Community Solutions - South County Family Justice Center

It's helping me in my recovery. They are polite, encouraging, and care about my sobriety. I have nothing but positive feedback on every single individual that works there.

I had a truly positive and meaningful experience during my stay at Madrone Crisis Residential Home. The environment itself is beautiful, peaceful, and surrounded by lovely scenery that genuinely feels like a place meant for healing and recovery. There are also plenty of activities available, which made my stay even more enjoyable—everything from knitting and crocheting, yoga mats for stretching or yoga, workout machines, art supplies for creative projects, beads for making bracelets, and a wide selection of books focused on recovery and substance abuse. What made my stay especially exceptional, though, was the staff. I want to give a heartfelt shoutout to Monsae, AJ, Ariana, and Ray. Each of them went above and beyond to ensure I felt safe, comfortable, and cared for. They were consistently attentive, accommodating, hardworking, and kind. Ariana, in particular, stood out for her attentiveness and compassion—she truly made a difference in my experience. The most impactful part of my stay, however, was working with Jen, the head therapist. I am diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and during certain episodes, I struggle with intense feelings of isolation and anxiety, often convincing myself that everyone dislikes me. During one particularly difficult hypomanic episode, I experienced a severe panic attack while alone in my room. The staff quickly noticed I wasn’t acting like myself and responded immediately. They contacted Jen, knowing I felt safe with her, and she came to support me. Jen knew exactly how to help me deescalate when nothing else was working—not even my usual coping strategies like guided meditation. Her presence, understanding, and skill truly helped me through a moment that felt unbearable. I am incredibly grateful for her. I also want to thank my case manager, Lily, who was attentive, efficient, and proactive. She helped me get approved for benefits in a timely manner and consistently followed through on everything that was needed. Her reliability made a big difference in reducing my stress. Another positive aspect of the program was how manageable everything felt. The chores were simple and easy to keep up with, which made daily life feel structured without being overwhelming. The groups and therapy sessions were on the shorter side, but they were still effective, engaging, and thought-provoking, which I really appreciated. As for feedback, I do believe there are a few areas for improvement. It would be incredibly beneficial for new clients to meet with a therapist within their first week, as adjusting to a new environment can be very anxiety-inducing. From my experience and conversations with peers, this was not always the case. Additionally, while therapists were sometimes available for brief emergency check-ins, I believe structured, weekly therapy sessions should be standard and scheduled automatically rather than only offered upon request. This could potentially prevent crises like the one I experienced. One other observation is that some of the older staff members could be perceived as less approachable or more strict with female clients compared to male clients. I noticed that rules and accountability, particularly around chores and snack policies, were not always enforced equally. Creating a more balanced and fair environment for everyone would make the experience even better. Overall, Madrone is a wonderful place filled with caring, dedicated individuals who truly want to help. The sense of support and compassion I experienced made it feel like a second home. I feel very fortunate to have been placed here and would highly recommend it to anyone in need of a supportive and healing environment. Thank you, Madrone, for everything. (Side note) The two female workers that worked the weekend shifts were also kind and companionate -- Unfortunately I do not remember their names but I wanted to make sure they knew I appreciate there help and calm personalities. Thank you!