Hartford Healthcare Institute of Living Hartford
Hartford Healthcare Institute of Living Hartford is a Connecticut rehab campus. It is one of 156 SAMHSA documented facilities in the state as of 2026. This page covers programs, who it serves, and payment.

- Residential Rehab
- Outpatient
- 30 days
- Spanish available



The Institute of Living is a Hartford HealthCare campus at 200 Retreat Ave. in Hartford, and it has held that address since 1994. Its work covers people with a substance use disorder alongside mental health conditions, including adolescents and adults from across Connecticut. The Hartford Healthcare Institute of Living Hartford campus is a SAMHSA-listed facility that treats both addiction and co-occurring disorders.
Care rests on evidence-based medical and clinical practice. Treatment teams combine one-on-one counseling with group formats, and the campus joins clinical care with teaching and research through its academic hospital affiliation. Someone who drinks heavily, or a family member worried about them, can ask about the level of care that fits. Connecticut rehab centers like this one are listed by SAMHSA, so families can check the details directly.
Most people seen here are dealing with anxiety, mood or psychotic conditions, and substance use that happens at the same time. Because the center treats both together, a person does not have to choose between mental health care and addiction treatment. This approach matters for Connecticut addiction treatment when a drinking problem overlaps with anxiety or depression.
Hartford Healthcare Institute of Living
The center lists two care options: residential rehab and outpatient care. In practice the outpatient side runs in several formats, from day treatment to intensive outpatient and standard outpatient visits. A typical program length is 30 days. The right level depends on how severe symptoms are and how much daily structure a person needs. If you are comparing rehab centers in Connecticut, then ask how each level of care is scheduled and staffed.
Among the therapies offered are individual counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, art therapy, group therapy, experiential therapy, expressive arts, horticultural therapy, and nutrition counseling. Services are available in both English and Spanish. At this Hartford campus, Connecticut addiction treatment combines therapy with evidence-based medical care for people whose drinking or drug use occurs alongside a mental health diagnosis.
- Expressive Arts
- Group Therapy
- Nutrition Counseling
- Experiential Therapy
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- 1-on-1 Counseling
- Individual Treatment
- Horticultural Therapy
- Art Therapy
- Evidence-Based
Who the Hartford campus serves
- Adolescents and young adults, including a program for ages 18 to 26
- Adults of any gender such as men and women together in group settings
- Older adults, with geropsychiatry support for people 55 and older
- Pregnant women and new parents through the peripartum mood disorders program
- LGBTQ+ clients, with affirming support for ages 18 to 26
- Neurodivergent clients, including people with autism and related needs
The Retreat Avenue setting in Hartford
The main campus sits on Retreat Ave. in Hartford, ZIP code 06106, and rooms are air-conditioned. Services are offered in English and Spanish. Because it is a hospital campus rather than a stand-alone house, visitors should expect a clinical environment and scheduled programming rather than a hotel-style stay. Families comparing rehab facilities in Connecticut often weigh a hospital campus against a smaller residential house on how close it is to home and how much medical support is on hand. If location near Hartford matters for family visits, then this central address may make regular check-ins easier.
Paying for care at the Hartford campus
The center publishes self-pay rates, so request a written estimate before any scheduling happens. For someone with insurance, the real question is whether that plan covers the particular level of care, residential or outpatient, and whether prior authorization is required. Anyone considering free alcohol rehab in Connecticut should get written confirmation of what a plan covers before they commit to a start date. If money is the obstacle, it is worth calling the state Medicaid program and the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
Questions to ask the Hartford center
- Which level of care would you recommend for my situation, and why that one?
- Does the 30-day program length change for a co-occurring diagnosis?
- What are the cash pay rates for residential and for outpatient care?
- Do you take my insurance, and is prior authorization required?
- How are families involved, and what documentation will I receive during and after treatment?
- How do you handle withdrawal risk for someone who has been drinking heavily?

Other centers to compare
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Elevate Health and Wellness
4.4/571 Google reviews
Westport, CTTypical stay 5 days
- Detox
- Outpatient
Elevate health and wellness westport provides care for both substance use and mental health conditions in Connecticut.
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Liberation Programs Main Street Clinic
3.7/56 Google reviews
Stamford, CTTypical stay 30 days
- Residential Rehab
- Detox
- Outpatient
Located downtown in Stamford, this site provides detox, residential rehab, outpatient care and mental health needs treatment alongside substance use.
-
North Stonington, CTTypical stay 30 days31-50 beds
- Detox
- Outpatient
- Co-Occurring Mental Health
Stonington Institute is a behavioral health center in North Stonington, Connecticut, accredited by the Joint Commission.
-
Bridgeport, CTTypical stay 5 days
- Outpatient
- Co-Occurring Mental Health
This page is about REACH Adult and Youth Services in Bridgeport.
-
Blue Sky Behavioral Health
3.6/544 Google reviews
Danbury, CTTypical stay 30 Days
- Outpatient
- Co-Occurring Mental Health
Blue Sky Behavioral Health Danbury provides structured outpatient care for adults facing alcohol and drug challenges.
-
CCAR-New Haven Recovery Community
4.9/531 Google reviews
New Haven, CTTypical stay 30 days
- Co-Occurring Mental Health
The CCAR-New Haven recovery community center New Haven is a peer-led space run by a Connecticut nonprofit.


FAQ
Is Hartford Healthcare Institute of Living Hartford a rehab or a psychiatric hospital?
Both, in effect. The Hartford campus is a psychiatric center that also lists residential rehab and outpatient care for substance use, and the two are treated together. That matters for people with a co-occurring diagnosis, because one team handles both. The center is one of 156 SAMHSA-listed facilities in Connecticut, and it has operated at 200 Retreat Ave. since 1994.
How long is treatment at the Institute of Living?
The typical length shown in the listing is 30 days. How long someone actually stays depends on the level of care, because residential and outpatient formats follow different schedules. Ask the center directly how long your own plan would run and what could alter it. A co-occurring condition, for example, might mean a longer stay or a move down to intensive outpatient care.
Does the Hartford campus accept Medicaid or offer free care?
The listing gives self-pay rates and does not say which insurance plans are taken, so check coverage with the center before you schedule. Connecticut residents who lack coverage can ask the state Medicaid program about eligibility. The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services also keeps information on options funded publicly. No one can guarantee acceptance or insurance benefits in advance.
What therapies are available at the Institute of Living in Hartford?
The center's list of services covers individual counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, art therapy, group therapy, experiential therapy, expressive arts, horticultural therapy and nutrition counseling. Sessions are offered in English and in Spanish. Groups work on social skills, anger management and adventure-based counseling, and there are distinct groups for young adults and for people 55 and older.
Does Hartford Healthcare Institute of Living Hartford treat alcohol withdrawal?
The listing does not name a detoxification unit, but the hospital campus provides medical and clinical care, and withdrawal risk should be raised with the intake team. If someone has been drinking heavily and stops suddenly, then medical assessment is important before any program starts. Ask the center how they handle withdrawal and whether they refer to a detoxification service.
Are there programs for young adults or older adults at the Institute of Living?
Yes. Young Adults Services serves people ages 18 to 26, and geropsychiatry specialists work with adults 55 and older on issues tied to aging. Both groups are part of the center's listed specializations. If you are seeking addiction treatment in Connecticut for a young adult, then the YAS program may be a fit. For older adults, ask about the geropsychiatry track.