Life Healing Center of Santa Fe

Life Healing Center is one of the few treatment centers with a trauma-​based program, where most patients suffer from some form of PTSD. Because of this, the staff are thoroughly trained in trauma-​treatment and PTSD symptoms (ie flashbacks, dissociation) The tranquil and serene campus was exactly what was needed to help me begin my journey of healing from my past and begin to create a vision of the future. Two years later, I cannot imagine my life without entering this treatment facility and to be honest I don’t know if I would have had one.
LHC is an open campus, which means the doors are not locked and patients are free to roam around campus without staff supervision, unless under special one-​on-​one orders. They do screen patients for safety because of this, and the peace of being able to have space to be with oneself was crucial in my journey of healing. Staff are compassionate and take time to reach out. With such a small community, the patients are able to form bonds and connections that truly support healing and trust. Unlike most centers where the majority of your day is in generalized skills groups, at LHC you spend most of your days in a small (about 5 patients on average) process group that you do the majority of your healing work. I cannot say that the treatment will work for everyone, because as with any rehab center there is an incredibly difficult transition home. I can, however, say that LHC saved my life and I am beyond grateful to have chosen them.

I went to this treatment center in 2001 for ptsd and childhood sexual abuse issues. I was high-​functing, educated, and strong but I felt dead inside. I did research on it and spok to staff on the phone prior to going, because I was self pay, and if I was going to drop $ 28 K to go there, I wanted to get my money’s worth so to speak. The director (who did not speak to me on the phone) told the in-​take person to tell me that I should plan to stay at least 8 weeks. They assured me that their program was ideally suited to my needs and that they would be able to help. However, they did not say HOW they could help or what the program entailed exactly, besides 12-​step meetings. I ended up going because it was less expensive than the meadows. Bad decision. To begin with, the place is an old boy scout summer camp. Don’t expect luxury. I got there during the week and nothing was going on. Nothing. There were no groups, I didn’t speak to a therapist that whole first day, the food (which was only so-​so) was left out for the night and you could just come in and eat whenever you wanted. There was no sense of structure or order and nothing to do. The next day I went to group therapy, but there was no therapist. There was a person there who called herself a therapist, but she had absolutely nothing to offer anyone. She was more like a moderator. I didn’t get a sense that she knew anything. This became MY therapist while in the program and as far as I could tell she took notes in order to share whatever I said with the whole staff, but gave me no help. The staff determined that my main issue in life was that I didn’t feel like I fit in anywhere, and they designed a treatment to make me break down, by taking me away from the roommate I had from the first night, putting me in a house alone (I mean a whole structure by myself away from everyone) and asking me not to speak in any group meetings. The goal was to isolate me so that I would have a breakdown/​breakthrough, which I did. But there was no one to put me back together. I make friends easily my out-​going nature was seen as insolance. They diagnosed me as a sexual anorexic, which is a kind of sexual addict which is related to alcoholism so they sent me to 12-​step-​alcohol meetings off campus as my treatment. These free community meetings were the core of their program and actually the best part of it, but not remotely helpful to me, just entertaining. Most of the day was spent waiting around. The camp was located in a remote area, but you weren’t allowed to leave the property (which wasn’t that big) so all there was to do was journal or take short walks or talk to the other clients. I spoke out and challenged the staff for not earning my money, or helping me. Actually I didn’t see that they were helping anyone. There were people who had been there months and months and months who were really in trouble and not getting any guidance, or therapy, but they had good insurance that was paying faithfully, or rich families, and so they stayed and stayed and stayed. Many people were there because they just didn’t want to deal with life and it was a convenient place hide out with no expectations from anyone. I got the sense that a large portion of the «clients» were being warehoused there and there was no incentive to let them go. The whole approached of the place was to let people just fall apart and then put THEMSELVES back together, in a «safe» environment, which wasn’t safe, only restrictive. What a waste of time and money. The worst part was the staff. There were some nice people there but I didn’t meet a single talented therapist, and the lower level staff were more like jailors with holier than though attitudes. It was so pointless and such a waste of money and time that I actually only stayed for 5 days. I left before the weekend because NOTHING happend on the weekends — and yet I was paying over $ 500 a day. They took my credit card when I first arrived, went through all my things to make sure I didn’t have drugs (not even allowed asperin) Bear in mind I did not have a chemical dependence problem, but they treated me like I was lying about it. «We’ll be the judge of that!» was their consistent attitude. (Don’t bring perfume, you can’t have it — you could drink it) Fortunately, I had my credit card number memorized and there was a payphone in my building (which I was alone in remember) and I booked myself a flight home on the fifth day without their knowledge or permission. They did not like THAT. Then I requested the balance of my money back (and got it). After that, I actually found an incredibly good therapist who does 5-​day intensives based on self-​empowerment, spirituality and rock solid therapy for people with serious childhood abuse issues. If you have childhood abuse issues, this is NOT the place for you. If you doubt this review, read the google reviews too, which are recent and similar to my experience. And good luck.

I have sent several clients to Life Healing Center and have had such a great experience with them. Their care is top notch, services are diverse and staff is great at communication with the patient’s primary providers at home. They also offer DBT therapy which is so helpful in trauma. I highly recommend them and I am VERY picky with treatment programs!

I recently was a client at LHC for trauma. I’d attended treatment in the late 90’s at another facility, but through working with my sponsor and therapist a continued pattern of childhood trauma continued to hamper my continued growth in recovery; which in turn began to threaten my abstinence/​sobriety. Chrissie who helped me with my intake process really explained to me a lot of what to expect prior to making my decision. Once I arrive, I found a staff that had created a healing environment, which nurtured me along, and in my time I was able to share some things that haunted me for years. The group work helped start me on the right foot, because just like when I went through treatment before, I learned that I was not alone in my pain. The breath work I did with a therapist was probably the single most powerful thing I did while was there. Towards the end of my stay we took a hike in the NM Mountains, it brought me to a place of gratitude; that I had made a decision to take the time to work on ME. One thing I continue to remember with fondness was the peace and serenity I experienced sitting outside at night looking up at the stars.
I guess since I’m reviewing I need to give you the good, the bad and the ugly. There wasn’t really any ugly. I mean its treatment, people have their mood swings, the food’s ok, I wish I could have watched more tv or phone time, when it rains you have to walk outside to get from building to building, but nothing took place that made we want to run screaming for the exit.
I’m truly blessed for the balance I enjoy in life today. I’m grateful my path of recovery included a much needed stay at LHC.

not only do they know nothing about ptsd or trauma. i personally came out much worse, i feel like they opened up a horde of memories i have tried to forget about violent physical abuse throughout my childhood. they made me feel like there was no hope and i was a loser and was less worthy than the other clients because i had health insurance paying some. i left unable to understand basic things around me. i feel so depressed and lost that i have not worked or left my condo in a few months. i can no longer even talk to my friends on the phone. i feel like the whole thing was just false hope. wish i could have some of the time and money back. btw, that second review is clearly an employee. it takes them a week to get you something for a terrible headache. individual treatment my ass.