Sovereign Health specializes in mental health, substance abuse, and dual diagnosis treatment for men and women. The rehab has numerous facilities in California — the El Cajon location offers residential treatment for adolescents. The program utilizes evidence-based treatment modalities combined with a holistic focus for a well-balanced and sustainable recovery. Clients are encouraged to examine and understand how and why their maladaptive behaviors evolved and to set realistic goals for a happy and fulfilling future.
ABOUT SOVEREIGN HEALTH OF CALIFORNIA — RANCHO SAN DIEGO
Sovereign Health operates four residential treatment facilities in California, including one for adults in San Clemente. The El Cajon facility, Rancho San Diego, offers treatment for adolescents, including specialized, supportive care for transgender youth. The center is equipped to treat primary and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. Non-medical detox services are also available on-site. Sovereign began operating Rancho San Diego, which is also known as Adeona, in 2014.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Upon admission to Sovereign Health Rancho San Diego, clients begin participate in an initial assessment. Clients also participate in ongoing evaluations to update individualized plans of care throughout treatment. Among the dual diagnosis treatments available are programs addressing eating disorders, depression, and gender identity struggles.
Treatment incorporates evidence-based and holistic modalities, primarily focusing on cognitive rehabilitation. Neurofeedback and individual and group therapies are complemented by such options as equine therapy, yoga, and art and music therapies.
Counseling group topics include grief, trauma care, and anger and stress management. The center prioritizes family education, encouraging loved ones to attend family weekends. Along with its residential program, Rancho San Diego also offers a partial hospitalization program (PHP) and an intensive outpatient program (IOP).
STAFF CREDENTIALS
The Sovereign Health of California website touts a culturally-sensitive staff. Treatment team members include a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist, master’s-level therapists, case managers, and a licensed psychologist.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
According to California state licensing data, Sovereign Health Rancho San Diego has the capacity to treat 75 youth. The rehab center is located on 25 acres in the eastern San Diego County city of El Cajon. The campus features a swimming pool, athletic courts and fields, gym equipment, and TV and gaming areas. Meals are prepared by a chef.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
Of the four former clients of Sovereign Health Rancho San Diego who have provided feedback to Best-rehabs.com to date, three offered critical opinions, while one individual approved of the facility. Trends included complaints of under-staffing and insufficient privacy. While one alum characterized staff as patient and understanding, others reported a tense atmosphere in which staff were not attentive or sympathetic.
Two alumni polled more extensively offered consistently split opinions. Metrics measuring exercise and leisure activities, the facility’s cleanliness and upkeep, holistic offerings, and staff experience each received one or two stars from one alum and five out of five from the other.
Three alumni posted similar sentiments on Google reviews, concurring with reports of stressed staff, not enough access to medical care or supervision, and an overall disorganized program. In a representative review, alum C.Y. wrote regarding staff: “While the facility really does try their hardest, their communication with each other is horrible.”[1]
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
One of the two family members who shared opinions with Best-rehabs.com to date moderately disagreed with criticisms of staff communication and training, but cited concerns about the facility’s lack of accommodation for common medical conditions. However, the loved one gave four-star ratings for the level of family participation, the facility’s counseling options, and its ability to treat co-occurring disorders. The other loved one complained that Rancho San Diego was not as advertised, criticizing the staff’s training and attitudes.
Feedback trends shifted slightly toward the favorable side in 13 Yelp reviews posted by friends and family members, which averaged ratings of 3.3 out of five stars for the facility. About half the reviewers cited good communication with the facility and described staff as attentive and kind. Six out of 13 parents reported that their child eventually liked the program, and eight mentioned successful treatment outcomes. Countering these positive opinions were five concerns about lack of discipline or structure and five reports of insufficient evaluations.[2], [3]
WHAT STAFF SAY
The two former employees who reviewed Rancho San Diego on Yelp would not recommend the program, echoing other reviewers’ complaints about poor discipline.
FINANCING
According to the Sovereign Health of California website, this facility accepts most major health insurance plans and offers financing through My Treatment Lender.
CONCLUSION
Sovereign Health of California has received national attention, including Los Angeles Times coverage, following 2017 FBI investigations of fraud. The facilities directly implicated did not include Rancho San Diego. The company was in the process of suing federal agents at the time of this writing, as reported by the Orange County Register, and has claimed that the fraud investigations were a result of retaliation regarding an insurance-related lawsuit.
The El Cajon facility was also in the news following a number of runaway cases, which a Sovereign spokesperson said were potential in any non-lockdown youth treatment facility, according to an NBC-San Diego July 2017 story.
[1]
[2]
[3]