Abraxas I

Marienville, Pennsylvania

165 Abraxas Road
PO Box 59
Marienville, PA 16239

(814) 927-6615

About Abraxas I

Since its inception in 1973 under a contract with the Governor’s Council on Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Abraxas I has treated residents in the interrelated areas of substance use/abuse, socialization, education/vocation, family, delinquency, community awareness, and victim impact. At Abraxas, recovery is not just about sobriety. Recovery is about emotional well-being, intellectual growth, competency development and so much more.

Abraxas I philosophy is based on an unknown author quote that says “We are here because there is no refuge finally from ourselves. Until we confront ourselves in the eyes and hearts of others, we are running. Until we suffer them to share our secrets, we have no safety from them. Afraid to be known, we can know neither ourselves nor any other. We will be alone. Where else but in our common ground can we find such a mirror? Here together, we can at last appear clearly to ourselves, not as the giant of our dreams, nor the dwarf of our fears, but as an individual part of a whole with a share in its purpose. In this ground we can each take root and grow. Not alone anymore as in death, but alive to others and ourselves.”

Abraxas I is located at a 90 acre campus sits in the Allegheny National Forest in northwestern Pennsylvania, tucked quietly away from what many people are accustomed to. This setting provides a fresh start, from the moment you turn onto their tree-lined drive.

Abraxas I is a multi-service campus. They offer five different treatment options in effort to meet each resident’s individual needs. They also have the on-site Arlene Lissner Middle/High private School, fully accredited and licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Their school is staffed by certified teachers who are committed to assisting all of the students with their educational needs and goals. In addition to their core course offerings, several electives including art, music and family consumer science are offered. Within family consumer science, students participate in classroom focused instruction in parenting, drivers education and housing and money management.

At Abraxas I they believe that athletics not only give young men and women a physical and emotional outlet, but also provide valuable lessons in team work, self-confidence, perseverance and leadership. Their involvement in PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc.) football, track and field, wrestling (boys) and softball (girls) further illustrates their holistic approach to treatment.
Abraxas provides Sheffield with 20 athletes to boost their participation numbers and Abraxas residents are given the opportunity to play PIAA football. The successful football partnership then led to more opportunities and now includes four sports (Football, Wrestling, Softball and Track).
The Abraxas I / Sheffield football co-op was featured on Sports Illustrated Underdogs – Inspiring Stories in High School Football.

Abraxas I provides service tracks and treatment modalities such as Nourishing Personal Growth and Development, Drug and Alcohol Treatment, Case Management, Strengthening Family Connections, Middle/High School, PIAA Athletics, Interscholastic and Intramural Athletics, Community Service, Restitution Opportunities, Youth Advisory Committee, Continuing Care Plans, ART (Aggression Replacement Training), Drug & Alcohol Prevention, Gang Intervention/Prevention, Gun Violence Prevention, Educational Services, Step-Down Options, CTE Programs, STEP (Social Training and Education Program), Balanced and Restorative Justice, Structured Sensory Interventions (SITCAP), SELF – Psychoeducation, ARISE; among others.

In addition to all of their on-grounds opportunities, their unique partnership with the Venango Training and Development Center provides our young men and women with “hands on” experience learning and performing various skills such as Career and Technical Education, Work Readiness Program, and Higher Education.

At Abraxas I, they lay the framework for treatment through The Sanctuary Model. Sanctuary promotes safety and recovery from adversity through the active creation of a trauma-informed community. Both staff and youth use the Sanctuary Tools. These activities and practices enhance treatment outcomes and overlay an element of trauma-sensitivity to all that they do.

They promote, and through Sanctuary residents, commit to a culture of non-violence, emotional intelligence, social learning, democracy, open communication, social responsibility, and growth & change. Each day begins and ends with a community meeting in every dorm to share information, make decisions and offer feedback.

Dollar icon Payment Options

  • shield-cross iconPrivate Insurance
  • self-pay iconSelf-pay options
  • military iconMilitary insurance
  • medicaid iconMedicaid

Medical briefcase icon Levels of Care

outpatient iconOutpatient

Outpatient rehabs specialize in providing comprehensive care for clients who choose to remain in their homes and communities during treatment. Their services may include transitional support for clients stepping down from intensive inpatient programming. Ambulatory medical detox may be provided for clients at low risk for withdrawal complications. Many programs include evening, night, and weekend services to accommodate clients who are working professionals or caregivers. Addiction counseling and life skills training are common treatment modalities.

inpatient iconInpatient

Residential treatment programs are those that offer housing and meals in addition to substance abuse treatment. Rehab facilities that offer residential treatment allow patients to focus solely on recovery, in an environment totally separate from their lives. Some rehab centers specialize in short-term residential treatment (a few days to a week or two), while others solely provide treatment on a long-term basis (several weeks to months). Some offer both, and tailor treatment to the patient's individual requirements.

aftercare iconAftercare

Clients receiving services from a rehab aftercare program are usually stable and in the maintenance phase of recovery, having completed detox and/or intensive inpatient treatment. Rehab aftercare services can vary widely based on clients' individual and evolving needs, but often include peer coaching, relapse prevention support, 12 step program induction, and medical, mental health, and social service referrals. Individual care plans are typically developed by the client in partnership with their case manager and care team.

12-step icon12-Step

12-step programs are addiction recovery models based on Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). A number of substance abuse programs (including some drug and alcohol rehab centers) use the 12 steps as a basis for treatment. Beginning steps involve admitting powerlessness over the addiction and creating a spiritual basis for recovery. Middle steps including making direct amends to those who've been hurt by the addiction, and the final step is to assist others in addiction recovery in the same way. 12-Step offshoots including Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA), Dual Recovery Anonymous (DRA), Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA) and Gamblers Anonymous (GA).

heart-hands iconIntervention Services

Intervention services helps family or friends of addicts stage an intervention, which is a meeting in which loved ones share their concerns and attempt to get an addict into treatment. Professional intervention specialists can help loved ones organize, gather, and communicate with an addict. They can guide intervention participants in describing the damage the addict's behavior is causing and that outside help is necessary to address the addiction. The ideal outcome of an intervention is for the addict to go to rehab and get the help they need.

User icon Programs

check iconAdolescence program

men iconProgram for men

women iconProgram for women

young-adult iconYoung adult program

children iconChildren program

hiv iconHIV/AIDS program

lgbtq iconLGBTQ program

military-hat iconMilitary program

House check icon Settings & Amenities

  • wilderness iconWilderness setting
  • private iconPrivate setting
  • lake iconLakeside
  • basketball iconBasketball court
  • wifi iconWiFi
  • car iconPrivate transportation
  • recreation iconRecreation room
  • hiking iconHiking
  • weight iconGym
  • building1 iconDay school
  • art iconArt activities
  • hiking-poles iconHiking trails

Heart icon Treatment

alcohol iconAlcoholism

The goal of treatment for alcoholism is abstinence. Those with poor social support, poor motivation, or psychiatric disorders tend to relapse within a few years of treatment. For these people, success is measured by longer periods of abstinence, reduced use of alcohol, better health, and improved social functioning. Recovery and Maintenance are usually based on 12 step programs and AA meetings.

drugs iconDrug Addiction

Drug rehab in Pennsylvania is devoted to the treatment of addiction. Levels of care, treatment methods, and settings differ, but the aim of each program is to end drug dependency and empower participants to achieve long-term recovery.

check iconDual Diagnosis

Many of those suffering from addiction also suffer from mental or emotional illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorders. Rehab and other substance abuse facilities treating those with a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder administer psychiatric treatment to address the person's mental health issue in addition to drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

mental-health iconMental Health and Substance Abuse

A combined mental health and substance abuse rehab has the staff and resources available to handle individuals with both mental health and substance abuse issues. It can be challenging to determine where a specific symptom stems from (a mental health issue or an issue related to substance abuse), so mental health and substance abuse professionals are helpful in detangling symptoms and keeping treatment on track.

opium iconOpioid Addiction

Opioid rehabs specialize in supporting those recovering from opioid addiction. They treat those suffering from addiction to illegal opioids like heroin, as well as prescription drugs like oxycodone. These centers typically combine both physical as well as mental and emotional support to help stop addiction. Physical support often includes medical detox and subsequent medical support (including medication), and mental support includes in-depth therapy to address the underlying causes of addiction.

Hand holding medical sign icon Clinical Services

inpatient-file iconCognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a therapy modality that focuses on the relationship between one's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is used to establish and allow for healthy responses to thoughts and feelings (instead of unhealthy responses, like using drugs or alcohol). CBT has been proven effective for recovering addicts of all kinds, and is used to strengthen a patient's own self-awareness and ability to self-regulate. CBT allows individuals to monitor their own emotional state, become more adept at communicating with others, and manage stress without needing to engage in substance abuse.

dialectical iconDialectical Behavior Therapy

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a modified form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a treatment designed to help people understand and ultimately affect the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. DBT is often used for individuals who struggle with self-harm behaviors, such as self-mutilation (cutting) and suicidal thoughts, urges, or attempts. It has been proven clinically effective for those who struggle with out-of-control emotions and mental health illnesses like Borderline Personality Disorder.

intervention iconGroup Therapy

Group therapy is any therapeutic work that happens in a group (not one-on-one). There are a number of different group therapy modalities, including support groups, experiential therapy, psycho-education, and more. Group therapy involves treatment as well as processing interaction between group members.

mental-health iconIndividual Therapy

In individual therapy, a patient meets one-on-one with a trained psychologist or counselor. Therapy is a pivotal part of effective substance abuse treatment, as it often covers root causes of addiction, including challenges faced by the patient in their social, family, and work/school life.

desert iconMotivational Interviewing

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a clinical approach to helping people with substance abuse issues and other conditions shift behavior in positive ways. It is more goal-oriented than traditional psychotherapy, as MI counselors directly attempt to get clients to consider making behavioral change (rather than wait for them to come to conclusions themselves). Its primary purpose is to resolve ambivalence and help clients become able to make healthy choices freely.

house-medical iconTrauma Therapy

Trauma therapy addresses traumatic incidents from a client's past that are likely affecting their present-day experience. Trauma is often one of the primary triggers and potential causes of addiction, and can stem from child sexual abuse, domestic violence, having a parent with a mental illness, losing one or both parents at a young age, teenage or adult sexual assault, or any number of other factors. The purpose of trauma therapy is to allow a patient to process trauma and move through and past it, with the help of trained and compassionate mental health professionals.

family iconFamily Therapy

Research clearly demonstrates that recovery is far more successful and sustainable when loved ones like family members participate in rehab and substance abuse treatment. Genetic factors may be at play when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction, as well as mental health issues. Family dynamics often play a critical role in addiction triggers, and if properly educated, family members can be a strong source of support when it comes to rehabilitation.

life-skills iconLife Skills

Life skills trainings involve all the skills a person must have in order to function successfully in the world. These include time management, career guidance, money management, and effective communication. Truly successful addiction recovery is based on the ability to not only live substance-free, but to thrive. Life skills teaches the practical necessities of functioning in society, which sets clients up for success in life, and therefore sobriety.

recreational-therapy iconRecreational Therapy

Recreational therapy (aka therapeutic recreation) uses creative and fun activities to help with addiction recovery. Recreational therapists lead patients in entertaining and engaging activities like sports or games; art (drawing, painting, sculpture); drama, music, and dance; and/or community outings (field trips) to improve patients' physical, social, and emotional well-being.

medical-detox iconExperiential Therapy

Experiential therapy is a form of therapy in which clients are encouraged to surface and work through subconscious issues by engaging in real-time experiences. Experiential therapy departs from traditional talk therapy by involving the body, and having clients engage in activities, movements, and physical and emotional expression. This can involve role-play or using props (which can include other people). Experiential therapy can help people process trauma, memories, and emotion quickly, deeply, and in a lasting fashion, leading to substantial and impactful healing.

Check icon Accreditations

Joint Commission

The Joint Commission, formerly known as JCAHO, is a nonprofit organization that accredits rehab organizations and programs. Founded in 1951, the Joint Commision's mission is to improve the quality of patient care and demonstrating the quality of patient care.

Joint Commission Accreditation: Yes
Accreditation Number: 55490

State License

State Licenses are permits issued by government agencies that allow rehab organizations to conduct business legally within a certain geographical area. Typically, the kind of program a rehab facility offers, along with its physical location, determines which licenses are required to operate legally.

State License: Pennsylvania

Phone icon Contact

Phone icon (814) 927-6615
Building icon

165 Abraxas Road
PO Box 59
Marienville, PA 16239

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Reviews

2.7 (32 reviews)
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Google Rating

2.7 (32 reviews)
David Grunden
2 months ago
4

Cindy Farrar
5 months ago
1

DO NOT BRING YOUR KIDS HERE!this place is absolutely horrible, they abuse kids mentally and physically... they act u have no more parental rights. I wanted to pull my son out many times but they kept threatening back to me and lieing to me to keep my son there. There is many more situations I would love to right about on here, but due to the respect of my son I will not. I REPECT DO NOT BRING YOUR KIDS HERE.

Erin Krick
5 months ago
1

This place is horrible!! Staff abusing the clients physically mentally and socially. I hope some one closes this place down as soon as possible. The upper staff are horrible they push things under the rug the councilors are awefThey use their powers to make horrible decisions. They retaliate on the kids when the kids tel on them when they know that they stop contact with the kids. There are plenty of current investigations going on

Spade Stellar
9 months ago
4

Hi my name is Sara, i was there from march 2021 to February of 2022. I completed the program but i had no where else to go, they kept me there. I had my ups and downs and i didnt like or get along with all the staff but they helped me. Shout out to Tom M and Kevin M. I was in the only female dorm, and in my time there the staff helped so many kids. Yes it was strict, and yes they would yell at you if you didnt do what you were supposed to do but thats part of life. The staff treated you the way you treated them for the most part.

Sawyer
9 months ago
1

please fire jim town.... also there's some god awful staff who are hypocrates and 1 of the abraxas mottos is "lead by example"... also if your going through stuff that is bothering you and you just wanna stay to yourself you better hope alyssa drake isn't working in your unit because she is intitled and will make you share your business

Tyler miller
10 months ago
5

I was here for a year back in 2013 I think at the age of 17-18. I m 28 now. Completed the program. Got my GED. shoutout to BROTHER the teacher. we called him. That man was amazing!! I think about this place all the time. It changed my life. You gotta want change. If not it will be hard for ya. I was a full blown drug addicted fool at 14. I didn t know anything else so this was what I needed. I m not sure how it is today but that s how it was back then. Of course you had good & bad employees just like anywhere else. We got to go off grounds if you was on a good status level. Behavior wise. Did what was asked of you. I worked at a zoo with some pretty wild animals. Helped out in warehouses making cups. I got a check after I got home for working. Also went to the movies, out to eat, played games. Actually went to a steelers and Giants game in Pittsburgh. Still My 1 & only so far NFL game I ever went to was because of them. I went to church on Sunday. I went to elk county to see elk with the teacher Scott. That was awesome. Forreal. I had a lot of good times here & meet some pretty awesome people and learned a lot about myself. I thought about revisiting just to see who all is still there but judging these reviews. I doubt they are still there. I was in Dakota dorm. Shoutout to everyone who was there when I was. Some names still stick with me. My counselor. Brittany. You was the best . Thank you!! You re the real MVP. I hope you re doing amazing also Bill Cox. Jake. Josh. Creddy. Jen. Kaylony? I can t remember everyone but I will always remember them names. If you have kids here. Go visit them if you can. I didn t get but 1 visit my whole year there. It sucks & makes time go by so slow. Be there for your kids. Give them that positive energy they need to boost them through this process. Write letters. Send pictures. They look forward to it every week.It was good to live with y all for awhile. If any of yall I was with see this. Look me up onTikTok ( millerboy95 )Facebook as Tyler Miller / West Virginia ( pic of me and my daughter) as of 2023-2024. I hope everyone here can make something positive out of it and become something in life. Get away from the negativity in the streets. Chase your goals & dreams. Only you have that power to accomplish them goals.Peace,love,happiness

Kyle Agee
1 year ago
1

Brii' Carter
1 year ago
2

I stayed like 7 months in 16-17 and would ve stayed longer if I didn t age out the system. Yeah they assault you and yell at you and try to belittle, embarrass, and dehumanize you. However it is the system and it happens often so I did whatever they said. I got physically assaulted once by the administrator because I wrote a letter to the admin asking them if they could give us girls access to the weight room just like the boys and that we have sports like the boys(i was an athlete prior to being sent here). At a later date he visited the facility called me out in front of everyone saying I was a problem and made me stand up yelled & pointed his finger and my face. And when I whisped his hand out my face (like anyone would do) I was restrained. I didn t resist and he ended up making himself look like a fool they never admitted but everyone knew he was wrong and they did eventually open the weight room up and they allowed us to play sports about 4 months later. They lie and say you ll get released early if you act right. No it is a 8-12 month program and you won t get out early. I did everything they said and they submitted to the judge to stay longer because I did 7 months. Thank God my judge allowed me to age out. I enjoyed the group/1-1 therapy it is the only time they allow you to share your opinion and have discourse. I give 2 stars because I expected nothing of this place and I m sure if they met my expectations there are worse treatment center. How much can you expect from a juvenile facility. Anyone with self worth would run far far away that s why it s in a middle of a forest where you can t escape. It is almost impossible because they will have the whole town sheriff department conducting a search I never heard of anybody succeeding. S/o to Dan my counselor and most the teachers at the school. The teachers felt so bad for us you could tell because they would bend their backs for us and I appreciated the empathy. They really felt for us I couldn t thank them enough while I was there. Except the old art teacher lady who threw out a drawing that took weeks I made of me and my boyfriend (at the time) cooking together and accused me of drawing a meth kitchen???? Tf? I only smoked weed and was sent bc I was a flight risk not addiction to hard drugs. She can rot. As someone who wasn t/ isn t an addict I learned a lot about the consequences of it so I know that s not the lifestyle for me. That place will drive you to drink the minute I got home I rolled an L (I didn t drink that young) and got f the law tatted on me. Whether you re an addict or like me, had a bad family, no one deserves that treatment.

Kennith Walls
1 year ago
1

man this place be ruining your mental I was there in 2020 from January to November they would literally scream in your face so close you knew what they had for breakfast while they would scream at you for virtually noooooo reason at all they would physically slam you for no reason, do not send your kids there they will traumatize them

shana larimer
1 year ago
1

someone close to me attended and he was able to get ahold of razors to harm himself. a horrible job watching them and they did not care.

Pluto Inhuman (Tokyo)
1 year ago
1

If you call getting 2 inches away from a 12 year old with autism s face and screaming at him intervention then please by all means send your kid to this facility

wayne bobbert
1 year ago
1

If you like for your kids to vape while playing video games all day. By all means send them to Abraxas... Several employees buy these kids vapes on a daily.... They don't care about the kids. They care about making their jobs easier....

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