ABOUT UNISON BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OF GEORGIA — ST. ILLA RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTER
Unison Behavioral Health operates numerous facilities treating mental health, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities in southeast Georgia. This center, which provides detox and residential treatment for adult men and women struggling with substance abuse, is located six miles northwest of downtown Waycross.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
The short-term crisis stabilization unit provides treatment for mental health symptoms as well as medical detox. According to Unison’s website, services provided include psychiatric and medical evaluation, individual and group therapy, and aftercare planning.
Very little information is available about the residential program. One alum polled by Best-rehabs.com indicated that treatment was based on the 12 Steps.Another reported that they received no individual counseling, and six sessions per week of group counseling. They also reported attending daily lectures, completing learning packets, and writing essays. This alum referred to receiving “spiritual help.” Both reviewers gave the facility only one out of five stars for its holistic offerings, indicating that St. Illa Residential Treatment Center may not offer any holistic treatment options.
Unison at St. Illa also offers a long-term intensive residential program for mothers and supportive house services for clients who are currently in mental health or addictive disease treatment or are homeless.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
The treatment team includes licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors, certified addiction counselors, and registered nurses. Both alumni polled by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing gave the facility just one out of five stars for the level of training found in its staff.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
The center offers 26 beds for residential clients and 16 for detox and short-term crisis stabilization, and 14 beds in the mothers’ program. Alumni polled by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing rated the facility’s cleanliness four and five out of five stars. One gave the facility four stars for its accommodations, while the other gave just two in the same category.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
Both alumni polled by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing would recommend the facility, though both also pointed out some weaknesses in the program. Alum Eva indicated that she received no aftercare and April supported this report, telling Best-rehabs.com: “They lack on teaching how to cope once you leave.” Though Eva noted that she felt safe at the facility, she gave a rating of just two stars for the staff’s level of support. April seemed to have similar problems, telling Best-rehabs.com: “The staff needs more knowledge on addiction and to worry less about petty things such as putting your feet on the chair.” And both reviewers also noted that activities were minimal and could be improved. Eva gave the facility two stars for its exercise provisions and one star for its leisure opportunities; April gave a rating of just one star for these same categories, writing: “There are good people but there needs to be more activities to keep you occupied.”
Secondary reviews sites yielded mixed reviews at the time of this writing. On CiteHealth, 16 reviewers had given the facility an average rating of just 2.3 out of five stars.[1] Some echoed the alumni polled by Best-rehabs.com, writing that there was minimal treatment programming and rude staff. One anonymous writer wrote: “Come on 1hr class a day…then what, a bunch of war stories.” Another wrote: “The staff, overall, were very discouraging and are NOT there because they genuinely care for your, or your child’s, well-being,” another posted.
Three alumni on Citehealth reported good food. One alum wrote: “The staff is very friendly and the food was excellent… St Illa taught me accountability and responsibility, the rest was up to me.”
FINANCING
There is currently no information provided on the facility’s website regarding its costs. One alum polled by Best-rehabs.com rated the facility’s affordability five out of five stars, while the other confirmed the treatment was worth the cost.
[1] http://citehealth.com/rehab-centers/georgia/cities/waycross/st-illa-center#reviews