ABOUT ODYSSEY HOUSE
Founded in 1971, Odyssey House in Salt Lake City, Utah offers residential and outpatient treatment for adolescents and adults, as well as sober living placements for adults only. There’s also a dedicated treatment track for single mothers and fathers.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
According to the center’s website, all residential programs are designed to accommodate clients with substance use and [co-occurring mental health disorders]. Treatment follows a Modified Therapeutic Community model, which utilizes role models and peer support, according to the facility’s website. All programs use evidence-based therapies, including individual, group, and family therapy; motivational enhancement; [Seeking Safety]; and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Medication management services are also available.
In the teen residential program, for clients ages 14 to 17, Odyssey uses behavioral interventions and modeling to improve the client’s potential lack of motivation, problems at school, lack of life skills, defiance, or criminal thinking. Outpatient treatment options for adolescents include a 12-week in-home program that consists of motivational enhancement therapy, systems theory, and multidimensional family therapy.
The adult residential program specializes in treating “hard to reach” clients, including those with mental health issues, poor social skills, low income, limited job skills, or failed prior treatment. Alongside substance abuse and mental health treatment, it offers vocational development, sober housing, psychiatric services, and medical care. Clients can choose to learn construction, food services, sales, counseling, and building maintenance.
Outpatient offerings for adults beginning to find success in recovery. These client attend programming two to five hours per week. An intensive outpatient (IOP) program begins with between nine and 16 hours of therapy a week.
A residential program for single mothers and fathers allows children up to the age of nine to stay with their parent. While parents receive treatment, their children attend a therapeutic day care where they receive education and address past traumas.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
According to the facility’s website, staff include an M.D., licensed mental health counselors, licensed clinical social workers, and substance abuse counselors.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
Pictures published on the facility’s website show a grand, beautiful building with cozy community areas and shared rooms for adults in residential treatment.
An on-site, fully accredited school for adolescent clients features a teacher-to-student ratio of 1:12, according to the center’s website. Visitors are welcome during scheduled hours. Teen rooms are also shared.
In terms of sober living facilities for adults, the organization describes them as “newly remodeled apartments” with on-call staff and structured community activities. Images show fully-furnished private rooms with kitchens, private baths, and living rooms. There is also a play place in the backyard.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
To date, two anonymous alumni polled by Best-rehabs.com gave mostly positive feedback. They gave Odyssey House four out of five stars when asked if they would recommend the center. The reviewers also gave three- and four-star ratings for meals, exercise options, counseling options, and staff training and experience.
“Great people that give you their heart, and know what you are dealing with,” an alum wrote. Both reviews also noted “too many people not enough staff” and said employees seemed “overwhelmed.”
Reviews posted on third-party sites are mostly positive with a few exceptions. On Facebook, which allows facilities to manage their own page, Odyssey House has an average 4.4 out of five star rating based on 105 reviews; 107 reviewers gave five stars, and 13 reviewers gave three stars or fewer.
There were also reviews on Yelp to date. Four ratings averaged four out of five stars on this secondary review site where just one reviewer left a negative, one-star rating and complained about everything from the food to the staff. Otherwise, reviewers noted that they learned important information that saved their lives.
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
The five loved ones polled by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing also provided mostly positive reviews. Loved ones gave an average of 3.4 out of five stars when asked if they would recommend Odyssey House. They also rated the center’s family participation high with 3.8 stars.
“Our brother said he was incredibly fortunate to have found this place, it’s a life saver,” a family member wrote. Recurring criticism cited a lack of one-on-one time with counselors.
WHAT STAFF SAY
A single staff member has provided feedback for this facility to Best-rehabs.com to date. They gave four- and five-star ratings, based off five stars, and wrote: “Overall it is a very well structured program and was a very positive environment.”
FINANCING
Odyssey House’s website emphasizes the affordability of its programs. The organization is in-network with SelectHealth, MHNet, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Cigna. Out-of-network insurance, self-payment, Medicaid, and state insurance are also accepted. For those with no access to funding, the facility may pair those in need with government contracts.
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