Clay Crossing Review
Clay Crossing is 60 miles Southeast of Oklahoma City in a private natural landscape that ranges from thick forest to native grass plains. It offers a serene residential refuge for men recovering from drug and alcohol addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders.
Clay Crossing was formed in the spring of 2000 by Dick Liddell, a businessman from Norman; Lloyd Trenary, an Oklahoma City certified public accountant; Fred Gipson, former counsel for the University of Oklahoma; and Jim Riley, OU football star and holder of a Super Bowl ring. It began as a non-denominational Christian-based 12-step program, and was further developed by certified chemical dependency counselors.
Accommodations and Food
The facility’s teal-and-white buildings consist of only a 100-year-old farmhouse, a dining hall, a chapel and a ranch style bunkhouse with tree-trunk pillars, all surrounded by 400 expansive acres—so far from any city lights that the night sky offers residents a breathtaking view of the stars. With its fireplace, large exposed beams and comfortable armchairs and sofas throughout the common areas, Clay Crossing’s ranch-style home houses 15-17 men.
In an effort to avoid the modern tendency to use the bedroom for too many activities, Clay Crossing seeks to reestablish it as a place solely for rest. To this end, rooms are sparsely furnished with two twin beds, two dressers and little else. Each room has an air conditioner, heater and bathroom large enough for two residents to share. The facility provides bed linens, but residents must bring their own towels, pillows, laundry detergent and alarm clock. There are also several rooms with wheelchair access.
Clay Crossing does not allow cell phones, laptops, iPads or any device with Internet capabilities, but an exception may be made if a client requires Internet for business purposes. There are two cordless landline phones near the dining room and residents are welcome to use them on weekends and during free time, which takes place after lunch. There are two gathering areas with large TVs—one for sports and the other for TV shows and DVDs.
Clay Crossing provides well-balanced meals to restore health to the bodies of recovering addicts. With a sustainable farm that raises cattle and grows fresh produce using chickens and guineas as pest-control, the food here is fresh, organic and healthy.
The culinary style is best described as cowboy cuisine. The resident cook creates hearty, home-cooked meals every day, such as pulled pork sandwiches and potato salad for lunch, hamburgers and hot dogs (cooked on the outdoor grill) for dinner. Every meal features a generous salad bar, and special dietary needs are easily accommodated. Healthy snacks are available throughout the day, and the staff eats with residents at every meal. Clients can enjoy coffee, but sugar is not allowed.
Treatment and Staff
Treatment takes place on site, and lasts 30, 60 or 90 days. There is no medical staff on-site, and therefore no detox available. The staff at Clay Crossing is trained in several different schools of psychological thought, including gestalt, mindfulness, and existentialism, and work together to determine the best direction of treatment for each individual.
Exercise and physical health are featured prominently in the program here, and easy access to the surrounding natural landscape offers many opportunities to engage in this aspect of recovery.
Each morning starts at 7:30 am with breakfast and meditation, followed by chores and homework prep. From 9 am to 12 pm, residents participate in small group therapy and individual therapy, which can focus on both substance issues and mental health issues, although counselors also cover sex addiction and gambling. From 12 to 1 pm, residents have lunch and personal time, followed by group education, group therapy, or 12-step work. At 4 pm, all residents participate in a group session, and break for dinner at 5 pm. Evenings feature either Bible study, or an AA/NA group hosted by community members followed by lights out at 11pm.
On weekends, residents can have visitors from 10 am to 5 pm (as long as they are family or on a counselor-approved list). Family sessions take place (at no extra cost) from 10 am to noon, and family members are welcome to stay for lunch. The goal of family sessions is to educate loved ones about the disease of chemical dependency, provide emotional support and help residents and their families set expectations for one another.
After 90 days, residents may apply for Phase II, which allows them to continue treatment on a less demanding schedule. During this time, clients work on growing produce, caring for animals, in the kitchen or in whatever capacity they choose and receive a small paycheck. Throughout this phase, residents live in a separate building than other residents, and develop the skills needed to be successful in future work environments.
When a resident reaches the end of his treatment, a special transition ceremony is held and after one year of sobriety, he or she is invited back for a special celebration..
Seven core staff members (four licensed therapists, an activities director, a facility manager and case manager) serve the clients of Clay Crossing, with two staff members residing full-time on site and the rest arriving in the morning and staying until evening. Residents rave about the staff and the impact they’ve made; several have credited staff members here with saving their lives.
Extras
Clay Crossing doesn’t skimp on leisure activities. Indoor amenities include a pool table, ping-pong table, games, two TV gathering rooms, a selection of movies and a full weight/exercise room. Outdoor activities include fishing, softball, basketball, horseback riding, mountain bikes, a grill, fire pit and campsites for clients to use.
Each week, residents have the opportunity to leave the campus as a group in facility vehicles for outings such as shopping, bowling, and catching a movie, as well as occasional trips to annual AA conventions. There is a strong emphasis on learning to enjoy recreation and building relationships without the use of substances.
In Summary
For men who value a spiritual life and appreciate the serenity of natural surroundings, Clay Crossing might be the perfect place to begin recovery. With its vast natural surroundings and organic sustainable farm, it has the features and high satisfaction rate one might expect from a luxury facility. And at $5500 for 30 days, it comes at a surprisingly economical price.
Clay Crossing Location
32018 Highway 59
Maud, OK 74854
Clay Crossing Cost
Clay Crossing Cost: $5500 (30 days). Reach Clay Crossing by phone at (405) 374-1225 or (866) 374-1220, or by e-mail at Bret.Leiker@claycrossing.com. Find Clay Crossing on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest
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Sponsored DISCLAIMER: This is a paid advertisement for California Behavioral Health, LLC, a CA licensed substance abuse treatment provider and not a service provided by The Fix. Calls to this number are answered by CBH, free and without obligation to the consumer. No one who answers the call receives a fee based upon the consumer’s choice to enter treatment. For additional info on other treatment providers and options visit www.samhsa.gov.
