ABOUT WEST YAVAPAI GUIDANCE CLINIC
Founded in 1966 and headquartered in Prescott Valley, just east of Prescott, Ariz., nonprofit West Yavapai Guidance Clinic (WYGC) offers a range of mental and behavioral health services for adults, children, and families who live in Yavapai County.
Among its many services, the organization offers residential and outpatient treatment for those struggling with substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorders. Medical detox is not available on-site.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
WYGC’s services are holistic and client-centered with a focus on emphasizing hope, empowerment, and growth. The facility conducts treatment in the least restrictive environment possible, enabling clients to achieve self-sufficiency and personal responsibility.
WYGC’s residential facility is called the Hillside Recovery Program. The program offers individual and group counseling, educational groups, activity groups, and a framework designed to help clients embrace a sober social life, through immersion in therapeutic community living and attendance at local recovery support groups.
Psychiatric services for adults include individual therapy, case management, educational groups, psychiatry and medication management, and peer support. An in-house vocational rehabilitation program helps clients strengthen communication, interviewing skills, computer skills, and resume writing.
There are two outpatient offerings for adults — an enhanced outpatient program (EOP) and a DUI Education Program. The EOP meets for three hours, two or three nights per week, in Prescott or Prescott Valley, and clients must also attend weekly self-help meetings in the community.
An alumni group, open at no cost to graduates of the residential and outpatient programs, holds monthly meetings.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
WYGC has over 360 staff members, including psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners. The single individual polled by Best-rehabs.com to date on the staff’s level of training and experience gave the center four out of five stars in this category.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
The residential facility, located in a quiet residential area a mile and a half northwest of downtown Prescott. Both individuals polled by Best-rehabs.com to date gave the center five out of five stars for its cleanliness. For its accommodations, they gave the center three stars and four stars.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
The single alum polled by Best-rehabs.com to date gave very positive feedback, rating WYGC five out of five stars for its individual and group counseling, staff support, and overall effectiveness. Andrea wrote that although she relapsed some years after treatment, she has “been clean and sober ever since.” However, Andrea also gave the facility just one, two, and three stars respectively for its holistic, exercise, and leisure offerings.
At the time of this writing, secondary review sites yielded polarized coverage with averages of 3.4 stars out of five based on seven reviews and three stars based on eight reviews on Facebook and Google, respectively.
A positive reviewer on Facebook, Brianne, wrote “I feel they truly care about the well being of patients and try hard to save lives and improve our community.”
Negative reviews on both websites centered on complaints of uncaring staff. Among the negative reviewers, Kali wrote “WYGC has a very rare a small assortment of people that actually care…This place is not a place you want to go to seek crisis help.” An anonymous alum on Google described being “dropped from services, them refusing to fill meds, not offering one on one therapy, canceling appointments without notice.” Diana on Google wrote, “They don’t care about you here.”
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
The single individual polled by Best-rehabs.com to date would recommend treatment at WYGC. “Doctors are friendly and agreeable,” the anonymous reviewer wrote, giving the center five stars for its family program and four stars for its cost-worthiness, counseling options, and treatment for co-occurring disorders.
WHAT STAFF SAY
At the time of this writing, secondary employment review sites yielded mixed reviews with average ratings of 3.5 stars based on 28 reviews on Indeed.com and 3.8 stars based on 10 reviews on Glassdoor.
The reviewers repeatedly praised their coworkers and the organization’s mission, but noted heavy workloads and an apparent lack of support from upper management.
“The co-workers at West Yavapai are better than you will find anywhere. Everyone on the front lines are very supportive and friendly. Upper management is non-supportive and fail to take care of the basic needs of their employees,” one former employee wrote in a representative review on Indeed.com.
FINANCING
WGYC provides scholarships to substance abuse treatment for qualifying clients, and is funded in part by the local behavioral health authority and state departments. Medicare and Medicaid are also accepted.