Serenity House Counseling Services Extended Care Program Review
Dr. Henry Tewes founded Serenity House Counseling Services 30 years ago in Addison, Illinois, just outside of Chicago. It has grown into a comprehensive treatment program that offers DUI evaluations, HIV education, and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), sober living and an extended care program for men and women as described below.
Accommodations and Food
Both the male and female extended care programs operate out of large homes on Serenity House’s campus. The women’s residence can accommodate up to 12 clients while the larger home for men can accommodate up to 32. Each home has large, open living areas and kitchens. Four clients share a bedroom in the women’s residence and two share a room in the men’s. Each home has multiple bathrooms that are used by all clients. The men’s home has a recreation room that includes gym equipment and games. Both homes have open access to TV but desktop computers are to be used for career and educational purposes only. However, personal cell phones and electronics are permitted during certain hours.
Dinners are designed by a dietician but prepared by the residents and served family-style. Clients eat breakfast and lunch on their own. Sugar and caffeine are allowed.
Treatment and Staff
Clients who have been sober for 14 days are eligible for Serenity House’s extended care programs and the length of treatment can range from 90 days to six months. Since clients must be sober to enter the program, detox is not provided.
Serenity House implements evidence-based treatment within individual and group therapy, in addition to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) and dual diagnosis support when applicable. It does not facilitate 12-step meetings on-site but staff members do encourage clients to attend AA/NA groups outside of treatment. Clients generally attend individual sessions once a week and eight-person group sessions up to three times a week.
While in the program, clients are expected to work, volunteer or attend school full-time. They must be out of the house between 9 am and 6 pm, at which point dinner is served. Clients are required to be present for evening roll call and submit to random drug testing. Depending on restrictions, residents can leave the property in the evening and weekends but must return for lights-out at 11 pm. Clients new to the program are only allowed visitors on Sunday. While residents move through the program, restrictions are lifted and they can earn overnight passes.
The staff at each residence includes a MD, psychiatrist and Master’s-level CDACs. Serenity House works with the local health department for additional mental health support.
Extras
Every Wednesday night, group features a different educational topic and a speaker from the community. Topics include adult education, nutrition, DUI counseling and legal help. After 90 days, clients can join Serenity House’s alumni club and help plan fundraising and educational events, as well as recreational activities for current clients. After completing treatment, clients can move to Serenity House’s sober living homes for up to two years.
In Summary
Serenity House Counseling Services’ extended care programs offer evidence-based treatment and dual diagnosis support in a comfortable setting. It is a thriving environment for adults who can live independently but also benefit from a structured home environment. This is a great fit for Chicago-area clients who have completed inpatient treatment and are ready to return to work or school.
Serenity House Counseling Services Extended Care Program Location
891 S. Rohlwing Rd
Addison, IL 60101
Serenity House Counseling Services Extended Care Program Cost
$680 (30 days), insurance and state funding accepted. Reach Serenity House Counseling Services Extended Care Program by phone at (630) 620-6616. Find Serenity House Counseling Services Extended Care Program on Facebook
Do you have a complaint or review of Serenity House Counseling Services Extended Care Program to add? Use the comments area below to add your Serenity House Counseling Services Extended Care Program review.
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.
