This place changed my life. I have spent the last 10 years rotating different treatment centers and nothing had a more profound and permanent impact on my recovery than water gap. From every aspect their treatment and experience is the best in class. A lot of the staff / ...
About Water Gap Wellness Center
Water Gap Wellness has substance use and co-occurring disorder treatment facilities in several states, including their facility in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. The programs they offer are accredited by The Joint Commission, and they accept most major insurance carriers. Currently, the facility offers partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, outpatient, and drug rehab programs. It should be noted that they’re soon adding detox and residential programs.
The partial hospitalization program (PHP) takes a holistic, individual approach to treatment. The goal is to recalibrate your mind while restoring balance to your body and spirit through outdoor experiences and clinical sessions. The PHP is for clients with a substance use disorder, primary mental health diagnosis, or a dual diagnosis condition.
The program benefits clients needing comprehensive structured support to transition back to independence. You’ll meet six days a week for six hours per day. You’ll have group sessions and two private counseling sessions each week. Through therapy and education, you’ll develop better coping mechanisms while learning valuable life skills such as budgeting, time management, and medication management.
During therapy sessions, you’ll use evidence based therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). You’ll identify the situations that trigger you to drink or use so you can work through those core issues. Many people use substances as a coping mechanism to numb themselves from painful trauma or other issues. Once you’ve identified these issues, you’ll be better able to live a sober, more fulfilling life.
The intensive outpatient program (IOP) is a less intense program than the PHP. You can take advantage of the housing option or commute to treatment while living at home. The IOP includes CBT, psychotherapy, and medication management. You’ll work on many of the same skills as you would in the PHP.
They have an inn at Water Gap for clients who might not have a place to stay. It’s a few miles away from the center and offers many amenities.
Latest Reviews
Jenny Hauer
Reviewed on 04/14/2025
This place changed my life. I have spent the last 10 years rotating different treatment centers and nothing had a more profound and permanent impact on my recovery than water gap.
From every aspect their treatment and experience is the best in class. A lot of the staff / psychiatrists have experienced addiction or mental health challenges in some capacity and to be supported in my recovery process by others who have REAL, lived experience and aren't just college educated / textbook informed academics trying to cure people of problems and challenges they can't relate to or understand from within is just one component of what makes Watergap so unique and so effective. The staff are not only extremely experienced and knowledgeable, but they have a perspective on recovery and healing that you can share and relate to with them, I think this also contributes to how caring the staff are, they really all take such a personal and deep interest in your recovery vs this just being a way to pay the bills and put their degree to use (which I have seen at many places).
Beyond the staff and recovery approach being incredible and also unique, the grounds are absolutely stunning with world class amenities. The natural beauty surrounding the facility allows your mind and soul to really connect with nature in the healing process and there are also such a wide range of amenities it feels like being at a luxury resort. From a massage/spa room, hiking in the beautiful Poconos mountains, group yoga and meditation, themed dinner nights, a glass sun room for yoga sessions, a beautiful golf course, daily hikes, a swimming pool - there are endless ways at Watergate to stay constantly entertained, distracted, challenged and inspired.
I am so thankful for Watergate for changing my life and can't say enough good things about my experience and the treatment I received there.
Special thanks to my case manager terri. She made me feel comfortable and she goes above and beyond.
Amazing place with amazing people Can t thank you enough
Rehab Score
Our Methodology
Scoring is assigned by a proprietary system which helps surface key metrics that determine quality. The 10-point scale factors in categories such as operations, customer satisfaction, and trust metrics. Read Full Methodology
8.2 / 10
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Location
Other Forms of Payment
Private insurance refers to any kind of healthcare coverage that isn't from the state or federal government. This includes individual and family plans offered by an employer or purchased from the Insurance Marketplace. Every plan will have different requirements and out of pocket costs so be sure to get the full details before you start treatment.
Self-pay involves paying for treatment out of your own pocket. You can use savings or credit, get a personal loan, or receive help from family and friends to fund your treatment. If you don't have insurance or your insurance plan doesn't cover a specific program, self-pay can help ensure you still get the care you need.
Addiction Treatments
Levels of Care
Medically Assisted Detox Drug and alcohol addiction often takes a heavy toll on one's body. Over time, a physical dependence can develop, meaning the body physiologically needs the substance to function. Detox is the process of removing drugs and/or alcohol from the body, a process that can be lethal if mismanaged. Medical detox is done by licensed medical professionals who monitor vital signs and keep you safe, healthy, and as comfortable as possible as you go through detox and withdrawal. The length of stay at the detoxification program is determined according to the specific needs of the patient.
Inpatient 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.
Outpatient Outpatient Programs (OP) are for those seeking mental rehab or drug rehab, but who also stay at home every night. The main difference between outpatient treatment (OP) and intensive outpatient treatment (IOP) lies in the amount of hours the patient spends at the facility. Most of the time an outpatient program is designed for someone who has completed an inpatient stay and is looking to continue their growth in recovery. Outpatient is not meant to be the starting point, it is commonly referred to as aftercare.
Partial Hospitalization Program With a partial hospitalization program (PHP), you can participate in intensive rehabilitation treatment with the ability to return home at the end of the day. For a weekly minimum of 20 hours, a partial hospitalization program can take place up to 5 days a week for an average of 90 days. During PHP treatment, you can receive relapse prevention strategies, medication management, individual and group therapy, and other behavioral therapy interventions.
Treatments
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.
Programs
Adult Program
Adult rehab programs include therapies tailored to each client's specific needs, goals, and recovery progress. They are tailored to the specific challenges adult clients may face, including family and work pressures and commitments. From inpatient and residential treatment to various levels of outpatient services, there are many options available. Some facilities also help adults work through co-occurring conditions, like anxiety, that can accompany addiction.
Clinical Services
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Amenities
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Private Setting -
Mountain Views -
Hiking -
Gym
Staff & Accreditations
Staff
John Paul Gomez, PhD, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Courtney Chellew, PhD, DO
Deputy Chief Medical Officer
Christine Arezzi, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Aurea Cordero, MSN,CRNP,PMHNP-BC, AGNP-C
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Joette Hoffman, DNP, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Matthew Ottinger, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Lacey Anger, MSW
Director of Family & Alumni Program
Taylour Bittner, BS
Counselor Assistant
Accreditations
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
License Number: 457055
Contact Information
(833) 949-4673 
100 Plaza Court
Suite D
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
Get Help Now - 267-450-9996
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Fact checked and written by:
Susan Bertram, BA
Edited by:
Peter Lee, PhD
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