My Nonprofit Reviews

While my time at RVC was brief, it was short-lived for the reason that it took me only days to grasp that the reality of this program was very different than promoted on their website. In a matter of weeks, I became increasingly appalled at both the lack of therapy and the unorthodox means to recovery employed. I was indeed expecting to stay active; what I was not expecting was to be overworked and sleep-deprived. 12 to 18-hour days performing intense labor can be commonplace, especially in summer. Sick days, days off, and downtime are extremely minimal. Their "Intensive Therapy Retreat" (a mere euphemism) entails being forced to stay awake for three days straight. Time designated "on the move," as the schedule denotes, is actually time spent at the house meaninglessly rewiping, redusting, resweeping common areas that have already been cleaned upwards of 20+ times in a day. It was a complete waste of time that could have been used more productively aimed at one's own recovery. I spent every minute trying to plan my escape from this God-forsaken place. Counseling and treatment is not available to new 'associates,' -- what I most needed coming into the program. Negativity, tattle-telling, and punishment are prevalent and seemingly encouraged. Punishment is excessive (ie - accidentally dropping a pill on the floor results in 7 days of extra labor / "on the move" time). Conflict Resolution group, another euphemism, is a sickening, degrading weekly group where all 'associates' meet together, and each person takes a turn getting oftentimes yelled at and berated by others, including staff. It is impossible to relay how horrified I was when I experienced the group for the first time and can only fathom that many of the others had become desensitized to what was going on around them. The use of intimidation, condescension, fear, excessive labor, and sleep deprivation are NOT the methods by which I want to be 'forced' into sobriety. I left at the point I realized that I would not be able to tell my family the truth, for their means of censoring communication wouldn't allow it. I left in order that I would not walk out of there a 'dry drunk' and a shell of a human being. Today, I am SO grateful to be living in a healthy, positive, safe, sober halfway house with other women in AA. I am certain that God placed me at RVC so that others become aware of their reality and choose a better option to attain sobriety.

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