ABOUT AMERICAN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEMS – CHEHALIS
A non-medical residential treatment center for adults struggling with substance abuse issues, American Behavioral Health System (ABHS) is a highly structured, gender-specific facility with two locations in Washington. The men-only Chehalis facility is a large, non-descript and austere-looking brick building situated close to McFadden Park.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Residents of ABHS can expect an extremely rigid daily schedule. Clients start their treatment with an introduction to their “Shadow,” who gives a tour of the facility and its staff, and answers questions.
Specific treatment modalities are not described on the facility’s website, but the center does provide details on life in residence. A daily schedule includes a wake-up call at 6 a.m. on weekdays (8 a.m. on weekends), mandatory household chores and work assignments, a self-help meeting, homework assignments, and other treatment activities.
There is also a long list of guidelines meant to ensure residents can co-exist in a cohesive community, including a dress code, hygiene code, and specified program hours where residents cannot “lie down” without permission.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
As a non-medical facility (meaning medications are not prescribed on-site), there is no medical staff. According to its website, ABHS does hire a nurse practitioner (ARNP) to visit the facility for medical assessments. There is limited information regarding the staff credentials of its treatment team, but ABHS does list several types of staff members on its website, including counselors, a client service coordinator, a “Care Team,” and a “Shadow” (or, as stated above, a Recovery House client).
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
Chehalis is a 210-bed, male-only facility. As at the other ABHS location, accommodations are simple, standard, and plain. Residents live dormitory-style, with shared living and dining areas, and specific times scheduled for showering and laundry. As part of their daily schedule, residents must make their beds by 8 a.m. and submit to a daily room inspection from staff. They also must adhere to a lights out time of 10 p.m. every night. Tobacco products are permitted.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
The two alumni reviews received by Best-rehabs.com to date of ABHS Chehalis are mixed to negative. Joshua gave the facility an overall score of three out of five, though he gave most evaluated metrics a rating of one out of five, such as for accommodations and amenities, holistic offerings, connectivity, and family participation. Joshua criticized the lack of individual counseling, and wrote: “The problem with this program is it is over crowded, 12-14 people per group, which allows for no individual counseling. The entire program instead consists of homework done on paper by the clients.”
Another alum, David, rated the facility just one or two out of five in categories across the board. He wrote: “IT WAS A NEW PHACILITY AND THEY DIDNT KNOW WHAT THEY WRER DOING. THEY WRER RUDE AND DISRESPECTFUL.”
On Google, however, where 16 reviewers to date gave ABHS Chehalis 3.1 out of five stars, three alumni gave four- and five-star overall ratings, citing that treatment at ABHS served its purpose in helping them achieve lasting sobriety.
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
Reviews from the loved ones surveyed by Best-rehabs.com were negative. One anonymous Best-rehabs.com reviewer called ABHS a travesty, writing: “They were counter-productive and awful. They were unable to treat someone with comorbid mental health issues” and alleged that he staff rushed their loved one out of the facility prematurely, writing: “They waited until his counselor left for the day and then other staffers conspired to discharge him.”
On Google, two select family and friends shared similar concerns. Some commented that the facility seemed a bit harsh, as reviewer Toni put it: “I didn’t feel too welcomed…the place offers no family program or visiting of any kind for patients.”
WHAT STAFF SAY
Although Best-rehabs.com has yet to receive feedback from staff, this facility earned only 2.9 out of five stars from 36 current and former employees on Indeed.
Written commentary was extremely mixed. One former employee criticized the level of patient care, writing, “Clients were treated not like people, but like they were not worth being there. And when you tried to treat clients with a little respect, you were reprimanded.” However, another employee suggested that patient care is a top priority: “The work environment is supportive towards the goal of always improving upon and building on the foundation of dedicated and comprehensive care for our customers.”
FINANCING
There’s currently no specific information available on pricing via the facility’s website.