What led me to seek treatment at The Meadows was I was getting sick fast. I was physically ill and emotionally unstable. And I was going down fast,” Daria recalls. Her decision to seek help for her eating disorder was made in a moment of clarity. “I made some poor choices that led to a situation where I had to make the decision within 5 minutes of hearing about it.” On December 15, 2022, she entered treatment, embarking on a life-changing journey.

After a three-day alcohol binge left him physically and emotionally depleted, David entered treatment at The Meadows. Emotionally shut down and disconnected from his past, he began to uncover repressed childhood trauma during group therapy as others’ stories sparked his own memories. These emotional breakthroughs shifted his motivation from living for others to valuing his own life. The sense of shared experience and lasting peer connection became key to his healing. Through codependency work and emotional regulation skills, David learned to distinguish past programming from present reality—empowering him to live with greater self-awareness, clarity, and self-compassion.

Samira sought treatment to address lifelong anxiety rooted in early childhood trauma, including the loss of two siblings. Through an 8-week intensive outpatient program at The Meadows, she gained insight into the origins of her fear and learned to navigate complex emotions such as grief, loss, and boundaries. Group support and weekly sessions helped her feel less isolated in her experiences. Since completing treatment, Samira has developed healthier coping skills, embraced solitude without fear, and rekindled personal passions, leading to greater emotional well-being and a renewed sense of peace.

Before entering treatment, Jonathan struggled to identify or express his emotions and carried deep anxiety rooted in a history of childhood abuse. In a small men’s group, he found a supportive and emotionally safe environment that allowed him to begin processing his past and recognizing the generational nature of trauma. Through increased self-awareness and psychoeducation, Jonathan gained tools to navigate life with greater clarity and emotional insight. Although recovery has brought both highs and lows, he now finds strength in shared experience and a renewed connection to himself and others.

Meet Meadows Alumni, Rachel, who came to Rio Retreat Center at The Meadows for our Survivors 1 workshop. After a personal family crisis, Rachel recognized the lasting impact that unresolved childhood trauma was having on her life and relationships. She came to Survivors I carrying a deep sense of shame and uncertainty, unsure of what to expect. Through the workshop’s structured approach and the application of Pia Mellody’s Developmental Model of Immaturity, Rachel began to understand how early experiences shaped her sense of self. For the first time, she was able to explore those patterns in a safe and supportive environment. The workshop helped her identify core beliefs, process long-held emotions, and begin the work of reparenting. It marked a turning point in her recovery and laid the groundwork for lasting change.

When long-standing patterns of depression, isolation, and compulsive behavior resurfaced, Rachel entered inpatient treatment at The Meadows, even though it meant returning to care on her five-year sobriety anniversary. Initially overwhelmed and ashamed, she quickly found comfort in the compassion of staff and peers. Through engaging with Pia Mellody’s Developmental Model of Immaturity, reconnecting with spirituality, and rediscovering joy through connection and play, Rachel began to rebuild a sense of self-worth.

Kasey entered treatment after her eating disorder progressed quickly, leaving her physically and emotionally depleted. Unsure how to live without her eating disorder, she found support in a structured, compassionate environment where she began reconnecting with her body through mindful and intuitive eating. A key turning point came when she learned to fuel her body and truly listen to its needs, something she had long ignored. Kasey stays grounded in recovery through daily self-care and service, reminding others that healing is possible: “One meal, one step, one day at a time.”

After struggling with depression, anxiety, and heavy marijuana use during and after college, Jadon felt increasingly stuck and disconnected from himself. Although hesitant to enter treatment, especially group therapy, he found that opening up in a supportive therapeutic community became the most impactful part of his experience. At The Meadows, Jadon was able to process long-held emotions, build healthier coping skills, and reconnect with a sense of purpose. Today, he feels more like himself than he has in years and is committed to using his experience to support others on their own recovery journeys.

After getting sober, Kasey was confronted by the unresolved impact of sexual trauma she had long suppressed. Symptoms of PTSD, including hypervigilance, isolation, and difficulty feeling safe, began to surface, disrupting her daily life. At Willow House, she found a safe, supportive environment where she could begin to heal. Through trauma-focused therapies including neurofeedback, CES, and compassionate clinical care, Kasey was able to process her experience, reconnect with herself, and reclaim her independence. Today, she is living more fully, feeling grounded, present, and no longer defined by fear.

A longtime therapist himself, Michael never imagined he’d seek residential treatment. But after a painful breakup and recognizing the emergence of compulsive behaviors he’d never experienced before, something he read in Pia Mellody’s work on love addiction and avoidance prompted him to take action. At The Meadows, Michael found a compassionate, highly structured environment that allowed him to disconnect from daily distractions and focus on deep healing. Today, with a renewed commitment to his recovery, he maintains structure through therapy, 12-Step involvement, and daily self-care, and continues to experience meaningful progress in all areas of life.