Our Main House, a lovely home built in 1879, provides a warm, safe, supportive environment for women first entering Casa Serena. Here women learn about themselves and their addiction, as they participate in treatment process groups, individual counseling, peer support groups, 12-Step meetings and meditation. In addition, women learn the practical skills of everyday life, such as cleaning, cooking, laundry, personal care, working and/or attending school or volunteering. Each year approximately 75 women successfully complete their program residency commitment, beginning new lives of sobriety and responsibility.

This first phase is a structured 90-day program. Each woman is assigned a counselor and works with her to develop the recovery goals and action steps that will guide her recovery. Women participate at least three hours each day in educational and process groups. Led by Casa Serena staff and other community members, the groups help the participants focus on seeing a broader reality, overcoming denial and gaining greater acceptance of personal responsibility. Women learn about their disease and related factors, are oriented to 12-Step philosophy and recovery groups, participate in recreation and sober activities and experience the power of meditation. Individual counseling sessions are used for reviewing progress, updating treatment plan goals and discussing issues that may be too sensitive to be dealt with in a group setting.