiction to stop your son’s self-destructive behavior and help him to face himself. We are very proud of the multitude of therapies employed at the ranch and feel we can address just about any addiction-related behaviors with excellence. As an integrated facility with traditional therapies as well as equine, somatic, vocational and wilderness programs — plus a diverse staff from many educational, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds — we will approach your son’s needs as a team and guide him in his recovery.
How will my son’s treatment affect our family?
It will restore order to your family and remove the negative influence of your son’s behavior on other family members. We encourage our young men to see that by living sober they are able to be independent, with the strength and tools to discover what they want out of life. Will what they choose be what you want for your son? We can’t tell you that, nor can we tell you what your son’s new place in the family will be. But we can tell you that you can reach a place where your son’s presence in your family brings it closer together, rather than tearing it apart.
How do you approach addiction treatment?
We approach addiction treatment against the backdrop of the specialized needs that young man ages 18 to 26 have. This means addressing treatment from a clinical, emotional, psychiatric, physical and social standpoint. We combine therapy with exercise, outdoor adventure, fraternity with other young men, opportunities to test new skills and lots of time with positive male role models who are in recovery themselves. We also believe in encouraging our clients to explore a variety of spiritual options to build inner strength. Our approach to recovery incorporates the principles of the 12 Steps, which have been proven to increase chances for long-term recovery.
What’s your experience in treating both substance abuse and emotional/behavioral disorders?
We are one of the few treatment centers for young men with experience and a clinical staff specializing in both substance abuse and behavioral health diagnoses. Most young male addicts have a complex set of factors at play surrounding their addictions. Our staff is experienced at identifying and treating each factor. In the therapists’ office, your son will work on getting to the root of those issues exerting the most power over his behavior.
The cornerstone of our success is an individualized treatment plan — every single client of San Cristobal is evaluated and treated as a unique individual. We create an integrated plan for healing tailored specifically to the complex bio-psycho-social needs of your son.
What kinds of therapy will my son receive?
Your son will receive both individual and group therapy by a licensed professional counselor and a psychiatrist, should your son’s condition warrant psycho-pharmaceutical medication.
Your son will also participate in our adventure and wilderness therapy component as a regular part of his routine. Adventure initiatives include exciting days on the ropes course, mountain biking, skiing/snowboarding, whitewater rafting, back country backpacking trips and many other activities that, at the end of the session, form the basis for metaphors that encourage personal growth. Our wilderness therapy component in particular is a unique and transformative experience in the backcountry that often inspires profound change: the wilderness is a powerful venue for young men with extraordinarily impulsive behavior or who lack respect for the treatment process. If the treatment team indicates it is necessary, your son may be taken out of the community setting and paired with an experienced wilderness recovery professional on a 21-day solo expedition. The isolation of this experience generally produces a profound change in our clients’ attitudes and behaviors. (Please note that this solo trek experience is not part of our regular treatment program and is billed separately.)
How much will our family be involved in treatment?
Parents will receive support and guidance from a therapist and a case manager to help them understand how their role in their son’s addictive behavior and how to lovingly detach from that cycle. Families will have a workbook that provides psycho-educational information, the expectations we have of the families we work with and resources for. We expect all families to attend AlAnon, a support group for families and friends of addicts; read books that have been identified as helpful for families in recovery; and view specific films or videos to encourage their understanding of addiction.
All families are expected to participate in a weekly phone call and a long family weekend about two-thirds of the way through treatment.
What sort of educational component does your program include?
Every moment of time we have available is spent on deep introspection and clinical treatment — a focus that is necessary to permanently break the cycle of addiction. For that reason, we do not emphasize education. During his time at the ranch, your son will be getting an education in a profound and powerful way of living in sobriety; learning the language of addiction and codependence; and reading, writing and speaking about his process.
What’s your success rate?
We’ve had many clients at San Cristobal who attended over a dozen different treatment centers before finally finding sobriety here with us. Why did we get through to them when other centers could not? Because we know our niche better than anyone — no other treatment understands the challenges of young male addicts between the ages of 18 and 26 the way we do — and because we see it as a calling, not just a job. Every time we welcome a new client, we recognize that a life depends on our success. We never forget that, ever.
How much will it cost and will insurance help out?
To learn more about your payment options and whether a portion of treatment is covered by your insurance plan (so that you can be reimbursed) please call us at 888.859.6548.