ABOUT ST. HELENA RECOVERY CENTER
Based in the rolling hills of Napa Valley, St. Helena Recovery Center is a multidisciplinary facility that provides 28-day residential rehab to adults struggling with alcohol and substance abuse. The facility is adjacent to St. Helena’s Hospital, but the clinical setting is mitigated by a serene backdrop and comfortable amenities. Medically monitored detox is available at the hospital.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Prior to entering the residential program individuals can be admitted into the detox unit next door. Typically lasting three to five days, clients in detox are supported by specially trained physicians.
The 28-day evidence-based treatment program blends 12-step programming with cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing. In addition to group sessions and family therapy, daily scheduling includes lectures on addition education, fitness/movement classes, and nightly AA meetings. At the end of each day, clients are given time to reflect upon their interactions and accomplishments.
Over the course of six Saturdays, family programming engages residents and loved ones in multi-family and individual family counseling and educational topics such as the dynamics of addiction, improving communication, and the family recovery process.
For an unlimited time after discharge, and at no additional charge, aftercare groups facilitate former clients’ continued recovery.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
The center’s multidisciplinary treatment team consists of licensed clinical social workers with addictions specialty, addictions board-certified psychiatrist, a physician, nurses, certified counselors, and a nutrition specialist.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
Modest bedrooms house two clients each. Fresh meals, plus one healthy snack in the evening, are prepared daily by a chef.
In addition to receiving health and nutritional counseling, clients are strongly encouraged to make use of the gym featuring elliptical machines, treadmills, and weights. And for the outdoors-bound, the campus houses a beautiful garden and plenty of nature trails.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
At the time of this writing there have been seven alumni survey responses received by Best-rehabs.com. One alum, S.E.B., who’s between the ages of 26-39, made a decision to enter rehab following a family intervention and chose this facility in particular based on a friend/family referral. The client entered rehab for substance abuse treatment and stayed for 15-29 days. S.E.B. has been out of the facility for >12 months, completed the treatment successfully, but did not enter sober living after treatment. The client’s treatment was funded HMO/PPO private insurance and S.E.B. agreed when asked if the facility was worth the cost.
S.E.B. gave the facility a five out of five stars rating on all categories surveyed including accommodations, cleanliness, counselor training/experience/availability, and counselor respect for patient’s treatment preferences. S.E.B. also gave a five stars rating for the quality of overall individual counseling, overall group counseling, and overall treatment effectiveness of the facility.
S.E.B. did relapse after leaving the program but states it was not until eight years later. The alum did not re-enter the facility at the time of relapse commenting, “I was poor and homeless.” The alum agreed when asked if he would recommend the facility to a friend or loved one considering rehab and added the commentary: “It was a wonderful experience for me. I made quite a few new friends and learned a lot about the disease of addiction. It was a warm caring atmosphere.”
Another alum polled by Best-rehabs.com gave the facility a four out of five stars rating for treatment effectiveness, accommodations, and meals & nutrition. He was neutral in response to questions asked regarding the details of the facility such as if the treatment plan was affordable and/or payment plans, scholarships, or financial assistance were made available; if the treatment and services offered at the facility were worth the cost; if there were many counseling options to choose from depending on the client’s preference; and if the facility was adequately equipped and staffed to treat co-occurring mental health problems in addition to substance use disorders.
Despite the neutral responses, when asked about the facility’s strengths, the alum wrote “Affordable.” When asked about weaknesses he wrote, “To short.” When asked for commentary, he added “Good treatment center of your WANTING to get sober.”
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
At the time of this writing there have been 12 friends and family members polled by Best-rehabs.com. The friends and family members of a client at the facility gave an average 4.8 out of five stars rating for cleanliness and an average 4.6 out of five stars rating for staff training and experience. The friends and family members gave the lowest average rating of 3.1 stars for the affordability of the facility. The loved ones all agreed when asked if they would recommend the facility to another friend or family member who was considering treatment.
When asked about the facility’s strengths, a loved one of a client wrote “long history and experience in treating substance and alcohol abuse, good staff and doctors, excellent facility, excellent location, quiet and conducive to healing.” Another friend or family member added, “Serene, quiet location, qualified and caring staff.” When asked about weaknesses, several friends and family members noted that the facility was expensive. A parent of a former client wrote, “This isn’t an extensive program. I would advise looking into another facility unless you have very good Insurance, or a lot of money and outside support.” When asked for final commentary, another loved one added, “the treatment was effective and my loved one has recovered and has stayed sober for the past 2 years. The treatment worked.”
WHAT STAFF SAY
There have been two staff member polled by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing. One staff member, J.F., is currently an employee and has worked at the facility for five to 10 years. J.F. works at the facility as a licensed psychiatric technician with a nursing license in California. J.F. wrote that the facility is a private, for profit, treatment center offering residential and partial hospitalization for various conduct disorders. The facility’s program is based around a 12-step model.
The facility does administer some medication for the treatment of drug use or alcohol disorders including naltrexone, Antabuse, and buprenorphine though they do not continue the medications for clients upon discharge. J.F. gave the facility a five out of five stars rating for the facility’s quality of treatment for co-occurring disorders and a four out of five stars for credentials/experience of medical staff and enforcement of patient privacy. J.F. gave the facility a three out of five stars rating though for the overall quality of overall patient treatment and care and a two stars rating for the facility’s protocols surrounding aftercare and follow up for former clients. However, another anonymous staff member surveyed by Best-rehabs.com gave the facility a five out of five stars rating for the overall treatment effectiveness at the facility; for the credentials and experience of both the medical and mental health staff; and for the staff’s willingness to put patient’s interests first. This anonymous staff member gave a three out of five stars rating for the facility’s honesty in marketing/public relations and the ability of the facility’s staff to inspire loyalty and a sense of community among patients and staff members.
FINANCING
The 28-day program costs $18,000, or $642.85 per day. The center accepts insurance, cash, credit card, and offers financial assistance via a third party resource, as well as in-house payment plans. According to the facility’s website, Medi-Cal may cover some part of treatment at the facility, such as detox, but not the whole program.
Updated March 2017