Don Varden, CEO

Don Varden, CEO
Seasons in Malibu 32223 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, CA 90265
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Consumer Feedback

(36 Reviews)
Service
3.5 star average for Service
Environment
3.5 star average for Environment
Expertise
3.5 star average for Expertise
Staff
3.5 star average for Staff
Recommended
3 star average for Recommended
Value
2.5 star average for Value
This place is a total JOKE. I was a client and within a couple days of being there I realized that it was a HUGE mistake to check in. First of all you can't tell the staff from the clients, since nearly everyone on the staff is pierced and tattood. The staff doesn't do anything, they're like babysitters of adults. Considering how pricey it is (40,000 a month) I didn't get the help I needed. It really isn't that great. I mean, they buy all the furniture from cvs. Enough said. Every single person who was there at the same time as me relapsed after leaving this sad excuse for a rehab.
by CANDY
November 30, 2011
All they care about is getting your money. They said they would work something out if my son did not stay... as far as a refund. They were not equipped to handle a major detox and kicked him out after being there a little over 24 hours. All this place cares about is getting your money. They are not equipped to handle patients with major detox. They had an ambulance pick up my son after being their for 24 hours and take him to Santa Monica Hospital, he was still detoxing and not able to think or speak clearly or take care of himself. Plus: No one from Seasons accompanied him to the hospital. Then he was discharged from the Santa Monica and put out on the streets with no money, no ID and no shoes. That is how they handle problems... kick them to the curb. Seasons did not even let me know until he was already gone from their facility... and had already been discharged from the Santa Monica Hospital. They only care about getting your money. They said they would give me a refund and would personally work something out if he did not stay... later after I called regarding a refund they said.... "No way in hell are you getting a refund" that is after my son had only been their for a little over 24 hours.
Beware of this place!!!! All they cared about was getting him in so they could collect the money.... and then they just kicked him to the street.
by julie
October 24, 2011
I went to Seasons earlier in the year and I have been sober ever since. In reading the reviews of the rehab, I think most of you must be the type to complain about everything. My friends in rehab were all VERY happy with service. We really felt that we were catered to as individuals. I have recommended this place to my friend back east and she will hopefully be attending in October. YAY SEASONS! Amazing treatment, sobriety for life.
by AA girl 1976
September 22, 2011
I am a present client of Seasons Malibu and I'm very happy with the program. I have been a chronic relapser and never could quite get a handle on my disease. The staff is wonderful. Everyone is kind and it's obvious to me they ALL really care about me. My case manager and psychologist are the best! In just 2 weeks (that went by fast) I've been given an insight into myself as never before. I love it here. The other clients also care a lot for each other, making it a unique community of loving, caring staff and clients. Don't let the other reviews steer you away from here. Come and take a look for yourself and meet the staff. You won't be sorry.
by Susan P.
September 09, 2011
There's a place where you can well. I know because i went there - Seasons Recovery Center in Malibu. I've been a chronic relapser and have tried Passages and Canyon and others, but Seasons' team is the best. If you have tried before to get sober and failed, I'm telling you try these guys - they deliver the truth...Beth L.
by Beth L.
August 15, 2011
As the former CEO(the "narcissistic self involved, under-qualified" one from other reviews) of this project I would have to agree with a lot of the criticisms regarding how money was dealt with and I hope they can clean it up. It is also true that the client sent $23,000 and this money was not returned to them and this is a travesty.

There were three partners on the project, and when we argued about money and where it was going, I was removed by the other two. I wanted to put more money into the program and to refund people like the client above. I thought the way the the finances were run was going from bad to worse and required changes. I was not , in our partners agreement, the one who dealt with finances. I was not even a signer on the account.

That all said in my time Seasons delivered a great service and there are hundreds of clients who would say so and do. This website feels like a bit of a hit squad to be honest.

If those of us who deal with addiction are honest we would often admit to feeling unqualified, but the treatment team at Seasons was full of the some the highest quality professionals in the field. They worked hard and did very good work in the time I was there. I built that team and I am proud of that. We also did not take a lot of BS from families-- and often called them out when we believed they were also in chemical addiction-- and it may be some parents got an earful once in a while and did not like our understanding of addiction as an issue of family systems. If they wish to criticize us I would enjoy a more honest and healthy debate. We are doing our job if the family is feeling a little uncomfortable. That their son or daughter is not yet well is often very much a reflection of the depth of addiction and codependency in the family. Lets not blame them either-- but instead how about everyone gets healthy at the same time?

That said, the Seasons of today is not the same as it was before they removed me. Maybe they will improve as management are not so much at odds. Maybe not. I am not sure anyone even admits there is a problem there regarding their attitudes towards clients and money. They threw in new management(hired over a weekend) and pieced together what and who stayed around. I would think their chances of being a good program are not that high, and if so it would be very inconsistent. I would not send a family member there right now. Unless the current partners stepped down I would not send anyone there ever. And I own a third! I have requested my name and program names be removed from all of their literature,

There was some other inconsistency the reviews about programs and names and such. Walking Miracales Los Angeles is an entirely different program, focusing on the simple foundational elements of treatment-- introspection and self inquiry, twelve step involvement, community and family systems treatment. It is inexpensive because all treatment is fairly inexpensive to deliver and the less we charge the longer a person can stay-- and length of stay is one of the best indicators of success.

It is clean and simple and the group dynamic excellent. It costs $9950 per month and takes all insurance. We are honest, don't mind being criticized or learning new things. We do not take much of your money to start with so it is hard to have problems giving it back to you!

But families--beware. If we think you are part of the problem we are going to tell you that, and hopefully offer you a potential future that is more balanced and healthy. We watch people get strong and healthy every day, when they take part in the process with their families.

My next book due out in the fall is titled "The edge of chaos, systems in addiction and the fraud of rehab," So maybe you get that I understand the frustration with most treatment. The only reason treatment is expensive is because of the marketing-- too many mouths at the troughs trying to take advantage of the crisis. It costs maybe 3 or 4 thousand dollars to give a person a completely full and successful treatment for a month--and three times that amount to spend on marketing to get them into treatment. Seasons charges $39,500. Imagine if they took that and spread it over a year and the person got better in that year.

That is the rip off. That is underlying most of what frustrates families. It not just Seasons but they are a good example and now very focused on making a buck and the highest margins.

by Christopher Bathum
August 07, 2011
This is by far the worst rehab I have ever dealt with. The former CEO was a narcissistic, self-invovled, under qualified former hypnotherapist with zero qualifications for running a rehab. They supposedly offered medical "detox", but in fact almost killed one patient by giving her too much methadone necessitating a trip to a hospital to save her life from a potential overdose from the methadone they gave her. The staff were terribly under qualified to handle the jobs they were assigned to do. Worst of all this place was all about getting the maximum amount of money from the families that were trying to save their loved one's lives - money was the primary concern, not the patient's welfare. In doing research I found that Season's is only licensed by the state of California to have SIX BEDS, yet they had at least 20 plus patients - this is a direct violation of their licensure by the State of California. Additionally, there have been numerous law suits filed by former patient's and their families due to the poor care, and practices of this horrible place. They have had so many problems that they've had to change their name in less than a year to survive their violations of state law, and the poor care (formerly known as Walking Miracles).

To show you the level of unprofessionalism that exists at this over prices, poorly run, and frankly dangerous rehab click on this link to see a horrific "cartoon" that the former CEO, Chris Bathum, posted on You Tube when he was fired - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoBfT5VuD7g&feature=youtube_gdata_player.

In summation, I would not send my dog to this rehab let alone someone I loved. Beware, by the time Season's is done with you your bank account will be empty, your loved one will be destroyed, and numerous health code violations to include violating patients privacy under HIPAA will have occurred. Buyer beware!!!!
by Mother of a patient
August 06, 2011
They weren't careful at all, and I was in a lot of pain and also did not properly withdraw me. IMPORTANT no true medical detox here. Dr. Offsite prescribes detox meds, so limited. For true safe, medically supervised, level 1 detox, look at the Meadows in AZ, I wish I had. Lot of money wasted. Also, parking lot for CA parents of drug addicted children facing jail time. Every time I would start talking about my circumstances, they would argue with me or get mad. I was scared to say anything because I didn't want to make them upset. They either didn't read my information or didn't pay any attention to it. Even though they had my information right in front of them, I kept having to explain it to them and remind them why I was there. The restrooms at this office were disgusting and smelled horrible. I couldn't even go. Obviously nobody cleans them or maintains them at all. A good deal of my questions went unanswered during our session, which put me off a bit. I could have used more information.
by Susan
July 17, 2011
In Detroit, Michigan where the economy has been hit the hardest. We were a victim of a SCAM by SEASONS! My brother 25 y/o was supposed to go to seasons in feb 2011. They took $23000 wired to thier account, we canceled due to medical restrictions the same day as it was wired. No Documents were ever disclosed on policy or sign for admissions. Mr Christopher Bathum the CEO will not return our money. We turned to this "treatment center" for hope and we were ROBBED. How many other familes have they done this to?
by Robbed by REHAB
July 15, 2011
Did this counselor answer all of your questions?
None of my questions were answered
Did you feel safe in this provider's care?
Mostly, I was still a little nervous
Does this provider leave you on hold for a long time when you call?
All the time! I think I got a gray hair while I was waiting
by Anonymous
June 27, 2011
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