Capstone Treatment Center Review
Capstone Treatment Center is an all-male Christian rehab for teens and young adults only in Judsonia, Arkansas, a proudly small town between Little Rock and Memphis. It’s fairly new to the treatment industry, having just opened in 2011. The owner, Adam Hickmon, is the originator of The Core Model therapy, which Capstone uses almost exclusively.
Hickmon’s method is an integrated systems model that incorporates marriage and family therapy, interpersonal neurobiology and adventure therapy, all built on the foundation of Christian Intimacy Theory, which is the idea is that every person is created by God in his image, with the purpose of loving and being loved on a core-to-core level.
Capstone’s therapy approach targets any area preventing a client from core-to-core intimacy with self, God, family and friends. Through this program, Capstone offers treatment for most imaginable addictions, including alcohol, drugs, pornography and even video games.
Accommodations and Food
Capstone’s facility is a three-story, 4,000 square foot house that holds therapeutic and administrative offices as well as two group therapy rooms and a 1,250 square foot deck. There’s a 1,600 square foot mess hall and another office building that holds 10 therapists offices, a teacher’s office, a school room and laundry. Overall, Capstone’s atmosphere is more akin to a summer camp than a hospital, and will likely offer a familiar outdoorsy ambiance.
Clients live in cabins, all of which have a homey feel and are spacious with private showers, bunk beds and front porches. The cabins are separated by age, with one for clients between the ages of 18 and 24 and the other for clients between the ages of 14 and 17 with a maximum of 30 beds between the two cabins. The large, spacious cabins are equipped with bunk beds and wood paneling, giving them a sleep away camp feel. TV viewing is not permitted at Capstone, but there are two movie nights a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays in the three-story house where the therapy sessions are held. Cell phones and computers are not allowed.
Food is served by an ex-Navy submarine chef, and tends to be nutritious with mostly organic ingredients. Because Capstone also has a physical program that includes running and weight lifting, residents should expect lots of protein and leafy green vegetables; caffeine and sugar aren’t allowed.
Treatment and Staff
Treatment at Capstone lasts between 90 and 96 days. Treatment takes place in four phases, each of which features daily group therapy, CBT, DBT, EMDR and one-on-one sessions three times a week. Capstone’s clients must also regularly attend AA meetings throughout, though they only focus on steps one through four.
The first phase is the 30-day Foundation Phase, which is Capstone’s non-medical detox and transition period. It includes a workout protocol, a viewing of War Dogs (a documentary about courageous dogs who fought in Vietnam with US soldiers) along with dog training videos and the beginnings of Canine Therapy, where clients will spend one hour a day raising puppies they’ve been given and cleaning kennels twice a day as a way to learn responsibility.
All this is followed by the Fundamental Phase (also 30 days), which is mostly intensive “core therapy” sessions where clients learn about healthy sexuality, taking ownership of actions, asking for help and developing new patterns of behavior. It also includes on-site 12-step meetings and Family Week, where clients’ families stay in a hotel nearby and join in therapy every day for five days (for an impressive and frankly surprising 35-40 total hours of therapy).
After that comes the Formation Phase for the final 30-36 days, which focuses on what Capstone calls the “discovery process.” Residents continue their 12-step meetings but also have a “solo experience.” During this period the staff sets up a temporary base camp with clients’ campsites set up 50 yards away in the shape of a wagon wheel with the staff at the hub and the residents’ camps as the outer spokes. Each client gets a tent, a food supply, equipment to complete projects and solo work, which is a series of meditative writing assignments designed by each client’s therapist. The entire process lasts for a three days, but isn’t as extreme as it may sound—this isn’t a time to sit and think about one’s sins. All the boys stay busy with tasks designed to spiritually fulfill them for the three days while they continue to learn Capstone’s fundamentals; they also sleep in their cabins at night, where they’re also allowed to socialize.
A typical day at Capstone begins with a 6:30 am wake-up followed by chores and puppy care until breakfast at 7:30. Mindfulness groups are at 8 am followed by phone calls until 9 am. Next comes a rotating treatment block from 9 to 10:50 am, and another from 10:50 to 12:40 pm.
Lunch is next, followed by another treatment block until 3 pm. After that comes addiction classes or lectures, therapy, homework assignments and more puppy chores until 5 pm (and sometimes a ropes course after therapy). All clients go to the gym until 6:15 pm, after which they shower and have dinner. Group therapy is from 7:30 to 8:30 pm. Finally there’s medication, free time, journaling and lights outs at 10:30 pm.
There are 60 mostly-male staff members at Capstone, 21 therapists and one on-site MD. Many are credentialed for EMDR or addiction as CMATs (Certified Multiple Addiction Therapists), CSATs (Certified Sexual Addiction Therapists) and CTT (Certified Trauma Therapists).
Extras
Aside from its unique canine therapy program (an extra in itself), all extracurricular activities at Capstone are adventure-based, including kayaking, rock climbing and Frisbee golf, where residents throw frisbees on an outdoor course trying to make par on a “hole.” Finally, visitors are also allowed on Sundays from 1-3 pm.
In Summary
Though the facility has a lot to offer, there are still things to consider with Capstone; more specifically, its policy of 24/7 surveillance. At night, evening staff do four bed checks an hour, and the only time clients aren’t being watched is when they’re in the bathroom. The atmosphere is very strict and almost militaristic in that regard, which is likely not to sit well with all potential clients.
Overall Capstone’s strict approach to sobriety is steeped in Christian values, and could work to scare impressionable young men straight. Still, the big brother aspect of Capstone’s treatment could certainly be a concern; after all, there’s nobody to watch residents around the clock once they’re back in the real world.
Capstone Treatment Center Location
120 Meghan Ln
Judsonia, AR 72081
Capstone Treatment Center Cost
$17,333 (30 days). Reach Capstone Treatment Center by phone at (501) 729-4479. Find Capstone Treatment Center on Facebook
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