Life Center of Galax

Life Center of Galax

ABOUT LIFE CENTER OF GALAX

Located in a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northwest Virginia, Life Center of Galax offers medical detox, residential, and day treatment for adults struggling with substance abuse and co-occurring disorders. Buprenorphine, methadone, and Vivitrol programs are available here as well.

TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT

All clients are introduced to the 12-Steps. The primary treatment modality is group therapy, which includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), experiential therapies such as psychodrama and role-play, gender-specific groups, reality therapy, and leisure groups. Clients also receive individual therapy and education about addiction; and family workshops are held every week.

Specialized services include a program for those with repeated relapses; a residential program called Wolf Ridge for males ages 18 to 26; a Christian recovery program; a DUI program; and programs for active military and veterans as well as those struggling with an opioid addiction.

Day support includes a partial hospitalization program (PHP), which follows the same course as residential treatment, but enables clients to return home.

Discharge planning can include 12-step referrals, sober house placements, outpatient care, and aftercare groups. The rehab also maintains an active alumni network.

STAFF CREDENTIALS

According to the facility’s website, the treatment team includes a medical director certified in addiction medicine, a psychiatrist, a 24-hour nursing staff, licensed professional counselors, and certified addiction counselors. The rehab is nationally accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).

ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES

The facility does not provide detailed information about its accommodations. Photos on the website show well-kept structures, a large outdoor porch and gazebo, and attractive grounds. Weekend activities include off-site outings for hikes on the Blue Ridge Parkway, bowling, and visits to a nearby recreation center.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY

More than three dozen alumni reviews submitted to Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing were mixed. Half of those who responded with numerical ratings assigned four and five out of five stars to overall effectiveness, accommodations & amenities, and meals & nutrition. The other half provided three stars and lower to the same variables.

Many commended the staff and efficacy of the program. An anonymous alum told Best-rehabs.com: “Friendly, family oriented, small, emote. Got help and got clean.” Another anonymous reviewer said: “Provides great overall knowledge of the disease of addiction and how to effective treat it though the 12 steps.” J.S.S. summed it up: “Best place ever; I didn’t want to leave.”

Other reviewers considered the remote location a weakness of the facility. Although some alumni praised the staff, others found certain counselors uncaring. Some also said the facility lacked cleanliness. One anonymous reviewer wrote: “I found the facility to be dirty, food was not nutritional, no exercise offered daily, nothing besides AA/NA offered.”

WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY

Reviews from loved ones were mixed, but largely mediocre. Less than half of the 19 individuals who responded to the Best-rehabs.com survey with numerical ratings assigned high four or five out of five stars for overall effectiveness of the program. The rest offered three, two, and even one stars to that same variable.

On the positive end, friends and family praised the staff and their caring nature. Loved one M. wanted Best-rehabs.com to know about their son’s experience: “It has really made a difference in his thinking and behavior” and added, “He said the food was good. We met several of the counselors, and he spoke highly of all of them.” L.W. noted the good care their loved one received: “Treated her very well and assisted with halfway house” but pointed out the following cornerstones of success: “Family needs to be involved and all friends from the ‘old circle’ need to be left behind.”

Conversely, other loved ones criticized the staff and raised concerns about the poor control of the environment and insufficient oversight of clients. An anonymous reviewer told Best-rehabs.com: “Not enough control of facilities for infiltration of drugs places all residents at risk.”

FINANCING

According to the facility’s website, insurance is accepted, such as Medicaid, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Tricare, and United Healthcare. The facility also has a relationship with American Healthcare Lending.

Life Center of Galax Reviews

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Overall, the staff was knowledgeable. Allowing family to attend weekend sessions.
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Didn't receive any treatment I was given methadone and I slept
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  • Treatment was average.
    My loved one attended this facility in the summer of 2016. It appeared to have good ratings. The intake was easy and organized. The financial department was organized as well, they took our insurance and let us know all costs upfront. They even sent a van for pick up. However when I went to visit I saw a different story. The initial hour of the orientation was well organized and people were searched coming through the front door. After that initial hour, things disintegrated. People could walk freely in an out two side doors and the back door. No searching whatsoever. We were given a list of rules at orientation, which were followed that first hour. After the main staff left none of the rules were followed. Clients walked out among the parking lot and went off campus...I reported what I saw on the weekend to the weekday staff, who were concerned and said they would talk to the supervisors. My loved one was there six weeks but nothing changed. I also found out that the drug test they use takes three days to get the results. The drug test other instant are more expensive so they don't use those. All in all, a waste of time.
    Best decision i could have ever make was go to rehab.This place help me an my family through this difficult time.I met some wonderful people there that was going through hard times.My counselor an (some) of the staff was helpful.
    I was here in 2008, before the renovations, and it was a good experience. I returned in 2014 to find that it was simply horrible. Way too many patients for the number of counselors. Some of the employees, as former addicts, were quite "out there". Bathrooms filthy with feces floating in the toilets, paper on the floor, not even disposable seat covers. If you are unlucky, you get put in an old room with stained ceilings. Patients roam the halls loudly until 1 AM. Terrible, terrible facility.
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  • No family support. No communication or responsible conversation with parents or siblings. Poor discharge plans. Unresponsive to concerns. Use HIPA as an excuse.
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  • My son has done very well at this facility and it has really made a difference in his thinking and behavior. It is an open campus... I don't think there is a way to have an open campus and completely eliminate the ability of patients to smuggle in drugs. the open campus was a benefit for my son who enjoyed running and working out. He said the food was good. We met several of the counselors, and he spoke highly of all of them.
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  • Affordable with insurance History of good offerings now not so. It is riding on past reputation. Don't let the new building fool you. Staff turnover is high and patient care is suffering due to shortages and profit seeking management. Discharge planning is barely an afterthought. Think about it. Readmitting clients after relapse = more money for the owners of the facility. Heads in beds operation.
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  • Provides great overall knowledge of the disease of addiction and how to effectively treat it through the 12 steps. The facility's main weakness that sticks out particularly, is the performance/dedication difference in some of the conselours. Some were incredible, and I was lucky enough to have a wonderful counselor. However, she cannot teach all sessions, everyday of the week. And there were other counselors who filled in for her that were too, great. But the few that weren't, really stood out. With their lack of knowledge, and inapproachability, and the cost that it takes to go through treatment, I believe all of the counselors should hold the same standards, personabilities, and knowledge. Overall, great place to go. It's not a beach resort... It's an old hospital tucked away in the middle of the blue ridge mountains in Southwestern Tennessee. But sometimes the "rugged" or "non-paradise" location that Galax can provide can be good for an addict. It was for me. It made me appreciate the small things.
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  • Great staff
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  • In the middle of the mountains, not up to date. They care about the patients
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  • Talked a lot, Didn't back up talk
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  • Not enough control of facilities for infiltration of drugs places all residents at risk. My relative did not stay disciplined about recovery. Environment control poor
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  • The budding was old, Great staff
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  • friendly, family oriented, small, remote. Got help and got clean
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  • Lack of one on one counseling. Failure to give patients their meds. Pushing patients to go on methadone as opposed to other options. Bring politics into play with the patients.
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  • Empathy was a strength. Funding needs improvement. Awesome staff
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    this place was dirty and not well maintained the staff was only there for the pay check and not to help those in need and they had no exercise equipment or place to exercise..they failed in every instance
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  • I enjoyed the facility.
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    KEPT ME 3 DAYS-- GAVE SMALL DOSE OF METAHDONE WITH SMALLER DOSE EACH DAY AND THEN SENT ON MY WAY. STILL JUST AS ADDICTED AS WHEN I CAME IN WENT IMMEDIATELY AND GOT ME SOME OXYCODONE.
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  • It helped for awhile. I felt the counseling could have been better.Several people,including my now ex husband were able to get away with things they should not have been doing. It wasn't successful concerning my ex husband but it was with a friend. I'm not completely sure what to suggest. I guess it depends on the person.
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  • Relapse prevention was really enforced, which was nice. However, it was an old campus that needs to be updated. Hang in there, you'll make it.
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  • The program, counseling, groups and staff were great. The holistic side and exercise could be better and the facility could be nicer. It was a very good program but with the money they are making, they could do more than just the groups and counseling as well as make it nicer so you don't feel like you're in jail.
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  • Best place ever; I didn't want to leave.
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  • There is a small family atmosphere, which was nice. However it was kind of remote. I actually enjoyed my stay there, they were very goal oriented and helpful.
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  • The counseling was great and it helps. However, it was far from home.
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  • It is a very low key down home style. However, the location was a downfall-- the facility is remote. I honestly would recommend this center to anyone who is struggling.
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  • Helps you to have a strong sense of self. Makes you feel worthy. Cost was way too high. There were not enough counselors. They really try to help you. The counselors were involved and attentive. But the cost was extreme.
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  • Per report, the treatment offered is effective and offered participants a network within each other they can reach out to long after completing the program. However, there was an instance with an employee acting inappropriately that I believe was not handled properly. My experience was not personal- it was a loved one who went.
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  • The staff and the program was great. However, the offsite housing was a downfall.
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  • It was not very clean and I was displeased with the holistic offerings.
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  • I found the facility to be dirty, food was not nutritional, no exercise offered daily, nothing besides AA/NA offered. Place was nuts after meds were handed out at night because they were sharing w each other. Clients behaving inappropriately. I found my way after w a life coach have been sober over 3 1/2 years completed 3 marathons one was dedicated to a friend from there that died of an overdose. I raised over 7,000 for a rehab place here in RIC I thought Galax would want to be a part of a success story but no one ever responded back to me
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  • It is helpful, the staff means to be helpful, the nursing staff is amazing and treats you like family, but the counselors are lacking and rather than looking at you as an individual, they compare you to other patients. It was a large facility so you didn't have to wait long to get in. There is too much turnover and not enough one on one time.
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  • The location is centered in Galax which to me, is nice because there is access to extracurricular activities. However, the location wasn't as private as he had hoped. They were very willing and eager to help in any way possible.
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  • I am three years clean. This place changed my life. They help you with coping skills. However, the activities were a downfall.
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  • The instructors were terrible and very rude. Meals and exercise opportunities were good.
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  • I don't think they have the best staff. There isn't a doctor on premises at all times, and there ought to be one available always. They are not good for people who have physical problems, and substance problems due to injuries. They are probably good for seriously ill people.
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  • It was a decent experience and I was able to get the help that I needed. They focused on helping the patient. The location made it harder to get to.
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    This facility is terrible. It is about money and not patient care. It is noisy and dirty. Visiting areas are not private. My counselor agreed with all of my concerns. When I was told there was a bed available for me it was not true, a bed on detox was available and they knew I didn't need that (this excludes the 24 hr observation period), they did not have a bed to move me to from detox for a 30 day stay. Groups were too crowded and not private when the auditorium is separated by a flimsy partition and you can hear the other people shouting. Food is terrible, focusing on carbohydrates although there was a salad bar but no protein if you had salads primarily.
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  • The other places weren't able to assist with medical care but this location did assist with medical care as well as rehab/detox. However, family needs to be involved and all friends from the "old circle" need to be left behind. Treated her very well and assisted with halfway house.
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  • The treatment is too expensive for what is provided. I was not impressed by this facility. There is no followup as we do not have facilities close by. She went right back to using within a year.
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  • They are the best. These people care, they are former addicts, they are pro's
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  • The group and individual therapy was top notch. Really prepared you to reenter society.
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  • The staff wants to see you succeed... you are not just a number.
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  • My child had a good outcome, just wish they offered longer than 30 day program
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