Fernside Addiction Treatment Center in Princeton, Massachusetts
If you or a loved one is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, take a look at Fernside’s residential substance use disorder treatment at McLean Hospital. Call us today to speak to the admission staff about our addiction recovery program.
Personalized Residential Addiction Treatment in Massachusetts
If you are living with drug or alcohol addiction, or if you struggle with substance misuse that is affected by other mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression, we can help.
Since 2006, Fernside, an addiction recovery program based in Princeton, Massachusetts, has been offering exceptional residential alcohol and drug addiction treatment that provides individuals with the tools to achieve and maintain abstinence from drugs and alcohol, reclaim a sense of self-worth, and learn to manage the stresses of an active life.
Our scientifically proven clinical treatment and recovery methods result in positive therapeutic outcomes.
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This 9-bed, self-pay program provides world-class alcohol and drug addiction treatment in the private, charming setting of a renovated country bed and breakfast. Services are available to individuals ages 18 and older.
Our Harvard Medical School-affiliated clinicians are experts in the use of state-of-the-art psychological treatments, as well as medication evaluation and counseling. The addiction recovery program offers the opportunity for 30-day or longer lengths of stay to ensure full benefits are achieved.
For more information or to make a referral, please call 978.464.2331.
Fernside Addiction Treatment Approach
Fernside provides private, attentive, individualized care for drug and alcohol addiction.
Our clinicians are experts in drug and alcohol misuse recovery, rehabilitation, and relapse prevention and are here to help motivate individuals to take the necessary steps to overcome addiction.
Our intensive, seven-day-a-week program focuses on relapse prevention and recovery, and specializes in caring for those whose substance use disorder has not responded to other treatment or is further complicated by other psychiatric illnesses such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Evidence-Based Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment
Our Harvard Medical School-affiliated clinicians incorporate various therapy models into the addiction recovery program. These therapy models are based on the internationally recognized psychiatric research that’s been conducted by the Division of Alcohol, Drugs, and Addiction.
Relapse Prevention Therapy
As part of comprehensive residential drug and alcohol addiction treatment, relapse prevention therapy is a cognitive behavioral approach. This therapy focuses on building self-control, understanding high-risk scenarios, and developing effective coping mechanisms to support long-term abstinence.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT is a highly effective, evidence-based approach often integrated into drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs. It empowers individuals to manage intense emotions and destructive behaviors that can fuel substance use. DBT focuses on developing four core skill sets:
- Mindfulness
- Interpersonal effectiveness
- Emotion regulation
- Distress tolerance
McLean applies DBT as a therapy for both adolescents and adults throughout our various treatment programs.
Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET)
MET is a counseling approach that focuses on helping individuals overcome their conflicting feelings about starting treatment and ending drug or alcohol misuse. It helps foster swift, self-driven transformation.
Integrated Group Therapy
Developed by McLean’s Roger D. Weiss, MD, and Hilary S. Connery, MD, PhD, integrated group therapy is a proven approach for co-occurring mood and substance use disorders. It teaches crucial recovery behaviors and relapse prevention skills applicable to both conditions.
Learn more about McLean’s unique approach to addiction care and the various treatment programs offered at our hospital.
“My experience at Fernside was invaluable. The individualized attention from the doctors and staff was uniquely satisfying and a crucial part of the program.”– Fernside patient
What Is Included in the Fernside Day Rate?
Fernside’s private addiction treatment program provides clinical services, such as:
- Professional evaluation, diagnostic assessment, and treatment for substance use disorders and co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses
- Physical examination and treatment planning to address the related medical conditions
- Intensive individual and group therapy
- Symptom education services
- Medication evaluation and management
- On-site medical director and psychiatrist providing treatment for all patients
- 24/7 direct care staffing including day/evening nursing care
- Case management services (ongoing consultation with referring clinician and aftercare planning)
- Family and couples meetings
- Basic laboratory testing
- Nutritional consultations for an additional fee
- Smoking cessation treatment and support
- Yoga, personal fitness training, recreational cooking classes
Additionally, the following are non-clinical services provided to each patient:
- Private room/private bath (single occupancy)
- Chef-prepared meals as well as snacks and beverages
- Arrival and departure transportation services available
- Transportation services for scheduled clinical appointments
- Housekeeping services
- On-site fitness studio
- Art studio with professional easels and supplies
Learn more below about services that are not included in the day rate.
Understanding Alcohol Addiction & Treatment
Addiction to alcohol is not a sign of weakness, a character flaw, or a moral failure. It is a common condition that affects millions of people of all ages, socioeconomic groups, and backgrounds. And while there is not one cause of alcohol addiction, there is hope—it can be treated effectively.
Admission
Fernside fields inquiries for the program 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about program admission or to make a referral, please contact:
Phone: 978.464.2331
People come to Fernside from across the United States and around the world. Our knowledgeable admissions staff have information about resources nationwide, and can help arrange drug or alcohol detoxification services as needed prior to admission.
Cost
The fee for Fernside is $70,500 for 30 days, and as a self-pay program, we do not accept insurance or any third-party reimbursement.
A 30-day minimum stay is recommended to help ensure full benefit from the program.
For more information about what is included in the Fernside day rate, please see above.
Read one Fernside patient’s story on living a life without alcohol.
Fernside’s Residential Addiction Treatment Center
Accommodations
With 15 private acres of lawns, gardens, and woodland, and views of Wachusett Mountain and Boston, Fernside offers unequaled addiction treatment in a charming, New England bed and breakfast setting.
An elegant 19th-century mansion and previously a bed and breakfast listed on the Select Registry as a Distinguished Inn of North America, Fernside exudes all the warmth and charm of a luxurious New England inn.
The 9-bed residential treatment program offers patients exceptional accommodations with fully equipped en suite bathrooms. Daily meals are provided.
Fernside features an art studio and gym as well as access to hiking trails. Patients have access to local resources including skiing, swimming, and tennis.
Program Leadership and Clinicians
Addiction Treatment Team
The Fernside drug and alcohol addiction treatment team is a multidisciplinary group of board-certified psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, registered nurses, and community residence counselors.
Our well-trained and experienced staff specialize in alcohol and drug addiction care and are dedicated to providing compassionate treatment and support for patients and their families.
Fernside is an integral component of the internationally recognized McLean Hospital Division of Alcohol, Drugs, and Addiction, led by Roger D. Weiss, MD. McLean has an unparalleled history of clinical, research, and educational leadership in the field of addiction.
Alumni Program
Many Fernside patients report that the connections they make at Fernside’s addiction recovery center are lasting and life-changing. To help support ongoing connections with fellow Fernside graduates and with the program, we offer alumni services.
This program begins prior to leaving residential care, where current patients join the program and meet alumni. The alumni program includes:
- Weekly group meetings run by program team members and including fellow Fernside alumni
- Local and national alumni events
- A quarterly newsletter
- Ongoing capacity to connect with Fernside staff whenever there is a need for support
The alumni program is provided free of charge and is intended to support each member and continue to establish a familiar, connected network invested in supporting long-term recovery.
To learn more about our alumni services, call us today at 978.464.2331.
Addiction Treatment Center FAQs
Where is Fernside located?
Fernside residential addiction treatment center is in Princeton, Massachusetts. For more information on directions, parking, and local accommodations, please visit our Maps & Directions page.
What services are not included in the day rate?
Ancillary services that are available as appropriate but not included in the day rate:
- Psychological testing
- Neurological consultations
- Specialty imaging – MRI, CT
- Specialty psychiatric consultations
Other medical services:
- Ambulance services, emergency room visits
- Specialized pain management
- Dental services
- Medications
- Sleep study
- Additional off-site laboratory testing
- Special duty nursing
- Specials 1:1
- Additional specialized medical services and consultation
- Physical therapy
Non-clinical services:
- Transportation services (other than to scheduled appointments)
- Off-site meals
- Personal beauty/hair salon services
- Personal laundry and cleaning
- Complementary services (massage, acupuncture, etc.)
These optional ancillary clinical and medical services may or may not be covered by the patient’s insurance.
Who benefits most from Fernside?
Fernside’s residential addiction treatment program focuses on treating individuals with serious drug and alcohol misuse, many of whom will have co-occurring psychiatric conditions, including depression, anxiety, trauma and PTSD, or personality disorders.
Is family involved in treatment?
Family involvement is strongly recommended to participate in our drug and alcohol addiction treatment program. With permission of the patient, family members can be involved in assessment and in treatment/aftercare planning. We also offer a weekly family support and education group that includes the option to participate via video teleconference.
Is smoking permitted?
Smoking is allowed in designated outdoor areas only. No smoking is allowed inside any of our buildings. Use of chewing tobacco and “e-cigarettes” is not permitted.
When are visiting hours?
Visitors are permitted, following program policies. Visiting hours are 12-8pm, Saturdays and Sundays.
Please speak to the patient’s treatment team for more information. Additional details can be found on the Visitors page.
Are cell phones and other electronics allowed?
Individuals are permitted to hold and use their cell phones and computers, with some guidelines to prevent disruption of the program and other patients.
Is Alcoholics Anonymous a required component of treatment?
Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step groups are not required, though we expect addiction treatment program participants to attend some form of self-help five evenings per week. We offer several alternatives to AA, such as SMART Recovery and mindfulness-based self-help. Individualized plans can be created to fit a patient’s needs.
Is the patient’s stay at the program kept private?
Privacy is of the utmost importance to Fernside. As an addiction recovery center, we ensure confidentiality through our highly trained, professional, and discreet staff.
No third party, whether known to the patient or not, has access to medical records, health information, or any information about a patient’s stay without prior written authorization from the patient.
Are support and educational resources available?
From helpful online resources to self-help groups and more, McLean Hospital is committed to providing support and mental health education to aid patients and families on the path to recovery.
Is aftercare planning a part of the program?
The treatment team works closely with the individual as well as with family, significant friends, and outside providers to develop a personalized aftercare plan. Recommendations by staff are made based upon clinical needs, progress made during treatment, and long-term treatment goals.
Can former patients access their medical records?
All requests for medical records should be directed to McLean’s Health Information Management Department.
Are support groups offered during and after treatment?
To complement our programs’ services and encourage individuals’ initiatives in their own recovery, many self-help groups are hosted by McLean, including Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and SMART Recovery. For information about self-help groups local to Fernside, please ask program staff.
Does McLean gather patient feedback?
McLean is dedicated to maintaining high-quality and effective patient care. To ensure that those standards remain at the highest level, we utilize a number of feedback instruments and quality indicators.
Get the Support You Need at Fernside Addiction Treatment Center in Princeton, Massachusetts
If you or your loved one is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, call us today to learn more about Fernside. Our admission staff will talk you through our treatment options.
