Great program This program was a live saver and life giver for me. It validated my beliefs that were contrary to AA and gave me a new way to live my life to the fullest. It is not an easy fix, you have to accept responsibility for you life and the choices you make, and this can be hard for some who need a scapegoat. I was as the Executive Retreat although I am a retired senior woman. Holly and the staff are fantastic. The facility is very comfortable and everyone makes your visit calming and productive. And there were plenty of opportunities to practice what you learn and grow from the experience. I heartily recommend it to anyone who is serious about improving their life. It is not a place to be sent by someone else.

Absolutely Amazing LIfe Changing Experience Deciding to leave my home and place my career on hold was a big decision- one I probably should have made years ago. When I finally reached the point when I was ready to tackle my issues, I spent weeks researching places I could seek treatment. St. Jude stood for all of the things I believed in, and held a message of empowerment. Tired of feeling helpless, I made the decision to go to New York. From the moment I got there, I was amazed. I immediately felt like family. I was able to learn things about myself through the coursework and companionship of my housemates that I never thought possible. The staff is the most caring group of people I have ever had the pleasure to spend a month with. We are still in contact, and I genuinely miss them all. I have been home for 3 months now, and my life has become something I never thought possible. After 13 years on heroin (I'm only 28, so it was the majority of my adult life), I can finally live free of my addictions and pursue my goals with no restraints. I am grateful every day for the staff at St. Jude. If you are considering any type of inpatient treatment, please talk to St. Jude. You hear horror stories of inpatient programs- this is not one of them. It's not rehab- it's a life-changing retreat. It's the only thing that ever worked for me, and if I could send everyone I know there, I would. Today I am back to being a business professional and graduate student, am healthier than I have been since middle school, and free from drugs. But most importantly, I know who I am now. And I know who I want to be. I don't know how to thank them enough for their genuine compassion and on-going support.

An amzing experince I came to st.Judes as a last ditch attempt to keep myself from returning to jail. I expected to give lip service to the program and merely use it as a means to avoid incarceration. However, during my time there the amazing people who comprise the staff, from the Directors to the chefs, helped me to change my view of life and my place in it. Also, the program itself is the only one that ever worked for me. After I failed to change through the 12 steps and jail only provided me with a hiatus from drug use I thought that I was hopeless and would never find another way. This program, combined with the wonderful people who presented it to me, changed all of that. I believe that had I not gone to st.Judes I would be in prison or dead now. I recommend this place highly to anyone who wishes to change their present circumstances and live a more fulfilling life. Thank you st.Judes, and all those who helped me during my time there.

Excellent program that teaches self-accountability. The program is excellent, and focuses on choices that we are free to make every day. It wisely separates each life issue from others, so the analysis and elimination of unwanted issues is very simple. This program is not one size fits all, where you are coerced into thinking a particular dogma. Rather, the onus is upon oneself; to define yourself, see where you have succeeded and failed at being yourself, and laying out goals and plans of action to become yourself again. Touching on a variety of modern research topics including behavioral neuroscience, group dynamics, philosophy of nature, and cross-cultural fixed concepts, this program will challenge you to think hard about what is important and how to gain meaning in your life. I highly recommend.

St. Jude Retreat Amsterdam, NY I had the fortunate privilege of being a guest at St. Jude Retreat in January of 2014. I had tried multiple times in a 12 step program and it just didn't click. Conceding to the mentality as a victim of a disease in which I had no control just didn't make sense to me. I was in a weakened place in my life and I really didn't think trashing my past was going to be what it took to turn my life around. I went to St. Jude and found that the program was very empowering. The program allowed me to figure out where my standards were and where I wanted them to be. Getting clean was going to mean changing my attitudes and my focus, finding things of value in my life and focusing on them. The program at SJR was valuable in showing me that my personal choices affect my life. Being aware of that allows me to be an active participant in the direction my life takes.