Canopy Pines Recovery FAQ
Answers to the questions residents and families ask most
Treatment and daily schedule
What kind of treatment does Canopy Pines provide?
The program combines evidence-based psychotherapy with daily holistic wellness activities. Treatment includes individual therapy, group therapy, equine assisted therapy, art therapy, EMDR and optional family therapy.
What happens in individual therapy?
Each resident meets one-on-one with a primary therapist to work on personal treatment goals, emotional concerns, trauma, substance use patterns, and relapse prevention. Therapists use approaches such as CBT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing, and Seeking Safety.
What topics does group therapy cover?
Groups cover relapse prevention, coping skills, trauma recovery, mindfulness, emotional regulation, healthy relationships, self-esteem, grief and loss, boundaries, and life skills. Trained clinical staff lead every group, and active participation is expected.
Is family therapy required?
No, but it is strongly encouraged. The primary therapist works with the resident to set goals and schedules sessions with family members, either on site or by telehealth.
What does a typical weekday look like?
Time | Activity |
|---|---|
8:00 am | Breakfast |
9:00 am | Morning mindfulness and meditation |
10:00 am | Holistic wellness (rotating) |
11:00 am | Seeking Safety group |
12:30 pm | Lunch |
1:30 pm | DBT skills group |
2:30 pm | Psychoeducation and relapse prevention |
3:30 pm | Individual therapy / ART sessions |
4:30 pm | Free time |
5:30 pm | Dinner |
6:30 pm | Optional recovery meeting or reflection |
7:30 pm | Phone time |
8:00 pm | Journaling and evening reflection |
What are the holistic wellness activities?
They rotate by day: trauma-informed yoga (Monday), nature walks, outdoor mindfulness, or equine therapy (Tuesday), spin and cardio (Wednesday), breathwork and guided meditation (Thursday), and stretching and mobility (Friday).
Is there programming on weekends?
Yes. Weekends keep a therapeutic structure with more room for recreation and reflection. Activities include nature walks, yoga, life skills and spirituality groups, creative expression, recovery meetings, and weekly goal planning.
What time is lights out?
Residents return to their rooms at 10:00 pm, or 11:00 pm on Friday and Saturday nights.
.
What is the schedule like during the holidays?
A special schedule is posted before each major holiday.
Phones, visits, and mail
Can I use my cell phone?
Not during the first week. Residents must be cleared from detox status and participating in programming before they get daily cell phone access. During the first week, calls may be made from the facility phone in 15-minute increments as clinical and medical staff allow.
How much phone time do residents get after the first week?
30 to 45 minutes a day at the designated phone time. It depends on attending every individual session, group, and treatment team meeting scheduled that day. Phones are stored in each resident’s lock box, and the nurse holds the keys.
When can family visit?
Visits are not allowed during the first seven days. After that, visits must be approved by the primary therapist and Clinical Director and take place Sundays from 4:00 to 5:00 pm in a designated area.
Who is allowed to visit?
Spouses, long-term significant others, immediate family, pastors, mentors, and sponsors. Others may be approved by the Clinical Director. Every adult visitor must be on a consent form that the resident fills out.
How do we request a visit?
- The resident submits a Request for Visit form to their primary therapist. Late requests are denied.
- The primary therapist and Clinical Director approve or deny the request.
- Before the first visit, visitors complete a family education orientation (a phone call with the therapist or an educational video).
- On the day, visitors show photo ID, sign in and out, and wear a visitor badge.
Visits can be ended early if they take place in unauthorized areas, cause emotional upset, or involve overly intimate contact.
Can family send mail or packages?
Yes. Mail is handed out Monday through Saturday evenings, except national holidays. Residents open packages in front of a tech, and contraband items are not given to the resident. Cash, checks, and money orders are held in the resident’s locker.
Can family drop items off?
Only during an approved visit, and items are searched. Drop-offs outside of visitation are not permitted.
How do residents send mail?
Envelopes are in the great room, stamps are available from the nurse, and outgoing mail goes in the mailbox in the public space.
What to bring and what not to bring
What clothing should I pack?
Comfortable, clean clothes suited to groups, yoga, and exercise: t-shirts, sweaters, sweatshirts, jeans, leggings, joggers, shorts, casual dresses, athletic wear, comfortable shoes or sandals, and outerwear. Pajamas are for bedrooms and evening hours only.
What clothing is not allowed?
Clothing with offensive, sexually explicit, violent, or hateful images or language; anything promoting alcohol, tobacco, vaping, or drugs; gang imagery; and very revealing or see-through clothing. Bare feet are not allowed outside bedrooms. Hairstyles, hair color, makeup, and jewelry are welcome.
What items are not allowed (contraband)?
Common examples include:
- Weapons, knives, and firearms
- Straight razors and razor blades (disposable razors are usually allowed). Electric razors are allowed.
- Metal nail files, scissors, needles, and metal hangers
- Alcohol, drugs, and any outside medications, vitamins, or supplements
- Energy drinks, protein bars, and meal replacements not provided by the facility
- Aerosols, perfume, cologne, body sprays, and alcohol-based mouthwash
- Hairstyling products like hair dryers, straighteners or irons.
- Nail polish, hair dye, candles, incense, and air fresheners
- Electronics such as cameras, and music players
- Blankets, pillows, towels, and stuffed animals from home
Laptops and tablets are allowed on a case-by-case basis. Please ask during your clinical evaluation if you need to bring either one. The list is not complete, and staff can restrict other items that pose a safety risk.
Can I bring outside food or snacks?
Not without prior approval. Food is eaten only in the dining room and designated snack areas, never in bedrooms or on carpet.
Can residents smoke or vape?
Cigarettes are not permitted on campus, but tobacco vapes are allowed outdoors in the designated area during break times. Vapes must arrive unopened, and residents supply their own. Nicotine replacement is available through the medical provider.
Are rooms and belongings searched?
Yes. Staff may search rooms at any time, and packages are searched on arrival. A routine search is done whenever a resident returns from leaving campus without staff. If there is just cause, a nurse may conduct a private, trauma-informed body search with a second staff member present, asking permission before each step.
House rules and daily living
What are the some of the most important house rules?
- Attend every scheduled session on time. Leaving early without staff approval counts as an absence.
- Follow directions from any staff member.
- Romantic and sexual relationships between residents are not permitted, and staff discourage cliques and exclusive pairing.
- Violence, threats, and weapons are not tolerated and can lead to immediate discharge.
- Do not lend, share, or give money or personal items to other residents, and do not enter other residents’ bedrooms.
- Let a tech know where you are when doing independent activities. No one leaves the property alone.
What happens if a resident breaks the rules?
Staff start with a respectful conversation and redirection. Missing sessions means no phone time that evening, and safety concerns can limit movement on campus. Early discharge is possible when behavior puts the resident or others at risk.
Who does the cleaning and laundry?
Housekeeping cleans bathrooms and empties trash daily and cleans floors at least weekly, as long as rooms are reasonably tidy. Staff wash towels and linens in the evenings. Residents do their own laundry between groups, not during scheduled activities.
How do off-campus appointments work?
Staff provide transportation to and from all off-campus appointments.
How are medications handled?
Only Canopy Pines medical providers prescribe medications, and a nurse gives them at the Nurse’s Station on a posted schedule. Residents cannot share medications. Tell the nursing staff about any over-the-counter drugs or herbal supplements you have been taking, and ask for a list of your medications at any time.
What if I feel sick?
Tell a nurse or medical provider. Masks are available, and frequent handwashing is encouraged to limit colds and viruses.
What happens to belongings left after discharge?
Canopy Pines cannot store them. Items are mailed at the resident’s or family’s expense, and anything left more than 30 days is discarded.
House rules and daily living
Is my information kept confidential?
Yes. Resident records are protected by federal law, and no information is shared outside the facility without written permission from the resident or guardian. Florida law allows release without permission only in limited cases: a court order, a threat to self or others, a medical emergency or authorized audit, and suspected abuse or neglect.
Is what I share in group confidential?
What is said in group stays in group. Staff will break confidentiality only if a resident is a danger to themselves or others.
What rights do residents have?
Residents have the right to a safe environment free from abuse, to be treated with dignity and privacy, to give informed consent to treatment, and to take part in their own treatment plan. They can communicate privately with people outside the facility, contact legal counsel, practice (or not practice) their religion, keep personal belongings, and get help registering to vote.
How do I raise a concern or make a suggestion?
- Talk directly to any staff member or your therapist.
- Fill out a complaint form from the great room and send it sealed to the Clinical Director or Facility Administrator.
- Bring it up at the weekly House Meeting.
- Use the anonymous suggestion box in the great room.
What if a complaint isn't resolved?
A formal grievance moves through these steps, each with a response within 72 hours:
- Primary therapist, then the Clinical Director and Program Manager
- Risk Manager and Compliance Officer
- Ethics Committee, with a written decision
Filing will never result in retaliation. Residents and families can also skip this process and contact an outside agency directly:
Agency | Phone |
|---|---|
Disability Rights Florida | 1-800-342-0823 |
Substance Abuse Mental Health Office | (850) 688-5339 |
Florida Abuse Hotline | 1-800-962-2873 |
The Joint Commission | 1-800-994-6610 |