The Retreat at Sheppard Pratt

The Retreat at Sheppard Pratt

ABOUT THE RETREAT AT SHEPPARD PRATT

The Retreat at Sheppard Pratt is an inpatient psychiatric and mental health treatment center based in northern Baltimore, Md. While the facility does not have a dedicated alcohol or drug rehab program, adult patients with substance abuse issues have access to treatment under the dual-diagnosis track. The center also offers a transitional living house for program graduates.

TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT

The Retreat works with adults 18 and older, yet programming is designed with several types of individuals in mind: young adults, professionals, and adults navigating life-changing events, such as retirement. Stays range from several weeks to several months and the average length of stay is 33 days.

Residents can expect a packed schedule with six to eight hours of individual therapy, three hours with a psychiatrist, and 38 hours of group programming a week. Residents have access to dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and more cutting-edge somatic treatments such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy. There are also on-site AA and/or NA meetings and educational lectures.

In addition to therapy sessions, clients are engaged in 35 hours of holistic and therapeutic programming per week. This includes Tai Chi, music therapy, yoga, meditation, art therapy, meditation, movement therapy, rock climbing sessions, and cardio-strength groups.

Family participation is strongly encouraged. The facility arranges for a monthly family day and two regular family groups that focus on relationships and family issues.

STAFF CREDENTIALS

The treatment team consists of physicians, registered nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, family therapists, mental health workers, an occupational therapist, an art therapist, and licensed clinical social workers. The center boasts a 4:1 staff-to-client ratio.

ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES

Set on a private area of Sheppard Pratt’s beautiful campus, the 16-bed facility houses clients in luxurious private suites with private bathrooms and cable TV. Residents have access to an outdoor courtyard and a swimming pool at a nearby health club.

The facility provides Internet access and permits cell phone and electronics usage. Meals are prepared by a chef and guests have access to walking trails, historical sites, and a museum.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY

To date, Best-rehabs.com has received feedback from 13 former clients. Of the divided alumni, nine were positive, two were negative, and two remained neutral or mixed. “They gave me tools and tips to help me when I get outside the center,” an anonymous alum wrote.

Some of the alumni called the staff “friendly” and “kind” and nine alumni surveyed gave the staff’s level of training and experience and family participation average ratings of 3.78 out of five stars. They also rated the facility’s cleanliness highly, giving it a 4.56-star average.

Holistic treatment offerings and the variety of counseling options available were metrics that The Retreat at Sheppard Pratt received the lowest ratings for, at 2.7 out of five stars each. When asked, on a scale from one to five, how likely they would be to recommend the facility to others in need of treatment, the nine alumni gave a lukewarm average rating of 3.1.

Yet other alumni complained about generic programming and expensive treatment. “While it was helpful, I don’t believe the treatment equaled the price paid,” an anonymous alum wrote. Another alum referred to this facility as “generic” and a “one-size-fits-all program.” And although they called the therapy “great,” a third alum told Best-rehabs.com: “I would not primarily recommend this facility for treatment.”

WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY

To date, 13 of the 18 loved ones who left reviews on Best-rehabs.com offered positive feedback, while three were neutral and two were negative. The 10 reviewers surveyed gave above-average ratings of four stars for the facility’s family participation and 4.1 stars for the staff’s level of training and experience. Several loved ones described staff as “caring,” “responsible,” and “excellent.” When asked, on a scale from one to five, how strongly they would recommend the program, the 10 reviewers gave an average rating of 4.1.

Yet loved ones also complained about costly treatment and other issues. “It is very expensive but also very good program,” one anonymous reviewer wrote. “Communication was horrific, decisions were not made, a care plan was not put in place neither was aftercare,” J.S., a negative reviewer, wrote. Like J.S., another anonymous reviewer gave one star for treatment effectiveness. The reviewer felt “they had bad management.”

WHAT STAFF SAY

Best-rehabs.com has yet to receive any responses from staff at the time of this writing. The secondary review site, Glassdoor, has a 2.8 average rating from 109 employee reviewers.[1] While positive commentary about coworkers was common, negative commentary about the upper management and being understaffed was equally common as well.

FINANCING

According to the website, The Retreat at Sheppard Pratt is a “self-pay residential program that does not participate with any insurance, nor do insurance companies reimburse for any portion of care provided at The Retreat.” The cost for a 20-day stay is $47,000.

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The Retreat at Sheppard Pratt Reviews

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  • Services were accommodating. Strong.
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    Individual remained clean from cocaine addiction but alcoholism woes escalated unabated. Well regarded, highly rated facility and staff.
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  • This is strictly a psychiatric facility that says they are for addiction treatment so that they can get your money. They are private pay only.
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  • Had a loved one sent to this facility due to an urgent crisis and it being the only psych center open with beds. I have never witnessed such unethical, unprofessional practices in my entire career and I work in the health field. Communication was horrific, decisions were not made, a care plan was not put in place neither was aftercare. The family voiced their sincere concerns with deaf ears. The staff except for a one man, RN (only ethical professional one to give some insight) needed to be put into an educational system all together to even know how to properly speak on the phone and deal with the smallest of things. They were very rude, hung up the phone, transferred calls to the wrong extensions day in and day out. It took the family to drive 4 hours to the facility to even begin to see what was going on. It had been 8 days and the social worker did not know nor had a plan for this patient. Yet, the facility was putting it in this unstable, totally delusional schizophrenic patient's hands (who was not any better since the acute admission) of what the patient was going to do for aftercare. I could understand if this was JUST a substance abuse issue and the patient needing to be willing but this was not the case. This was an unstable mental disorder that did not have the capacity to be able to make a decision. Needless to say, it has been a very sad story. I would never send no matter how desperate the situation, a loved one to Sheppard Pratt. Refuse this place if you are ever put into a position to send your loved one to a facility. God bless the patients and their families.
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  • Group activities were a strength. Not allowing bonds between patients. Got me out of crisis mode but not good for long term recovery
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  • Excellent support staff that helped provide treatment for and knowledge of addiction. Activities were minimal. More recreational activities are needed. I would highly recommend seeking treatment here.
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  • Recovery was good. Placement can improve. Very successful
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  • Personal treatment including family in daily activities were good. Seemed to rush him through treatment. All in all it was a pleasent experience while dealing with a bad situation.
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  • Strengths: Cleanliness and Availability of staff. Visiting hours for family Willingliness to assist patients, An effective treatment plan, Activities available for patients, Meal plan are areas that need improvement. I would encourage this facility to consider the cliental that they are providing services. It is imperative to be accommodating to the patients and family needs.
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  • Therapy, friendly staff, clean and comfortable environment were strengths. Some of the meal choices, how often family can visit, restrictions when you don't meet certain requirements that can be out of your control are the weaknesses. I really enjoyed my stay here. I feel like it helped me tremendously, and I would like to return if I ever need help again. The only issue would be cost, and how much insurance covers, if the insurance is taken.
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  • Visiting hours need improvement. Very caring and understanding of the problems and focused on treating same
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  • hospital-based, easy access to medical facilities if needed. One-size-fits-all program, overbearing rules & guidelines, needs of individuals are not considered. I was at the CED for 25 days in the summer of 2008. While it was effective in stopping behaviors, underlying issues were barely addressed. The program is generic, and not tailored for the individual. Patients are punished for not gaining weight fast enough - a gain of half a pound per day is expected. This is a rate of gain much higher than APA or other guidelines permit (general recommendation is 1-2 lbs per week), and is not healthy or sustainable. Weight and compliance are all that matters in this program, not actually making a lasting change or addressing issues. It's not surprising that many of my fellow patients had been in the facility before, and several returned again due to relapse.
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  • Versatile. Accomodating to individual needs. Also works hard to make it affordable and easy; initial admission is a little impersonal and off putting. Not comfortable. After admission, everyone involved seemed genuinely concerned and focused on helping. At one point upon realizing we couldn't afford a suggested treatment (est), they waived all fees associated and ran the full course free of charge. They believed so strong it would help they made sure it was available.
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  • Integrity, fosters an environment of trust but its expensive. My brother received treatment for drug addiction at this facility. We were blessed to receive kind, considerate care.
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  • Good program not the most affordable
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  • They are clean, visually organized and try their vest. However, they have inappropriate treatment methods, are not integrative, understaffed, restrictive, have improper communication, incorrect room info provided to guardians of minors Situations may happen in such rehab facility that will cause patients to be frightened out of one particular mental issue but worse off in the big picture of mental health.
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  • The healthcare and therapy was great. However, the communication and certain procedures were downfalls of the facility. I would not primarily recommend this facility for treatment.
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  • They are caring, responsible, and help you restore normal functioning. It is secure and clean with a lot of group therapy. However, there is not enough individual attention.
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  • They had good infrastructure. However, they had bad management.
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  • Strengths include: location, success rate, degree of counseling and aftercare options. My family member has not drank alcohol since treatment. My family member was highly motivated due to a scare of liver disease. The commitment of the treatment facility staff assisted him to maintain a sober lifestyle.
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  • They have great people skills and great food. However, they have bad scenery.
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  • I don't feel that the programs and treatment plans of this facility were particularly beneficial. They only kept you there as long as your insurance would cover your treatment. They did not offer a lot of in depth activities to help with traumas and the therapy sessions weren't extremely helpful either. However, most of the employees were very kind.
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  • This facility was excellent..! But remember you only get out what you put in...! Don't fight any program if you're truly serious about getting an staying sober an or Clean.....! Would recommend this facility to anyone serious about changing their life.
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  • Good experience
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  • Parents were allowed to visit.
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    it is very expensive but also very good program. My nephew had a very positive experience.
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  • The physicians and specialty nurses met my expectations. Support staff mostly seemed like they were being bothered. They didn't show any empathy toward patients. To them, it was just a job. I would recommend the electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) department. They are caring and very good at what they do.
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  • Would not recommend this place.
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  • They gave me tools and tips to help me when I get outside the center. I still use the tips and tricks today.
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  • It was way too expensive. While it was helpful, I don't believe the treatment equalled the price paid. The therapy really got at the heart of the problem. I discovered a lot of the things I thought were unique to me were all a part of my disorder.
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    do know that family members were invalid in his treatment on several occasions.
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    They made sure that we as a family were involved in the process.