Stonington Institute

For people who need to begin recovery with medically supervised detox, Stonington Institute provides that foundation on the same campus where residential treatment takes place. That continuity matters: rather than completing detox at one facility and transferring to another, residents can move from detox into the residential program within a familiar environment, with consistent peers and staff around them throughout the process.

Residential treatment at Stonington Institute is built around longer-term engagement — the kind of immersive programming that gives people time to practice new coping strategies, engage with a 12-step community, and address underlying issues like trauma and PTSD before returning to daily life. The 26-acre rural campus in North Stonington, CT provides the physical and social space that longer-term residential recovery requires.

Stonington Institute structures its residential program around two established frameworks: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and the 12-step model. CBT equips residents with practical tools for identifying and shifting the thought patterns that fuel substance use, while the 12-step model connects them to a broader recovery community — both on campus and through the networks that extend well beyond treatment. Together, these approaches address both the internal and relational dimensions of long-term sobriety.

The program also treats co-occurring disorders, with trauma and PTSD specifically listed among the conditions addressed. For many people entering residential treatment, unresolved trauma is a central driver of substance use — and treating both simultaneously, rather than sequentially, is a recognized factor in more durable recovery outcomes. Sober living is available as an aftercare resource, giving residents a structured next step after residential treatment ends.

Stonington Institute's residential program is designed to serve a wide range of adults, including veterans, young adults between 18 and 25, seniors, men, women, pregnant women, individuals with HIV/AIDS support needs, deaf or hard of hearing individuals, and those who are court-ordered into treatment. That breadth is notable — many residential programs specialize in narrow demographics, while Stonington Institute maintains capacity to serve people across very different life circumstances within the same recovery community.

Veterans and active-duty military families will find that TRICARE is accepted at Stonington Institute, alongside Medicaid, state insurance, private insurance, and self-pay options. The facility's acceptance of multiple public insurance options reflects a commitment to accessibility that aligns with the needs of the communities it serves across Connecticut and the surrounding region.

The unlocked, campus-style environment at Stonington Institute is a deliberate part of the recovery experience. Residents have access to volleyball, yoga, and martial arts training on the 26-acre North Stonington campus — physical activities that support wellbeing and structure during residential treatment without resembling a clinical institution. The rural setting provides separation from the environments and triggers many residents are stepping away from, while the campus community provides connection and accountability.

After residential treatment, sober living is available as an aftercare support option. For Sober Nation's audience — people thinking beyond acute stabilization toward sustainable, community-grounded recovery — the availability of sober living as a next step is a meaningful part of what Stonington Institute offers as a longer-term recovery partner rather than simply a short-term intervention.