ABOUT DESIGN FOR CHANGE
Design for Change is a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility for adults located in Lancaster, Calif., a picturesque city situated between the Tehachapi and the San Gabriel Mountains. Both residential and outpatient programs are available, and medically supervised detox is provided on-site. Treatment is gender-specific and available for individuals with co-occurring disorders.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
According to Design For Change’s website, clients who opt for residential treatment may remain on-site for 30-, 60-, or 90-day increments. However, Design for Change recommends that clients stay for longer than 30 days, as the first couple weeks of treatment may be focused on detox, not recovery. Once symptoms of withdrawal have dissipated, residents can begin to work through Design for Change’s recovery program.
The recovery program is rooted in 12-step principles and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Clients participate in a mix of individual therapy, gender-specific group sessions, addiction and life skills education, and holistic modalities that include psychodrama, bio sound healing, fitness activities, nutrition education, and music and art therapy. Design for Change restricts therapy groups to no more than six participants.
Day treatment features many of the same offerings through programming provided six hours a day, five to seven days a week. Intensive outpatient care requires less of a time commitment, as treatment is conducted three hours a day, five to seven days per week.
Following treatment, some clients choose to enter sober living homes for ongoing support and structure. Clients must participate in regular drug testing and are encouraged to secure employment and attend 12-step meetings.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
The facility’s website notes Design for Change maintains a staff-to-client ratio of 1:4. The staff includes master’s- and Ph.D.-level therapists, certified addiction counselors, a family nurse practitioner and physician’s assistant, and an art instructor.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
Design for Change’s homelike residence is set in a natural landscape that lends itself to hiking and other outdoor activities. The facility encourages communal living with comfortably furnished common areas and semi-private rooms (some private rooms are available).
When clients are not in therapy, they are welcome to enjoy the on-site gym, sauna, and pool. Residents are allowed visitors during designated times.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
While Best-rehabs.com has not yet received any reviews for Design for Change, third-party reviews to date are mostly positive. All six people who left Yelp reviews for the treatment center provided perfect five out of five stars reviews. The individuals wrote about how the center saved their life, praised the center’s staff, and indicated they would recommend the facility.
“This whole organization is pretty amazing,” Tim wrote in a representative review. “Thankfully Design For Change gave me the proper tools and guidance to regain control of my life. I will forever be thankful to ALL staff, I learned something from each employee. My life in recovery is better than it ever was before.”
Six reviewers on Google rated the facility an average 4.3 out of five stars at the time of this writing. Multiple reviewers praised the staff, which they described as “amazing,” “phenomenal,” and “very helpful and supportive.”
Other highlights included the family program and the facility’s unique approach to treatment.
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
The two loved ones who posted to Yelp to date rated the facility five out of five stars. Sherri commended the facility’s comprehensive care, which got to the root cause of her son’s substance abuse issues.
“The biggest difference between Design for Change and other programs, is that they address the underlining issues of why addiction is continuing in someones life… I can’t tell you what a different their program has made in our son’s life,” she wrote.
FINANCING
Design for Change’s website characterizes its treatment as “affordable,” but does not list any specific costs. Several insurances are accepted, including Anthem, Aetna, and Humana. Additionally, the center offers some scholarships for individuals who have insurance policies with partial coverage.
- There is a testimony on Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/design-for-change-lancaster
- There are reviews on Google: https://goo.gl/H6CNP1