Program Narrative

The Refuge, A Healing Place is a multi-level, 12-Step oriented treatment program that includes Residential, PHP and Intensive Outpatient. The Refuge utilizes experiential and holistic approaches when treating substance abuse, process addictions and post traumatic stress disorder / trauma survivors. At The Refuge we have connected the dots and are completely aware of the correlation between substance abuse issues, trauma/PTSD and process addictions. This allows our highly trained clinical staff to do intensive treatment therapy and truly heal trauma/PTSD survivors. At The Refuge we have connected the dots and are completely aware of the correlation between substance abuse issues, trauma/PTSD and process addictions. This allows our highly trained clinical staff to do intensive treatment therapy and truly heal trauma/PTSD survivors. At The Refuge we believe that there are those who cannot achieve true sobriety until their trauma/PTSD is resolved. The Refuge's specialty rehab components focus on issues such as PTSD/Trauma, Substance Abuse, Eating Disorder, Depression/Anxiety, Sex and Love Addiction, and many other process addictions. The Refuge is located on 94 acres of the Ocala National Forest. This allows our clients that are suffering from PTSD/Trauma, Substance Abuse issues and many of the other process addiction to heal and recover in a Serine, Secluded and Tranquil environment.

Program Description

The Refuge, A Healing Place is a 30 day to 1 year extended treatment program that specializes in PTSD, Trauma, Substance Abuse, and Process Addictions located in central Florida. While at The Refuge, you can expect our highly accredited staff to help guide and nurture you back to a healthy state of living. Many of your days will be filled with two or more group/individual sessions, meditation, yoga, 12 step based meetings, and outdoor activities. While not with a therapist you might find yourself seeking advice from one of our many staff members that have successfully recovered from all kinds of addictions, and/or have survived devastating trauma/PTSD as well. From the moment you arrive at The Refuge, you will breathe in the richness of an environment full of the purity of nature.

Our approach can best be described as long term, 12-step based, experiential, encouraging dyadic attachment. We believe that trauma is centered in the nervous system. Telling the story in a nature setting like The Refuge, and not a hospital setting, helps the nervous system process the trauma and lessen trauma reactivity.  This alleviates the need for maladaptive coping mechanisms, many of which exhibit themselves as substance or process addictions. We also believe that there is no one specific way to do the trauma work. Each nervous system is different and the path to recovery is different for each individual. To that end we use many modalities and interventions.

In today’s treatment centers, the awareness of the relationship between trauma and addiction is expanding. And this discovery is really pretty simple – certain life events have created negative responses in the sufferer’s body, mind and spirit which in turn lead to choices and decisions. The way we live in the world depends on how we experience the world. The more difficult task is to treat both elements, trauma and addiction, in an integrated approach with the highest efficacy. This is what sets The Refuge apart – our approach addresses all aspects, with very effective results.

Message from President/CEO

Judith T. Crane LMHC, ICADC, CAP, CSAT, noticed the correlation between trauma/PTSD and substance abuse over two decades ago when working at Wayside House in Delray Beach, FL. In 2003, Judy opened The Refuge, A Healing Place in Ocklawaha, Florida. When The Refuge opened it was one of the few programs that specialized in PTSD/Trauma, process addictions and substance abuse. The Refuge allowed clients that were not only suffering from substance abuse and trauma/PTSD to admit, but also the clients that were struggling with staying sober because of underlying issues. Over the past eight years Judy Crane and her highly trained Refuge staff have perfected the holistic approaches they use to treat Trauma/PTSD Survivors.