Van Ness Recovery House
1919 North Beachwood Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90068
About Van Ness Recovery House
Van Ness Recovery House is an LGBTQIA+ friendly supportive living environment for adults who are struggling with substance use disorders. Their goal is to create structure and provide a safe space during the time of transition from addiction to recovery. Some of the services provided here include personalized treatment planning, peer support, counseling, 12-step programming, art therapy and medication management.
This is a 20-bed facility that’s served the L.A. community for 50 years. It’s become a mainstay in the City of Angels, which offers tons of entertainment venues as well as a diverse culture and a thriving arts scene. Los Angeles is also filled with natural beauty and you can check out some of the local beaches when you leave treatment, such as Paradise Cove and Venice Beach.
They’ll prepare you for a life of long-term sobriety, but you’ll need to go through the program first. Once you’ve completed the initial assessment and gone through the intake process, they’ll help you settle in and feel right at home. Your care team will provide clothing, socks, undergarments, towels, washcloths and a hygiene kit.
As you live on-site, you’ll participate in weekly treatment activities. These will take place for 88 hours a week. Over time, you’ll learn to create a healthy routine, focus on your recovery and begin working on your treatment plan. Here, they incorporate holistic therapies to help you regulate your moods, manage anger, develop coping skills, address family issues and heal from trauma.
I noticed that they encourage self-care as a high priority. They focus on treating the physical and psychological symptoms of your condition. You’ll meet with a counselor who specializes in STD/HIV and will run screening upon arrival. For further assistance, a peer or other support staff will help you set up medical appointments and attend them with you.
If you’re interested in holistic teratments, you can attend art therapy once a week. During the time you're in treatment, part of the weekly schedule will include making cards for family or a loved one which will be sent out each week. This gives you a chance to express yourself in a nonverbal way and explore your creative side. More importantly, this practice can help you process emotions and increase your self-esteem.