Salt Lake Behavioral Health is a psychiatric hospital providing mental health and substance abuse treatment for adolescents and adults. Treatment options include medical detoxification, dual diagnosis, inpatient programs and outpatient care. Programming includes cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, group therapy, 12-step groups, yoga, life skills training, and relapse prevention techniques.
ABOUT SALT LAKE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Salt Lake Behavioral Health (SLBH) is a private psychiatric hospital located less than 10 miles south of Salt Lake City, Utah. The facility offers a medical detox program plus inpatient and outpatient care for adults struggling with substance abuse and mental health problems. The hospital also offers a specialized dual diagnosis program.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Treatment begins with a free assessment, which is used to develop an individualized treatment plan. Treatment revolves around a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, a therapy model that helps clients recognize the substance abuse cycle and progress from it.
As a psychiatric hospital, SLBH also uses evidence-based treatment methods, including motivational interviewing (MI), group therapy, and skills groups that revolved around the 12-Steps, relapse prevention, and relaxation techniques among others. According to the facility’s website, holistic treatment options include music therapy/expression, pet therapy, spiritual counseling, and yoga.
SLBH’s intensive outpatient programs meet three to five days per week, which includes structured group therapy and general psychiatry.
In addition to substance abuse treatment, SLBH offers a dedicated residential program for servicemen on active duty who are struggling with PTSD and a specialized geriatric program for Alzheimer’s and dementia. There are two programs, one for men and women.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
According to the JCAHO-certified facility’s website, staff at SLBH include two psychiatrists, an addictionologist, a nurse practitioner, and physician assistants. Three reviewers polled by Best-rehabs.com to date rated the staff’s level of experience and training an average of 4.6 out of five stars.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
SLBH is a 118-bed facility. Photos published on its website show a fitness room, dorm-style bedrooms, a lounge, a kitchen, and nondescript decor. 13 reviewers polled by Best-rehabs.com to date rated SLBH’s accommodations and amenities on average three out of five stars and its meals and nutrition on average 3.7 stars.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
13 reviewers polled by Best-rehabs.com to date recommended SLBH with an average three out of five stars. Of nine alumni polled by Best-rehabs.com, six were positive and three were very negative. Positive alumni consistently rated its treatment effectiveness four out of five stars or higher, with comments praising the kindness of its staff. Alum E.M. wrote: “The first days can be challenging and rules might seem pointless but it all serves a therapeutic purpose.”
The three negative reviewers had poorer experiences with staff. Two criticized the unprofessional treatment from staff. Alum C.S. complained of poor treatment from a nurse, writing: “He told me that I was delusional … He was so unprofessional and inappropriate.”
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
Of the four loved ones polled by Best-rehabs.com all gave negative reviews of SLBH to date, rating its treatment effectiveness only two stars out of five stars or less. Loved ones’ comments criticized SLBH’s lack of resources, low staff, and poor treatment. Loved one Kylee complained of an incident where a nurse startled her husband, writing: “My husband who is an OIF Veteran suffers from severe PTSD and has a fear of people walking behind him, amongst many other things. Frightened he turned around and yelled. The nurse laughed at him.”
FINANCING
According to the facility’s website Tricare and Medicare are accepted, along with private insurance policies such as Blue Cross, Aetna, and Cigna among more. Financial assistance covering up to 100 percent of the cost of treatment is available.
Updated November 2017
Salt Lake Behavioral Health Reviews
I was inpatient here two years ago, the experience was terrible, like others say it is like a prison. After I continued after care treatment because I like one of the physicians. I paid upfront each time I went. I constantly asked them where my bills were. They said their billing system was down. A year later I receive a high bill, with NONE of the payments I made in office deducted, also since they are completely inept as a business, they filed all last years claims and my insurance denied them, because they were filed so much later. I am paying a lot of money for their incompetence. I have been going back and forth between the center and their billing company, needed to fax over proof of payment for all those visits. The director has not gotten back to me. This is happening to a lot of patients. I’ve never felt like I need to seek legal advice until now, this is wrong, unethical, and this kind of stress is the last thing that their patients need. I’m not going here anymore. I wish there was someone to contact to hold them responsible for running business poorly.
All about the money! Patients are often released before they are ready or held longer than they should be. Se. Please go somewhere else for help!
I was recently released from this facility and it was horrific. The nurses and techs were good, but the Physician's Assistant who oversaw my treatment was harsh and lacked compassion while the therapist overseeing my case was on a power trip. I was a voluntary admit because I felt unsafe and knew what I could handle. I've been in intensive therapy for over a year because I knew I needed help and worked hard to get it. When admitted, I waited 4 hours before they completed the intake process. During this they rarely came out or updated me on the status of my admission. When I was FINALLY admitted, a nurse took me up to the floor. Upon arrival, a (very nice) nurse informed me that I was placed on the wrong floor because of a lack of beds on the correct floor and that he would try to get me moved as soon as possible. Nobody had informed me of this beforehand. Instead of being put on a general psych unit for people with depression and mood disorders, I was put on crisis stabilization for people with severe mental illnesses, psychotic disorders, etc. This floor was extremely restricted because the patients were unsafe to be in the general public. While on the crisis unit, I met with an AMAZING psychiatrist who, along with my input and consultation with my (highly qualified) outside therapist, felt that I needed to be discharged within 24 hours. Then the PA came in and told me that it didn't matter what he said, it was a team decision, and I probably wouldn't get discharged when he wanted because he was just a resident (even though she didn't have an MD soo....). She told me she would meet with me the next morning after the team meeting. I was moved to the correct unit and still hadn't met with any sort of therapist. The next day my team met and decided (against other professional recommendations) to keep me for further observation. Nobody informed me, despite me asking to talk with someone on my treatment team. I asked repeatedly to make a treatment plan, and I was told they would get to me eventually. I had a family meeting over the phone. The therapist told me it was a thorough plan and I communicated effectively, despite never talking with me about my issues. The therapist also yelled at the nurses, including the nicest nurse who everybody loved. I finally met with the PA at 4 PM, which is most definitely not morning. She told me that I was doing much better and I would be released the next morning. Despite me advocating for my needs and explaining I wouldn't have a ride in the morning, she refused to discharge. When i asked why, she said they wanted to observe me for at least 24 hours (which I had been, just not 24 hours on THAT unit). When i called her out, she said it was because they were short-staffed and there wasn't a doctor to sign off on my discharge. When i asked about a patient advocate, she said the advocate had 24 hours to reach me so it wouldn't make a difference. It was terrible, I never met with a therapist until discharge, the PA was horrid to me and other patients (threatening a unit transfer for standing up for themselves), and I was kept longer than medically recommended, despite being a voluntary admit. This was a terrible experience and made me worse. I hope something changes there because it is not an effective form of treatment.
I needed a low fat and no dairy diet because of medical problems and not one thing was done so that I can eat even though I told staff multiple times. I barely ate while I was there. They don't give you your medicine until your second day there, sometimes longer. I mean any medicine. There was one prescription I didn't get until I left. You are not at all a priority. You feel unimportant and are often ignored. You are only allowed to take a shower between 7 and 8 am even though there is a lot more free time than that. You get a lot worse before you get better.
I was able to get in the same day. A downfall was that it was COLD!! I was given medication to assist in withdrawals and cravings right away.
