Fernside: Addiction Recovery Program

If you or a loved one are struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, McLean is here to help. Call us today to speak to admission staff about treatment options.

If you are living with drug or alcohol addiction or if you struggle with substance misuse that is affected by other mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression, we can help.

Since 2006, Fernside, an addiction recovery program, has been offering exceptional residential treatment that provides individuals the tools 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 scientifically proven clinical treatment and recovery methods result in positive therapeutic outcomes.

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This 9-bed, self-pay program provides world-class alcohol and drug addiction treatment in the private, charming setting of a renovated country bed and breakfast. Services are available to individuals ages 18 and older.

Our 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 to assure full benefits are achieved.

Treatment Approach

Fernside 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 individuals to take the necessary steps to overcome addiction.

Our intensive, seven-day-a-week program focuses on relapse prevention and recovery, and specializes in caring for those whose substance use disorder has not responded to other treatment or is further complicated by other psychiatric illnesses such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Learn more about McLean’s unique approach to addiction care.

“My experience at Fernside was invaluable. The individualized attention from the doctors and staff was uniquely satisfying and a crucial part of the program.”– Fernside patient

Understanding Alcohol Addiction & Treatment

Patient talks to clinician outside

Addiction to alcohol is not a sign of weakness, a character flaw, or a moral failure. It is a common condition that affects millions of people of all ages, socioeconomic groups, and backgrounds. And while there is not one cause of alcohol addiction, there is hope—it can be treated effectively.

Patient talks to clinician outside

Admission & Cost

Admission

Fernside fields inquiries for the program 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about program admission or to make a referral, please contact:

Phone: 978.464.2331

People come to Fernside from across the United States and around the world. Our knowledgeable admissions staff have information about resources nationwide, and can help arrange drug or alcohol detoxification services as needed prior to admission.

Cost

The fee for Fernside is $70,500 for 30 days, and as a self-pay program we do 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 Fernside day rate, please see below.

Read one Fernside patient’s story on living a life without alcohol.

Accommodations

Yellow inn with tulips in front

With 15 private acres of lawns, gardens, and woodland, and views of Wachusett Mountain and Boston, Fernside offers unequaled addiction treatment in a charming, New England bed and breakfast setting.

Well appointed bedroom bed and breakfast style

The 9-bed residential treatment program offers patients exceptional accommodations with fully equipped en suite bathrooms. Daily meals are provided.

Two people playing a game at a nice wooden table

Fernside features an art studio and gym as well as access to hiking trails. Patients have access to local resources including skiing, swimming, and tennis.

Porch with chairs in sun rays

An elegant nineteenth-century mansion and previously a bed and breakfast listed on the Select Registry as a Distinguished Inn of North America, Fernside exudes all the warmth and charm of a luxurious New England inn.

Program Leadership

Rocco A. Iannucci, MD
Rocco A. Iannucci, MD
Director
Robin Gay, PhD
Robin Gay, PhD
Director of Psychological Services

Treatment Team

The Fernside treatment team is a multidisciplinary group of board-certified psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, registered nurses, community residence counselors, and an expressive therapist.

Our well-trained and experienced staff specialize in addiction care and are dedicated to providing compassionate treatment and support for patients and their families.

Fernside is an integral component of the internationally recognized McLean Hospital Division of Alcohol, Drugs, and Addiction, led by Roger D. Weiss, MD. McLean has an unparalleled history of clinical, research, and educational leadership in the field of addiction.

Alumni Program

To provide a supportive, compassionate transition from residential treatment, McLean offers a robust alumni program for all Fernside 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Fernside located?

Fernside is in Princeton, Massachusetts. For more information on directions, parking, and local accommodations, please visit our Maps & Directions page.

Who benefits most from Fernside?

Fernside’s residential program focuses on treating individuals with serious substance use disorders, 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. We also offer a weekly family support and education group that includes the option to participate via video teleconference.

Is smoking permitted?

Smoking is allowed in designated outdoor areas only. No smoking is allowed inside any of our buildings. Use of chewing tobacco and “e-cigarettes” is not permitted.

When are visiting hours?

Visitors are permitted, following program policies. Visiting hours are 12-8pm, Saturdays and Sundays.

Please speak to the patient’s treatment team for more information. Additional details can be found on the Visitors page.

Are cell phones and other electronics allowed?

Individuals are permitted 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?

Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step groups are not required, though we expect program participants to attend some form of self-help five evenings per week. We offer several alternatives to AA such as SMART Recovery and mindfulness-based self-help. Individualized plans can be created to fit a patient’s needs.

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

Privacy is of the utmost importance to Fernside, and 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 a patient’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?

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. For information about self-help groups local to Fernside, please ask program staff.

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 Fernside day rate?

Clinical services such as:

  • Professional evaluation, diagnostics, and treatment for substance use disorders and co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses
  • Intensive psychiatric assessment, internal medicine/initial physical
  • Intensive individual and group therapy
  • Symptom education services
  • Medication evaluation and management
  • Psychiatric medical director onsite, nursing day/evening staffing
  • 24/7 direct care staffing
  • Case management services (ongoing consultation with referring clinician and aftercare planning)
  • Family and couples meetings
  • Basic laboratory testing, neuropsychological testing
  • Nutritional consultations
  • Smoking cessation treatment and support
  • Onsite expressive therapies including yoga and art

Non-clinical services:

  • Private room/private bath (single occupancy)
  • All onsite meals, snacks, beverages
  • Arrival and departure transportation services available
  • Transportation services to scheduled clinical appointments
  • Housekeeping services
  • Onsite fitness studio
  • Art studio with professional easels and supplies

What services are not included in the day rate?

Ancillary services such as:

  • Psychological testing
  • Neurological consultations
  • Specialty imaging – MRI, CT
  • Specialty psychiatric consultations

Other medical services:

  • Ambulance services, emergency room visits
  • Specialized pain management
  • Dental services
  • Medications
  • Sleep study
  • Additional offsite laboratory testing
  • Special duty nursing
  • Specials 1:1
  • Additional specialized medical services and consultation
  • Physical therapy

Non-clinical services:

  • Transportation services (other than to scheduled appointments)
  • Offsite meals
  • Personal beauty/hair salon services
  • Personal laundry and cleaning
  • Therapeutic services (massage, acupuncture, etc.)

These optional ancillary clinical and medical services may or may not be covered by the patient’s insurance.

McLean Is Here to Help

If you or your loved one is struggling with substance addiction, call us today to learn more about Fernside. Our admission staff will talk you through our treatment options.

978.464.2331