Sanctuary At Sedona

My experience at The Sanctuary was unlike anything I had encountered in healthcare or recovery before. From the very beginning, it was clear that this was not a place focused on simply managing symptoms or achieving short-term sobriety. The clinical team took the time to understand and treat the root causes of my struggles—addressing the underlying psychological, emotional, and physiological factors that had shaped my addiction. Care was individualized, intentional, and grounded in a deep respect for whole-person healing. What stood out most was the culture of care and well-being. I didn’t feel like a patient being processed; I felt like a human being who truly mattered. Every interaction—medical, therapeutic, and personal—communicated safety, compassion, and professionalism. I was genuinely taken care of in a way that allowed my nervous system to settle, my mind to clear, and real healing to begin. The impact of that approach has been life-changing. My life today looks completely different than it did before treatment. My health, my clarity, and my sense of purpose have been restored, and my marriage is stronger and more connected than it has ever been. The Sanctuary didn’t just help me recover—they helped me rebuild my life on a healthier foundation. There is no other rehab center I would choose or recommend. The Sanctuary sets a standard for what recovery care should be, and I wholeheartedly encourage anyone seeking true, lasting healing to trust themselves to this remarkable place.

I have struggled for most of my adult life with anxiety, depression and trauma. I had not made much progress within traditional western practices but found the Sanctuary to be life changing. They are the only place out of three prior residential facilities that made me feel loved, accepted and like I could do the recovery work. The staff to client ratio was about 5:1 which I had never experienced anywhere prior. The food was prepared by the most amazing chefs and the food was in itself medicine. The Transition plan is comprehensive as well as the follow up alumni program. I would highly recommend The Sanctuary to anyone who is feeling hopeless or has tried multiple modalities for cPTSD without success.

When I found The Sanctuary at Sedona, I felt broken, overwhelmed, and at times permanently damaged. I was living in deep emotional pain, caught in cycles of rumination, shame, and fear that felt inescapable. I did not need surface-level help; I needed a place that could hold the depth of what I was experiencing. Something beyond traditional outpatient care or medication management alone, while still having access to those supports when appropriate. I say this not only from personal experience, but also as someone who has worked in mental health since 2008 across PHP, IOP, inpatient, outpatient, and residential treatment settings. I understood the system; and still found myself needing something different. After surviving a severe head-on collision with an 18-wheeler in 2018 with my husband and son, deeply suppressed trauma from early adolescence resurfaced. During COVID, things escalated into persistent rumination, overwhelming shame, and suicidal ideation. Living temporarily with my parents to stabilize financially (while practical), further impacted my mental health. I came to understand I was experiencing complex PTSD, including religious trauma and harmful early experiences with authority figures. When I reached a breaking point, I searched for a residential program focused on developmental trauma not rooted in a 12-step model. That search led me to The Sanctuary at Sedona. Choosing to go, and to fully engage in the work; was life-saving. The Sanctuary offers a deeply intentional, structured, and compassionate approach to healing. What stood out most was the genuine care, presence, and respect offered to each individual. There is a consistent sense of being seen and supported without judgment. The setting itself is part of the healing. The property is large and private, with space to walk, reflect, and regulate. Whether that’s time by the creek, journaling, walking the labyrinth or medicine wheel, or sitting quietly with the mountain views. The program also incorporates Mind-Spirit-Body-based healing, including massage therapy, recognizing the impact of trauma on the nervous system. Additional supports such as individualized IV nutrient therapy and carefully facilitated ketamine-assisted therapy are offered in a thoughtful, sacred, and well-held way. Each client has their own private room and bathroom, creating safety, autonomy, and space to process. This supports nervous system regulation and allows for deeper internal work and emotional release. A core part of the work involved learning how to go inward rather than avoid or override what I was feeling. Through Shadow Work and other integrative approaches, I was able to identify long-standing patterns, express anger toward God in a safe and supported way, and begin healing deeper layers of complex trauma connected to my spiritual history. This process helped me shift my relationship with myself and develop genuine self-compassion. It also supported nervous system repair and improved areas I had struggled with for years, including chronic insomnia. As a licensed mental health professional, I can say the level of attunement and coordination among staff is exceptional. They hold space while maintaining a highly integrated program, something not easy to achieve. And a strong aftercare program provides continued support. Through my time there, I worked through a profound fear of death, addressed deep-rooted shame, and learned practical tools for nervous system regulation that I continue to use in my daily life and, at times, in my clinical work. If you are feeling lost, stuck, or without direction, this is a place that can meet you there. I strongly recommend The Sanctuary at Sedona. The Sanctuary provides space to work through deep wounds including: religious or spiritual trauma, emotional neglect, and patterns of self-neglect; while helping you build self-compassion, healthier boundaries, and a more grounded relationship with yourself.It is a place where real, lasting healing can begin.

I’m incredibly grateful for my experience at The Sanctuary. I came while dealing with chronic health challenges and trauma, hoping to find a place that approached healing in a more holistic way, and for me it truly felt like a supportive environment to do that work. What stood out most was the range of therapies and healing modalities available and the way the program focuses on supporting the mind, body, and nervous system together rather than just treating symptoms. The staff create a compassionate and respectful environment where people feel genuinely supported in their healing journey. I would recommend it to anyone—of any faith or background—who is open to exploring deeper healing around chronic illness, chronic pain, mental health challenges, trauma, PTSD, addiction, or other co-occurring struggles. I visited before the Brain Body Recovery Lab was completed, so I’m hopeful to return someday and experience that when the timing feels right. I’ll always be grateful for my time there.

Our 30 year son happen to stumble upon the sanctuary while looking for a rehab for himself. He was looking for a place that was different and had a more holistic approach and spiritual component to it. His dad and I were invited out for his third weekend as guest and to do some work with him dealing with trauma from his years before and during high school. When we arrived we were not sure what to expect but by the time we left we had experienced a life changing event for all three of us. To say that The Sanctuary may have given life back to our son is an understatement. When we first saw him we quickly saw and realized that he was different, brighter , lighter and had a bluest sparkle back in his eyes. We were able to attend several of the therapy sessions with him including breathe work and the sweat lodge. It is undeniable how moving, healing and enlightening all sessions were not only for him but surprising for us is healing deep wounds, sadness and grief. I’m not sure I have ever met a more dedicated, down to earth caring individuals than the staff and the original founders of The Sanctuary. Dean in particular was so truly inspirational and caring it was easy to see why the clients and the staff are so dedicated to this special place. We thank them all from the bottom of our hearts for giving our son his life back and helping all of us to heal as a family. Medelise Reifsteck