Parents & Families
Spruce did wonderful work with our young adult. They balanced sobriety and accountability with following our son's wishes and dreams in his own treatment. From intake through to graduation, the entire team was caring and professional (and phenomenal!).
Thank goodness there are people in this world like yourselves who are so dedicated to helping people like our son and families like ours who are in dire need. Thank you for all that you are and all that you do.
Yesterday I got the best Christmas present of my entire life. ‘I got my daughter back!’ That statement is at best a trite understatement that can’t begin to reflect the reality of what has taken place. I know H did the heavy lifting associated with the work of therapy, but I wish to thank you for providing a place, a feeling and a team where she felt safe, accepted and challenged all at the same time. Thank you for being her guides on her journey, holding her hand, teaching her how to walk again, pointing out the road signs, and illuminating the way.
“I do not have the words to adequately thank you and the other member of my son’s team for all you have done for our family. But for you folks, odds are that he would not even be alive today. I am grateful that he has found his voice and the confidence to more competently handle his circumstances. This has been brought about by the loving, skillful guidance he received from the very special people at Spruce Mountain.
Spruce totally turned around our son’s life. He had fallen into deep depression in college, and literally stopped going to classes. After two years at home with multiple psychiatric appointments and multiple group therapy sessions each week, he was somewhat better – but not by that much.
A residential program like Spruce was his last hope. In just over a year, you turned him into a mature and responsible adult, able to get things done, with his depression under control (with medication), interacting well with people, and able to juggle a fully-active life that included a part-time job, local volunteering, and also his Spruce treatment activities.
I do not have the words to adequately thank you and the other member of my son’s team for all you have done for our family. But for you folks, odds are that he would not even be alive today. I am grateful that he has found his voice and the confidence to more competently handle his circumstances. This has been brought about by the loving, skillful guidance he received from the very special people at Spruce Mountain.
It’s hard to believe that in less than 9 months our son went from a depressed, anxious and helpless person to a confident, social and relaxed one. The transformation from when he came to Spruce until now is truly remarkable. I don’t know how you did it.
We are very pleased and delighted at the progress our son has made in the time he has been at Spruce, and we can see and hear the results through visits and conversations. He has definitely gained responsibility and self-esteem. We feel his life has been turned around during his stay there and for that we are forever grateful.
Our son’s Case Manager was amazing. He not only had exemplary clinical and counseling skills, but he was inarguably respectful and diplomatic during all of our communications, even when we were “needy”. We felt so lucky to have him.
During my son’s stay at Spruce Mountain Inn, I can tell you that the staff was nothing short of INCREDIBLE. The Director, Assistant Director and Case Manager were my main points of communication and they were outstanding! All were highly clinically skilled and communicative and they followed through with everything that we asked and often took the initiative to offer help without our request.
It gave me great inner strength and peace to know that my child was in a safe and nurturing environment. You helped me re-establish faith and trust in my daughter. You have offered me and my daughter a new beginning.
It is my great pleasure to thank you for the support you provided my daughter in her struggle to become a happy and functional adult. Because of your belief in fostering the human spirit, you made it possible for T. to find her own strength and define her personal weaknesses. You were there to encourage, support and nudge her to continue the tough road to recovery.
There is no way we can possibly thank you enough for everything you did for my son while he was at Spruce Mountain. During what was the most traumatic period of our family’s life, we felt so fortunate that there was a place that could offer help for our son. Thank you all so much for helping our family get through a very dark time. We couldn’t have done it without all of you being there for us.
My son has bipolar disorder, and before Spruce Mountain Inn he was extremely depressed and virtually hopeless about his future. We had tried everything without success for years. The decision to send him to a residential treatment center was fairly easy at that point, but finding the right place was not, and I did a good amount of research before we decided on Spruce. As a physician I was looking for a highly qualified and proven program, but as a mother who knew her son I was also looking for a place where he could not only get better medically but grow and flourish. Their program seemed a good fit, but at that time I would never have dreamed it could turn out as well as it did. The change in my son is nothing short of miraculous. He lived there for a year and three months, and I can honestly say it was the best money I ever spent. They took a severely depressed and dysfunctional young man who was unable to keep a job, had no social interaction with other people, virtually never left his room and had no prospects, and turned him into a confident, caring and successful adult who is able to manage his own life, live independently and, most importantly, be happy. My son is now the person he was always meant to be without the bipolar disorder in charge. He came home to pack up his things in order to move into his own apartment in another city, and said he could hardly believe that he was the same person. The programs, therapy and loving care he received at Spruce Mountain Inn changed his life so profoundly that it is hard for us to believe he is the same person either. I have every confidence now that not only is he completely capable of taking care of himself and managing his life, but that he will continue to do so into the future. He is more self-aware than most people his age, and understands his strengths and weaknesses so well now that I am sure he will be able to deal with the usual ups and downs that life throws at him - all because of Spruce. We will always be so incredibly grateful to the staff there for giving him his life back and providing him with the tools and skills he needed to be himself and move forward with his life.”
Residents & Alumni
Dear Possible Spruce Resident,
I gave Spruce 5 stars because I was able to improve so much in such a short time. Spruce is great, but it’s still treatment so part of it will always be hard. The biggest changes in me were my distress tolerance, confidence, self-awareness, resilience, boundary enforcement, symptom management, and hope for the future. Spruce won’t “fix” you but it does give you the space, structure, guidance and support for you to fix yourself. And unexpectedly, I met some of my best friends there! For those who are desperate and ready to get moving with life, call Spruce NOW! Work hard and you won't regret it.
SMI truly saved my life and gave me a perspective on life that I never knew existed. Spruce will never be a cure, but it is the foundation on which we can all have the ability to live a good life. When I saw the Program with my own two eyes, I felt like there was truly help and hope for me. Everyone must understand that the program isn’t going to work unless you work it. There is a beautiful life after treatment, and I highly recommend living it instead of just existing. If you have the courage to go to treatment, you have the ability to grow and be better.
When I came to the Inn, I was really skeptical that anything would help me. I fell apart twice in college and was eventually forced home on a medical leave. I got a new therapist and psychiatrist and was in an intensive outpatient program, but none of it was enough for me to feel better and do better. I had very little confidence that a residential program would help. At the time, it seemed like the “least bad option” to me. I worked with an educational consultant and looked at four programs before choosing Spruce Mountain Inn. The Inn program looked like a well-oiled machine; they knew what to do and did it all.
Thank you for supporting me in my journey and all the difficulties I have had. You all have taught me a lot, especially self-care maintenance and self-expression. You helped me learn to respect myself and feel that I am worthy."
I went to Spruce Mountain Inn feeling overwhelmingly depressed, at a loss for what to do next and in tears to leave my then boyfriend (now husband) behind. Ironically, I left SMI in tears as well, but for much different reasons. I had made so much progress. My anxiety had significantly decreased, I felt stronger, more confident and happier than I had been in years. What I learned most it that it is alright to advocate for myself and to be assertive without feeling pushy. I now feel that tears are not a sign of weakness, but show strength in that I am able to freely and comfortably express my emotions. The staff were so warm, easy to talk to, so helpful… I felt at home in a way while there.
When I came to Spruce Mountain Inn, I was at an extremely low point in my life. Depression and anxiety had complete control over me. I wasn’t seeing any hope for the future. I had no expectations of being cured or symptom-free. I just wanted a place where I could feel safe from myself and had staff to talk with when I need to. Through the many groups during the day, I met other clients experiencing many of the same issues. We discussed and explored our personal concerns and found new ways to cope. We took trips together and went camping. These things brought us even closer and gave us time away from Spruce for a while. I gained a sense of pride and accomplishment I had not felt in some time.
I learned a lot of new art-making techniques that helped in my treatment and continuing with my painting hobby. Art is good for coping and it was therapeutic. Also, fun!
I came to the Inn because I needed some intensive treatment. I had a phenomenal team and always had access to all the support I needed. The step-down process really worked for me. I acquired the confidence and skills by volunteering, then holding a job, taking classes, and meeting my commitments. The Program was focused on me and my goals. My biggest goals were to learn to live, to function well, and to stay sober outside of Vermont.
The education, the groups, were invaluable. The counselors were A-1. Availability of staff was 24/7. Spruce Mountain Inn saved my life, plain and simple.
I want to thank all of you, the staff, for your enduring support and gentle guidance, for helping me through knowing when to step in and when to allow me to stumble on my own. You have all helped me through so much in so many ways. It would not be exaggerating to say that I owe you not only my recovery, but my very life itself. My gratitude exceeds my capacity to verbalize.
Last year I climbed a mountain. The mountain was huge, the weather severe, and the terrain dangerous. Today, I proudly announce that I made it to the top and the sun is shining, the breeze is gentle, and the birds have come to greet me. Today I celebrate over one year of sobriety. I never thought I could do it. For all of you who face daily obstacles and feel you’ll never get through, or you’re tired and too discouraged to make it work, I offer you my experience and my mountain. I thank Spruce for your love and support, for without you, I may not have made it.
Upon arrival at Spruce, I was extremely depressed and anxious. I was also having to deal with issues related to substance abuse. Spruce helped save my life. It took a lot of hard work. But slowly, I learned to be a self-loving and productive member of society. Today I work as a preschool teacher. I am forever thankful for my friends in Plainfield.
I encourage people to be willing, to get past resistance and to give yourself to the Program. I became very comfortable in this rural place with the feeling of community. I could get lost in the city. There were always things to do at the Inn and it was easier for me to get out where people were welcoming and thoughtful. The Inn provided an important bridge for me to allow me to build a lifestyle in the “real world."
I will be working on my Master’s Degree to become a licensed clinical social worker. I wanted to thank you for all of the services you provided me. You are most certainly a part of making this happen for me. I don’t know if I would have ever gone back to school if it hadn’t been for your support
I benefitted most from all of the therapy and the sense of community. I had been isolated at home doing nothing. I learned for the first time how to make and maintain true relationships. I lived in Manhattan and experienced the expect culture shock, but found it so good for me to be in a different place. At Spruce, the small community is worth everything. Staff really care and they are eager to help. Clients learn how to get along and it is easy to form meaningful relationships, and I benefitted from the structure. I went from being unable to function to acting as the lead in a well-established local theatre company production.
Being in nature is really therapeutic for me. I participated in two Treks, a river canoeing trip and a hiking trip. I improved my skills and taught my peers, which bolstered my confidence and self-esteem. As a result of the trips, I got to know the Vermont outdoors. I now get out and explore all the time. I have found this is a new way to apply my skills from treatment in a new setting. Sebastian is really a great leader and I learned a lot from him.
I will miss everyone at Spruce Mountain Inn and am beyond thankful for all the support, advice, patience and compassion everyone had for me. As I continue to grow, I am so grateful for the stable foundation I built with your help while at Spruce Mountain Inn.”
What I gained from Spruce was a number of coping skills I can still use whenever I need them. Even things like cooking allowed me to start feeling like I was actually contributing in life. I know no matter how dark it gets, there will always be an end to it. I still deal with depression and anxiety symptoms, however, they are no longer overwhelming. I can proudly say that I am not defined by mental illness. I enjoy living life despite the obstacles. I still use the principles and tools that I learned at Spruce each day.
Professionals
As a referent, I hardly leave reviews for programs, if ever. I do think Spruce Mountain Inn could benefit from a neutral, and objective review though. My experience has been referring young adults to this program who I have remained in communication with, not in being a client in the program. My client's experiences at Spruce Mountain Inn have all allowed them to return to their lives after the program (returning to college, etc.) and were all in a better place. A client's success or experience in a program does correlate to their openness and willingness to be there, and there are several circumstances that need to also be aligned to make it good - fit with the community, fit with the culture in Vermont, fit with the therapist, frontloaded expectation management, etc. For each of my clients, this worked for them. I would not hesitate to consider a client for Spruce Mountain Inn if after inquiring on fit and having knowledge of the program, I felt it was appropriate.
I know with absolute certainty that the SMI team went above and beyond for my client. I, personally, engaged in creative thinking and brainstorming potential approaches to implement with her. She’s so fortunate to have spent the last year and a half with such a caring and dedicated team.
There are very few places that have provided the quality work with young adults that you have done at Spruce Mountain. The number of clients who have benefitted from Spruce are in the thousands and I credit you for establishing a place where they could get the help they needed.
I have finally visited Spruce Mountain Inn. My, oh my, was I impressed. Your staff helped me get a sense of what a caring, responsible and loving place Spruce Mountain is. All of you together project an image of substance: a real, honest haven for these adults and their families therefore.
Yours is one of the few programs I have recommended without having first seen it, just based on the strength of your reputation. I am even more ready to use you now!
Wow, what a special place you have in Spruce Mountain Inn. The people working at Spruce are incredible and they are what makes your program so special and so unique! I had no idea how warm, nurturing and professional a place you have.
0+ years
in operation
2:1
Staff to resident ratio
1+ years
Average tenure of staff
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States with residents served
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Local job placement partners
Call us at 802-454-8353 today.
Why Residential Treatment
Residential treatment is an immersive, community-based approach that has the potential to be much more effective than treatment received in someone's typical living environment.
At Spruce, we have more than 30 years of experience helping young people overcome anxiety/depression/etc. If you or your child thinks Spruce could be the right fit, we would love to hear from you.
