ABOUT RIVERWOODS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM
RiverWoods Behavioral Health is a psychiatric hospital located in Atlanta, GA. We are a leading provider of addiction and mental health treatment, offering inpatient, outpatient, and PHP services for adolescents, adults, and seniors. Our services cater to individuals struggling with psychiatric disorders, substance abuse issues, and co-occurring problems. We also provide medically monitored detoxification, typically lasting between five and seven days.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Upon admission, patients receive a thorough psychiatric assessment. This assessment helps our clinicians develop a comprehensive treatment plan and determine the appropriate level of care. RiverWoods Behavioral Health utilizes evidence-based treatment methods, including medication-assisted therapy, to address the unique needs of our community. Our addiction treatment programs incorporate 12-step practices and philosophies.
During short-term inpatient care, patients participate in structured individual and group counseling sessions. Our counseling sessions utilize cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques to challenge destructive thinking patterns that contribute to addictive behavior and/or mental health issues. Patients also attend psycho-educational classes and, if applicable, engage in 12-step meetings in the evening.
In addition to traditional treatment methods and 12-Step, we offer recreational and expressive therapy, including music and art therapy. Once a patient is stabilized, they are typically referred to a less-intensive level of programming to continue treatment.
Our partial hospitalization program (PHP) typically runs for two to four weeks. We offer separate tracks for substance abuse and dual diagnosis. PHP involves five to seven days per week of programming, including individual, group, and family counseling sessions, as well as ongoing medication monitoring. Patients in recovery continue to attend nightly 12-step meetings during PHP.
For a less intensive treatment option, we offer intensive outpatient programs consisting of three-hour sessions held in the morning and evening.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
At RiverWoods Behavioral Health, our clinical team consists of physicians, board certified psychiatrists, licensed counselors, therapists, psychologists, and social workers. Inpatient treatment is supplemented by 24/7 care provided by registered nurses.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
RiverWoods Behavioral Health is a 75-bed facility. In our acute care unit, clients stay in shared rooms closely supervised by nurses. They also have access to an on-site gym. Patients in PHP have the option to live at home or stay in Serenity Village, a dormitory-style recovery residence. According to an alum who attended in 2013, Serenity Village offers a large den for relaxing or watching TV, a group room, and a dining room that serves three “nutritious” meals daily.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
According to feedback from three alumni, RiverWoods received mostly positive reviews. Two alumni indicated that they would recommend treatment at RiverWoods, while one remained neutral. The alumni consistently provided positive feedback for the connectivity/visitor policy. However, their opinions were divided on other aspects such as family participation, counseling options, cleanliness, holistic offerings, and opportunities for exercise and leisure.
One anonymous alum wrote: “It’s ok. I was happy to find out my diagnosis and was given effective medications.” Although one former patient reported encountering some unhelpful staff members, they still rated the overall program effectiveness with five out of five stars and wrote: “They are willing to work with you until you feel comfortable enough and I love that.”
On secondary review sites such as Google, RiverWoods received more negative reviews, with an average rating of 1.9 out of five stars from 62 reviewers to date.[1]
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
Feedback from friends and family has been mostly positive. The three loved ones polled gave ratings of three, four, and five out of five stars when asked if they would recommend the facility to others in need of treatment.
Most loved ones agreed that the program offered effective dual diagnosis treatment and reported satisfactory levels of family participation. However, some mentioned the lack of leisure activities. One loved one stated, “They motivate you to function in your strengths and limit your weakness.”
Although two respondents mentioned the lack of activities as a program weakness, they still described the staff as “friendly” and the setting as “positive.” When asked to rate the overall treatment effectiveness, the three alumni gave two one-star ratings and one four-star rating. This suggests that while the program was satisfactory, it did not always work for their loved ones.
FINANCING
RiverWoods accepts most health insurances, including all major managed care insurance plans, Medicare, and CMO Medicaids.
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