ABOUT RETREAT AT LANCASTER COUNTY
Set in the hills of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Retreat at Lancaster County provides a continuum of treatment services for adults struggling with substance abuse and co-occurring disorders. Depending on their needs, clients may access medically-monitored detox, inpatient treatment, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient treatment (IOP), and standard outpatient treatment (OP). Additionally, the facility offers a variety treatment tracks for special populations, including Veterans, college students, individuals who have experienced trauma, and members of the LGBTQ community.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Upon admission, clients undergo a comprehensive assessment designed to help staff determine the most appropriate level of treatment. Those who need medical attention for withdrawal begin their stay in the facility’s inpatient detox unit, which offers medication management, monitoring, and psychological care.
Once stabilized, clients may move on to the center’s inpatient program, which is guided by 12-step principles and designed to help residents develop relapse prevention skills. While in treatment, clients participate in individual therapy, group counseling, and a variety of holistic modalities, including art therapy, music therapy, and equine-assisted psychotherapy. Medication management is provided as needed.
Retreat at Lancaster County’s PHP program is similar in design, but offers clients the flexibility to reside at home while undergoing treatment. The center’s IOP and OP programs, which last six to 12 months, offer clients step-down treatment options. Additionally, program graduates and their families have access to continuing care through the center’s eHome Aftercare, an online counseling program.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
Retreat at Lancaster County’s treatment team is managed by a medical director and includes psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed substance abuse therapists, mental health therapists, and a 24-hour nursing staff.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
According to Retreat at Lancaster County’s website, the facility is set on 24 acres of wooded countryside. Residents sleep in full-size beds in shared rooms outfitted with locally handmade furniture. The center’s bathrooms are equipped with ceramic tile, and the facility’s amenities include a gymnasium and a fitness center. In addition to yoga and meditation, clients have access to on-site massage therapy services. According to the center’s page on Psychology Today, the facility can accommodate up to 175 individuals at a time.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
When asked how likely they were to recommend Retreat at Lancaster County to others, the nine alumni polled by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing provided an average rating of 3.78 out of five stars. This assessment is reflected in alumni review commentary, which is mixed but includes more positive remarks than negative ones. “This is a decent rehab. It’s the largest one that I’ve been to (175+ patients), which makes it easy for people to get lost in the cracks,” Dave wrote in a representative review.
Alumni were most impressed with the facility’s cleanliness, its exercise and leisure options, and the staff’s level of training and experience, which received respective ratings of 4.56, four, and 4.22 stars. Though some alumni felt that facility was understaffed and overcrowded, respondents generally characterized the treatment team as “caring,” “great,” and “judgement free.”
The center’s counseling options and its holistic offerings received slightly lower ratings of 3.89 and 3.78 stars, and a couple alumni indicated the center’s amenities were not as advertised. “The equine program is a joke…no one even so much as sees a horse,” G.R. wrote. The program’s family participation and its connectivity/visitor policies shared the lowest rating of 3.44 stars. Some alumni indicated that calling loved ones was discouraged or difficult.
Although the program’s affordability received an above-average rating of 3.78 stars, multiple alumni were also critical of the center’s billing practices. “The atmosphere was aggressive, chaotic and money (not patient) focused,” G.R. told Best-rehabs.com.
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
The six loved ones surveyed by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this review provided mostly above-average ratings in all evaluated categories. When asked how likely they were to recommend the facility, they provided an average rating of 4.33 stars. They gave the center’s cleanliness, its exercise and leisure options, and the staff’s level of training and experience ratings of 4.6, four, and 4.17 stars, respectively. “After years of struggling, this was the place that finally helped my loved one overcome their addiction. Well trained and qualified staff are amazing!” an anonymous respondent wrote in a representative review. Surveyed loved ones gave the center’s counseling options, its holistic offerings, and its affordability the lowest overall ratings of 3.5, 3.33, and 3.5 stars. Additionally, some loved ones felt that the facility was primarily focused on collecting fees. “They do not care about treatment, only money,” M.G. told Best-rehabs.com.
Despite giving the program’s family participation an average rating of 4.4 stars and its connectivity/visitor policies 4.17 stars, multiple family members expressed frustration with how difficult it was to stay in touch with their loved ones. “We were all assured that the patient would have unlimited access to the phone and could be in touch as much as he liked. Imagine how we felt when we did not hear from him for 6 days. Apparently the counselors discourage contact with family and friends,” Q.K. wrote in a representative review.
WHAT STAFF SAY
Each of the three employees surveyed by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing noted that they would recommend Retreat at Lancaster County to others. Pamela described the staff as “very skilled” and highlighted the center’s holistic offerings. “Programming consists of a lot of different therapies that include massage, horse back riding, art therapy along with the small group every day,” she wrote.
FINANCING
According to its website, the Retreat at Lancaster County accepts most commercial insurance plans, including Independence Blue Cross, Keystone Healthplan East, and Magellan Healthcare.