We had the good fortune of connecting with Angie Manson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Angie, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
The vast majority of treatment is to prescribe multiple medications for whatever you come in on and you leave high and medicated and calling yourself sober; for example, an alcoholic will be prescribed a sleeping medication, a mood stabilizer, a stimulant to get moving and usually suboxone just because. Most people leave more intoxicated than what they came in for. Also, Very few programs actually have an actual program–most are a couple of meetings and a place to crash until your insurance runs out.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am the CEO and owner of Elevate Addiction Services. We offer a unique approach to drug/alcohol rehab and have a full continuum of care from Detox, to Residential in Northern California, and into Out-Patient and Aftercare. We also now have Virtual Out-Patient and I have a recovery Podcast that I’ve been doing for almost 2 years.

Elevate is a non-12 step holistic program with it’s own Copyrighted Curriculum. We utilize evidenced based practices and have a licensed Crossfit Gym on the property. Exercise is a mandatory part of our program because we don’t uses medications past detox and exercise has so many healing qualities: sleeping better, self esteem, hormones balancing, and so much more. We also utilize mindfulness as a cornerstone of the program to handle self and triggers as well as be in the present and not dwelling on the past or worrying needlessly about the future.

Elevate also won the Gold in outcome studies–we utilized an independent 3rd party company to track our clients throughout their program and for a year after completion. Our success rate was the highest of all those competing. This should be mandatory for all programs to gauge their efficacy.

I got here by staying the course. I originally came to rehab to not go to prison. However, this is where I found my purpose in life. I worked side by side with Executive Director and eventually took over and have been running it ever since.

This has got to be one of the hardest jobs there are–healthcare is never easy, but handling people who don’t always want to get better and are unstable as well as the families who can be enabling or co-dependent…….the amount of challenges that we have had to overcome to survive this whole time is quite amazing. And my core Executive team of 18 people have all been with me a minimum of 8 years and up to 25 years! We have over 250 years combined Rehab IQ and all of it working together! We know each other and this business inside and out and it shows.

The biggest lesson I have learned is that my past and my staff’s past is what makes us the best qualified to do our jobs. We understand what our clients are going through and have gone through. Our clients love the genuineness that we have as they know we’ve been there.

I want the world to know that there is other options out there, and that being sober doesn’t have to be a somber occasion. We teach our clients how to live life and have fun and not need drugs and alcohol to do so. We employ positive psychology and our product isn’t just someone who is sober, but someone who has tackled their deep seated issues and now they are kicking butt in life. No life isn’t perfect, but they are prepared for whatever comes there way and don’t need a substance to cope.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
First I would tour you the property that my rehab is on: 30 acres overlooking the Monterey Bay with plenty of hiking trails, ponds, trees, flowers, volleyball court, Crossfit gym, and all kinds of wildlife (turkeys, hawks, deer, bobcats, etc)..

In Aptos we can go hiking in Nicene Park–tons of trails and old Redwood trees. National forest at it’s best.

We could go down to Rio Del Mar Beach and walk on the sand and see the old sunken ship right off shore.

There’s the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk if we want some fun and games.

The Shadowbrook is a restaurant built on the hill in Capitola. It has beautiful walking down with fountains and flowers and you can take the tram back up after a world class meal. They even built around the huge redwood trees that go through the restaurant.

For a short drive there is Monterey, Carmel, Pebble Beach & San Francisco.

There is no shortage of beautiful coastal cities to see.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My grandparents for never giving up on me. They helped me out of trouble and into rehab 28 years ago, which is where I found my passion and purpose for helping others who are just like me. I am so fortunate to have them both still alive today at 93 years old. I love that I can still honor them and make them proud of my accomplishments.

Website: https://elevaterehab.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angie.at.elevate/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angie-manson-catc-cadc-cs-ca-88752417/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angie.manson.10/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ElevateAddictionServices

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