Brook Retreat Review
Founded in May 2014 in the idyllic town of Plympton, Massachusetts, by Tom Rielly, Michael Goedicke, and Joe Carroll, who are all in recovery, Brook Retreat provides transitional living for men of all ages. Their current residents range between 24 and 40 years of age. While Brook Retreat does have working relationships with local outpatient treatment centers, their belief is that the work performed in the house, which is deeply rooted in the 12 steps, parallels the services provided by successful drug rehabs.
Accommodations and Amenities
The imposing 4,400 square foot Cape Cod style house is nestled on two acres, surrounded by trees. Brook Retreat has a 16-bed capacity. The house includes six bedrooms, three bathrooms, a dining area, fully equipped kitchen, a meeting room and a living room with a cozy fireplace. Clients are housed in double-occupancy rooms. A typical double-occupancy room has wood floors, nightstands, dressers and quaint lamps. Twin beds are covered with white comforters and decorative pillows. All of the bedrooms are equipped with HD televisions that have full cable packages.
While clients are responsible for their own groceries and meal preparation, Brook Retreat provides a Tuesday night dinner from 6 to 7:30 pm. The dinner is more about fellowship than food and gives clients a chance to bond. Clients are forbidden to use social media during their stay. This includes Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. This rule is enforced so that residents can focus on creating a new life without any outside distractions. Other amenities include free use of laundry facilities, Ping-Pong table and a basketball hoop. At Brook Retreat, there is onsite staff that provides around the clock supervision, as well as the house dog Rome, a Doberman mix.
Rules and Regulations
Brook Retreat prefers clients who have completed primary care at a drug rehab and have a minimum of 30 days of being clean and sober. The recommended length of stay is between six and nine months. Upon arrival, clients are assigned a contact, typically a staff member who is also in recovery and acts as an advisor. Staff provides job coaching, spiritual mentoring and life skills assistance.
Requirements include attending daily 12-step meetings, working with a sponsor, performing household chores, searching for employment or pursuing an academic education, participating in house projects and being present at the Monday night house meeting. A typical daily schedule includes waking up at 9 am, followed by a 9:15 am room check to ensure that all beds were made, followed by a 9:30 am meditation. From 10:30 am to 11:30 am, clients participate in an on-site Big Book study, which is followed by a house project, job search or inventory writing. Employed clients are exempt from events that are scheduled from 9:15 am to 4 pm. This includes room checks, meditation, job searches and inventory writing.
Evening events vary, and include 10th step inventory workshops, outside AA meetings, guest speakers and Big Book meetings which are lead by staff. The curfew is 10 pm Sundays through Thursdays, and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. At Brook Retreat, clients are subject to random drug and alcohol screenings. The house practices a zero tolerance policy and relapsed residents are subject to immediate eviction.
Extras
A family program is held every other Wednesday, where relatives are provided addiction education and information about the 12-steps.
At Brook Retreat, scholarships are offered for financially challenged clients who exhibit a strong desire to change their lives around, through a 12-step approach.
In Summary
For those seeking a non-12-step approach, including SMART Recovery, this might not be the right spot. However, for clients eager to learn about the 12-steps, Brook Retreat provides a staff that is passionate about AA, a highly structured approach, and a pastoral setting that is conducive to a spiritual program.
South Shore Transformation, Inc.
Brook Retreat Location
South Shore Transformation, Inc.
Brook Retreat
55 Brook Street
Plympton, MA 02367
Brook Retreat Cost
$1,750 (30 days). Reach Brook Retreat by phone at (781) 285-5760 or by email at contact_us@BrookRetreat.org. Find Brook Retreat on Facebook and Google+
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