Ocean Recovery Drug Rehab Orange County, Newport Beach CA

I did benefit from oceans but something you must need to know. They are insistent everyone has an eating disorder and it is very eating disorder driven. They benefit financially for each person who is in the program. They trick you once you arrive initially saying 30 days then every client is blind sided to stay 99 days or more. They invoke your families to agree because they trust the professionals. It’s very cult like and quite scary. I would never return and honestly feel traumatized beyond after returning home. When I think about my experience I physically feel I’ll. No thoughts are private and somehow they know every thought you have, call you out on it and it’s shocking. They use betrayal tactics especially when they know your family is trusting in the professionals. When I left I couldn’t believe that it was real. Never get sucked in. It is “hotel California’ you can’t trust anyone. I was betrayed on a daily basis

This place was amazing… the staff and the programming was exactly what you’d want, the facility was fantastic and we’re right on the ocean. I highly recommend.

I have been to multiple treatment centers and this is the best one. The clinical staff has helped me more than I could imagine grow into a better person. The patience and love that has been given to me from everyone that works there has given me hope in recovery going forward.

I went through oceans in august of 2022 and had a great experience while I was there. I was taken to a number of great meetings in the local community to help me with my transition out of treatment and was also extremely impressed with the clinical team and their individual approach with each client. I would highly recommend oceans to anyone and recently referred a life long friend.

Ocean Recovery is one of the best treatment centers I have been to - and I have been to quite a few! There is a strong 12 step oriented program and a bustling community that is prevalent for all the clients and former clients. The alumni meeting really showed me early on that long term sobriety was possible for myself and others. 5/5 stars, would recommend to anyone seeking a lifestyle change in the Southern California area.

Ocean Recovery called me again recently, despite multiple requests that they not contact me. I was last a client in 2014, and spent years unlearning the toxic teachings of this place.

Oceans utilized what, to me, aligns with “Attack Therapy”. The goal seems to be to break young people down so that they’re totally reliant on Oceans’ input, and so that families of clients are too. The group sessions I experienced were gang-up style finger pointing sessions, where even minor “rule breaking” was shamed for all to see. There is no scientific or peer-reviewed evidence that says that shaming people in early recovery is constructive in any way. I’ve subsequently worked in behavioral health, and every training I’ve ever had as an employee catering to people suffering from drug addiction or disordered eating runs counter to Ocean Recovery’s practices.

When you misbehaved, (according to Oceans), you were sent to “Behavioral Detox” in a run down and dirty detox facility whose population often comprised not only addicts, but individuals with violent criminal records seeking rehab, in a facility where there were multiple outbreaks of bedbugs. I was physically threatened on my first day at this other facility by someone in my house. When I came back, I was allowed back only after writing an essay on why I was “so grateful to be at Ocean Recovery. ” ‘The Handsmaid’s Tale’ of treatment.

I witnessed a fellow client come out about sexual assault they’d experienced, only to have the counselor-led group accuse this person of making it up, to get out of the trouble they’d been getting in. Pretty tragic for that person.

While I was there, a counselor in a leadership/therapeutic role allegedly had a sexual relationship with their patient and left the company having been disgraced. This person’s inappropriate advances towards ME were reported, and I was constantly dismissed and told that I “thought everyone was into me. ” Claims of misconduct were often dismissed in my experience.

I had an undiagnosed GI issue, and rather than help me to explore the medical issue, staff at Oceans first told me I was inventing symptoms to miss group, and then told me I had to take Imodium every single day so I wouldn’t have to miss groups. It is medically unsafe to take Imodium every day for prolonged periods of time. Only after leaving Oceans was I able to get proper treatment.

What I’ve outlined above encompasses only a small amount of inappropriate and unethical events I experienced. And I have numerous peers who have had similar experiences

It seems it would be foolish to trust that with similar leadership in place, that much has changed. There were and have been individuals there who I trusted, and even a few who seemed to really struggle with Oceans’ methods, and express care for clients, but finding an ally who worked there was much less common than finding staff members who gaslit, denied experiences, and practiced highly questionable, controversial and what seem to be obviously unethical & immoral therapeutic practices. Simply because you had addiction issues, you were taught to second-guess and doubt your gut in every situation.

If Kathy, (the owner and founder) were to try to feign ignorance, that would be impossible, because she’d often attend groups still wearing her tennis gear, and both actively participate in and witness the pseudo-therapeutic processes I’ve alluded to.

It’s tough to find a safe and constructive treatment center, as many centers prioritize dollars over client well-being, but in my view, families and prospective clients should ABSOLUTELY look elsewhere. It’s not only about money, (although friends have complained to me about their families allegedly being double-billed), it’s about control and wielding power. I wouldn’t want anyone to have the same experience I did.

To the admin replying to these negative reviews, no need to respond here. I’m not interested in hearing that you’re “sorry I had this experience”. I’m interested in you guys no longer being emboldened to manipulate and malign a vulnerable population.

This place is amazing! Gave me another shot at fixing my life and finding myself again. Since my treatment here I’ve improved in all aspects of my life. They have showed me how to be the man that was lost so many years before. Today I do not have any temptations to use or drink. It’s a beautiful thing. The clarity of my mind has returned to me. Staff is incredible and very accommodating to your needs. These people are dedicated to changing your life and I am forever greatfull! Stoked I had the opportunity to go to Oceans. Could not have had a better experience! Thanks Oceans! #thy will be done

Extreme Warning! Oceans is not for everyone and protect your loved ones from this place unless necessary. I am grateful for the wake up call oceans gave me, however it was not the right fit. Oceans can be extremely mentally abusive. Some of their staff was great these select few include Sam who was my therapist (she was the only one who really took the time to understand me) this also includes Keyer (case manager), & Kylie. However Michelle, Brooke, and Meeghan were the cruelest people and the break down tactics they used on me were un-necessary and not fit. I didn’t quite fit in at oceans. I did not have an eating disorder and majority of the girls there did. There was only one other girl in Chemical Dependence with me who turned out to have an ED which was a lonely experience for me. To give you some back story I am not an addict. I went through a situational period in my life where I didn’t have the most healthy coping skills and needed help on learning self love, healthy habits, self worth, and to get through childhood trauma. However I was treated as an addict, and eventually they tried to convince me I had an issue with food. They force fed me a mass amount of food. If I didn’t like it or refused to eat all of it because I was full they threatened me to go to a behavioral facility. I did not have an eating disorder and I shouldn’t have been forced to do the same protocols as the girls with an eating disorder. I’m the beginning I was very receptive and happy to be there. However, towards the end of my stay there I became extremely obstinate due to the amount of verbal abuse I received. The girl that was in CD with me would often lash out on me, so I chose to distance my self and shutdown and stopped speaking. Because of me shutting down, in our group sessions Brooke and Michelle would call me a bully which I am not and have never been. Im not quite sure why they took her word instead of mine. They let the girl verbally talk down to me infront of the other girls. I constantly felt ganged up on and alone. Another incident that could have gone another way, when I got my cellphone back I did not have numbers saved and when I was texting my dad a girl saw me texting a number that was not saved. She told all the other girls and Michelle. Instead of Michelle trying to understand the situation she did a group meeting and they all confronted me and thought I could’ve been texting a boy when it was really my dad. Which felt so demeaning. Someone could have asked me and I could’ve showed them my phone privately without under going an intervention under false pretenses.
If you are a young girl like me who was struggling and needed love and tools to cope do not go here. The psychological abuse I endured is permanent. However if you are an extreme life or death case it might work for you. They break you down until you give up. Which doesn’t work if you are still full of life and still have a sparkle in your eye. This place chipped away at my heart.
My name is Maddie I am not an addict I am a manager at a store, I have the best relationship with my family and my younger siblings now, I have an amazing boyfriend and we live together in a cute little place on the beach. My life is beautiful and healthy, oceans told me I could never have that if I didn’t stay. However as soon as I left I took every single thing they said I couldn’t do and I did it!
Please consider what your love one needs before sending them here. This place can add more damage if it’s not fit for your loved one.
It’s been over a year since I left oceans and I couldn’t be more grateful for getting away from them.
I am very open about my experience with oceans and will continue to spread awareness of the demeaning tactics they use to keep young girls like me safe.

This place is the biggest rip off EVER!
DO NOT even think of wasting your or your loved ones money or time with this place.
It it would be possible to rate this scam ZERO STARS, that would be the rating!

Im trying to get into a program myself as im struggling with fentanyl and things are getting pretty intense. I keep looking for help and keep getting ignored and turned around i dont know what to do and cant afford anywhere im totally clueless on what to do and how to beat this bump in the road

I would only recommend the women’s program if the client has an eating disorder. (Not just substance abuse disorder). They market themselves as being for substance abuse, which they do address, but 95% of the women have eating disorders, so there is a LOT of focus on that as well. As a former employee from the women’s program, I can say their approach may work well for some, but it is definitely not for everyone. If your loved one did not respond well to other eating disorder treatments, then it may be worth a try. They use the tough love approach. There aren’t a TON of ED treatment centers, and this place definitely specializes in them. When I worked there it was very under staffed. Maybe that has changed. I would give it 2.5 stars but am rounding down because there are so many 5 star reviews. I have noticed treatment centers have their employees write good reviews.

I went 10 plus years ago, it helped me so much…. Being next to the beach and lifestyle there saved my life.