HOFH Elite Care Center Spotlight: The Retreat
Since opening its doors in 1998, The Retreat has become an internationally recognized leader and beacon of hope in the recovery world. Grounded in time-tested principles of recovery, The Retreat serves adult men and women and is a non-clinical, supportive-educational, mutual-help approach to recovery that emphasizes a spiritual-community-based solution to the problem of addiction. Its success is so widely regarded that its model of recovery has been replicated by 12 organizations across the U.S. and in Ireland, Hong Kong, Australia, and New Zealand.
Located in Wayzata, MN & St Paul, MN, The Retreat’s beautiful 91-bed main campus, located just 15 minutes west of downtown Minneapolis, welcomes its guests to a historic retreat center nestled in the Wayzata Big Woods. Guests enjoy the benefit of private and semi-private rooms and facilities dedicated to exercise and meditation. This serene setting enhances The Retreat’s focus on spirituality, and guests learn the benefit of meditation and quiet reflection. In addition, The Retreat also has locations in the historic Crocus Hill area of St. Paul where they have 6 sober living residences (71 beds) and a non-residential office on Grand Avenue. Additional programs include a residential and virtual Family Program, spiritual retreats, a compulsive overeating program, a weekly meditation groups, retreat adventures, 55PLUS programs, retreat adventures, a kids camps, and recovery community softball, hockey, pickleball, and many other activities.
“When the idea for The Retreat started, it was based on a seven-year-long ‘think tank’ group that began in 1991 called The Community of Recovering People of which I was a member. What we found in our early discussions was there was a power in the mutual help ‘people helping people’ community-based approaches that were simple, affordable, and effective,” says John Curtiss, Co-Founder/CEO/President of The Retreat. “In 1995, I wrote a business plan for a 20-bed, supportive-educational, Twelve Step immersion retreat center modeled after those earlier approaches and called it ‘The Retreat.’ I wanted to make a distinction between ‘treatment’ and this more supportive educational community-based approach.”
With the help of friends like Dr. George Mann, Bob Bisanz, and Jim Steubner, the first location for The Retreat, the old Pillsbury-Gale family estate in the western suburbs of Minneapolis, was secured. Since then, The Retreat has served more than 28,000 individuals and their families from around the world with its continuum of services.
“We teach people how to live in recovery,” says Curtiss. “We teach the essentials of recovery embodied in the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. And, we also have an integrated community-based approach that utilizes over 400 volunteers from the recovery community who are there to share their messages of hope and recovery with our guests. Our residents are surrounded by these bright-light people in recovery that share their wisdom and experience. Being surrendered with this much hope and enthusiasm makes recovery look attractive”
From a Grateful alumni (15 years sober)
“The Retreat taught me how to live in recovery and gave me back my life – a life that I never imagined could be possible. My first treatment experience was at a renowned clinical treatment center where they taught me about the disease of addiction. They outlined for me what alcohol had done to me physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and how the relationships in my life had been impacted. In short - they gave me a comprehensive education and a robust analysis of the problem which I definitely needed. However, they did not teach me how to live in recovery. How was I supposed to navigate life as a sober woman - personally and professionally? The focus was heavy on the addiction problem and not on the recovery solution. I did not garner the skills and knowledge of how to live life on life’s terms – a critical component to sustained recovery.
When I entered the program at The Retreat, I was hopeful but skeptical. I initially felt alone in my struggle. However, upon interacting with the staff and volunteers, I found myself surrounded by people who had been in recovery for years. All of a sudden I saw people who were like me in the way that they walked, talked, experienced society, navigated stress, etc. They walked with me through the journey of the 12-steps and showed me a way of living that would change my life in ways I could have never imagined. They introduced the concept of community and connection. They gave me hope. They made being in recovery look attractive. They inspired me to move forward. They loved me until I could love myself. Life is meant to be lived not endured” - Tara T
“The Retreat is a supportive educational community-driven model of care rather than a clinical or medical treatment program. We don’t serve people who need the level of clinical intensity offered in the more traditional treatment programs. We serve people who know they have the problem of alcoholism and/or drug dependency, are motivated for recovery, and are medically and psychologically stable,” continues Curtiss.
Although The Retreat’s program is non-clinical, the organization has relationships with providers of different levels of care with the goal of complementing other programs and meeting people wherever they are in their journey. In addition to this back-to-basics model, they remain true to their founding principle that recovery should be accessible, effective, and affordable.
“At $5,600 for our 30-day Residential Program (including the four day family program for one family member), The Retreat costs significantly less than more clinically-oriented treatment programs, and produces industry-best outcomes,” says Tara (Tobin) Taylor, Director of Marketing & Outreach Services. “In addition, we offer scholarships. We strive to do everything we can to make sure that money doesn’t block someone from getting the help that they need.”
The Retreat serves individuals and families from Minnesota, throughout the United States, and abroad including high-profile individuals. As an Elite Care Center with the Hall of Fame Health, the program seeks to help break the stigma and provide a solution.
“We want people to know that no matter how high profile your life has been, you can ask for help and that there is help available,” says Curtiss. “There are a lot of people out there who can help with addiction, recovery, and trauma. The most important thing is that you ask for help and be receptive to help available. Sometimes you have enablers around you keeping you from getting the help you need, and so we encourage you to surround yourself with people who have your best interest in mind and support you to get the help you need.”
“It is with great honor that we welcome The Retreat to Hall of Fame Health’s Elite Care Centers,” says Ryan Cain, President of the behavioral health program for Hall of Fame Health. “They are highly regarded and recognized leaders in recovery who are making an impact from a heartfelt desire to help as many people as possible. We look forward to working with them to bring more solutions to our community at large.”
“Everyone suffers at one time or another. Our hope is that we can eliminate the shame of needing help and getting help. Suffering is part of the human condition. The good news is there’s hope and The Retreat can help,” adds Curtiss.
The HOFH Elite Care Centers is a network of elite facilities across the country that specialize in mental health and substance use disorder. Each treatment center is vetted and accredited to provide high-quality, customized care to former players and their families, veterans, and beyond.
For more information on The Retreat, please visit https://www.hofhealth.com/elite-care-centers or call the HOFH concierge line at 866-404-HOFH.