The Basics
Life Designs is located on 30 acres of rural terrain in Washington state. The ranch is about 60 miles north of small city of Spokane and 60 miles south of the Canadian border. Utilizing an experiential approach, Life Designs is a transitional living facility which specializes in helping young men and women between the ages of 18 and 30 overcome addiction, as well as co-occurring disorders, by providing them with a unique atmosphere where they choose their own path to recovery. Alternative therapies are utilized at Life Designs including shamanism, hypnotism and Reiki.
Accommodations and Amenities
Life Designs can accommodate 12 clients, but prefers to keep its numbers small. Typically there are about six residents at a time, with the male to female ratio of two to one. Residents reside in a large five-bedroom house on a fully staffed ranch. Furnishings are cozy and comfortable. One room is a library, stocked with books. Residents are paired in gender-specific rooms, and the women, usually no more than two, reside in a downstairs bedroom with its own bathroom, which provides some privacy.
Residents plan meals and shop for food together, usually at Costco. Cooking is also a family-type affair, and Life Designs offers culinary classes at the house where clients learn food preparation. Residents eat together inside a spacious dining room. Residents are given a weekly allowance towards the purchase of cigarettes and other personal items. While clients have access to their iPods and Mp3 players, computers and Wi-Fi are forbidden for four weeks.
Rules and Regulations
The mission behind Life Designs is helping young clients discover or re-discover their dreams and establish life goals. Prior to being accepted into the program at Life Designs, clients undergo a one-week screening process to ensure that they will be a good fit for the program. The cost is $1,600. Upon admittance, clients are required a six-month minimum stay.
Weekly requirements include attending three 12-step meetings, taking online academic classes and exploring experiential activities that include animal care, outdoor sports, self-expression through music and other alternative therapies. Outdoor sports activities include kayaking, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, rock-climbing, camping and white water rafting. Life Designs conducts random drug and alcohol screenings, and dispenses medications for clients when appropriate.
Extras
Clients explore alternative therapies such as shamanic healing and Reiki. Yoga is offered both in an individual, as well as in a group setting. Residents are provided with memberships and transportation to the the nearby Camas Center and required to work out for a minimum of one hour, three days a week.
In Summary
Life Designs is a unique therapeutic environment, but prospective clients should know that not all residents are recovering addicts. The program accepts individuals who are struggling with maturity and the responsibility of adulthood who are dealing with issues related to substance abuse or PTSD and anxiety. For those interested in an all-natural environment plus a little shamanism, this is a wonderful match, but for those seeking more traditional treatment, this might not work.
Life Designs
10302 Leclerc Creek Road
Cusick, WA 99119
Life Designs Cost: $8,000 (30 days). Reach Life Designs by phone at (509) 671-2487 or by email. Find Life Designs on YouTube, Facebook and Google+
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Photo courtesy of Trulia
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.
