Spring Lake Ranch Therapeutic – Cuttingsville

This place is like an Internment camp. They enslave you, degrade you, and take all your money. The doctor is unprofessional and degrading. She gets pleasure out of making her patients feel othered and weird when she… meets with them. She makes random med changes, sometimes increasing meds to dangerous levels without even meeting with the patient about it. The therapy is also horrible, as therapy isn’t the focus of this place. The topics in therapy just revolve around everything you’re not doing well in the work program, and if you’re not showing up in the morning on time and things of that sort. I seriously think this is a horrible program for people with mental illness, as you receive absolutely no sympathy or understanding for your actual problems. After 5 months at SLR, I was moved to Gould Farm, where I found the doctors much more professional and sympathetic, the therapy separate of the work program, much roomier facilities with multiple buildings in a walkable area to move around in, and a less intense atmosphere overall

Spring Lake Ranch saved my life. No, this is not an overstatement. Not only that, but it saved my relationship with my family. To give you some backstory, I had spent 6 years battling deep depression, OCD, anxiety, and… suicidal ideation. I was very resistant to doing any sort of inpatient/residential treatment; despite efforts from my parents and therapists, I refused. And if you know anything about treatment, you know that you must be willing to receive help to get anything out of it. It took living on my own, not working, not in school, having hit yet another wall after trying IV ketamine therapy, for me to push past any pride and fear and admit that something needed to change. I did a Google search trying to find somewhere, anywhere to go that wasn’t a white wall institution, for the only thing that briefly brought me out of the dark hole I was living in was being outside with my dog. I found SLR, in addition to Gould, interested in their therapeutic community-based approach to treatment, and decided to take a tour of both. After a disappointing visit to Gould, I knew it wasn’t the place for me, a conclusion they came to as well. My dad and I then drove to Vermont and met with Kevin to tour the ranch. The atmosphere was lively, the people were friendly, and you couldn't differentiate who was a resident and who was staff. Though still trepidatious, later that day, my dad and I went back to our Airbnb and decided to move forward with it. The ranch isn't a traditional treatment place, and you can see that with every ranch holiday, as many former residents come back to visit, and the ranch welcomes them with open arms. I met some of my best friends and had the most life-changing experiences (for example, assisting in 3 piglet births as someone from a city who had only seen farm animals from a distance). This isn’t to say I didn’t have hard times, there were many instances where I fell back, but for the first time I had a community and net of support that helped me get back on my feet, and eventually gave my the courage and confidence to realize I could succeed on my own, but also that I wasn’t alone, and asking for help is a strength, not a weakness. During my time at the ranch, I was on a farm crew (though occasionally on gardens to help decorate birthday/goodbye cakes). It pushed me mentally and physically, and with each day on crew, I felt stronger and more capable. I also completed a mural during my stay, a project the ranch supported me with (along with Carl and Olivia, both of whom I attribute so much of my personal and creative growth to). I got to the ranch in March 2024 and left in April 2025. Some stay shorter, some longer, but the year I spent at the ranch wasn’t one I look back on as a “year I lost in treatment”, but the year that made me WANT to live again.

If you’re ready, they are with you every step of the way. You won’t find a more supportive, healing environment.

amazing 10/10

Violated HIPAA. Staff were mostly untrained kids in their 20s that hooked up off the clock. Generally didnt seem like they knew how to help many of their residents out side of having them go thru the motions of the work… program.. way over priced

Spring Lake Ranch was there for me when I did not know where to go or how to pick up my life after a bout of severe depression and weeks of ECT treatment. The Ranch provided me a space to heal amongst community. Even if… I felt terrible, at the end of the day, I got out of bed, worked, engaged with community and was productive. That was an essential building block to my recovery. The Ranch has a big heart. They root for you and help you long after your stay. Thank you Ranch! Stacy

The is no place I'd rather be!

We are seeking to establish a residential, rural, therapeutic farm in Australia. I had a half-day visit to Spring Lake Ranch to view the facility, and learn something of the services offered to clients, their policies… and programs, the nature of the community and the caring therein, and the outcomes achieved. In that short visit I was impressed first with the magnificent, yet peaceful mountain environment... truly close to nature. I joined them in the dining room for lunch, talking to both staff and residents. The food was excellent, with a wide range of healthy options. Some of the residents were playing guitars or other instruments. From talking to staff I learnt of their focus on client safety, and client support. I am advised that whilst there are generic work programs for all to engage in, there are choices within that, and counseling/treatment is customized to the needs each individual. Overall this seems to be an excellent facility and I have rated it accordingly as above.

As I flipped back to my first journal from treatment, I came across this quote stamped on the opening pages. "And once the storm is over, you wont remember how you made it through. How you managed to survive. You won't… even be sure in fact whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain... When you come out of the storm, you wont be the same person as you were when you walked in." When I wrote that, I'm sure for a fact I questioned my faith. I questioned my ability to get through all of this. And I questioned whether or not another treatment center would actually work after already being placed in multiple other ones. I was lost. And I wasn't sure if I could survive. I walked into SLR helpless and hopeless- And it became the open book to a new life. Today, three years later, I have journals and journals filled of my journey. And the start of my story began here. SLR gave me the foundation to learn to become independent and happy again. It gave me the therapeutic aspect of recovery with their 'work' program. It gave me a consistent schedule each day to work towards. And it taught me life long responsibilities that are necessary to living independently. On top of that, I have made life long friends that have helped me get through some of the challenges that I deal with today in my every day life. Today, three years later- I ended up relocating to VT after going through their entire program so I could be closer to the people that loved me most when I could not love myself. I see the same counselor that I began to see when I first arrived. SLR takes you step by step at your own pace. I was able to attend AA meetings as well and then go through their transitional living program. Once off the hill, I moved to Royce Street and then to the town house where I had my own space. After stepping out of the Ranch, I had the foundation and confidence that I could get through any obstacle I faced. As long as I utilized the tools that I learned from the Ranch and the Program of AA. Today, I currently reside in VT and I work in the mental health field. I have gained life long friends and I have obtained the two wishes that my Mother and Father had set for me from the beginning. Happiness and Independence. I am also a Mom to beautiful little one year old boy who reminds me daily to do the next right thing. The challenges of life still persist on a daily basis. Today, I have the tools I need in order to get through them without having to pick up a drink or a drug. Spring Lake Ranch has been the greatest gift of my life. It taught me how to live again. How to love myself just the way I am. And then to share love with others while giving people HOPE whom have struggled with similar challenges that I have in life. I have learned that I am not alone nor am I unique. I’m just a girl who decided to be open to a God of her own understanding and have a little faith in the people whom have walked before me. I’m forever grateful for all that SLR has done for me. It was the greatest gift anyone could ever give me. Today I work in the Mental Health field as an Autism Behavioral Analysis interventionist and I have one year old little boy who is my world! Without the help of the Ranch, I don't think I would be the women that I am today for myself, nor be the mother that I am for my son. thank you Spring Lake Ranch for giving me the tools to become happy, healthy, and independent.

The Ranch offers a place of acceptance for anyone who arrives there. It is a community filled with down to earth people who truly want to help and teach through new experiences.

Bad customer service

As the parent of a young adult who has benefited from the time spent at the Ranch, I can't say enough good things about this place and the staff. I highly recommend them.

Wonderful experience. I bounced back from my depression so quickly at the ranch and became so confident that I went straight to graduate school when I completed the program.

A truly effective approach to the rehabilitation and treatment of mental health and substance abuse. Excellent treatment center. Also, I knew Julie as well and her review has no basis and is just plain wrong.

As a member of the local community I had the opportunity to visit Spring Lake Ranch a few weeks ago and was very impressed. The property sits nestled in the Green Mountains of Vermont and is surrounded by woods. I was… unable to see the lake as it was winter but received a very warm welcome from the staff and residents. The buildings were modern, well constructed and inviting. I was unable to visit all of the buildings, but had lunch in the main building. The lunch buffet was excellent and offered extensive choices including vegetarian items. Dishes were presented well and very tasty. I was unable to discern residents from staff unless introduced, as everyone appeared to be enjoying what they were occupied with. I would recommend visiting Spring Lake Ranch and if seeking a place for treatment for yourself or a loved one this should be at the top of your list.