ABOUT FIRST STEP COUNSELING SERVICES
Located in downtown Metuchen, N.J., First Step Counseling Services provides one-on-one and group therapy sessions for individuals, families, and couples struggling with mental health, substance abuse problems, and/or dual diagnosis. The facility is also a Middlesex County IDRC (Intoxicated Driver Resource Center), and there is an additional location in Paterson that offers a partial care and an intensive outpatient program (IOP).
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
First Step Counseling utilizes a number of evidence-based treatment approaches including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), family systems therapy, relational therapy, and solutions focused brief therapy (SFBT). Sessions are conducted in individual, group, and family/couples settings.
In addition to substance abuse, the facility treats a number of addictive disorders including gambling addiction, internet addiction, sexual addiction, and video game addiction. First Step Counseling also treats a wide range of mental health problems, from bipolar and personality disorders to anxiety, ADHD, depression, and impulse control. Other therapy topics include chronic relapse, eating disorders, grief and loss, sexual and domestic abuse, co-dependency, parenting, trauma and PTSD, anger management, and more.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
According to the facility’s website, the treatment team includes licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors, and a licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor. The one loved one surveyed by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing gave First Step Counseling Services five out of five stars for its staff’s level of training and experience.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
Best-rehabs.com has not yet received any reviews from this facility’s alumni, however First Step Counseling earned an average rating of 1.2 out of five stars based on four Google reviews. The feedback was highly negative and called out rude staff and disorganized appointment services. “They are very disrespectful,” wrote Venkata in a representative review. “Their appointments are on the pages and don’t use computer appointments. Admin staff has big attitude problem.”
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
The one loved one polled by Best-rehabs.com to date gave First Step Counseling Services a mostly positive review, awarding the facility four or five out of five stars for its treatment effectiveness, its family participation, its counseling options, its treatment of co-occurring disorders, its administrative and discharge procedures, and its cleanliness. “Program is good,” they noted.
However Kat, the mother of a former client, gave the facility a negative review on Google, describing it as “a waste of time and money.””My daughter was worse off after therapy sessions,” she wrote. “Counselors have very poor skills and management is not much better. Stay far away!”
FINANCING
First Step Counseling Services accepts most major insurance plans, including Aetna, AmeriHealth, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Oxford, and United Healthcare. The one loved one surveyed by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing gave the facility five out of five stars for its affordability.