Client Testimonials

"I came out of an impatient program with 62 days sober. And although I knew that I would never be a person who could use in moderation, and I knew that using would ultimately lead the end of my life, that knowledge wasn't enough to keep me sober. Insight gave me structure, to manage my day to day life. Insight gave my family the support and opportunity to change our dynamics. I began to look into my life, thinking about what my unique reasons were for wanting to escape. Sobriety is essential to my survival. I don't have to be a statistic. Insight has taught me how to hold myself accountable to my own potential. I've been sober over a year now. My family and I have tools, and connections to other families who share in the same struggle. It's hard, but we are not alone."

Cristo Nava, Age 18

"After a multitude of unsuccessful individual therapy sessions, my parents sent me to the Insight Treatment Center in Sherman Oaks. I was sixteen years old and had developed not only a progressive drug habit but displayed severe behavioral defiance. My life was slowly spinning out of control but I wasn’t in a position to recognize the wreckage that I was creating. Insight helped me identify my issues as well as allowed for my family and me to work through them. I also significantly benefited from being in an environment where others were experiencing and dealing with similar challenges. Eventually, I graduated from Insight and proceeded to not only stay clean and sober but also begin to aspire towards my dreams and goals. I’m currently twenty-eight years old and have over eleven years of continuous sobriety. Throughout these last eleven years, I’ve been able to not only graduate college “magna cum laude” but I’ve also been able to accomplish my life long dream of playing professional baseball. However, most importantly, I have an amazing relationship with my parents and cherish the time that I get to spend with them. I truly believe that if my parents hadn’t taken a stand and put me into Insight, I wouldn’t be sitting here today with the remarkable life that I have. Thanks Insight for saving my life and giving me a second chance!"

Adam K. – Alumni

"My parents sent me to Insight when I was 15 years old. Even though I was very young, my daily using was out of control and I was dealing with issues that I was not capable of handling on my own. Insight brought my issues to the light when I couldn’t see them. No one likes rehab. I still can’t say that I enjoyed Insight, but I can say that it helped and brought me back when nothing else could. I needed the intensity that Insight offers; my life was unmanageable. As cheesy as this is, the staff and therapists loved me until I could love myself. Even as an Alumni I still feel like Insight is my family. Today I have over 3 years sober at 19. I have an amazing career and life today. Thanks 🙂 "

Alumni

"On December 4th, 2002 I learned how cold steel can be. The metal gave me chills as I was being placed in handcuffs and taken from school to the police station. No longer wearing the handcuffs I rubbed my wrists for what could have been a minute or an hour, all the while I was CERTAIN there was no hope for me. I KNEW my life would go nowhere. Nothing had ever been colder than that feeling. A month later I was enrolled at Insight. I had a multitude of what Insight called “core issues” that resulted in my drug and alcohol abuse among other harmful behaviors. This was not just a place that helped me get clean, this was a place that set out to get me a clean slate. The program emphasized the uncovering and understanding of these “core issues”, which essentially set the table for what would become my recovery. Insight was instrumental in helping me learn about why I took the actions I did and why I had the feelings I had. It was imperative and without it my recovery would be akin to putting a band-aid on a 3rd degree burn. I started at Insight as a 16 year old kid. I left insight as a man who has a great relationship with his friends and family. I have gone on to graduate from college and have been able to do things I never dreamed of. Thanks to Insight I never have to feel cold again."

Daniel H. – Alumni

"I came into Insight Treatment in the middle of junior year in high school–the lowest point in my life. My family relationships were awful, my self image was at an all time low, and I was in need of help for substance abuse issues. Upon arrival at Insight I tried to convince my parents to let me out, but I could not be happier that I stayed. Insight completely changed me, and has easily been the biggest and most positive event in my life. I have now graduated from high school (on time, might I add), graduated Insight’s program, and my life is going great. My relationship with my parents is amazing and my brother is now one of my best friends. I think before acting and life never seems overwhelming. Insight has given me tools that I will use for the rest of my life."

Trevor W. – Alumni

"I found out about Insight when they came to my High School and lectured my Religion class about drugs and alcohol. I had a sneaking suspicion that I was an alcoholic and being the paranoid self-centered alcoholic that I was I thought they knew too. I was a sad person before I went to Insight. I had no self-confidence. I was unbearably shy and the only thing I looked forward to was getting obliterated on the weekends. It was the only time I felt like I could let loose and connect with new people. When I was drunk I did things I promised myself I would never do and this left me with an immense amount of shame. I use to wish a car would hit me when I was crossing the street so it would all just end. After Insight came to my school I told my Mom about them and mentioned I might have a problem. She looked into it and upon finding out how much of a commitment it was; I decided I was no longer interested. However, three months later I no longer had a choice to go or not go. It was Insight or Wilderness. I, like many, tried to manipulate my way out of the program but my Mom didn’t fall for it. I cannot express how grateful I am that she didn’t. Insight was the best experience of my life. It gave me a life. I can’t imagine how I would be today if I’d never received their help. My counselors and psychologist were like my family. They provided me with the structure and support I’d always desired. My love and gratitude for these people is infinite and I think about them everyday. I learned so much about myself at Insight and how to communicate my feelings. Most importantly, I got in touch with who I was and slowly but surely I began to love myself. Today I am 23 years old and I have six years sober. After Insight I went on to attend my dream art school in NYC and last year I graduated from that college with my BFA. None of this would have been possible without my Mom and Insight. If you are a parent or child and you are wondering how you can get through young adulthood sober, it is possible. I went through a year in a half of High School and all of college sober. No one is making me stay sober now. If I didn’t have a life that was far better than the one I had before I wouldn’t still be doing this. The joys I have experienced being clear-headed surpass anything I could have experienced high mainly, because they are real. Anthony Lopez is the greatest man I know and I trust him with my life. I wish that everyone could benefit from Insight the way I have. "

Liz – Alumni