Seems like they would rather tear you down than build you up. The system is setup to constantly scold you.

I wont be surprised if all my comments are blocked: but I do have extensive experience in recovery within Oregon: NARA, (Native American Recovery Center) in Portland, oregon....all you have to do id qualify a combination of native American, dual-diagnosis,and/or below the poverty line; if you have good insurance; what is now Betty Ford in Newburg; excellant care...If you have no insurance- Blancette House in Portland, or my recomendation is Blanchette Farms in Newburg, OR. If you can switch states, CRIHelp in North Hollywood , CA. Addictions Recover Center in Medford is not to bad either

Great interview for a potential job helping ladies. Not sure about the practice as I never have been a patient or employee.

I could not get sober through Carlton House, the mens residential treatment facility operated by Willamette Family. I remember when I was in Carlton that the counselors told us only one out of twenty clients get sober. What a low ratio! They told us that was the devastating truth of our “disease.” They blamed their low success rate on our denial and unwillingness to just do what we were told. Their entire approach uses a directing style of communication with a spirit of authoritarianism. They held all the knowledge about our conditions and they positioned themselves as the experts. It was impossible to question their authority. They told us that we were in denial. Their favorite saying was “you’re resisting the change agent.” It was a tactic used to gain immunity against critical thinking. People who abuse substances need compassion, understanding and love. They do not need more shame. It doesn’t work, but they continue to put people down and assert their authority. Some of the fellow in-patient clients even preferred to return to prison than to deal with their barrage of insults.Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based practice to change peoples lives. It teaches that when a counselor uses directing and authoritarian language, it is a natural and normal response for the client to become oppositional. It is not the fault of the client, but is evidence of the counselors skill deficiency. The person who developed this, Dr. Miller, did so in the 80s in response to the ineffective way in which we treat addiction in our country. It has been proven to be effective. I am happy to learn there is an entire school of thought that pushes up against the crappy treatment provided by Willamette Family.Also, if you are a person that critically examines Alcoholics Anonymous, this is not the rehab for you. Be prepared for them to tell you that AA is the only way. I like to joke that the Oregon Health Plan paid $20,000 for a Big Book. When I was in Carlton, most of the staff were members of AA. One counselor said he meditated on the AA symbol every day. They infiltrated this organization and use it to pass on their propaganda. It’s clearly a conflict of interest. Attendance at 12-Step is mandatory and it is completely unacceptable to challenge AA dogma. Like I said, you cannot question their authority; it is absolute.The worst thing about Carlton is that they are not trauma-informed. After a few years of therapy, I began to understand how early childhood trauma heavily contributed to my drinking. My brain was in constant fear; it was stuck in fight-or-flight. I needed to quiet it down. Due to my inability to soothe my trauma, I drank to excess with the intent to blackout. Carlton missed this critical element. They were too busy telling me to shut-up and stop being so oppositional. They failed to realize I was in trauma mode. These counselors are doing some seriously harmful things. I worked through my trauma by attending regular therapy.Sadly, someone in my group overdosed on heroin shortly after graduating from their program. Carlton would never claim responsibility. I can see them saying, “Only if he listened to us. He resisted the change agent. This is the sad truth of the disease.” They gain immunity because they have authority. This guy, who overdosed, had lost his wife through a fatal accident. It caused him to relapse and to enroll himself into rehab. He was grieving and traumatized. They told him he had some cockamamie disease rather than recognizing he was simply a man in heartache. Trauma contributes to addictive behavior. Happy, well-adjusted people don’t use heroin.Today (no thanks to them), I am a social work student at Portland State. I used to be a homeless, suicidal drunk. I hope that you, too, may find solace and heal what is causing you to use. It sucks we must stumble through an incompetent treatment system in the US, but it can be done.