Gentle Path at the Meadows – Wickenburg

This review is for anyone considering The Meadows or CSAT care for themselves or a loved one. Our family became aware of The Meadows through CSAT and CSAT-Supervisor Heidi Kinsella, who trained at The Meadows and… frequently references her mentorship under CSAT/Meadows founder Patrick Carnes. My understanding is that Ms. Kinsella came to The Meadows with very little professional and work experience — much less than one would expect. For what families are expected to spend, one would hope for providers with more experience, or at minimum, degrees from accredited institutions. Unfortunately, Ms. Kinsella's Masters was earned from Argosy University, which lost accreditation. Heidi Kinsella, a Meadows-trained CSAT, also recently appeared on Season One, Episode One of Netflix's "Love Con Revenge" in connection with Sanjara Wellness, a failed retreat center led by a man Nashville media dubbed "The Selfie Scammer," who defrauded many vulnerable women who believed they were investing in the retreat center, which ultimately never opened. Ms. Kinsella flew across the country to participate in at least one video targeting "investors" for Sanjara and spoke highly of this individual, endorsing him and Sanjara Wellness. Ms. Kinsella has also described traveling to clients for overnight care she refers to as "mini-intensives," as well as hosting clients at her own home overnight. Most licensed mental health professionals would consider these arrangements to raise serious boundary concerns This does not appear to be flagged as problematic within the CSAT community, which speaks to the broader accountability issues with the credential and IITAP. In my experience interacting with a number of CSATs, a consistent pattern has been a lack of professional boundaries and unprofessionalism that feels closer to a 12-step peer support model than to clinical therapy. I was deeply troubled to learn that a Meadows-trained provider our family once trusted had appeared in marketing materials for a venture later covered by a Netflix series and Nashville media in connection with fraud allegations. It is unclear whether Ms. Kinsella remains formally affiliated with The Meadows, but they continue to platform her and share her blog posts. It is alarming that someone with this background continues to be regarded highly within the organization and is permitted to keep training and supervising new CSATs. Ms. Kinsella has spoken publicly, including in speeches available online, about her own experience as a CSAT 'betrayed partner' patient and the end of a marriage in that context. She has often described this personal history as informing her authority on betrayal trauma and marriages in crisis, but it's hard to reconcile what qualifies someone with this background to be the one offering marital guidance to families in crisis. Based on everything outlined above, I have no confidence in The Meadows' or IITAP's ability to vet, supervise, or hold accountable the people they platform as experts. Please read other reviews carefully and research the CSAT credential thoroughly before proceeding.

THIS PLACE IS A JOKE WHEN IT COMES TO SPOUSES OR FAMILIES! BLAH BLAH IVE SEEN YOUR OTHER COMMENTS ON REVIEWS, YOU SAY YOU PROVIDE A PACKET AND INFORMATION TO THE SPOUSES.THAT IS A LIE!ALSO, YOU HAVE VERY CONFLICTING… INFO ON YOUR WEBSITE ABOUT FAMILY INVOLVMENT AND COMMUNICATION,SO YOU MAY WANT TO REDO THAT AND MAKE THINGS MORE CLEAR!.WE ARE IN NO WAY INVOLVED AND IN NO WAY KEPT INFORMED OF ANYTHING EVEN WHEN OUR HUSBAND DOES SIGN THE FORM SAYING THEY CAN TALK WITH US! PLEASE SERIOUSLY REALLY CONSIDER NOT USING THEM FOR TREATMENT, IF YOU WANT TO STAY INVOLVED AND INFORMED. THEY DO NOT ALLOW FAMILY TO KNOW ANYTHING. THEY DO NOT PROVIDE A PACKET WITH ANYTHING. SO DO NOT LET THEM FOOL YOU AND LIE! FIND ANOTHER FACILITY THAT ACTUALLY DOES REALLY CARE FOR THE SPOUSES AND FAMILY AND ACTUALLY KEEPS THEM INVOLVED, BECAUSE THAT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE HEALING OF BOTH PARTIES!

Before I chose to travel to wickenburg, I truly thought that "I would always have my addiction controlling my entire life" Entering the door to the facility, I was angry, dismayed, and even sad. However during my stay… at GP, I was not allowed to run away, avoid, or even isolate (which was my MO), and I am grateful that I was not allowed, but gently (as the G in GP) says guided to work on myself first tenatatively, increasing to full bore a week into my stay- and never let up completely. I am still "all in "for my own recovery almost 4 years later, and again I am truly grateful for that, and to GP and all the staff/participants who helped/continue to help me at this juncture in my life. Thank You, with Love. Kurt SchwoebelThis aids me in my recovery to see/ hear “others “ with their victories/ challenges / assistance in their own journeys = I am indeed “not alone”

I never write reviews, but in this case, I felt compelled to. My husband has been treated at several centers, including Gentle Path. Here, we experienced a lot of frustration with how partners and families are treated… (misrepresentation, misinformation, very strict communication limits and rules, unethical behavior from staff during conversations I participated in, etc.). Also be aware that there will be no family week, nor any basic support measures in place for your partner's return home (apology letter, sharing boundaries and bottom lines, participating in sobriety circles, etc.), which can create chaos upon returning home. My advice to partners is to keep your distance and not have any relationship expectations (even though recovery takes place in a community setting), as their interventions have shocked, or even traumatized, several partners. On the other hand, the psychoeducational program on addiction is of very high quality, and your partner will build a community of men there, most of whom are highly committed to their recovery. In short, a few very important pieces of the puzzle are missing, which fortunately you can find elsewhere.

Jordan - would you mind talking to a current spouse who is dealing with almost this exact same situation currently? Even worse we were promised when we started calling places to certain conditions and were told today… after 3 weeks that nothing would happen because they don't offer those things. They were deliberately telling my spouse I wasn't returning calls etc and telling me he had refused to sign paperwork saying he didn't want to talk to me or our kids.

A Disheartening Experience from a Spouse's Perspective I don't usually write reviews, and especially not negative ones. However, the experience at Gentle Path at the Meadows has left me hurt and compelled to share my… perspective, particularly for spouses who may be considering this facility for their loved ones. I want to clarify that I'm speaking solely from a spouse's point of view; my husband received beneficial therapies, but as a wife, my experience was the opposite. Firstly, the facility promised a 'Family Week,' which was pivotal in our decision to choose them. We even sold a property and spent $70,000 to ensure we could make this happen. To my disappointment, it became clear from the first week that a Family Week was never going to occur. I felt profoundly misled. Secondly, I was under the impression that we would have guided family sessions to work through critical conversations that were crucial before my husband's return home. These sessions never happened. The only time a counselor was involved was a 30 minute call to discuss aftercare and to suggest that we spend additional thousands of dollars on another facility —advice they apparently give to most everyone. This was not only unhelpful but also impractical given our responsibilities at home, including children and a business. I was told I would receive weekly check-in calls; these only occurred on a handful of occasions. There were two weeks I was told the call would not happen, but I would get an email from the treatment team. I never got these emails. When they did, the calls were from a man. Given the sensitive nature of our situation, a female counselor would have been more appropriate and comforting. It felt like they were just ticking off a box rather than genuinely offering support. Overall, my experience with Gentle Path at the Meadows has been disappointing and disheartening. They have not considered the needs and concerns of spouses and have instead added more strain to an already tumultuous time in our lives. I understand the priority is the actual resident, and not the spouse. However, it’s been a major disservice to my husband who is now walking back into a situation where we are not on the same page. We’ve both been working very hard for the sake of our family, however with zero communication and clarification opportunities over the past six weeks, it’s made the reentry very difficult. I know for a fact there are treatment facilities that help the resident and their families in a much greater way than this. --- Feel free to use this as a starting point and modify it according to your needs.

My experience was what I needed however I left before the onion was completely peeled back. Fortunately, I was able to return back to MBH. I'm really bad at keeping in touch with people. The codependence, shyness, and… other addictive behaviors have made me feel like I just don’t fit in. I am working on that by getting to meetings on a regular basis. I really miss EVERYONE I met while there. I sincerely hope you all are well.

Great for connecting with a community + being grateful and mindful. The app itself is mediocre and could use improvements.

I'm writing this review after 4 years of being out. Words cannot explain how much i needed this place. It's a safe place, blessed from God (the highest power), and it's the first place I felt accountable for all my… actions. Getting to know myself was a frightening and shameful experience. I had put up a false version of me, something that i will always regret. For so long, I just didn't know who I was anymore. If I could go back. I would. I came in with no emotion, and I left with feeling I never knew i could feel again. Thank you staff. Thank you for listening, responding, and helping my recovery process.

This place costs 61,000 dollars for 45 days. Let’s do the math. They have 28 beds. 28 patients times 61k is 1,700,000 per 45 days out the year. There are 365 days in a year and 365 divided by 45 is 8.1. 1,700,000 x 8 is… 13,770,000 per year. They make all this off the sick and suffering and think that because they have the education they have a right to charge this much.They only help the very rich.

This place changed my life.

I don't believe I could have gotten sober had I not gone to Gentle Path. I was simply too deep in my addiction to have made it on my own.

The most safest places I've ever visited. I thank God for this place.