Luxury Treatment

Chapters Capistrano is in two separate houses—about two miles apart, in San Clemente—that are not only comfortable but look and feel like real homes.

The oceanfront home on Buena Vista has six private rooms with private baths, while the home with a pool on Avenida La Cuesta has four private rooms, one semi-private. Each house has a dining room, two living rooms, and a patio.

Both houses are near the ocean. La Cuesta has a pool on-site; Buena Vista, a whirlpool bath.

Chapters Capistrano knows that addiction recovery is not just about healing the mind or body but the whole person. That requires both medical and psychological staff with empathy towards people with addiction, some of who may have personal experience with substance use disorder among their families, friends, or themselves.

The staff—case managers, therapists, nurses, doctors, and other behavioral health technicians—all are versed in addiction treatment and continually renew and upgrade their skills, licenses, and education.

Chapters Capistrano provides many opportunities for leisure-time diversion. Recovery is a full-time endeavor, but even a full-time job has time for leisure. It’s even necessary. Meditation, physical activities, or other recreation gives clients the time to reflect on the lessons learned during the day, to absorb them.

The proximity of the ocean makes water activities—swimming, kayaking, and whale-watching—among the most popular at Chapters. One house also has a pool, the other a whirlpool bath.

There is some exercise equipment at each house, and twice a week a trainer comes in for instruction. A physical therapist also visits for those wanting acupuncture, massage, and yoga.

Intake is the 90-minute face-to-face assessment. Clients meet with a nurse and doctor, their vitals are taken, forms are signed, and the customized initial treatment plan takes shape.

The staff asks questions of the clients, including their:

• Current and past substance usage. Honest answers can help prevent precipitated withdrawal.
• Medical conditions
• Current or past mental health conditions or behaviors (cutting, suicide attempts)
• Legal problems or complications (such as a pending trial, Child Protective Services meeting, or court-ordered DUI class)

They also screen for any co-occurring mental health disorders—post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) generalized or social anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, depression—that may have caused or contributed to the substance use disorder.

To see if or for how long the clients have been sober, urinalysis and blood alcohol content (BAC) tests may be performed. If positive, detoxification under 24-hour medical supervision may be necessary. If needed, medications for withdrawal symptoms may be dispensed.

Usually, detox lasts from three to 10 days:

• First day: A staff member checks on the clients every 30 minutes and takes their vitals every hour.
• Second day: Vitals checked every two hours.
• Third day: Vitals checked every four hours.

During detox, clients are excused from daily rehab activities.

No one treatment works for everybody, but some components are common to most treatment plans, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, individual, group/family therapies, contingency management, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) if necessary to prevent precipitated withdrawal or relapse.

Withdrawal is the process of the body readjusting to being drug-free. It should be a gradual, tapered process. If the withdrawal is too sudden, it may make clients feel miserable as the flu or intense physical pain.

If insurance covers it and the clients feel they need it, they can extend rehab past 90 days for up to eight additional weeks.

Some clients also have co-occurring mental health disorders (dual diagnosis). Mental health treatment can follow the completion of addiction treatment, separately but with the same clinical treatment team.

After leaving rehab, the staff can help clients find new therapists for aftercare if they didn’t have or don’t want to continue seeing a current therapist. Chapters Capistrano also has an alumni program.

On the first day, clients arrive at Chapters Capistrano, where they are greeted and their belongings are checked for contraband. Sexually explicit material is locked until discharge. Unauthorized drugs are destroyed within three days.

Next, they meet with the house behavioral health technician and a licensed practical nurse for the Face-to-Face, a more in-depth version of the pre-assessment interview.

Then, they go over the contract. The clients sign consents for treatment, and the staff answers the clients’ questions. On the first day, the staff starts working on an individual treatment plan that will lead to the clients' eventual discharge.

Finally, the clients are shown their rooms. If necessary, they begin a 72-hour detox.

After detox, clients have more freedom but must take part in all required activities. They must continue to pass breathalyzer and urinalysis tests. A negative drug test can send them back to detox.

A day in rehab starts early. Therapy, classes, and other activities begin at 8 a.m., so they should finish breakfast, bathing, morning exercises, and take necessary medications earlier.

The schedule is structured but with free time. Participation in classes, therapy, and other lessons is mandatory and continues until about 4 p.m.

The rest of the day until lights out is free time. Clients may engage in solitary or group activities: hiking, swimming, reading, meditating, playing games, or watching television in the living rooms.

Clients must remain on the premises. Items needed, such as comfortable clothing and shoes, should be brought in at intake. Staff can purchase additional toiletries and snacks for them during twice-weekly shopping trips.

After detox, clients can have visits from family, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, if arranged and forms signed by Wednesday.

Clients usually dine together in the dining rooms to build a sense of community. Breakfast is continental style. Lunch and dinner are catered, with a choice of protein and sides from a menu. Dietary restrictions accommodated.

Outside snacks and other treats are allowed if factory sealed (no homemade items), subject to inspection for contraband. All packages and other mail must be opened and inspected by staff.

Clients can bring comfortable clothes and bathing suits to participate in treatments and activities. They can also bring photos, journals, and electronic communication devices to remind them of their loved ones and why they want to recover.

If they’re unsure about what to bring, they could contact our Intake team, who are always happy to answer any questions, address any concerns, or assist people in any way.