Testimonials

I'm just back from 2 wonderful weeks at The Causeway Retreat. Top notch work from the team to set me off in the right direction. I would highly recommend time at The Village.

For anyone, it's almost worth becoming an alcoholic / addict just to spend time there. You'll be pleased to know I'm back on track now and planning aftercare with The Causeway Retreat and seeing their psychotherapist in London.

I would have loved 3 weeks there (or 3 months), but it seemed a little extravagant, as I felt more than ready and able to leave, ...but I'm already missing my personal trainer, great food, lovely apartment, amazing scenery, acupuncture, complementary therapy, bike rides, and boat rides already. Mind you, life in the outside world is quite fun too..!

I am sure that the work you are now doing at The Causeway Retreat will be life changing for the people who have the chance to start their recovery in such a peaceful and spiritual setting. I was lucky enough to spend several months at an addiction treatment centre several years ago and I have no doubt it saved my life. You should be very proud of what you are doing.

If you can't get better here, where can you get better?

I hope you never lose the concept of the causeway as a retreat from the stress of modern life, because it is the peace and ability to think that does half the work.

To all the wonderful staff at 'The Village' at The Causeway Retreat - Thank you for your kindness and support. Thank you for your humour and belief. This journey would not have been possible to make without you. Good luck to you all. Peace and love in the free world. With all my love and best wishes.

Retreat to The Causeway Retreat was just what I needed to confront and deal with my addiction. The accommodation was my first very pleasant surprise - not the 'three to a room' that I had experienced elsewhere but a light, airy and spacious apartment with views over The Causeway Retreat and estuaries which gave me my own space in which to relax and think. The Causeway Retreat itself, which promoted in me feelings of being in a peaceful and bygone age, mirrored those qualities.

The individual and flexible recovery programme was just right for me - with time to reflect as well as participate in group and individual sessions, I cannot praise the staff enough. All seemed committed to aiding my physical and mental recovery and tailored the programme to meet my needs, where that could be achieved without detriment to others. The elimination of dogma and unnecessary distraction from the programme helped me to focus on the issues important to me and, I believe, have given me my best chance of permanent sobriety.

I came to The Causeway Retreat leaving behind the stresses of everyday life that had spiraled into a multitude of problems that I felt I could no longer deal with rationally. My stay has enabled me to reflect on these and more prepare myself mentally and physically. With the aid of all the team at The Causeway Retreat my stay was made educational, inspirational and dare I say, enjoyable. Many thanks.

I would like to thank you and the staff of The Causeway Retreat for the treatment and care that my daughter received when my daughter stayed at The Causeway Retreat. At the outset I thought that The Causeway Retreat fees were expensive but when I think of what was achieved during her three and a half week stay there I really have to say that the fees were well spent.

Considering her state of mind when she was admitted to The Causeway Retreat for treatment and the immense change that was achieved in her attitudes and ambivalence to drugs I really feel fortunate that I made the right choice in her treatment at The Causeway Retreat. The one to one counselling and nursing that she received was obviously of a very high standard.

Once again, thank you for your patience and sympathetic ear on the many occasions that I telephoned you during the day and the evening to discuss issues, for the time that you spent convincing my daughter to come to The Causeway Retreat for her detox and treatment. I do not know how I would have coped without your advice and expertise on the situation. I have spoken to her since she entered Prinsted for her secondary care and she sounds good and positive about it.

We are very appreciative of your offer of after care for my daughter at The Causeway Retreat on completion of her time at Prinsted. I am sure that she will take up this option to complete her recovery. I will contact you when I am over in the UK and would love to see The Causeway Retreat.

The Causeway Retreat is a special place, nestled away on an island that radiates natural beauty with good energy... I truly found peace here.

A three-fold treatment - physical, mental and spiritual, with a very personal touch. I now believe in myself and, with support like this, I can start my new life, one which I truly aspire to. Unbelievable for someone who was circumstantially forced into care, originally for a 10 day detox only. It wasn't easy but almost 4 weeks later (on my own accord) I'm now on my way out and am eternally grateful for this opportunity and experience. Thank you.

Well, what can I say except a million thank you's for rescuing me. You have seen me at my worst and now at my best and you have joined me on my journey to recovery. You will always be a very special person in my life, because you saved my life, literally - and by bringing me here, you took me way from a dark place that was slowly but surely killing me.

I have never felt so alive, so happy and so at peace with myself. You have helped me leave behind my past and begin a new chapter and given me the strength to change my life around from being superficial to enjoying such simple pleasures like walking the dogs on the beach.

I feel privileged to have been the first person to start your new venture off and to see even after four months the dramatic changes already being made in turning The Causeway Retreat into a hugely famous and successful name. I feel somewhat ambivalent about going back but only because I now know what I enjoy in life. You will always remain my friend and will keep in contact with you and I hope that it won't be too long before we see one another again. Good Luck in everything. Much love.

My experience of staying at The Causeway Retreat will be one I shall never forget. Being here has given me more than just my recovery; it has enabled me to find out who I am and what I want out of life after hiding in a dark place for a very long time. I have learnt to laugh again and find happiness within myself and enjoy the simple things that are around us but have never been appreciated up until now - it's been so easy to take life for granted and accept all the things that are wrong until you address them.

I feel privileged to have been brought here and to have got to know you and would like to thank you for your kindness and generosity that you have given to me over the past four months.

I am hoping it won't be too long before I come back here but in the meantime good luck with your new venture - I know it will be a huge success and become very famous one day. Much love.

When I arrived I was a mess of anxiety and sadness trapped beneath a steel sky of oppression with, as far as I could see, no way out.

Well what a difference to how I feel now and I cant thank you all enough for saving my life, which is what you have done. The love, support and friendship I received when I arrived rapidly gave me hope and for the first time in 9 months I started to feel at ease.

As the days progressed my symptoms slowly disappeared with the help of groups and the wonderful, amazing, legendary Frances who has this unbelievable ability to read me like a book and guide me like no-one ever else has! I have seen many therapists, doctors, specialists, with doctors and sooth-sayers, but all fade into the distance in comparison to you guys here. I also have to mention Trevor who, bravely, has guided me through the dirt 3 steps and successfully adapted it for anxiety with spectacular results, thank you. Then there?s Dita who?s challenging groups gave me insight and inspiration, but he will be mostly remembered for the infamous bike ride across The Causeway with hurricane Bernard blowing through and over us! And of course there are the nurses whose reassuring words and actions and gentle, smiley way helped me though my more anxious times and when they were over they kept me smiling and looking forward to each day. So a massive thank you to all of you.

In conclusion coming here has been one of the best things I have done in my life, of which I have done some great things, and thanks to you wonderful people (and NEVER FORGET HOW WONDERFUL YOU ARE!) I will now have many more great times ahead! I am forever in gratitude to you and would love to stay in touch. Wherever I go in the world a piece of me will always be with you and I carry you in my heart forever.

All my love and happiness to you all!

Thank you for taking the time to show me around the causeway retreat. You are doing a wonderful job restoring the island and continuing the work that Frederick Charrington started a century ago.

It is so helpful to experience the causeway retreat in person as no written or visual material can ever do justice to its magical therapeutic atmosphere - very inspiring.

I really enjoyed experiencing firsthand what Dr McPhillips has been so passionate I describing. The causeway retreat has got a unique and very special feel to it and I can see why people want to stay.

The island is a delightful anachronism in the rush and frenzy of modern life and its understated charm seems naturally conducive to psychological healing. It is also very heartening to see that the philosophy underpinning the care programme puts the client where he/she should be - at the centre of treatment.

I just wanted to drop you a short email to extend a thank you to you and to all the staff at the Causeway Retreat. I left today feeling a million dollars and my two week stay has been amazing. I've learned a huge amount about myself, all of which has been made possible by your staff.

You have some great people and I just wanted to let you have that feedback. Thanks also need to go to Laura and Andy in the kitchen, who obviously aren't supposed to be providing therapy but both of them are good listeners and excellent chefs.

I plan on returning once a quarter for a couple of days to 'service my engine' which will hopefully reduce the likelihood of breakdown.

Thanks again.

Dear "ALL" at The Causeway Retreat.

Well, another chapter closes and a new one begins for me. I can't tell you or thank you enough for all the care and support you have bestowed upon me during my stay here. I have been nurtured by you all and I can assure you it has been such a positive experience and it has not gone unappreciated, I feel I have "grown" as a person. I just need to hold on to it which I am so determined to do.

When times were hard and I began to feel "down" I never had to look far to find help and a hug - you have been one big family to me and I will never forget you. The night and day of "the storm" which to me was part of the "experience" of being on a remote island was dealt with fantastically by all, how helpful you were, I couldn't believe how you gat the 'fab' BBQ lunch together. The procession of the massive generators arriving, candles everywhere and it appeared you were just taking it all in your stride. I have got so much out of the groups even though sometimes I struggled to get the right end of the stick! I wish everyone happiness for the future and if I wasn't so determined to remain "sober" I would be back like a shot!

Thank you for looking after me.

With love,

To everyone at The Causeway,

I want to thank you all so much for looking after me, caring for me and being there every day for the last.

Five weeks... It has been the most amazin time of my life and has helped me to find myself once again...

With love and best wishes,

To all the staff and to my fellow clients at The Causeway,

Thank you for all the compassion, laughter, rest and care.

Thank you for helping me to get back on my feet again. Best wishes to all for a full recovery, and a life of love and happiness ahead.

Sincere regards,

Just a little note to say thanks to you and ALL your wonderful staff. They have taught me a lot and during my stay I have started to learn more about myself.

Regards to all,

The Causeway Retreat is quite simply unique and conducive to well being.

Thank you for inviting us to The Causeway Retreat. We are all impressed with the facilities and the great vision you have created.