Free by the Sea treats adults seeking help for drug and alcohol addiction, including those with co-occurring mental health conditions. Our facility is located in Ocean Park, Washington, and is licensed by the Washington State Department of Health as both a Residential Treatment Facility and a Behavioral Health Agency.
Free by the Sea serves individuals and families seeking structured, professional support, and our rehab programs are designed to address each person’s specific clinical needs.
Free by the Sea Treats Adults Seeking Help for Addiction and Dual Diagnosis
Free by the Sea’s Ocean Park campus is licensed for 45 residential beds providing co-occurring substance use and mental health treatment for adults. Our facility’s behavioral health agency certification covers assessment, counseling and therapy, and psychiatric medication management across multiple levels of care.
Adults can move through the continuum from 24-hour residential care to partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, outpatient, and telehealth services with the same licensed team. This continuity allows treatment to be adjusted as a person’s clinical needs change over time.
What Conditions and Addictions Does Free by the Sea Treat?
Free by the Sea treats a broad range of substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions.
Substance Use Disorders We Treat
Free by the Sea provides treatment for the following substances:
- Alcohol addiction
- Benzodiazepines, sedatives, and sleep medications
- Opioids, including heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioids
- Stimulants, including cocaine, crack, methamphetamine, and prescription stimulants
- Marijuana, MDMA, inhalants, kratom, synthetic drugs, and ketamine
- Nicotine and polysubstance use
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is available, including buprenorphine and naltrexone, for individuals whose clinical assessment indicates it is appropriate. When medical detox is needed before entering the residential program, the admissions team coordinates placement with a trusted withdrawal management provider.
What Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions Are Treated?
Co-occurring disorders, sometimes called dual diagnosis, refer to the presence of both a substance use disorder and a mental health condition at the same time. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), substance use and mental health disorders frequently occur together, and research shows integrated treatment leads to better health outcomes. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) describes integrated care as combining mental health and substance use treatment so patients receive coordinated care in one place.
Free by the Sea treats the following mental health conditions when they occur alongside a substance use disorder:
- Bipolar Disorder
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and trauma
Who Can Benefit From Addiction Treatment?
Addiction treatment is appropriate for adults whose substance use has become difficult to manage on their own. This includes people at various stages of a substance use disorder, not only those in crisis.
Treatment may be a good fit for individuals who:
- Have difficulty controlling how much or how often they use a substance
- Continue using despite negative effects on health, relationships, or daily responsibilities
- Have tried to stop or cut back on their own without lasting success
- Are experiencing withdrawal symptoms or need increasing amounts of a substance to feel the same effect
- Are looking for structured clinical support to build a foundation for recovery
When Is It Time to Seek Treatment?
According to the DSM-5, clinicians assess substance use disorders based on patterns such as loss of control over use, continued use despite negative consequences, and tolerance or withdrawal. These patterns, not a single incident, are what typically indicate that professional support is needed.
If substance use is affecting work, finances, relationships, or daily functioning, that is a meaningful signal. Waiting for a situation to become more severe before seeking help is not necessary.
Which Specialized Populations Does Free by the Sea Serve?
Free by the Sea has programs designed to serve specific populations whose circumstances or backgrounds may shape their treatment needs. We serve:
- Women
- Men
- Veterans
- First responders
- LGBTQ+ individuals
- Young adults
- Seniors
- Executives and professionals
- Criminal justice clients, including those with DUI-related referrals
Each of these groups may face distinct stressors or barriers related to their identity or profession. Free by the Sea’s programs are structured to account for those differences within an individualized treatment plan.
What Levels of Care Are Available?
Free by the Sea offers a full continuum of care, allowing adults to receive treatment at the level that matches their clinical needs and to step up or down as those needs change. The Washington State Department of Health licenses our facility for both residential and outpatient services. Available levels of care include:
- Inpatient/residential treatment: 24-hour structured care on the Ocean Park campus, licensed for 45 beds
- Partial hospitalization program (PHP): Structured daytime programming with the ability to return home or to transitional housing in the evening
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP): Multiple sessions per week for individuals who do not require round-the-clock supervision
- Outpatient and telehealth: Ongoing support for individuals who have completed higher levels of care or whose needs are less acute
- Medical detox coordination: When withdrawal management is needed first, our admissions team arranges placement with a trusted provider before residential admission
The appropriate level of care is determined through a clinical assessment at the time of admission.
How To Start Treatment at Free by the Sea
Starting treatment at Free by the Sea begins with reaching out to the admissions team. During this first conversation, our team will ask about your current situation and any past treatment to understand what kind of support you need. There’s no commitment to enroll at this stage. The goal is simply to determine whether Free by the Sea is a good clinical fit, so you can make an informed decision about next steps.
From there, the process generally includes:
- A clinical assessment to identify substance use history, mental health needs, and appropriate level of care
- A review of insurance coverage and financial options
- A discussion of program options based on the assessment findings
- Coordination of any pre-admission steps, such as detox placement if needed
Admission and level-of-care decisions are based on individual clinical circumstances and program criteria.
Take the First Step Toward Recovery
Free by the Sea’s admissions team is available to answer questions, walk through the assessment process, and help determine whether the facility’s programs are the right fit. Families and individuals are both welcome to reach out. Contact us to start your recovery journey or verify your insurance for treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Free by the Sea accepts insurance for treatment services. Prospective clients should contact our admissions team directly to verify insurance benefits and coverage details for their specific plan.
Free by the Sea does not provide medical detox on-site. When withdrawal management is clinically necessary before residential admission, the admissions team coordinates placement with a trusted detox provider.
Length of stay in residential treatment varies based on each person’s clinical needs and progress. Our admissions team can provide more specific guidance after an initial assessment is completed.
Family involvement is often part of the addiction treatment process. Prospective clients and families are encouraged to ask the admissions team about our family support program during the intake process.
Yes. Post-traumatic stress disorder is among the co-occurring mental health conditions Free by the Sea treats alongside substance use disorders. Treatment for co-occurring conditions is integrated into the overall care plan rather than addressed separately.
Dr. Richard Crabbe joined our team in 2019 as our psychiatrist and medical director. He attended the University of Ghana Medical School where he became a Medical Doctor in 1977. From 1978 through 1984, he was a medical officer in the Ghana Navy and provided a variety of services from general medicine to surgeries. He received his Certificate in General Psychology from the American Board of Psychology and Neurology in 2002.
