Cliffside Malibu

Verified Center

This provider's information has been quality-checked by Recovery.com's Research Team for accuracy and completeness, including center verification through appropriate third-party organizations.

Substance Use

Treatment Focus

This center treats substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions. Your treatment plan addresses each condition at once with personalized, compassionate care for comprehensive healing.

Residential

Primary Level of Care

Offering intensive care with 24/7 monitoring, residential treatment is typically 30 days and can cover multiple levels of care. Length can range from 14 to 90 days typically.

4.0
(213)
Insurance

Provider's Policy

We accept most insurance policies as an in-network or out-of-network provider for many commercial insurance carriers.

Cliffside Malibu treats addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders in a safe and luxurious environment. They’ve adopted a unique treatment model, called Stages of Change, that meets clients where they are in their recovery journey and guides them forward. As a non-12-Step program, Stages of Change uses holistic and evidence-based treatments for whole-body healing. Cliffside Malibu also provides intensive outpatient services and sober living for clients looking to extend their care.

Customized, Person-Focused Treatment

A host of therapeutic and facility staff help ensure each client has their needs met, from detox to aftercare. Clinical and psychological assessments help Cliffside Malibu’s staff begin creating a personalized treatment plan, which adjusts further to meet the specifications and desires of each client. By using this personalized approach, and offering multiple therapy approaches, Cliffside creates a plan that is customized for clients’ needs.

Healing Addiction at Its Roots

Cliffside Malibu sees addiction as a response to pain or trauma. They use techniques like motivational interviewing, eye movement desensitization (EMDR), somatic therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to uncover and comfortably process this pain, healing addiction at its core. Combined with their personalized and holistic approach, clients at Cliffside receive highly effective treatment for addiction, trauma, and co-occurring mental health conditions.

Comprehensive Treatment Options And Luxury Amenities

During detox, clinicians at Cliffside Malibu may use medications to relieve withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings. Medication-assisted treatment can extend past detox too, depending on clients’ needs and preferences. Cliffside offers three individual therapy sessions each week, ensuring clients get the personal care they need. Group and family therapy adds to their different angles of healing, allowing for personal growth, encouragement, and widespread healing. Clients choose from private or shared rooms during treatment, enjoying up-scale amenities, plush linens, and the talents of professional chefs.

Cliffside Malibu thumbnail

Highlights from the Center

Highlights

These highlights are provided by and paid for by the center.

  • Joint Commission Accredited

  • Co-Occurring Disorders Treatment

  • Holistic Approach

  • Certified Professionals

AT A GLANCE

Center Overview

Location
29160 Heathercliff Rd., Ste. 100, Malibu, CA 90265 View Map
Primary Focus
This center treats substance use disorders and co-occurring mental healt...

Treatment Focus

This center treats substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions. Your treatment plan addresses each condition at once with personalized, compassionate care for comprehensive healing.

Accreditation
Joint Commission

Joint Commission Accredited

The Joint Commission accreditation is a voluntary, objective process that evaluates and accredits healthcare organizations (like treatment centers) based on performance standards designed to improve quality and safety for patients. To be accredited means the treatment center has been found to meet the Commission's standards for quality and safety in patient care.

Typical Program Length
1-4 months
Founded in 2005
21 years in business
Occupancy
2-5 beds
Conditions We Treat
ADHD, ADD, Anger, Anxiety, Bipolar +10 More
Substance Use We Treat
Alcohol, Benzodiazepines, Chronic Relapse, Co-Occurring Disorders +9 More
Cliffside Malibu logo

(833) 335-0117

How to pay

Insurance Accepted

Provider's Policy: We accept most insurance policies as an in-network or out-of-network provider for many commercial insurance carriers.
Verify Insurance
Private Pay Option

Cash Pay Rates

Estimated Cash Pay Rate

Center pricing can vary based on program and length of stay. Contact the center for more information. Recovery.com strives for price transparency so you can make an informed decision.

If you are not using insurance, the pricing listed below is an estimate of the cash pay rate.
month
$30,000–$91,000
(833) 335-0117

Luxury rehab centers offer a unique blend of luxurious amenities and high-quality treatment. From private suites to gourmet dining, personal trainers to spa treatments, these facilities provide a high level of comfort and discretion.

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Staff

Meet Your Care Team

Kelly Stephenson

Kelly Stephenson

Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Craig Smith

Dr. Craig Smith

Medical Director

M.D., Board Certified in Addiction Medicine

Dr. Matthew Ruble

Dr. Matthew Ruble

Chief Medical Officer

M.D.

Natalie Shorten

Natalie Shorten

Lead Resident Health Advisor

LVN

Stages of Change Model
Stages of Change Model
Cliffside Malibu uses Prochaska’s Stages of Change model, with their staff learning its practices from the founder himself. The model emphasizes meeting clients where they are at in the six stages of recovery: pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and stability. Cliffside aims to walk with clients through the stages, ending at stability and overall success.
Evidence-Based And Holistic Care
Evidence-Based And Holistic Care
Evidence-based treatments and holistic care offer clients a well-rounded treatment experience. Yoga, interpersonal neurobiology, acupuncture, Reiki, and relapse prevention, among others, help heal all areas of the mind, body, and spirit. Their gym and swimming pools also help restore physical wellness, plus Cliffside’s nutritious chef-prepared meals.
Healing The Core of Addiction
Healing The Core of Addiction
Cliffside Malibu focuses on healing the cause of addiction, not just the symptoms. Believing that addiction stems from trauma or pain, they seek to alleviate these stressors and restore healthy coping mechanisms. Individual and group therapy help address pain points, allowing clients and their therapist to gently work towards full-person recovery.
Family Care And Aftercare
Family Care And Aftercare
Knowing that addiction affects the whole family, Cliffside Malibu involves family members and significant others in treatment, as clients desire. Weekly family sessions educate family members on addiction, mental health, and the science behind it, helping them become better recovery allies. Aftercare services and extended care keep clients connected to recovery and the community at Cliffside Malibu.
Care Options

Levels of Care

Everyone's recovery journey is unique. Whether it looks like residential rehab for 30 days, an outpatient program, or virtual therapy, you can find a level of care that fits your needs.
Detox
Typically the initial stage of treatment for substance use, focusing on medically supervised management of withdrawal symptoms.
Residential Rehab
Offering intensive care with 24/7 monitoring, residential substance use treatment is typically 30 days. Length can range from 14 to 90 days.
Sober Living
Transitional housing designed to support individuals recovering from substance use disorders offering a safe, supportive and structured environment for practicing long-term sobriety, while reintegrating back into daily living.
Day Treatment
In a PHP, patients live at home but follow an intensive schedule of treatment. Most programs require you to be on-site for about 40 hours per week.
Intensive Outpatient Program
An intensive outpatient program (IOP) falls between inpatient care and traditional outpatient services, with therapy and skills-building activities designed to support recovery and provide flexibility. IOP is ideal for those needing support but not the 24/7 care of a residential facility.
Outpatient
Outpatient treatment offers flexible therapeutic and medical care without the need to stay overnight in a hospital or inpatient facility. Outpatient care typically offers a range of therapies and medical interventions individuals can attend alongside daily life.
Virtual & In-Home Care
Not Offered at This Center
The delivery of therapeutic services utilizing technology such as video conferencing, online messaging or phone calls, allowing for flexibility, comfort and increased access to care.
Co-Occurring Mental Health
Treatment for co-occurring mental health disorders, which affect the majority of individuals diagnosed, integrates care for mental health conditions with primary substance use. Personalized care plans are crafted to effectively address each condition simultaneously, optimizing the healing process.
Treatment

Your Care Options

Specializations

Alcohol

Alcohol

Using alcohol as a coping mechanism, or drinking excessively throughout the week, signals an alcohol use disorder.

Cocaine

Cocaine

Cocaine is a stimulant with euphoric effects. Agitation, muscle ticks, psychosis, and heart issues are common symptoms of cocaine abuse.

Drug Addiction

Drug Addiction

Drug addiction is the excessive and repetitive use of substances, despite harmful consequences to a person's life, health, and relationships.

Opioids

Opioids

Opioids produce pain-relief and euphoria, which can lead to addiction. This class of drugs includes prescribed medication and the illegal drug heroin.

Trauma

Trauma

Some traumatic events are so disturbing that they cause long-term mental health problems. Those ongoing issues can also be referred to as "trauma."

Who We Treat

Men
Women
Men and Women

Men and Women

Men and women attend treatment for addiction in a co-ed setting, going to therapy groups together to share experiences, struggles, and successes.

Approaches

Evidence-Based

Evidence-Based

A combination of scientifically rooted therapies and treatments make up evidence-based care, defined by their measured and proven results.

Non 12 Step

Non 12 Step

Non-12-Step philosophies veer from the spiritual focus of the 12-Steps and instead treat the disease of addiction with holistic or secular modalities.

Strengths-Based

Strengths-Based

Providers using a strengths-based philosophy focus on the positive traits of their patients, creating a positive feedback loop that grows confidence.

Strengths-Based

Strengths-Based

Providers using a strengths-based philosophy focus on the positive traits of their patients, creating a positive feedback loop that grows confidence.

Strengths-Based

Strengths-Based

Providers using a strengths-based philosophy focus on the positive traits of their patients, creating a positive feedback loop that grows confidence.

Therapeutic Community

Therapeutic Community

Therapeutic communities allow patients to contribute to the success and progress of their community, through healthy behaviors or even basic chores.

Therapies

1-on-1 Counseling

1-on-1 Counseling

Patient and therapist meet 1-on-1 to work through difficult emotions and behavioral challenges in a personal, private setting.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

This cognitive behavioral therapy teaches patients to accept challenging feelings and make the appropriate changes to reach personal goals.

Acupuncture
Adventure Therapy

Adventure Therapy

This experiential approach uses the physical and emotional challenges of outdoor activities as tools for personal growth.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy

Inhaling or topically applying essential oils can help relieve stress, soothe pains, and relieve emotional distress.

Art Therapy

Art Therapy

Visual art invites patients to examine the emotions within their work, focusing on the process of creativity and its gentle therapeutic power.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Equine Therapy

Equine Therapy

Guided interactions with trained horses, their handler, and a therapist can help patients improve their self-esteem, trust, empathy, and social skills.

Experiential Therapy

Experiential Therapy

With this approach, patients heal by doing. Therapists help patients process difficult emotions to speak, using guided activities like art or dance.

Languages

English

Conditions We Treat

ADHD, ADD

ADHD, ADD

ADHD is a common mental health condition caused by dopamine imbalance. Common symptoms include inattention, hyperactivitiy, and impulsivity.

Anger

Anger

Although anger itself isn't a disorder, it can get out of hand. If this feeling interferes with your relationships and daily functioning, treatment can help.

Anxiety

Anxiety

Anxiety is a common mental health condition that can include excessive worry, panic attacks, physical tension, and increased blood pressure.

Bipolar

Bipolar

This mental health condition is characterized by extreme mood swings between depression, mania, and remission.

Burnout

Burnout

Burnout entails mental and physical exhaustion, and leads to a severe lack of fulfillment. This condition is often caused by overwork.

Chronic Pain Management

Chronic Pain Management

Long-term physical pain can have an affect on mental health. Without support, it can also impact your daily life and even lead to addiction.

Codependency

Codependency

Codependency is a pattern of emotional dependence and controlling behavior. It's most common among people with addicted loved ones.

Depression

Depression

Symptoms of depression may include fatigue, a sense of numbness, and loss of interest in activities. This condition can range from mild to severe.

Personality Disorders

Personality Disorders

Personality disorders destabilize the way a person thinks, feels, and behaves. If untreated, they can undermine relationships and lead to severe distress.

Substances We Treat

Alcohol

Alcohol

Using alcohol as a coping mechanism, or drinking excessively throughout the week, signals an alcohol use disorder.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are prescribed to treat anxiety and sleep issues. They are highly habit forming, and their abuse can cause mood changes and poor judgement.

Chronic Relapse

Chronic Relapse

Consistent relapse occurs repeatedly, after partial recovery from addiction. This condition requires long-term treatment.

Co-Occurring Disorders

Co-Occurring Disorders

A person with multiple mental health diagnoses, such as addiction and depression, has co-occurring disorders also called dual diagnosis.

Cocaine

Cocaine

Cocaine is a stimulant with euphoric effects. Agitation, muscle ticks, psychosis, and heart issues are common symptoms of cocaine abuse.

Drug Addiction

Drug Addiction

Drug addiction is the excessive and repetitive use of substances, despite harmful consequences to a person's life, health, and relationships.

Heroin

Heroin

Heroin is a highly addictive and illegal opioid. It can cause insomnia, collapsed veins, heart issues, and additional mental health issues.

Marijuana
Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine, or meth, increases energy, agitation, and paranoia. Long-term use can result in severe physical and mental health issues.

Aftercare

Outpatient Treatment
Recovery Coach
Support Meetings
Return Visits
Recovery Retreats
Drug Screening
Family Follow-up Counseling
Follow-up Sessions (in-person)
Follow-up Sessions (online)
Experience

Care Designed for Your Needs

Personal Amenities

Personal Fitness Trainer
Air-Conditioned Rooms
Armchair or Sofa
Bathroom Essentials (towels, soap, shampoo)
Coffee Maker and Tea
En Suite Bathroom
Housekeeping
Internet Access
Jacuzzi

Amenities

Beach Access
Pool
Access to Nature
Basketball Court
Fitness Center
Gourmet Dining
Hot Tub
Internet
Ocean View

Special Considerations

Healthy Meals are provided

Healthy Meals are provided

Great food meets great treatment, with providers serving healthy meals to restore nutrition, wellbeing, and health.

Flexible technology policies

Flexible technology policies

Centers with flexible technology policies allow professionals to stay in touch with work and give patients a greater sense of connection and normalcy.

Other dietary needs (vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.)
Wheelchair Accessible

Activities

Yoga

Yoga

Yoga is both a physical and spiritual practice. It includes a flow of movement, breathing techniques, and meditation.

Farming, Gardening
Alternative Meetings
Games
Hiking
Massage
Movies
Physical Fitness
Swimming

Off-Site Activities

Beach Fitness
Beach Walks
Swimming
Waterfalls
Farming, Gardening
Biking
Horseback Riding
Games
Movies

Off-Site Amenities

Beach Access
Pool
Gardens
Walking Trails
Reviews

What people are saying

4.0
Average of 213 reviews

Treatment

4.0

Accommodations

4.0

Food & Nutrition

3.8

Value

3.9

Pros

  • Beautiful Location (2)
BP

Brittany P.

Treatment in 2026 • (30 days) • Reviewed 02/08/26

3.0

Former Client

Texas

Alcohol
This is a mid-range rehab that falsely advertises therapies, properties and amenities that they do not have. Group sessions are decent, but the amount of programming is very low. Food is largely unhealthy and mostly taken by staff. Cliffside used to be luxury, but has downgraded facilities and amenities greatly.

They need to stop the extensive false advertising.
SP

Steven "Rojo" Passmore

Treatment in 2022 • (90 days) • Reviewed 01/10/23

5.0

Former Client

Storyteller

Southern California

Alcohol
Benzodiazepines
Cocaine
Ecstasy
The staff from housekeeping to directors were diligent and compassionate. The food and lodging were superior.
J

Joe

Reviewed 06/27/21

1.0

Review from Rehabs.com

Bad service no one gave my friend the service he qneeded feel like he was just used for his money had to go to another place to have them help him out
J

Jennifer

Reviewed 08/11/16

5.0

Review from Rehabs.com

My boyfriend is a new and improved man coming out of Cliffside Malibu! After many failed attempts at other rehab clinics, he had finally found the help that he needed here. The therapists and staff members are top notch professionals that are both understanding and supportive. Prior to Cliffside, it was difficult for anyone to get through to him, but they succeeded at assisting him with his road to recovery. As for the property, it's absolutely gorgeous and had all of the amenities that a five-star resort would have in a serene and secluded environment. I recommend Cliffside Malibu to anyone struggling with addiction.
AL

A. L.

Reviewed 10/20/16

5.0

Review from Rehabs.com

When it was evident my best friend needed to go to a rehabilitation center, I did my research to find the best one out there. I didn't want to spend time trying to help by finding a place that wouldn't really change her life. Looking back, it was a really hectic and stressful time for her and all of her loved ones but when I found Cliffside online I immediately felt like everything was going to be ok for her. Not only are the facilities and location amazingly beautiful, the staff here is truly professional and upon arrival were very welcoming and accommodating for her (and me). I knew she was in great hands and throughout her therapy I could really start seeing a shift in how she viewed her life. She became more confident and grounded again as she had been when I first met her. Also because of their wonderful nutrition program that they personalized for her, she looked healthier and told me she never knew she could feel that great with just eating the right food. The one on one attention she got is one of the valuable things I think helped her the most since the therapist she worked with was so knowledgeable and well trained. Now, not only do I have my friend back, I am confident that she is fully healed from her addiction and will continue to live a healthy life. Thank you Cliffside for everything.

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Center Location

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Frequently Asked Questions

Further Research

While costs may vary due to program length and insurance benefits, it typically costs $30,000–$91,000/month.
The following therapies are included: acupuncture, spiritual care and more.
Malibu, California, United States.
We accept most insurance policies as an in-network or out-of-network provider for many commercial insurance carriers.
The typical length is 1-4 months.

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Cliffside Malibu: Treatment Options, Amenities & Photos (Malibu, California)