Stonington Institute North Stonington

What started as Starlight Farms in 1957 has become Stonington Institute, a Connecticut center serving people with substance use disorders and mental health conditions including PTSD. Its address is 75 Swantown Hill Rd in North Stonington. The center has provided addiction treatment in Connecticut since 1957 and has 31 to 50 residential beds.

Twelve Step principles shape the programs offered at the institute now. People can receive inpatient detoxification, residential care, a partial hospitalization program paired with sober living, and a number of outpatient choices. One track is set aside for veterans and those serving on active duty, and it deals with substance use, PTSD, and similar mental health issues using an integrated approach that blends therapy with structured support. In North Stonington, a track reserved for veterans and active duty service members treats PTSD and substance use as connected concerns.

This center works with people who have a substance use disorder and a mental health diagnosis at the same time. Staff design each care plan to address both conditions together, with the goal of helping people sustain recovery over time. The Joint Commission accredits the program, a credential families can verify when comparing options. The rehab is accredited by the Joint Commission, and you can confirm it when you call to ask about paying for 30 days of care.

Programs at this Connecticut rehab

The center offers detoxification, co-occurring mental health treatment as well as outpatient services, giving people a choice of intensity depending on what a clinician recommends. Detox is the first stage for many; from there, someone may step down to residential care or a partial hospitalization program, then to outpatient sessions as stability improves. Detox and outpatient care are both available at this Connecticut rehab, so you can move between levels of care on one campus. If you are coming from another part of the state, ask how transportation and aftercare planning work for someone traveling to North Stonington.

Treatment options cover recreation therapy, Twelve Step facilitation, group therapy, family therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and one-on-one counseling. The approach is evidence-based and trauma-informed, with individual treatment planning and a Twelve Step orientation. The rehab uses evidence-based therapies including CBT, DBT, and EMDR, along with Twelve Step facilitation for adults in Connecticut. When someone needs a level of care this program does not provide, the helpline can help identify other SAMHSA-listed options in Connecticut. If your insurer requires prior authorization for a specific therapy, then confirm that detail before you arrive.

• Twelve Step
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy
• Individual Treatment
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Trauma Informed
• Twelve Step Facilitation
• Eye Movement Therapy (EMDR)
• Recreation Therapy
• Group Therapy
• Family Therapy

Who this program is for

• Men and women seeking treatment for alcohol or drug use
• Veterans and active duty service members, through a dedicated track
• Individuals dealing with co-occurring disorders like PTSD, OCD, bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety
• Adults working through grief and loss alongside substance use
• People detoxing from alcohol, benzodiazepines, or opioids who need medical oversight
• Adults who want a program that treats mental health and substance use at once

Program length, setting, and amenities

The typical program length is 30 days, and the residential setting holds 31 to 50 beds in shared rooms with shared bathrooms and air conditioning. Grounds include gardens, walking trails, an outdoor lounge, and access to nature, with activities such as AA/NA meetings, adventure outings, games, and tennis. Services are provided in English. The rehab has 31 to 50 beds and a typical stay of 30 days, with gardens and walking trails on the North Stonington campus. Aftercare includes group therapy, alumni reunions, and support meetings; if you are coming from out of state, ask how aftercare can be arranged near home. If you need a language other than English, then ask the center before admission whether interpreter services can be arranged.

• Access to Nature
• Walking Trails
• Outdoor Lounge
• Gardens

Paying for Stonington treatment

Out-of-pocket rates as a way to pay; insurance and other coverage have to be checked by phone, since networks and benefits differ from plan to plan. Coverage needs phone verification before admission, because the center lists cash pay rates and plan networks vary throughout Connecticut. Calling the helpline costs you nothing and puts you under no obligation, and the person answering can help you ask the center which plans it takes. If you have Connecticut Medicaid, find out before admission whether this provider accepts it, since not every SAMHSA-listed facility does. Have your insurance card and plan name handy when you call so the conversation goes smoothly.

Ask these before admission

• Does my insurance plan cover detox and residential care here, and what will I owe?
• How is the veterans and active duty track scheduled, and who leads it?
• What happens if I need a higher or lower level of care partway through?
• How is withdrawal managed during detox, and which clinician oversees it?
• What aftercare is arranged at discharge, including sober living and outpatient appointments?
• Is the Joint Commission accreditation current, and can I see the report?