Client Satisfaction

The most important factor regarding recovery is the ability to stay alcohol and/or drug free.  Since it’s inception in 1985, Tara has conducted follow-up surveys with clients to assess their continuing recovery and satisfaction with Tara. 

Satisfaction Surveys 

Satisfaction surveys show Tara clients and/or family members were pleased with their experience. Their comments express Tara's impact on their lives:  

Actual Clients' Stories

Kim's Story

I swore I would never be an alcoholic like my mother.  As a child I lacked love and guidance and was constantly shamed for not measuring up to my mother’s expectations.  Alcohol eventually destroyed my mother.  At age 9, I was shuffled into a children’s home. I swore I would never use alcohol.  Drugs, however, were a different story.  Over the years I tried them all: marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, etc. and eventually even alcohol.  I remember being depressed during my teens and early 20’s, and I liked the artificial energy and confidence that drugs gave me.  The drugs also stilled my thoughts that haunted me - that I was no good, that I couldn’t do anything right.  I had two sons with a man who abused drugs, alcohol and eventually me.  The pressure of trying to raise my sons in that atmosphere and my own drug abuse hung over me like a black cloud.

I was 34 when I admitted myself to Tara Treatment Center.  I panicked the first few weeks at Tara, but was won over by the compassion of the staff.  I was totally full of fear that someone would find out how scared and stupid I was so I treated the staff horribly.  I wasn’t easy to like, but they didn’t give up on me.

During my stay at Tara I received individualize and group counseling, alcohol and drug education, relapse prevention, life skills, anger management and vocational education.  I learned to budget, to know the difference between needs and wants, and how to think and acknowledge my feelings.  There are always going to be problems in life, but I learned how to deal with them.

Near the end of my treatment, the staff challenged me to put my personal experiences to work in helping others.  I received a B.S. degree in Addictions Counseling and became a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor.  I have worked at several area counseling centers, but I’m most happy to say that I am now a counselor at Tara and passing along to others what I received from Tara.

Jack's Story

Prescription drugs took me down a destructive path. I had been a church leader for twenty plus years. I loved the people that I served and I wanted to do the Lord's will.

Three years after a back injury, I found myself hopelessly addicted to pain mediation which took me to places that I thought I would never go. I was arrested for stealing pain pills from a good friend's home and soon found myself behind bars. Along with the guilt and shame, I had some measure of relief. My horrible addiction that I could not share with anyone had been exposed.

My life was totally out of control. I wanted help, but did not know where to turn. I searched ten days for a residential treatment program in my home state. Time and time again I received the same answer, "We only offer Outpatient."  A medical professional who had suffered from the same addiction helped me find Tara. After speaking with Tara staff he recommended their forty-two day residential program.

As I walked through the doors of Tara, I was filled with fear and despair. Over a period of weeks, my life began to change. Once again, I felt hope that I could have life again without using drugs.

I thank God for Tara and the staff that helped me get my life back. Tara will always be a part of my life and prayers.