About Kolmac Clinic – Gaithersburg
Founded in 1973, Kolmac Outpatient Recovery Centers operates six alcohol and drug rehabilitation centers in northern Virginia, Washington D.C., and Maryland. The facility in Gaithersburg, Md., located 22 miles north of Washington D.C., offers comprehensive, outpatient-based treatment services for adults age 19 and older who are struggling with chemical dependency and co-occurring mental health disorders. It also provides medication-assisted detoxification services.
Treatment & Assessment
Clients undergo an initial substance abuse evaluation to determine the necessity of detoxification. The detox process may involve the use of medication, such as buprenorphine (Suboxone) and naltrexone (Vivitrol), to alleviate withdrawal symptoms for those dependent on opioids. If medically deemed necessary, detoxification clients may be supervised at the clinic for up to 10 hours a day.
The rehabilitation phase of treatment typically involves 20 to 30 intensive outpatient program (IOP) sessions over the course of eight weeks. These sessions consist of daily three-hour group therapy and education sessions, initially five days per week, and then less frequently. Group counseling utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to address various issues, including triggers and relapse phases. Individual sessions with clinicians are also available, and clients with co-occurring psychiatric disorders receive medication management.
Continuing care, which promotes sustained recovery, involves weekly two-hour group sessions for an indefinite period, typically one to two years. Clients are strongly encouraged to participate in a community-based support group, such as 12-Step. Family members are also encouraged to attend a separate weekly support group during and after the client’s treatment.
Staff Credentials
Kolmac Outpatient Recovery Centers is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Center (CARF) and led by a team of medical doctors, psychiatrists, and licensed professional counselors. The Gaithersburg facility is led by a licensed clinical social worker and employs a multidisciplinary team comprising professionals with backgrounds in substance abuse and mental health, as well as nurse practitioners, psychiatric nurses, and physician assistants.
What Alumni Say
The four alumni surveyed by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing provided mainly positive feedback. Three of them gave perfect five-star ratings for treatment effectiveness, averaging 4.25 out of five stars across all participants. Most alumni gave high four-star ratings for staff experience/training, family participation, and facility recommendation. However, cleanliness, counseling options, holistic offerings, and affordability received lower ratings in the two to three-star range.
One alum stated, “They had a good program to help acclimate into life and helped a lot in explaining my addiction.” Another praised the “very experienced and wonderful counselors.” However, one alum expressed dissatisfaction with the group counseling in the intensive outpatient program, describing it as lacking real therapy. This alum had a more positive opinion of the continuing care groups, which they described as smaller, long-term, and populated by individuals committed to sobriety.
The four alumni gave an average rating of 2.75 out of five stars for the facility’s accommodations. Some commented on the outdated appearance of the Kolmac Clinic site. One alum remarked, “Facilities were a bit outdated,” while another stated, “I don’t understand where all the money goes — it’s pretty run down.” Another alum described the DC facilities as appearing unchanged since their inception several decades ago.
Financing
According to the Kolmac Outpatient Recovery Centers website, the current cost of treatment is $140 for the initial clinical evaluation, $475 per day for detoxification, and $210 per day for rehabilitation sessions. Continuing care services are $140 per session. The organization accepts a range of private insurance plans, including Aetna, Cigna, Magellan, and United Behavioral Health. Interest-free payment plans are available to assist clients in affording treatment.