Admissions Information to Help You Get Started

Potential Grounds Members

The ideal Grounds member is a young man who is ready to take charge of his life! We look for members who still need some structure and accountability but can also handle the freedoms and temptations of semi-independent living in a large and complex city. We are not in a remote location and everything the world has to offer is practically in our backyard or within a few hours. Combined with our intentional program design, our environment provides the right combination of challenge, support, independence, privacy, responsibility and accountability.

All incoming members must have some sobriety under their belt either from primary treatment, wilderness program experience, detox, or other intervention. We understand if you’ve had one relapse or many, we understand if you are still contemplating how to live abstinent and if you aren’t familiar or yet comfortable with the 12 Steps. While you are with us, we can work through all of those pieces together and help you tackle each one to see what’s right for you.

We do, however, require that you be substance free upon arrival at The Grounds. We also ask that you arrive open to trying new things (even if it’s a little uncomfortable) and open to challenging yourself and your current beliefs and thinking.

Besides substance use and addiction, most of our members have also struggled with co-occurring disorders such as anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, attentional issues or executive functioning issues. Many of our members have experienced failure, loss, trauma, bullying, isolation or other life events that often fueled the need and desire for the escape substances provide.

We know that these things all walk alongside addiction and substance use which is why our program is about “healthy living”, not just “sober living”. Please contact Alex Zemeckis, our Founder, who personally screens and oversees all of our admissions. We know you and your story are unique and we want you to be successful so we’ll decide together if we’re the right place for you. All prospective members have an interview (typically by phone) with Alex prior to approval for enrollment so that we can answer your questions, get to know you and better understand your expectations and goals.

Referring Professionals

We understand and respect the work you do to find the “right fit” for your client. With so many options, we’re glad you are “part of the village” supporting our members and their families in making such a critical decision. We welcome your participation, support and expertise. We want you to feel confident in choosing The Grounds for your client knowing that we work alongside all allied professionals involved with our members. We provide comprehensive updates, case management collaboration and continuum of care consultation at regular intervals as members’ progress through all phases of our program.

We also want you to see first-hand the work we do and get to know our team. Please let us know if you are interested in touring The Grounds or learning more. We welcome your inquiries and look forward to working with you.

Are You a Good Candidate for The Grounds?

Young men who are actively using substances, require detox, psychiatric or medical stabilization or other immediate, more acute care and treatment would be considered “not ready” for The Grounds. We welcome your interest and are happy to work with you and your team to guide you towards the care you need. When you are ready, we’ll be here.

Fear, anxiety, resistance, hesitation, embarrassment, lack of motivation, self-imposed limits, lack of work experience, shame, immaturity, even a lack of commitment to lifelong sobriety, we can work with all of this as we know it’s part of early recovery.

All we’re asking is that you give yourself the opportunity to experience a different way of living. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide how to live your life. With a clear mind, a new perspective, tools for dealing with life’s ups and downs, a caring support system and a renewed confidence in YOU, we think you’ll find things like your future much more alluring than drugs and alcohol. We’re confident you’ll experience a peace of mind and clarity of purpose that re-awakens goals and aspirations long buried under the cloud of substance use.

Any condition, diagnosis, situation or request that limits, distracts or takes away a members ability to fully participate in daily programming, activities and requirements would be considered exclusionary criteria. Please give us a call to discuss your unique needs. Examples may include:

History of significant self-harm
History of aggressive or violent behavior
Un-stabilized psychiatric or mental health condition
Un-stabilized or severe medical condition that requires supervision or administration outside of our normal protocols
History of sexually predatory behavior

A Letter from the Program Director

Cannon Kristofferson, CADC II

Welcome to The Grounds and to an environment tailored for the individual looking to leap with both feet forward into a life of purpose and happiness.  I grew up here in San Diego, and throughout my own journey, I have learned that having a solid continuum of care in a structured setting is the foundation in which the freedom from the bonds of addiction can truly be achieved.  Being accountable to not only ourselves, but to the other Grounds members improves self-esteem, gives us purpose, and bolsters our positive interpersonal relationships. I know that often relationships with friends, loved ones, and family members have been often strained and by working on our own self-identity and toward becoming the productive member within our society these relationships can and will heal.

I have worked extensively with a myriad of diverse populations within the recovery community. From diagnosed behavioral issues to PTSD and chronic relapse. I look forward to working with each of you, as an individual to determine the best course of action to take and be of support on your journey.  I am a firm believer in fun. If I had not discovered an entire world within the recovery community that embellished the saying “we are not a glum lot” I may not have latched on to the idea that my life could be enjoyable without the addition of substances.  I look forward to meeting you and helping you reach your goals as they grow and change throughout your recovery.

Sincerely,  Cannon Kristofferson