Tropical gardens with mature trees and stone paths.

Your First 72 Hours at CRTC · What to Expect

The hardest part is the decision to come. Everything after that, we handle together.

Arriving at a treatment center is one of the most significant moments in a person's life. Knowing what to expect in those first hours can make a real difference. This page walks you through what happens from the moment you land.

Talk to our admissions team

A curving road through the green mountains between San José and Atenas.

Arrival

You are met at the airport. You do not arrive alone.

From the airport to your center, every step is arranged. You handle none of it.

A member of the CRTC team meets every arriving client at San José International Airport and transfers them directly to their center. The drive to San José Rohrmoser takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes. The drive to Atenas Riverside takes approximately 45 to 60 minutes.

You are accompanied throughout. There is nothing to navigate on your own.

Medical evaluation

The first thing that happens is a full medical evaluation

On arrival every client undergoes a comprehensive medical evaluation conducted by one of our physicians. Both Dr. Karla Uriarte and Dr. Viviana Herrera are surgeons and general practitioners with extensive experience in addiction treatment and detoxification protocols.

The evaluation covers your medical history, current physical condition, medications and any detox requirements. It is the foundation on which your treatment plan is built.

A close-up of tropical foliage on the property.

Psychiatric assessment

Followed by a full psychiatric assessment

The medical evaluation is generally followed by a complete psychiatric assessment conducted by one of our addiction psychiatrists. Dr. Milena Radulovich and Dr. Bryan Alfaro are both board certified addiction psychiatrists with over 8 years of experience each.

The psychiatric assessment covers your mental health history, current presentation, any co-occurring conditions and medication requirements. Together with the medical evaluation it gives our team a complete clinical picture before treatment planning begins.

The private porch outside one of the porch rooms. Wood-beamed ceiling, sliding doors into the room, and a view across the gardens.

Settling in

Orientation, your room and meeting the team

After the clinical evaluations you are oriented to the center, shown to your room and introduced to the team and community.

The first days are intentionally calm. The body and mind need space to begin adjusting. There is no pressure to engage in intensive therapeutic work before you are ready. The program builds gradually.

Meals are prepared daily. The environment is warm, structured and supervised around the clock. You are safe.

What to expect in the first days

Structure, support and the beginning of something different

Medical detox begins

If medical detox is required it begins from the first hours. Our medical and nursing team is present around the clock. You are never alone in this process.

Daily structure from arrival

Days have a clear structure from arrival. Meals, rest, gentle introduction to the program. The full therapeutic schedule builds in as you stabilize.

Electronics and devices

Cellphone and device use is managed by clinical staff. This is part of the therapeutic process of creating distance from the environment and patterns that have reinforced the addiction.

Family contact

Family communication in the early days is managed according to what is clinically appropriate. Our team will keep designated family contacts informed.

What you can expect to feel

The first days can be uncomfortable. That is honest and normal. The medical and clinical team is with you throughout. The discomfort is the beginning of something changing.

Everything you need to get started