ABOUT HELEN ROSS MCNABB CENTER
Established in 1948 and located in Knoxville, Tennessee, the Helen Ross McNabb Center offers residential and outpatient services to individuals of all ages who are seeking treatment for chemical dependency, psychiatric disorders, or co-occurring disorders. If necessary, medical detoxification is available through CenterPointe, the adult residential program for chemical dependency.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
The Helen Ross McNabb Center operates two residential programs for chemical dependency and co-occurring disorders — CenterPointe and the Katie Miller Residential Center for adolescents (ages 13 to 18). Over 20% of Tennessee’s facilities offer specialized treatment to adolescents. The Helen Ross McNabb Center also operates adolescent facilities in Morristown and Louisville, Tennessee. If applicable, the detoxification process at CenterPointe typically lasts between six and 12 days.
McNabb’s treatment process combines traditional therapies with adventure and experiential therapy options. CenterPointe is a 21- to 28-day program that utilizes evidence-based treatment modalities to promote education and recovery. Clients participate in therapy sessions supplemented by outdoor activities and academic study to help adolescents continue their academic progress.
The approach at the Katie Miller Residential Center also incorporates adventure-based programming, on-site schooling, dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and family therapy into its treatment curriculum.
Family involvement is an important part of McNabb’s treatment process, especially for adolescents. Clients’ family members are encouraged to participate whenever possible to help prepare them to be a stronger support network after treatment.
If residential treatment is not required, Helen Ross McNabb Center provides a number of gender-specific intensive outpatient programs. Up to 32% of Tennessee’s facilities provide gender-specific treatment options. The program, which combines substance abuse education and group counseling, meets between nine and 12 hours per week. Psychiatric outpatient services are available to all ages and include medication management, one-on-one counseling, and ongoing case management.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
The Helen Ross McNabb Center is a CARF-accredited treatment provider and employs a team of psychiatrists, nurses, licensed professional counselors, clinical therapists, case managers, and support staff. CARF only provides accreditation to 28% of U.S. facilities. The facility also makes use of a team of volunteers that help with treatment and academic responsibilities.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
During treatment, young clients are able to participate in an academic program. The program is on par with local school requirements and is overseen by the school district. To date, the three individuals polled by Best-rehabs.com on the matter generally praised the quality of the accommodations. Concerning the facility’s overall cleanliness and upkeep, two survey respondents gave perfect five stars for these metrics, while another offered a three-star rating.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
The two alumni surveyed by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing provided mixed feedback. One alum only gave one out of five stars for treatment effectiveness and accommodations and amenities. “I wouldn’t recommend this place,” they wrote. The other alum gave one out of five stars for its holistic offerings and connectivity with loved ones, but four stars for its counseling options, the staff’s level of experience and training, and its discharge planning. “Help is great but wait times to get in was a weakness,” the anonymous alum wrote.
On CiteHealth, the facility earned an average of three out of five stars from four reviews to date. Alumni generally provided positive feedback about the accommodations but had mixed reviews about the staff. While one anonymous alum wrote how the staff was “very kind and professional,” others felt the staff was “a little intrusive” and “heartless.”
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
The two loved ones questioned by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing reported very positive experiences with the facility. They both gave high four- or five-star ratings for holistic offerings, the amount of family participation, counseling options, its ability to treat co-occurring disorders, and for the likelihood they’d recommend the facility to others. One loved one described the facility as “well respected” and indicated that clients are treated “as they should be treated.”
WHAT STAFF SAY
On Glassdoor, Helen Ross McNabb as a whole has an average of 3.7 out of five stars from 50 reviews to date. While many employees gave positive feedback about the “Great benefits” and indicated that the “other staff are great,” there were some concerns shared about the “Low pay” and “high workload.”
On Indeed, Helen Ross McNabb received an average rating of 3.9 out of five stars from 38 reviews at the time of this writing. Employees shared how they were “asked to do too much work with not enough time, and not enough compensation.” Current and former employees described how they believed in the work and loved how the organization provides “much needed services to adults in the area.”
FINANCING
While no information is available concerning the facility’s cost or facility payment options, the two individuals polled by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing gave four and five stars for the facility’s affordability.