Lighthouse Recovery Inc – Saint Charles

All the staff here is exceptional. Yet there are 3 people I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart; Nate (the clinical director), Dr Steve Holtsford, and a Lighthouse collaborator, Rehna Becker. These 3 people… have saved my life in their own way. That's no small thing. Nate was the one who got through to me when no one else could. He is the reason I stayed in recovery. He's so incredibly intelligent, witty, charismatic, heartfelt and has a brilliant sense of humor to go with a great big heart. I think a good sense of humor is wildly underappreciated when dealing with such incredibly heavy topics. Likewise, he knows the exact moment to pivot and get real with you. He is the one who started this whole incredible program. Dr. Holtsford is probably the best physician working in addiction medicine in the state of Illinois and I would wager, he's going to emerge as a leader at the national level. He stays up to date with the most cutting edge research as it relates his area of expertise. He has a certain ease about him that makes it easy to open up and be honest which is one of the greatest challenges facing anyone who is in recovery. There could not be a finer medical director at the helm of a recovery clinic. Last but definitely not least is Rehna. She is the most extraordinary therapist I have encountered in my lifetime and I have met with dozens. I am not sure I should be mentioning her as I believe she has a separate practice that's in the same building. Rehna is the "thermonuclear" option in the absolute best sense. She is the therapist to see for those who are truly lost causes. She is burdened with the most severe cases yet she maintains such a bright disposition despite routinely dealing with the most intractable cases of patients with severe trauma. I owe her my life. Thank you Rehna for sticking with me and for encouraging me to be "the man in the ring."

It's wild to imagine that I've been a patient with Lighthouse now for more than a decade. They've stayed with me through thick and through thin. They've been patient with me when I made mistakes and never turned their… back on me or cast me aside like so many other doctors. You can expect to be treated with respect and dignity. You and your loved ones will be supported, not only by the amazing staff but by the people who come to group and share their experience. This place has none of the dogmatism of a twelve step group. I have nothing against 12 step but the "all or nothing" approach where you get chips and count days never worked for me. It's been a long slog but I've been in recovery now for 5 years going steady and I owe my thanks to the good people who run this place. I think the community owes this establishment a huge debt. The stories you'll hear of the struggles of people from all walks of life during groups makes you realize that without a place like this, there would be a lot of funerals taking place. Addiction doesn't discriminate based on your socio economic status or skin color. You'll see people from every walk of life come together here to support one another. It's a beautiful thing.

These folks are doing God's work. If you're a patient that benefits from this place, the least we can do is share our experiences with a review. I don't know what I would do without them. Thank you Nate, Rehna, Steve,… Emily and Elora! ♥️ They're truly the best of the best.

Lighthouse is an absolutely incredible facility all around, and easily amongst the best addiction/dependence treatment facilities i have experienced out of all of them, no competition. The whole team is quite literally… S+ tier, however i've have to give a shoutout and give props where i see and feel it due. [NOTE: The following is regarding Dr. Holtsford specifically and all comparisons within the rest of the lighthouse recovery team are exempt.] This man is Him. This is not your standard doctor which you end up perceiving and later review as caring and attentive just because they were only noticeably a single half-notch above the rest. It's very clear to me Dr. Holtsford is what represents the upper echelon regarding how he applies himself within his position. Most within the medical industry operate within extremely rigid cyclical patterns of practice. Holtsford stands at the barrier wondering where the majority is at, wishing they they too were pushing it. Near picture perfect image of the direction modern medicine/treatment COULD BE taking and is the exact one I would use as an example. Non-robotic - not a soulless script being executed going through the motions Attentive - in the sense its clear his focal point is FIXED here and now. All doctors must adhere to scheduling, however at the same time wont be trying to flush you (or himself xD) out -->especially if there are serious concerns

Owes company to get evaluation case manager get mad If you don’t tell them what they want to hear they put high risk level over charge you planning to file a lawsuit against that place

They are amazing! Always available always polite.

I had to attend because of my job for substance abuse treatment and it was great, I actually enjoyed listening to ways of coping with stress and addiction, my counselor was Faith and she was really great and… understanding. I would definitely recommend lighthouse to anyone struggling with any addiction or mental health problems

Had a great experience here. Went for substance abuse. After the first evaluation meeting I was instantly plugged in to group sessions to help my substance abuse.

I want to stat with this, I've had the best experiences at the place up until Emily Mols, I had a session and she chose to generalized me and my "case" instead of actual looking in my file, she chose to say that I can't… have something because of the addiction factor not realizing I'm only in the program because I took my meds as perscribed, I've never done a street drug but she "stereotyped" me and made me feel even worse for the next few days, I cried myself to sleep because I thought for sure1 I was an addict and 2 I WAS never gonna get help for my agoraphobia or my and anxiety, she isn't a very nice to me when I tried to make suggestions, all she wants is for you to keep taking meds that don't work, I begged her and it's just take a bunch of meds that don't work"

SAVING LIVES, 24/7, 365. I never expected in my wildest dreams to discover such a unique and outstanding program in an unassuming building in the suburbs of Chicago. They're genuinely innovative and there's a subtle but… real magic to the place. At the end of the day, Lighthouse is a collection of extraordinary people. Most notably, Nate Lanthrum, the founder and clinical director. He's assembled the most passionate, effective and dedicated team imaginable. For those directly effected by substance abuse including the families and loved ones, you could not be more fortunate to have Lighthouse as a resource at your disposal. In terms of quality, Lighthouse is in a category of its own. It's far better than the best of the best programs I've encountered. It may not have the luxurious offerings of a facility like "Promises" in Malibu but it certainly makes up for the lack superficial luxuries with substance, authenticity and effectiveness 1,000 fold.. Lighthouse offers something money cannot buy; people who for whatever reason care about you and your loved ones. All treatment plans are customized to each individual that walks through the door. It's a fundamentally different approach to the recovery process. It's not a static program either because Nate makes sure to stay up-to-date with the latest treatment methods and he'll incorporate something if it works. Everyone that works at Lighthouse is of the highest quality and character. The key players off the top of my head are Nate, Dr Steve Holtsford (the "House" Addiction Medicine Expert), Marty who handles intake and paperwork, Dominic (Task Master and human whisperer) and last; the greatest psychotherapist working in the field, Rehna Becker (mother nature's improvement on Carl Jung). I do not have enough superlatives for Nate. He is the best of men. Steve is an emergency room doctor and a brilliant addiction medicine specialist. Marty has to focus on the business side of the operation to ensure the doors stay open. He's an honest guy and hard-working guy doing a thankless and unglamorous job. Dominic fulfills so many roles it's impossible to pigeonhole him but he's a walking blessing. He's much better read than most Nobel laureates, never complains, and will likely be your most consistent point of contact (he's a fixer and a closer, a gentleman and scholar). Rehna is some kind of sorceress. The things she does by intuition cannot be taught. Then there's Emily Mohls who handles psychiatric issues with an ocean of compassion while staying up to the minute with the most revolutionary treatments. Altogether, this group is the "Seal Team 6" of recovery. As a business and as a treatment facility they exemplify the best of human virtue and character. They treat each person who walks through their doors with the dignity and respect they deserve. You could search the world over for a better team, a more "advanced" or "cutting edge" program, even a different paradigm but as someone who tried everything else, and I do mean EVERYTHING, you won't find it. If you do, let me know. I'm posting this under my real name. I'm too grateful to be proud.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I have tried several other places for MAT care for substance abuse and I have to say that Dr Steven Holtsford is hands down the absolute best. He treats you like a individual person, not a text book… case of addiction. He cares, he listens and he helps you. Sobriety is possible for me! Thank you Dr Holtsford!!! Dominic and Eva are also very kind and compassionate people that work closely with the Dr. They are there to help you every step of the way. Without you guys I couldn't have made it. If you are struggling with addiction and are looking for the best place to go, you've found it!!! Look no further.

I have been going to Lighthouse now for over a year and i love it - it has saved me. I am going through their Outpatient substance abuse treatment program & their staff and dr.'s are so wonderful to work with. I feel so… comfortable with them as if they too are on this journey with me.

When I got my DUI I was given a list of DUI counseling and services in the area. Some people were nice some people were very ugly. Some services give you partial services and you have to look somewhere else to complete… all of your requirements which is frustrating. Lighthouse is a One-Stop place to go. These people are genuine, good-hearted and care about what they do. They made me feel comfortable from the beginning. Keep in mind they are doing their job so do not get angry with them it is the state of Illinois that is the biggest problem. You can jump through all the hoops and do all of your requirements and the state of Illinois will still make it hard for you to get your license back. But the people at lighthouse will be very honest and tell you this. And they will give you the information to help you navigate your difficult situation. Do yourself a favor and call lighthouse first. Thank you all.

Went to this place years ago , did not care for it , the therapy sucked there and the guy who runs it I don’t think has ever been through any real life stuff in his life , not sure how he got the job , I’m talking about… Nate. The whole crew I did not care for and there whole tone , and as an addict I’m pretty well at accepting and seeing people for who they truly are.

So I have decided to edit my rate from 1 Star to 5 Stars. (Review original rating in picture) My husband received a direct call from Nate, the Clinical Director of the facility. Nate apologized for the initial incident… & was very respectful, helpful & straight forward. Anyone who goes above & beyond to reach out & make things right, shows true character. Due to Nate efforts & compassion , Lighthouse deserves this revised rate.

I have been in rehab with Lighthouse for about 5 months now and this is the best place the emergency room could have sent me to. I have been off pain meds since I've been in their program. Please if you have any… addiction contact Elora she will help you. No matter all the crazy problems I've had I can always count on Lighthouse & Elora to help me get thru it. Reach out to them if you need help...

I have not worked with them for long but I am confident that I will be very well supported. Nate is the founder and he is amazing. I have always been scared to go somewhere for recovery and have severe trust issues as… far as proper care goes. But I am beyond sure that I will be and have been extremely well taken care of. I would give more stars if I could. Thank you guys 🤍🤍

Seriously great people. I didnt want to be there under the circumstances but literally they care about why people are there , they want to make a difference and I can tell they love their jobs . Couldnt ask for a better… group of people to help me through this experience. I highly recommend lighthouse if you are court ordered , need advice, need support, or have an addiction.

Lighthouse has helped me immensely in my recovery. Nate is incredibly supportive and meets you where you are at in the recovery process, which was very helpful for me. The IOP group goes beyond the typical treatment… topics and really addresses what each individual is struggling with. I would recommend Lighthouse to anyone with a drug or alcohol addiction/problem. I’m so grateful that someone recommended this place to me.

I would HIGHLY recommend Lighthouse Recovery to anyone seeking substance or alcohol abuse treatment. As the parent of an outpatient, I feel very fortunate to have had Nate caring for and treating my son. I'm glad I was… selective when choosing a program! If you seek treatment for a loved one please inquire... I don't think you will regret it. My son's insurance covered a good portion of the treatment and they were very helpful and accommodating with payments.