Borden Cottage

If you are living with drug or alcohol addiction and also experience other mental health conditions such as depression, we can help.

Borden Cottage, one of McLean Hospital’s Signature Addiction Recovery Programs, provides exceptional clinical care that provides men and women the ability to achieve and maintain abstinence from drugs and alcohol, reclaim a sense of self-worth and learn to manage the stresses of an active life.

Our evidence-based treatment and recovery methods result in positive therapeutic outcomes.

For more information or to make a referral, please call 877.691.5571.

Borden Cottage is a signature therapeutic program that provides unparalleled alcohol and drug addiction treatment in a discrete, world-class setting. Services are available to individuals ages 18 and older.

We provide substance misuse and drug addiction treatment and care to a diverse group of individuals, including those who:

• Require treatment following the completion of detoxification
• Have addictive disorders complicated by other psychiatric issues such as depression and anxiety
• Seek longer-term individualized care in a discrete, serene setting
• Require medication evaluation and management
• Are ambivalent about making the changes needed to maintain sustained recovery
• Have previously completed a treatment program but have relapsed or are at risk to relapse
• Have tried other treatment programs, but were not ready for and/or satisfied with the previous care

This intensive, seven-day-a-week program focuses on relapse prevention and recovery, and specializes in caring for those whose substance use disorder is further complicated by other psychiatric illnesses such as depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Borden Cottage’s Harvard Medical School-affiliated clinicians are experts in the use of state-of-the-art psychological treatments and medication evaluation and counseling.

The program offers the opportunity for 30-day or longer lengths of stay in order to assure full benefits are achieved.

“Our goal is to help patients achieve and maintain abstinence from substance use, reclaim a sense of self worth, and learn to manage the stresses of an active life.”– Roger D. Weiss, MD, Chief of the Center of Excellence in Alcohol, Drugs, and Addiction

Treatment Approach

Borden Cottage provides attentive, individualized care for drug and alcohol addiction. Our clinicians are experts in substance misuse recovery, rehabilitation, and relapse prevention, and are here to help motivate you or someone you care about to take the necessary steps to overcome addiction.

Our individualized care is designed to address the mental, physical, and spiritual components of addictive disorders by integrating empirically supported treatments with twelve-step and other self-help resources.

We utilize an effective recovery and rehabilitation approach to alcohol and drug addiction and contributing co-occurring psychiatric conditions. The program uses psychological treatments including motivational enhancement therapy (MET), cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).

Care is provided under the supervision of Harvard Medical School-affiliated clinicians who are experts in substance use disorders and related psychiatric conditions.

Treatment includes intensive onsite diagnostic assessment including medication evaluation and management. We focus on comprehensive individual therapies, small group treatment, and extensive health education.

Our comprehensive mind and body recovery program includes yoga, individualized fitness plans, nutrition education, smoking cessation, and expressive art and music therapies.

We offer hands-on support and education for family members and significant others as well as close collaboration with referrers and community providers.

Our clinicians create and coordinate a careful aftercare plan to facilitate an effective post-discharge treatment strategy.

There is also a specialty track for those who have remained abstinent from substance use but have psychiatric issues that need to be addressed to foster full recovery.

Borden Cottage is an integral component of the internationally recognized McLean Hospital Center of Excellence in Alcohol, Drugs, and Addiction, which has an unparalleled history of clinical, research, and educational leadership in the substance use field.

Admission & Cost

Admission

As one of McLean’s Signature Addiction Recovery Programs, Borden Cottage is ideal for those who require treatment following the completion of detoxification or who have addictive disorders complicated by other psychiatric issues such as depression and anxiety. Individuals seeking longer-term individualized care in a discrete, serene setting or who require medication evaluation and management will also benefit from the programs.

People come to Borden Cottage from across the United States and around the world. We can help arrange admission from most domestic or international locations.

Borden Cottage accepts inquiries 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For more information about the program or admission, please contact:

Phone: 877.691.5571

Please note that our knowledgeable staff members have resources nationwide and will help arrange drug or alcohol detoxification services as needed prior to admission.

Cost

The fee for Borden Cottage is $2,315 per day. We are a self-pay program that does not accept insurance or any third party reimbursement.

A 30-day minimum stay is recommended to help assure full benefit from the program.

For more information about what is included in the Borden Cottage day rate, please see below.

Treatment Team

Program Leadership

Catherine Ulrich Milliken, LCSW, LADC, CCS, Program Director, Borden Cottage

Prior to working at McLean, Ms. Milliken served as the Addiction Treatment program director at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and an instructor in psychiatry at The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. She returns to Maine having served in the past as the director of Outpatient Services at Crossroads for Women in Portland, which provides gender‐specific and trauma‐informed outpatient programs and services.

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Frederick Goggans, MD, Medical Director

Dr. Goggans oversees a team of professionals providing residential treatment for patients with alcohol and other addictions, many of whom present with co-occurring psychiatric disorders. He is a distinguished life fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, a lecturer on psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and is board certified in addiction medicine and addiction psychiatry.

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Hilary S. Connery, MD, PhD, Clinical Director, Center of Excellence in Alcohol, Drugs, and Addiction

Dr. Connery’s expertise includes the treatment of opioid use disorders and co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders. She was a contributor to the APA Practice Guidelines for the treatment of substance misuse and is an investigator in the New England Consortium of the NIDA Clinical Trials Network. Dr. Connery is also the addiction psychiatry rotation director for the MGH/McLean Adult Psychiatry Residency Training Program.

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Roger D. Weiss, MD, Senior Consultant

Currently chief of McLean’s Center of Excellence in Alcohol, Drugs, and Addiction, Dr. Weiss’ career has focused on treatment and clinical research with substance-dependent patients. He has authored over 300 publications, including several books, and is the recipient of numerous National Institutes of Health grants for developing integrated group therapy, as well as leading a multisite treatment study of prescription opioid dependence.

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Shelly F. Greenfield, MD, MPH, Senior Consultant

Dr. Greenfield is an addiction psychiatrist, clinician, and researcher. Her research focuses on treatment, gender differences, and health services as they relate to substance use. She is a recipient of National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) funding for mentoring in substance use disorder patient-oriented research as well as for developing and testing a new manual-based group therapy for women with substance use disorders.

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Nancy Merrill, PMHCNS, BC, Senior Consultant

A board-certified advanced practice psychiatric nurse for more than 30 years, Ms. Merrill has been working in McLean’s Center of Excellence in Alcohol, Drugs, and Addiction for the past 20 years and is currently program director of the Alcohol, Drug, and Addiction Inpatient Program. During her time at McLean, she has been involved in several national research projects including the COMBINE study, the Topamax medication study, and the integrated group therapy study.

Staff and Associates

In addition, our treatment team consists of independently licensed clinical social workers, nurses, and community residence counselors. Though located in Maine, the Borden Cottage team is fully integrated with other treatment experts within McLean Hospital’s Center of Excellence in Alcohol, Drugs, and Addiction, and also enjoys full access to experts in other specialized treatment areas within McLean Hospital, including geriatric psychiatry, psychotic disorders, and neurobehavioral therapies.

Accommodations

Borden Cottage is located at one of Maine’s premier hilltop estates, a 16,000-square-foot house with spectacular panoramic views overlooking island-studded Penobscot Bay.

The “cottage” offers patients exceptional accommodations including beautiful private ocean view rooms with fully equipped ensuite bathrooms, world class amenities, and daily meals prepared by a classically trained master chef.

This private compound features guest cottages, heated swimming pool, activities building (with bowling alley, billiards room, arcade, and 50s style diner), library, fitness and yoga studio, movie theater, and beauty salon.

Patients also have access to local resources including skiing, swimming, and tennis.

Set on nearly 14 acres of lush lawns, gardens, and woodland in the seaside village of Camden, Maine, Borden Cottage offers unequaled treatment in an unsurpassed, ultra-private setting.

Alumni Program

To provide a supportive, compassionate transition from residential treatment, McLean offers a robust alumni program for all Signature Addiction Recovery patients.

McLean’s alumni services begin prior to leaving residential care, where patients are introduced to aftercare programming that includes, but is not limited to:

• Up to 2 years of post-discharge phone and virtual support
• Biannual local and national alumni events
• Monthly meetings with program team members and fellow Signature Addiction Recovery alumni
• Ongoing capacity to reach out to the alumni coordinator for individual consultation

All of these services are provided free of charge and are intended to support each member in recovery and continue to establish a familiar, connected network of alumni and practitioners invested in supporting maintained sobriety.

McLean’s alumni services are overseen by Lee FitzGerald, CADC-I, CIP, who brings more than 20 years of experience as an interventionist and practitioner in helping patients and families establish safe and sober lives rooted in recovery.

FAQ

Where is Borden Cottage located?

Borden Cottage is located in Camden, Maine. For more information on directions, parking, and local accommodations, please visit our Maps & Directions page

Who benefits most from Borden Cottage?

Our residential program focuses on treating individuals with serious substance use conditions, many of whom will have co-occurring psychiatric conditions including depression, anxiety, trauma, or personality disorders.

Is family involved in treatment?

Family involvement is strongly recommended. With permission of the patient, family members can be involved in assessment and in treatment/aftercare planning.

Is smoking permitted?

Borden Cottage is a tobacco-free campus. The program provides nicotine replacement therapy for individuals who are regular smokers and also offers smoking cessation support for patients who wish to begin recovery from tobacco addiction while at the program.

When are visiting hours?

Visiting hours are in the late afternoon and evening on weekends, in consultation with the treatment team.

Are cell phones and other electronics allowed?

Individuals are allowed to hold and use their cell phones and computers, with some guidelines to prevent disruption of the program and other patients.

Is Alcoholics Anonymous a required component of treatment?

In addition to individual and group therapy at Borden Cottage, attendance of AA and other self-help groups is strongly encouraged.

Is the patient’s stay at the program kept private?

Privacy is of the utmost importance to Borden Cottage. We ensure confidentiality through our highly trained, professional, and discreet staff. No third party, whether known to the patient or not, has access to medical records, health information, or any information about an individual’s stay without prior, written authorization from the patient.

Are support and educational resources available?

From helpful online resources to self-help groups and more, McLean Hospital is committed to providing support and mental health education to aid patients and families on the path to recovery.

Is aftercare planning a part of the program?

The treatment team works closely with the individual as well as with family, significant friends, and outside providers to develop a personalized aftercare plan. Recommendations by staff are made based upon clinical needs, progress made during treatment, and long-term treatment goals.

Can former patients access their medical records?

All requests for medical records should be directed to McLean’s Health Information Management Department.

Are support groups offered during and after treatment at Borden Cottage?

To complement our programs’ services and encourage individuals’ initiatives in their own recovery, many self-help groups are hosted by McLean, including Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and SMART Recovery.

Does McLean gather patient feedback?

McLean is dedicated to maintaining high-quality and effective patient care. To ensure that those standards remain at the highest level, we utilize a number of feedback instruments and quality indicators. Among these tools are the Perceptions of Care survey, which monitors patient satisfaction, and BASIS-24™, a psychiatric outcomes measurement tool created at McLean and widely used in the U.S. and around the world, which delivers feedback on the patient care experience.

What is included in the Borden Cottage day rate?

Clinical services such as:

• Professional evaluation, diagnostics, and treatment for substance use disorders and coexisting psychiatric diagnoses
• Psychiatric medical director onsite
• Nursing day/evening staffing and around-the-clock direct care staffing
• Patient education services
• Intensive individual therapy (3 sessions/week with primary psychotherapist) and group therapies (25 groups/week)
• Comprehensive psychiatric assessment
• Medication evaluation and management
• Initial physical/primary care
• Family support and education
• Case management services (ongoing consultation with referring clinician and aftercare planning)
• Neuropsychological testing
• Nutrition consultations
• Smoking cessation treatment and support
• Basic laboratory testing
• Personal trainer, yoga therapy
• Expressive art therapy

Non-clinical services:

• Well-appointed, single bedrooms and private baths with spectacular views
• Fourteen acre, private, serene hilltop ocean view setting
• Gourmet meals prepared onsite by private chef, healthy snacks and beverages onsite
• Superior housekeeping services
• World-class, professional fitness studio, yoga studio
• Arrival and departure transportation services available
• Sitting, piano, and game rooms and library with bay view overlooking outdoor heated pool
• Art studio with professional easels and supplies
• Fully equipped music rehearsal studio
• Patient business office with Wi-Fi and water view
• TV and theater room with reclining leather chairs
• Activities cottage
• 50s-style diner, pinball arcade, bowling alley, billiards
• Patient and family concierge services for coastal area

What services are not included in day rate?

Ancillary medical services including:

• Competency assessments
• Neurological consultations
• Specialty imaging such as MRI or CT scans

Other medical services:

• Additional offsite laboratory testing
• Ambulance services, emergency room visits
• Specialized pain management
• Sleep study
• Special duty nursing
• Medications
• Dental services
• Additional specialized medical services and consultation
• Acupuncture, massage

Non-clinical services:

• Transportation services (other than to scheduled appointments)
• Offsite meals
• Personal beauty/hair salon services
• Personal laundry and dry cleaning