Willow Springs Center

Willow Springs Center

ABOUT WILLOW SPRINGS CENTER

In operation since 1988, Willow Springs Center is a medically-supervised residential treatment facility serving children and adolescents who struggle with significant mental health or substance use disorders. Military family members can receive specialized, but integrated, care. The Reno-based facility offers four separate residential programs: two age-separated psychiatric tracks, an intensive dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) track focused on emotion management, and an addiction track called the Ascent Program.

TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT

Admission to Willow Springs Center is limited to individuals who have previously attempted some form of intensive outpatient treatment to address their concerns. Referrals to the center are accepted from hospitals, detox programs, therapists, schools, probation officers, and family members, among others.

Treatment team members take pride in providing advanced clinical care in a positive environment, according to the facility’s website. A multi-disciplinary approach involves such evidence-based methods as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing (MI), along with 12-step concepts and a peer culture that builds on responsibilities and privileges.

Willow Springs’ separate programs address different client needs. For example, the DBT Program provides a higher level of structure and supervision for high-risk clients. Most programming utilizes one-on-one counseling, group and family therapy, life skills training, psycho-educational classes, and recreational therapy. All clients participate in discharge planning for continuing care, which includes referrals to outpatient counseling.

While in treatment, residents attend Truckee Meadows School, the center’s on-site, state-licensed private school that provides elementary through high school education. Class sizes are typically between nine and 15 students, and a self-paced alternative education is also supported.

STAFF CREDENTIALS

Willow Springs Center employs 10 board certified child and adolescent psychiatrists along with licensed clinical social workers, licensed alcohol and drug counselors, and recreational therapists. The website highlights the center’s commitment to diversity and collaboration.

ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES

The 116-bed secured residential facility provides dorm-like lodging and 24-hour supervision. Willow Springs Center’s campus features a large gym, a courtyard for recreational use, an outdoor amphitheater, and a ropes course. Communication with parents is a stated priority on the center’s website and options include audio/video conferencing and daily visiting hours during meals. Photographs feature open spaces for group meetings.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY

Feedback from former clients of Willow Springs Center is decidedly mixed. Of the three alumni polled to date by Best-rehabs.com, one offered a favorable review and two were mostly critical. Two shared concerns about the restrictiveness of some policies and complained about the “unhealthy” food.

Nevertheless, alum Lapis characterized her therapist and psychiatrist as “excellent” and wrote that she completed treatment as “a person that could use their skills better.” S.R., on the other hand, reported that the center was “not LGBT friendly,” and alum A. cited inconsistencies and inattentiveness of some staff as weaknesses.

Several reviews posted to a public Facebook page for Willow Springs and to Google concurred with trends on Best-rehabs.com. On the facility’s Facebook page, which it can manage, seven individuals contributed to an average rating of 2.6 out of five stars, where repeated complaints cited food and restrictions. On the other hand, H.S. wrote a favorable review that was representative of about half the alumni comments. “It was a really difficult program to compleate but they dont give up on you,” H.S. wrote.[1]

Likewise on Google, 27 individuals (a mix of alumni and friends and family) awarded an average rating of 2.9 out of five stars for the rehab center. Lilian agreed with the sentiment of H.S., representing the treatment program as challenging, even unenjoyable, but helpful. Other comments offered uneven perspectives on the quality of staff members.[2]

Notably, most positive alumni reviews referenced participation in the DBT program.

WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY

Four of the five friends and family members of alumni polled by Best-rehabs.com to date were not pleased with their Willow Springs Center experience. The one positive loved one recommend the program in part based on its high level of security and what the reviewer described as necessary and effective strictness. The three other loved ones complained about disorganization (including a rushed admissions process), not enough individualized therapy, unhealthy food, and most of all ineffective treatment. W.D. also criticized the center’s inclusion of a high number of court ordered clients.

One parent on Facebook reported a need for more family involvement, while concluding that the center helped her daughter.

FINANCING

According to the Willow Springs Center website, the facility accepts most major health care plans, TRICARE, and Nevada’s Medicaid. Two individuals noted in their Best-rehabs.com reviews that their treatment was covered by Medicaid or private insurance, but another one cited the program’s expense as a weakness.

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Willow Springs Center Reviews

I recently discharged from Willow Spring's DBT Program this October and was there for about two months and two weeks. I was surprised they accepted Medicaid and the quality of the treatment there. I discharged a person that could use their skills better. My therapist was phenomenal and my psychiatrist was also very good. Their DBT is intensive and we have groups throughout the day. We also have pet therapy, recreational therapy and art therapy; the school there helped me a lot! The teachers there care a lot and treated me well and always helped me whenever I can; it was my first time getting Straight A's there and they transfer to your school when you leave. There's also a Ropes course there which helps you with leadership, teamwork, and having fun! Most of the staff were kind, and you are drilled with skills. The pros there were there were many skills, many groups, a caring treatment team, a good certified private school, weekly rewards, family sessions weekly, being treated like a person, and that if you're out of state or town, Willow pays for your family to come down and you can go on pass for a few hours to a few nights at the Nugget hotel nearby. Of course, you have to stay there awhile to get the ropes course and passes, though I felt Willow has helped me a lot. The cons were the quality of the food sometimes (though there are tasty options!) The safety showers and restrooms are not my favorite and not being able to go outside a lot. Though, I'll never forget it and to the people who said it was horrible in the past years, Willow has changed a lot. And remember to get and ask for the DBT program! DBT Water has done me wonders!
This place is only for juvenile delinquents. Everyone is there my court mandate, not voluntarily. Do NOT send your child there for treatment. Doctor lied to us. He was placed in a filthy room. Therapy is only once a week. This is jail, not a treatment center. The website is fraudulent and the whole place is a juvenile jail, nothing more.
I was a patient at Willow Springs not too long ago and I would not recommend it. For one thing, the food makes you gain weight like crazy. I was on residential counsel, and that was one of the most common complaints. We were told that they got those complaints a lot. Yet, they appeared to do nothing about it. I went in there underweight and came out overweight. Many other patients also gained an unhealthy amount of weight. There were a few nurses and staff who actually took the time to do their job, but most of them did not. There were quite a few staff and nurses who gossiped about patients (trust me, other patients overheard them as well) and they could be hypocrites. (Example: telling you to keep your voice down, but then screaming while laughing). The staff were in denial about it. Basically they judged us and gossiped about us, but lied to save their butts. Please, if you love your kids, do not send them here.
My daughter was at Willow Springs for 6 weeks in 2016 . We had MANY complaints: ('She' is my daughter) My daughter was never given a peer mentor to help her admission or adjust. We agree that the transition for her into Willow Springs is a difficult one however we are very concerned about what has transpired in the past 24 hrs. These are the issues that came up. I think they may be unrelated but that needs to be investigated. 1.Nobody explained to her that she could have a sheet from the cart therefore she slept on a mattress that she felt was unhygienic. Our concern is that information is not being communicated clearly. What else does she not know that will be uncomfortable for her in the future? ... 3.The music in the room is very disturbing to her but the norm is music instead of silence. I think this may have been addressed although there is still the question about whose needs take precedence- the person who is soothed by music or the person who is disturbed by it. ... She called us very concerned that two inappropriate movies were shown... It seems that a student got her way and all the others had to watch- in my daughter's case, at least, out of fear of receiving negative points. We spoke to a staff member at some length and he said there had been a lapse in attention by a tech and that this sometimes happens with new people who have not yet been fully trained. He assured us he was on it! Our concern is that this is more a question of common sense than training when you are working in a facility where disturbed young people are struggling with difficult thoughts and images! We just discovered in our family session with a staff member and my daughter that the reason she was upset yesterday and didn't want to have her private session with the staff member was because she had received a package and letter from her abuser... I am livid that care was not taken to protect my daughter even though we thought the list of allowed contacts was very clear. I should also add to the long list above that when I was called in Michigan and told she had a place at Willow, I was NOT told that there was "School' vacation for the first 2 weeks she would be there. In fact