The Gooden Center

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My husband was “reborn” after going to The Gooden Center. His total recovery changed not just his life, but also the lives of everyone around him.

Gooden has paved the path to a new found life beyond my wildest imagination. I would recommend the center to any of my friends or family in need of their services.

I'll never forget what they did for me here. My life was truly changed for the better.

During my short stay ( 8 days) at the Gooden Center, I have concluded it as being the best treatment I've received inside an In-Patient Treatment Center. I've been to multiple treatment centers from the Salvation Army to Spencer's Recovery right on the beach in Laguna. I've been to treatments where clients come second to money, and treatments where they just dope you up on medication with no real treatment plan. This is NOT the case with Gooden. They are a non-profit. The program is client centered, which means you create your goals with your counselor for the duration of your stay. That, backed up by a Counseling and Clinical staff that is genuine and professional made me feel that much more determined to be committed to my recovery. None of my previous stays in treatment compare to the community, and fellowship I felt at Gooden. I highly recommend this place to any male seeking treatment for addiction. I had only one problem during my stay. One Program Assistant had a condescending and negative attitude towards me, and It seemed like he would rather be somewhere else other than work. Maybe I had caught them on an off week. Who knows? Nobody is perfect all the time.

Our family is so grateful for the Gooden Center and its client-based practice. I lived in their residential house (an awesome old Pasadena three-story) for a month before transitioning to a few of their four sober living properties. I stayed for a year, forming a foundation and growing roots in the large, 12-step community in the Pasadena area. Guys who pass through this house are given a shot at community and support from men who remain a part of the Gooden family. Most report there's just something about this place. It's true--I was at ease my first night there. From Monday Yoga to Art on Tuesday, Hiking Wednesday to Softball Thursday, Family Support groups on Saturday (a miracle unto to itself!) to Beach trips and outings on Sunday--all the while learning about the disease of alcoholism and addiction throughout the days; the Gooden Center brought a welcomed rest to my tumultuous and ashamed life.

Bottom line: this place helped save my life. It gave me, and more importantly, my family a new direction in life. The Gooden Center helped show me the way towards becoming a better husband, a better father and a better man. They gave me the tools I needed to make my way from treatment to recovery and I'll be grateful to them, the staff and the house for the rest of my life. From my first day there, on the phone with my wife I knew that I needed to be there. In the short days that followed I was given a crash course in addiction education and the options in recovery. I was surrounded by the "fellowship" 24/7 and was taught both the lessons that come with seeing fellows fall and seeing others move forward quickly. I also learned that when our fellows fall, we are there to catch them. That way we don't stay down for long. I saw men speaking about sobriety at "The BG" with a passion I'd never seen before. With that and the distance I had from my poison and environment, I was able to find the proper footing to propel myself into the process. The Gooden Center gave me the introduction to recovery that I needed, so that when I was ready to leave the property I was able to embrace MY sobriety. That was nearly 2 years ago and I'm still very active in the process. I talk to new guys that come to the house and try and show some guys the way through all of this. My life has changed amazingly fast in such a short amount of time. And while life is not always all smiles and sunshine, it's so much better than anything I've had before. I have this innate knowledge that no matter what, I will be okay. That my wife and my son will be okay. I feel so different today. I feel taken care of. I have no regrets in my life today. Everything action I took lead me to those front steps of the beautiful, old house and I love so much about who I am today.

My frame of reference isn't very broad on recovery centers. I've only done one once, but I can say this. Gooden seemed to do all they could to work with my insurance to make a stay at all possible, I learned a lot about addiction and recovery and over a year and a half later I have remained entirely sober, no relapses, and tons of good things have happened since. There were some difficult moments with administration and some social problems that could've been handled better, but nothing that left me bitter or scarred. It was far from luxurious and the sober living facilities particularly in the back house behind the main house were truly atrocious....major mold issues in the bathrooms and the carpet was beyond the help of a shampooing that never happened. Those are just the facts of my experience. Maybe it's changed since. It's not a spa or a luxury recovery resort by any means! They will demand that you work on house and personal upkeep if you are able, but I feel that is part of a well rounded rehabilitation. After all, this was a stay that was within my low budget. I did not expect luxury nor was that pitched as a selling point. If a price can be put on recovery, I think I got a very fair deal.

The Gooden Center has outstanding counselers that really care. It is one of the best rehab values around: avoid paying $35,000 per month and get all your needs met here. Probably their best asset is their flexibility in meeting the diverse needs of each client. Difficult circumstances always pop up in addiction treatment, from insurance issues, to family drama, to housing and job stress, and Gooden Center is there with you every step of the way, offering compassion and dignity.

Life Saving! Life changing! It's hard to put into words what The Bishop Gooden Home means to our family. They have provided support through every step of my husband's recovery, for both him and me. The biggest thing for us now is the continued benefits made available to us through couples counseling, family workshops, alumni meetings, Al-Anon, and Alumni meetings. Anyone who is looking to make a serious change should make a phone call to the admissions office ASAP. At the very least you will receive some great information about addiction. My hope is that you or your family member has the same opportunity we had for a bright future.