Guest House Ocala – Silver Springs

After 20+ years of being in the mental health field as the Director of NJCCBT, it is rare for me to come across a program as unique and impressive as The Guest House. When I visited The Guest House, I was struck by the… deep level of caring and compassion each staff member exhibited. Lauren Millner does an absolutely phenomenal job of working with clinicians like me to make the referral process as seamless as possible. They have created a true refuge there in Ocala, and the trauma work being done there is incredibly transformative. I highly recommend this facility to anyone looking to do the deeper work to achieve lasting change!

This is an exceptional program!

A wonderful experience on the road to recovery. Each and every staff member was exemplary and completely dedicated. I highly recommend the Guest House. It is an incredible wellness center.

If you’re ready to work on your stuff and truly get help, this is the place for you. The Team is beyond caring, supportive, professional and talented. They are truly invested in your recovery and stand by you every step… of the way. As a long time trauma therapist I am so grateful there is a place like this for those who wants to overcome trauma and live a more fulfilling life.

Recently, I was having issues w/ Judy Crane’s former staff member, previously my therapist. Context: Judy is the owner of The Guest House and prior to that The Refuge. I directed my concern to Judy b/c I formed a… relationship with this person under Judy’s supervision. I also thought Judy was related through a business partnership. Judy said she was no longer affiliated with this person and she fired her years ago over conduct. That info helped me gain context around something I was struggling to understand. I tried to figure out who the right person to address my concern was, discovering my former therapist never had a license. I tried contacting whoever issued her the “C.T.T.” letters attached to her name, only to be led back to Judy Crane’s Spirit2Spirit certification program. Contradicting herself, it appeared as if this person was certified/endorsed by Judy as a trauma therapist. Confused, I redirected back to Judy via formal complaint. Judy again denied affiliation w/ this person claiming she wasn’t certified by her. She didn’t show any concern over someone misusing her credentials & she didn’t indicate actions would be taken to prevent it. Judy glossed over my complaint, telling me she loved me & that I was resilient, explaining she didn’t have the capacity to address the issue due to personal circumstances. That response left me frustrated. Under Judy’s supervision, my former therapist crossed boundaries & exploited my trauma history. Despite being aware of it, Judy failed to protect me. Judy allowed this person's kids on property ignoring that I was being asked to watch them. Meanwhile, I was doing intensive trauma work with their mom. It seemed innocent, but looking back I see the problem and how it gradually developed into more serious issues as that dynamic continued through aftercare. I can’t discern when the therapeutic relationship ended b/c my therapist made it seem like watching her kids was a form of therapy. She intertwined her personal life & children directly into my trauma processing, creating an entirely new layer of anxiety, dependency, and emotional confusion, while I struggled with increased panic attacks, agoraphobia, OCD and depression. Verbal & mental abuse, blatant violations of my confidentiality, constant criticisms, casual put-downs, unsolicited comments about my sexual orientation, offensive comments about my gender identity: all things I endured as a client and afterwards while this person remained in my life. Time passed while I failed to connect dots between how she treated me & what was going on with me internally. I struggled while she relied on me to protect her kids, monitor online safety; even inserting me into the middle of physically dangerous situations. This person’s conduct more recently escalated into things that felt more manipulative, malicious, or calculating. Attempts to stand up for myself were framed as “being mean” while she obfuscated things, leaving me feeling so gaslit that I called Judy. Not long after, I disengaged from this person & her family entirely. I’m being conservative in what I say here. I don’t appreciate feeling like I had to resort to sharing my private experiences online in order to have a voice in this matter. In my view, “Certified Trauma Therapist” implies “qualified to provide therapy” and “is a safe person during crisis or trauma”. It’s still unclear why this person was posturing herself w/ Judy’s credentials all this time; she visually appears to be the subject of Judy’s supervision. I’m unclear & concerned about this person harming others and creating damage in their lives the way she did to mine. Attempting to acknowledge the situation with Judy seems reasonable and appropriate. This experience impacted me in a significant way; it feels like something was stolen from me that I can’t fully put into words. If Judy ever decides to do the right thing by finally giving this issue the attention it deserves, she knows how to contact me.

I went to the guest house for the first time in 2023, and had a great success! However recently I had reached out about going back and was approved to return. Unfortunately, I experienced a seizure within my first 12… hours back on campus. I am a diagnosed epileptic and my first stay had multiple seizures and while sent for medical clearance, I was brought back to campus to continue treatment. However this time less then 24 hours after my arrival was told they could not have me come back to campus due to seizures. I was cleared by the local emergency room and received a text from my admission point that I would need to find new arrangements and could not return. I flew 7 hours with my service dog to attend the guest house and was extremely open with my current medical status. I was left at the hospital to find new arrangement and want to warn others from attending this program if you struggle with any medical conditions. It’s unfortunate that find addiction and mental health care is such a challenge for those with disabilities. If the guest house had been open from the beginning I would have been able to find a better fit for my needs but I feel they looked past aspects of what they could actually provide.

The guesthouse was promised to be a transformative and experience that would be able to help sort through trauma, wounds, and improve my overall functioning. The flexibility of the schedule (which wasn’t actually… flexible) and the many added alternative treatments were a huge sell point for me. Unfortunately, 30 days does not give you the time to actually engage in those other treatments and it felt like the whole idea was just to make you stay longer. I was clear about 30 days being my maximum time and was given a therapist that was not a match who I had to switch from and then only received a few sessions with the next one (who was amazing Silvia is unbelievably skilled and real). They tried to “make it right” by adding some sessions with Marla who is also unbelievably skilled but unfortunately the crux of the program couldn’t even be completed for me as it was family week my last week. The experience was sub par at best in terms of the clinical department. The food was great. The staff were lovely. Medical was incredible. The og’s were warm and friendly and honestly angels on earth. For that reason I gave 3 stars. But this wasn’t a hotel stay. It was meant to save my life. Having poor clinical insight and execution is a major problem for a place portrayed to be of a certain caliber. I would unfortunately never recommend this place to anyone and would likely suggest looking elsewhere if you only have 30 days. I think 60 days and beyond is another story as I saw firsthand some people who experienced immense and incredible change. But for 30 days stay away. Also Johnny is super cool he should be around more.

I don’t leave reviews. Like ever. So that’s indicative of how overwhelmingly grateful I am for my time at The Guest House. I arrived a shell of myself - scared, sick, lost, and completely worn down. I initially had the… intention of only staying for 30 days - if even that. Once I dove into the work it became apparent that in that time I’d only be scratching the surface. I ended up staying the full 90. The staff and community loved me back to life. I have never felt so safe, accepted and worthy. The therapists are incredible. The staff are so warm and kind and supportive. It’s been almost a year since leaving and I miss being there so much. I would send a loved one that was struggling there in a heartbeat. There is nowhere like the Guest House. They will help you find yourself again, rediscover the pieces of yourself you lost along the way - what seemed to be your weaknesses will be revealed as strengths. AND you’ll make friends for life! If you’re thinking about it - just go. It will be the greatest gift you ever give yourself.

The Guest House is a very special place. They really know what they are doing when it comes to treating trauma. The entire staff is excellent, very caring. Medical staff were wonderful and so helpful. I highly recommend… this place if you are struggling with addiction, alcoholism and/or trauma. This place changed my life for the better. I will forever be grateful.

Outstanding staff, was life changing for me. Absolutely wonderful.

I had the great privilege of staying at The Guest House Ocala for 60 days in May and June of this year. It was the first time I ever did this type of intensive residential therapy and I'm very glad that that experience… was in this world class facility. The range of different modalities - from very powerful small group/individual trauma therapy and informative group presentations, to somatic/drama/art therapy, breath work, sound baths and yin yoga - allows for many different paths to heal and find joy again. The tremendous and highly trained support staff is an invaluable asset - keeping us safe, protected, heard and rather too well fed!! I truly believe that my experience at TGH saved my life and helped me ignite an adventure into truly living this wild and wonderful life.

How can you express your gratitude for the people and place that saved your life? I cannot praise the Guest House and its staff enough. From the moment I arrived in Orlando, I was greeted by my driver, Don, who… reassured me that the Guest House would change my life for the better. I was deeply touched by the kindness and caring nature of the staff, whether it was the gardener or my therapist. I consistently felt a sense of security and connection during my stay. The staff was always attentive and fair regarding anything I needed. OG Bob would drive us to meetings, playing the music we loved, which allowed us to sing along and feel joyful. I was grateful for all the activities, whether it was bowling or going to the movies. Chef KC surprised me daily with the creativity and quality of our meals. Every dish was delicious and healthy, and the standards only increased as time went on. The living conditions and grounds were nothing short of perfect. We were surrounded by natural beauty both day and night, and our rooms had everything we could need. The classes were engaging and unique—something I had never experienced before—but they were incredibly effective in addressing trauma. Even after being gone for a year and participating in an alumni weekend, I felt as if I had never left. The Guest House maintained its loving and welcoming atmosphere. And finally, my therapist, Mark, truly saved my life with his gentle yet honest approach. I have never encountered anyone who has spoken poorly of him or expressed disappointment in his care. His commitment to my well-being was phenomenal and unwavering. He even called me on a Sunday—his day off—when he learned I was struggling. I have never seen or heard of a therapist so devoted to guiding someone through recovery. I cannot thank the Guest House enough for what they did for me and for the ongoing support I continue to receive after leaving. The weekly Zoom meetings to reconnect with old and new guests are especially crucial to our recovery, even after our time at the Guest House has come to an end. What business would genuinely care about you after you've left, possibly forever? That’s why I will never refer to the Guest House as a business. It is, quite simply, a caring community dedicated to recovery, fostering growth and happiness. In closing, it’s absolutely true what we’ve heard about the Guest House: it is the best of its kind. It has changed my life and given me meaning once again. Thank you!

I arrived and was searched in a way that made me feel I was entering prison. I had a roommate who bullied me and had a strict sleep schedule which didn’t coincide with mine. More importantly the guest house was more… concerned with selling me two extra months than helping me for the month I was there. There was some gossip I heard and all my therapy sessions turned into my counselor trying to find out what it was. The hard sell and interrogation got so bad I had to point out that for two weeks that’s all we’d done. I told them I’d tell them the gossip if the paid me back for thing time they wasted ($10,000!) and they did. They didn’t give me therapy because I was only stating a month. They only help people who agree to stay three months. I got a new roommate. She was sexually assaulted by a high profile client.. they kicked the victim out because it was to hard to kick the high profile guy out. Thete were cliques of young people whose agism was hurtful. There were threats to keep us in line. It felt a lot like what I imagine e prison would be like. However the ground were beautiful and there were nice amenities. The food was delicious, massages were great, they have a gym and the day trips were fun.still going there increased my depression and hopelessness. Being there felt very much like I lived in a horror film.. there were two instances I felt my life was in danger. Once we did breath work and my legs and arms stopped working. They didn’t help me but instead just left me. I had to call an ambulance outside the facility to help me. I think this place is unsafe. Sinister even. I had one therapy session. The rest were strictly try to sell me two more months and finding out the gossip I’d heard. I felt alone and used.

I want to say Mark at The Guest House Ocala is the best therapist I have ever had in my life. I got more from a session with him, than I did seeing an outside therapist for a month. He helped me heal tremendously, more… than I thought was possible. I can tell that he genuinely, truly, cares about his clients and is not just here for paycheck. Mark is my therapy dad. Chris the clinical intern did amazing work and held up the standards that my therapist Mark gave. I was really able to dig deep into my trauma and heal with Chris's help. He also genuinely cares and was there for me whenever I needed him. Chris is more than a staff member to me, he is a friend. Amazing culinary recipes from the kitchen staff. The food was always delicious and they did a hell of a job. Case management was amazing. They set me up for success once I leave here. Valentina in case management supported me throughout my guest house journey and gave me a safe place to vent and be myself. It made me realize that there are still kind people out there who I can trust and rely on during hard times. OG's,/House Managers were amazing and friendly and were always there for me when I needed them. We all grew very close and I spent majority of my time with them because of how friendly and accepting they were. They are one of the aspects that made my stay here truly remarkable. We shared a lot of laughter together for everyday. Clinical team was incredible at their jobs. They were always there to help me and the community whenever problems arose. They were always friendly and had an open door policy. Judy Crane was amazing in every sense of the word. She helped me heal through my traumas and helped me heal the relationships with my wife and my dad. She is a miracle worker.

The Guest house opened my eyes to so many things that I was blind too with my mental health, childhood and adult life. The staff here goes above and beyond to take care of you. I felt so comfortable and cared for during… my staff. I had some major life changes go on while I was there and they met me exactly where I was at! 10/10 experience, food and housing both amazing

Truly saved my life clinical staff and program changed my life. Worked through a lot of my trauma and made life long friendships and good memories. Thank you Guest House!! Forever grateful

My loved one stayed at the Guest House and his outcome was nothing short of a miracle—he went in with no direction and he discharged with determination and commitment to recovery. Thank you Guest House and to all… staff!! A special thanks and appreciation goes out to Heather Johnson…she cannot be thanked enough for all she has done and continues to do to ensure my loved one’s well-being!!! God bless you all and keep taking care of those in need 😇➕🙏🏻

My experience at The Guest House Ocala was deeply disappointing. This place markets itself as a luxury, high-end treatment center—but in reality, it’s a money-making machine with little genuine concern for clients’… well-being. Judy, the owner, comes across as a corporate fraud—more invested in profit than in people. She’s completely detached from the realities of healing and recovery and seems to have no interest in the actual experience of clients on the ground. Andrew, the Chief Clinical Officer, was completely ineffective—rarely present, unapproachable, and lacking any real leadership or clinical insight. Michelle, who oversees the residential staff, was dismissive and disengaged. Her attitude made it clear that she wasn’t there to support clients but to control and criticize. Compassion was clearly not a priority in her role. The therapy was shallow and performative—nowhere near the depth or individualization you’d expect from a place with this price tag. The majority of the staff appeared undertrained and disinterested, often acting clueless and disconnected from the needs of the people they were supposed to help. The medical team was another serious issue. They seemed quick to overprescribe without properly assessing patients or understanding their histories. It often felt like they were guessing rather than offering informed care. Many clients were physically suffering from poor medical oversight, and the staff showed little urgency or concern. This place may look appealing on the surface, but don’t be fooled—it’s about business, not healing. If you’re looking for real support, competent staff, or care that prioritizes your mental and physical health, this is not the place.

I cannot express enough how transformative my experience was with the Guest House’s intensive, one-on-one therapy program . From the very first session, I felt welcomed and understood. My therapist, Dede, created a safe… space where I could openly share my thoughts and feelings without judgment. I gained valuable insights into my behaviors and thought patterns from our sessions, which has empowered me to make positive changes in my life. The tools and coping strategies I learned have been incredibly helpful in managing stress and anxiety. I appreciate how the Guest House and Dede tailored the sessions to my specific needs, ensuring that I felt supported throughout my journey. The treatment I received in the program was of the highest caliber! No price tag could be put on my experience at the Guest House. Not only did it help me to better navigate challenging situations, but it also helped me foster a deeper understanding of myself. I highly recommend the Guest House’s treatment programs to anyone seeking personal growth and healing. It's an investment in yourself that truly pays off!

I left this place two years ago today. It was a terrible experience; every young woman I was with said the same thing. I did not feel safe there. The addiction treatment was a joke, and there was no support for 12-step… meetings on-site. My one saving grace was my roommate and my therapist. I was told I could leave whenever I wanted, but the truth is, if you go, they will call the cops on you. I saw this happen. It wasn't worth the money, and I've had to work through what happened here in therapy. It's a place that preys on the wealthy and provides subpar services.

As a licensed trauma therapist, Interventionist and long-time recovering person myself, I know quality care when I see it. So when Judy Crane set out with John West to open Guest House, I paid close attention; Judy was… at that point, and remains today, one of the most highly respected trauma-informed clinical authorities in the global healthcare industry, and the Guest House is on a very very short list of residential codependence and addiction trauma-healing programming options I refer to. A client of mine is currently at Guest House now, for going on five weeks, which is a flat out miracle and I hear breakthroughs are happening that make my heart sing. Along with Judy, John, Audra, Adam and the rest of the staff at Guest House, I want to give a special shout out to Guest House clinician Mark Rosen for the exceptional work he has been doing with my client. Mark is a gem!

Guest House wasn't my first treatment center, Yet it was the best i have ever been to. The focus on working through Trauma and understanding where your emotions are coming from and how to have a corrective experiences… about it are not the only things that i have learned from there. My Therapist individuals and Primary groups not only helped me get closer to finding myself, it also helped me get close to others in my groups who are going or have gone through the same things. Core helped me understand my attachment disorders, Bobs groups gave me knowledge on how to identify things with in Self. And Also, Because were are all so together and hang with each other and make friendships, i personally while i was there was able to put together three events. A Studio 54 themes Birthday Party, Glow In The Dark Capture the Flag, and a Burning Man fire light show and 2 Talent Shows All of these events gave us the opportunity to enjoy the moment, have fun, get dirty, and HAVE FUN!! i felt that for me it was important to also be able to let go and have fun during the hardest work I've ever done on myself in my entire life. I want to thank the medical staff who always helped me remember which meds i took daily. I want to thank the whole clinical team for setting up the right path for me to move forward on my journey. I want to thank my Therapist Shelly. I swear if it wasn't for Working with Shelly i wouldn't be the Strong Independent Woman i am today. When ever there was a holiday it was celebrated and we had field days. We even had a Passover Sador this year and we were able to do an awesome April Fools Joke. The picture is below with the golf cart. The animals on grounds not only helped me calm down, and also they taught me many lessons that i needed to learn including patients and to just breath. My life has been changed because i came to the Guest House. I now Currently have 7 months Sober and In Sober Living staying in my sobriety and therapy and on my meds because i learned that i am Worth being taken care of by myself and i can be Independent and still ask for support. Ty Guest House for letting come and be able to change my life around cant wait to see u guys at Alumni Week!!!! Sincerely Riley Meredith

If you or your loved one has or experiences addiction, family dysfunction, anger issues, depression, sexual abuse, add/ adhd, emotional issues, PTSD/ C-PTSD and/or any type of trauma- I Highly recommend this place. This… place has truly been a life changing experience providing me with healing, understanding, compassion, and learning how to love myself. The staff here are incredible how they will help you heal, help you Love yourself, help you heal you and your family dynamics. I went to the guest house in April to August of 2023. Been sober over a year now. I am thankful for the tools that I have learned here. I had Mark as a therapist, and was also my "primary group." He taught me how to have compassion for myself, how to help my anger issues, how to become self-regulated, helped me with my guilt that I have been carrying since I was 16, helped me heal my pain and hurt, sadness because of how my own father betrayed my family and me. Bob, another therapist, also helped me with childhood sexual trauma I had experienced. Vanessa helped my flash backs and other traumas that have impacted my life and helped them be less intense and not so impactfull, with her style and her emdr/"ART" therapy ("ART" is not the art you did in school). I am thankful that I got this opportunity to go here. I highly recommend it - I want to say thank you to judy crane and John west who are the founders. Also many heart felt thanks to the therapists Mark, Bob, victory, and Vanessa and others, thanks to the doctors and nurses and lastly the staff "The OG's" that are also loving caring, understanding. Thanks to you all. I hope this helps you make decisions in choosing treatment centers and helping yourself or love one.

Loved my time spent at the guest house . Wish I could have stayed the 3. Month instead of just one . It was such an amazing experience my therapist was amazing too.

If youre looking for a sign. This is it. The Guest House changes lives, saves lives, improves lives and helps you in every way possible. Not many places will teach you about trauma, how to deal with it, and how to… process though it. This place does. We feel we are alone as people, no matter the age, that people cant relate to us, or our experiences, but the Guest House changes that perspective. You are not alone. There are people who get it. There are people who are trying their hardest to heal and just need help. The Guest House can help you. The staff make you feel seen and heard. They are not like any other people i've ever met. They genuinely care and want whats best for you. The food is amazing. There is not a single meal where you will go hungry. The medical professionals know their stuff. The grounds are beautiful. The amenities are great. Everyday you are improving yourself and others. Just lean into it. The most supportive people in the world are surrounding you. Every aspect of this place helps you heal. The campfires, the community, the many, many modalities of therapy and groups. You have down time, and time to work. Whether you are the one processing or witnessing, you are getting something from every moment you are there. You dont need to be an artist to find art therapy helpful. You dont need to know how to have sober fun to start. Hobbies, passions, trust, find that all here. There is no place in the world I have ever felt safer and more myself. To see people change and transform before your eyes is truly inspirational. I went to guest house for a total of 180 days. Sharing my story was scary, I didnt know if I could get better. I didnt think they could help me. I was wrong. For the first time in my life my treatment resistant depression and anxiety wasn't crippling me anymore. Belonging to a community and making lifelong friends changed a lot of things. I needed to get off of a medication that I was on for 15 years. I had tried other places and started to panic. There was no place that could help me safely. I was terrified, but I trust TGH with my life. I am off of the medication and have a chance to start a family because of them. I thought because I had been in therapy since the 2nd grade I knew what to do. No. Because of the Guest House I am so much more attuned to my emotions and feelings. Identifying unhealthy coping mechanisms and finding something to replace it with. If you are down, let this place lift you up. When your inner critic is loud, the support you receive is louder. When you want to give up, this place will help you see how truly strong you are and how to use that strength to push forward. Being sick and tired is exhausting. Let them help you carry the weight. What you have been though is so much. Have people see that and validate it. I couldnt function. I didnt want to live. Guest House changed my life. Guest House gave me a shot to live.

Hands-down, this place saved my life. I was able to process trauma and addiction and truly come out a better healthier person.

I spent the last four months at The Guest House in Ocala, Florida and it completely saved my life. I have been to several other treatments for drug addiction and had never dealt with my trauma & PTSD or sex/love… addiction. The other duel diagnosis rehabs I went to will never compare to this beautiful place of healing and serenity. The Guest House allowed me to become vulnerable, authentic and connect to my higher power again. We were given assignments that allowed me to heal in ways I never thought I could— writing letters to things like my drug addiction, inner critic, perpetrator, family members, relapse, what healthy love looks like to me, drawing out all my traumas and so much more. The best therapists in the world work here and their dedication to clients individually and the community as a whole was something I have never seen anywhere else. Claudia and Najia were my therapists and they 100% saved my life. I opened up to them about things none of my past therapists have ever known because I felt safe in their presence. They helped me view my life through a different lens and shift my thoughts to become healthier. They made me feel heard and loved and I am so grateful for them, as well as my primary group therapists Kristen and Victoria! Things like Lisa’s psycho drama group, Stacey’s core energetic group, one on ones with Alicia and her empowered embodiment group, one on ones with Kristi and her incredible art therapy groups, primary group, sound baths, Eco therapy, yoga & yoga nidra, massages with Sonia, acupunture & cupping with Abdullah, off campus activities (like putting on a wetsuit and swimming with manatees for the first time), and community talent shows & pickleball all impacted me in such a deep & beautiful way. I was finally able to connect to my feelings, body, and tap into self love again. The staff were brilliant, especially Zach, Jen, and Lisa (OG’s), Brooke (incredible psych nurse practitioner), Emily (dietitian), Constance (nursing), Dr. Davies, Mona (kitchen), Mark (therapist) and everyone I’ve previously mentioned all made me feel beyond supported. I found the in-house CODA, Emotions Anonymous, ACOA, SLAA, NA, and AA super helpful, giving me the courage to share in meetings again. Most of all, the other guests in the community helped me beyond words. The people I was with for four months are some of the most supportive people I have ever met, some of the best friends I have ever made. Receiving feedback in groups on only how my peers could relate to my work was so cool. This being my first co-ed treatment center allowed me to finally connect with men I feel safe with. Some of my friends from TGH have long term sobriety and have given me so much hope that I will stay sober and continue on my healing journey. My friends and I are all looking forward for the alumni reunions so thank you to The Guest House for my life back, I love you forever.

It’s hard to put into words what my time at the Guest House meant to me. I spent 3.5 months there and left an entirely different person. I had the opportunity to explore my complex PTSD in a safe environment with staff… who were nothing but encouraging and supportive. The community witnessed my “undoing” and helped put me back together. I’ve been in therapy more than half my life, and have been sober for 6 years, but being in a safe, loving environment allowed me to do the work I could have never done in the “real world”. I remain in awe of what the Guest House does for their clients, and will be forever grateful for my time there. I am especially grateful to Stacy, Bob, Kajal, Alicia, Jamie, Mel, Pat, Brooke the OGs, nurses and kitchen staff for taking such good care of me. If you’re on the fence about making the decision to go, I would encourage you to take a chance on choosing yourself and seeing what this wonderful place has to offer.