The Saint Jude Retreat, Amsterdam NY

You can be free from your alchohol problems so easily with this program. It is a completely different approach that works It is life changing. Change your life without being labeled giving up your self respect in a very comfortable setting where you are free to solve your issues. Don’t get mislead by traditional rehabs this works. Not to mention great food great caring staff with one on one instruction. If you want change this is the place to go. Keep your computer and cell phone and stay in contact with your everyday life while getting the best treatment money can buy,

Get a great chance at a whole new life with cutting edge program. Feel sorry for people who do not choose this place. Different than traditional rehabs which fail check out their rates of success. Get.treated while keeping your self respect in a warm comfortable setting great food great rooms and super helpful staff. Keep your phone and laptop. Life changing Cannot praise them enough.

If you are looking for a place to change the way you think, the actions you take and your relationship with drugs or alcohol than this is the place for you. The opposite of a traditional rehab experience, St Jude’s and it’s Freedom Model start with a simple premise- there is nothing inherently wrong with you. No illness or disease, no life long problem that will hang over you till the day you die, but rather a simple misunderstanding- that all the benefits you have perceived from drinking or drugging are illusionary. They are in your mind and they proceed to unpack all the myths associated with drinking or drugging and boil it do to some simple facts- one, you have free will and are actively choosing to drink. Two you have an autonomous mind that only you control and can be taught that these perceived benefits you have associated with drinking are simply not true. And third, that you drink or drug because you BELIEVE it is making you happy and in reality it does not, at least not in the way you are drinking or drugging now- or else why are you reading this? Once they teach you this and unshackle you from all the recovery BS you will have a revelation- that this is all in your control and that if you want to change you always can. It’s that simple. The combination of one on one instruction and fact and science based statistics will time and time again reinforce this critical concept. I can honestly say this changed my life. Not just my unhealthy relationship with drinking- but all aspects of my life. It left me a better educated person and as a result a better husband, father, worker and person. In short it left me a better global citizen with an awareness of why I do what I do and the ability to modify my behaviors if I honestly want to.

The staff is nothing short of awesome. From the meals (thanks Dave, who by the way is a trained gourmet chef) to the accommodations, to the instructors, you immediately feel like you are part of the family, living in a home with great people in a warm and supportive environment that allows you to comfortably sort yourself out. They are right to call it a retreat, not a rehab, because it is more about teaching you how to live and be a better human than about convincing you you are weak and powerless. I have been home for a month now and have been in numerous social settings with people drinking and have not once felt compelled to drink. I simply choose not to at this point. And that’s the best part- there is no illusion that you can never drink again (but studies show about 50% of the people choose not to) but once they teach you the facts about drinking you are empowered to intelligently choose what you want to do.

I want to thank everyone there from Mark, Michelle, Steve (the authors and instructors) to everyone else who helped me during my stay. I can’t say enough great things about this experience. It was nothing short of life changing!

You can do this if you want to change and the Freedom Model is the key to a healthier, happier, and more balanced life- I promise you that.

When I arrived at the St. Jude Retreat in July I was at a low point in my life, feeling lost and more isolated than ever before. After a very successful career and life by all standard measurements and accounts, I found myself in a traditional in-patient treatment facility earlier this year, something that was as shocking to my friends and family as it was to myself. My substance use had been a growing secret for years and definitely had become problematic. While intentions were good on most fronts, my problems only escalated when treatment was over. I felt lost, isolated and like a victim of a negative self-image that resulted from being taught I had to live the rest of my life within the confinements of the recovery ideology. I felt like a stranger trying to live within my own skin and this resulted in me finding it nearly impossible to find my stride and get back to living my normal life. By the grace of God and a family referral, I found St. Jude and was attracted to the freedom model right away. I was not disappointed. Not only was the retreat just that — a retreat, not a rehab — the veil of the negative self-image I'd been living was lifted, little by little, as soon as I arrived. In addition to receiving expert one-on-one attention from the program founders, I really benefited from being treated like a true guest as well as wonderful accommodations and plenty of time to truly reflect on how and why I ended up there in the first place. The factual and research-based information presented to me was right on the money, but the more subtle aspects of the retreat were equally as special. Warm conversations at the dinner table (which always had absolutely delicious food prepared by chef Dave), walks among the beautiful countryside where the retreat calls home, enjoyable outings — and an overall sense of "freedom" — are just a few reasons I give this special place two thumbs up. I will forever be grateful to Michelle, Mark and Steven, Dave, Teresa, at the rest of the team, for all their efforts and special touches that helped me find the freedom I was looking for to finally get my life back.

I arrived at St. Judes retreat 3 weeks ago. It has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. The staff has become my friends, Michelle, Mark, Steve, Dave, Pat, Teresa, and certainly others that I've met. Greg, Joey, Michael. I've been in rehab before, and it NEVER worked, but what I've learned here makes the perfect sense. I will without a doubt keep in touch often. I don't think I have had a clearer mind in a long time. I have set some long time goals for my future and feel very secure in my decisions. I know I'm going to miss St. Judes and everyone there that has been here for me. I highly recommend this retreat to anyone that is struggling. I leave with an open mind and heart.

After years of bouncing around the recovery world, I realized that I had nothing from which to recover! My problems were with my erroneous thinking and the behavior that resulted from the thinking. I am free now and always have been to make the decisions that shape my life. My experience at St Jude was transformative.

I recently completed the Freedom Model Retreat in NY. My experience was absolutely above and beyond what I expected. I did hour upon hour private sessions with Mark and several with Steven. Michelle and I spent time together as well. I ordered the book about 18 months ago in Montana and worked it pretty hard but I there was something I was missing. I'm very glad I made the decision to go straight to the founders and get all the treatment model and AA dynamic washed off me. I highly recommend this to someone that has battled as I have over the years but just never accepted the whole disease concept and powerless dynamic that is thrown at perfectly fine people that just happen to have a preference. The rest of the staff at the retreat are wonderful and professional as well. The food (Dave) is fantastic and the facility a slice of heaven in the country but close to town. Very glad I took part in it.
Corey