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Great Lakes Recovery Adolescent Center

Cardiff by the Sea, CA

SAMHSA Verified Detox PHP IOP MAT Telehealth

Detox · PHP · IOP · MAT center · in Cardiff by the Sea, CA · Accepts Medicaid · Medicare · Private · Serves veterans, adolescents, trauma survivors.

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Call helpline: +1 (205) 973-2878

Direct line to Great Lakes Recovery Adole...: (906) 228-4692

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About Great Lakes Recovery Adolescent Center

Located on 32 acres of land, Great Lakes Recovery Center for adolescents is a residential facility providing substance abuse treatment and relapse prevention services for individuals ages 12-17. Caring and empathetic staff are trained to support each individual holistically, working with clients to develop life-skills, engage in healthy relationships, address trauma, and maintain sobriety. Patients will attend school on-site and attend 2 group sessions daily, along with weekly individual and family therapy.
Classroom Education
Great Lakes Recovery provides a home-like atmosphere and year-round classroom education allowing patients to continue their schooling while in treatment. The comfortable environment offers semi-private bedrooms with an attached bath, a community living space including a TV area, social community meal times, an enclosed courtyard, outdoor basketball court, a greenhouse, walking trails, and a healing circle. A certified Special Education teacher is on-site to work with clients and meet each of their academic needs, including GED testing when needed. An in-house medical provider and nurse are also available to provide comprehensive medical care ensuring clients have their medical and dental needs met.
The on-site classroom offers natural lighting with views of nature, and is equipped with comfortable desk seating, laptops for educational use only and headphones when needed, a dry erase board, projector, monitor, and smart board for various learning presentations. A Great Lakes Recovery counselor is also assigned to the classroom, creating a low adult-to-student ratio. School records are transferred from the patient's school district upon admission, allowing the teacher to prepare similar lesson plans and curriculum. Weekly school reports document classroom performance, and academic recommendations are given to the district to help patients transition back into school. A school psychologist is also available for consultation and developing or managing individualized education plans. Books, materials, and transportation are all provided by Great Lakes Recovery Center.
Family Involvement
When patients enter treatment at Great Lakes Recovery Center, each is assigned a primary counselor to provide weekly individual therapy sessions. Clients participate in multiple therapeutic or didactic group therapy sessions daily with group discussion on various topics and group activities or workshops. Care givers are given a family questionnaire as part of the admissions process, allowing the primary therapist to use the family’s input and develop a treatment plan that includes family involvement. Primary therapists will maintain contact regarding the patients progress and facilitate family therapy sessions that can be done both in person and virtually. Adolescent residential services can also address patients with co-occurring disorders, providing medication education and management, along with specialized clinical treatment with motivational and engagement strategies along and evidence-based practices.
Holistic Treatment
Residents will also experience several forms of experiential and recreational therapies, such as music expression which includes instruments, song writing, singing, and lyrical analysis and explores personal feelings, promotes personal expression, and helps develop healthy coping skills. Art expression involves various art projects and activities that promote creativity and provide alternative coping strategies for trauma and overwhelming emotions.
Surrounded by 32 acres of campus, clients will also explore recreational interests like hiking, basketball, gym and fitness, and outdoor seasonal activities such as swimming, volleyball, kayaking, ultimate frisbee, tennis, skiing, ice skating, snowshoeing, and sledding. Seasonal equine therapy is also available at nearby Heritage Hills, where patients can learn to groom, feed, halter, and lead a horse as part of a therapeutic process.
Through Our Eyes is a photography program, teaching photography skills and allowing patients to hike the campus taking photographs that fall within the current month's theme. The Bridges program connects adolescent patients with local senior citizens from assisted living communities, focusing on fellowship with games, crafts, and activities and community involvement. Service learning provides the opportunity for feeling like an accomplished and valued member of the community, allowing clients to perform community service projects ranging from working with senior citizens, special needs, reading to children in local daycares, and planting community gardens.
On-staff Acupuncture Detoxification Specialists provide auricular therapy, using acupuncture to aid in the detoxification process and promote relaxation as an alternative form of healing. Other holistic therapies include meditation, essential oils, and guided visualization, offering foot baths and herbal teas as part of the treatment experience.

Private for-profit organization. Primary focus: substance use treatment, detoxification.

This listing is sourced from the SAMHSA Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator. Data last synced: April 2026. Always verify current programs and insurance directly with the facility.

Quick Facts

Programs, populations, and payments verified via SAMHSA.

Level of care
Detox · PHP · IOP · MAT · Telehealth
Service settings
Outpatient, Outpatient detoxification, Outpatient day treatment or partial hospitalization, Intensive outpatient treatment, Outpatient methadone/buprenorphine or naltrexone treatment, Regular outpatient treatment
Therapy approaches
Anger management, Brief intervention, Cognitive behavioral therapy, Contingency management/motivational incentives, Motivational interviewing, Relapse prevention, Substance use disorder counseling, Telemedicine/telehealth therapy
Age groups
Children/Adolescents, Adults
Special populations
Adolescents, Young adults, Adult women, Pregnant/postpartum women, Adult men, Veterans, Active duty military, Criminal justice (other than DUI/DWI)/Forensic clients, Clients with co-occurring mental and substance use disorders, Clients who have experienced sexual abuse
Medications used
Acamprosate (Campral®), Disulfiram, Buprenorphine with naloxone, Buprenorphine without naloxone, Buprenorphine (extended-release, injectable), Naltrexone (oral), Naltrexone (extended-release, injectable), Medication for mental disorders, Non-nicotine smoking/tobacco cessation
Recovery supports
Housing services, Assistance with obtaining social services, Recovery coach, Mentoring/peer support, Employment counseling or training
Facility operation
Private for-profit organization

Insurance & Payment Accepted

Verify coverage
Medicaid
Medicare
Private insurance
TRICARE / VA
Self-pay / Cash
Sliding scale

Full list from SAMHSA: Medicare; Medicaid; Private health insurance; Cash or self-payment; State-financed health insurance plan other than Medicaid

Contact & Location

Photos

Great Lakes Recovery Adolescent Center — photo Great Lakes Recovery Adolescent Center — photo Great Lakes Recovery Adolescent Center — photo Great Lakes Recovery Adolescent Center — photo

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Great Lakes Recovery Adolescent Center accept Medicaid?
Yes. According to SAMHSA data, Great Lakes Recovery Adolescent Center accepts Medicaid. Coverage specifics (copays, prior authorization) depend on the specific CA Medicaid plan. Call (906) 228-4692 to verify your benefits.
What level of care does Great Lakes Recovery Adolescent Center offer?
This facility offers: Detox, PHP, IOP, MAT, Telehealth. Service settings include: Outpatient, Outpatient detoxification, Outpatient day treatment or partial hospitalization, Intensive outpatient treatment, Outpatient methadone/buprenorphine or naltrexone treatment, Regular outpatient treatment. Primary focus: Substance use treatment, Detoxification.
Does Great Lakes Recovery Adolescent Center have specialized programs?
Yes — this facility offers programs for: Adolescents, Young adults, Adult women, Pregnant/postpartum women, Adult men, Veterans, Active duty military, Criminal justice (other than DUI/DWI)/Forensic clients.
What therapy methods does Great Lakes Recovery Adolescent Center use?
Evidence-based approaches listed with SAMHSA: Anger management, Brief intervention, Cognitive behavioral therapy, Contingency management/motivational incentives, Motivational interviewing, Relapse prevention, Substance use disorder counseling, Telemedicine/telehealth therapy, Trauma-related counseling, 12-step facilitation.
How do I start treatment at Great Lakes Recovery Adolescent Center?
Call the facility directly at (906) 228-4692 for an intake assessment. Our free 24/7 helpline (+1 (205) 973-2878) can also help you compare programs, verify insurance, and navigate options. No physician referral is required.
Is treatment confidential?
Yes. Federal law (42 CFR Part 2) provides strict confidentiality protections for substance use treatment records — stricter than HIPAA. Records cannot be disclosed without written consent, even to family, employers, or law enforcement.
What happens when you call? (general intake process)

Most treatment centers follow a 4-step intake: (1) confidential assessment — substance history, mental health, insurance, preferences (protected by 42 CFR Part 2); (2) insurance verification — facility contacts your plan to confirm coverage and out-of-pocket costs; (3) level-of-care recommendation — clinical staff match you to detox, residential, PHP, IOP, or outpatient based on severity; (4) admission typically within 24–48 hours. Timing varies by facility and bed availability.

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Sources & References

  • SAMHSA — Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator. Source of facility programs, services, and accepted payments.
  • SAMHSA — NSDUH, 2023.
  • CMS — Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA).
  • 42 CFR Part 2 — Confidentiality of SUD Patient Records.

Facility data last synced: April 2026. Editorial policy.

24/7 Helpline +1 (205) 973-2878