ABOUT AMERICAN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM – SPOKANE VALLEY
American Behavioral Health System (ABHS) is a non-medical substance abuse residential treatment facility with three locations in the state of Washington. The Spokane Valley location offers comprehensive treatment for adult men and women, including detoxification and outpatient services.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Chemical dependency assessments may be provided to clients upon intake. Clients are expected to have a positive outlook on recovery, fully participate in scheduled activities, and agree to follow the rules of the program.
Treatment modalities used include emotional interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in the form of group and individual counseling, psycho-education, and case management.
Detox for clients who are not in need of medically-managed services lasts approximately three to five days and the residential program’s length of stay is 15 to 180 days with five to 20 hours a week of programming. The intensive outpatient program can last from three months to a year.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
While there is limited information regarding the staff credentials of its treatment team, ABHS does mention chemical dependency professionals on its website.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
Currently, the facility’s website provides no information on its living arrangements and related amenities, however, it does note electronic devices are not allowed. In addition, nine individuals asked to rate the facility’s cleanliness answered with an average of 3.6 out of five stars.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
Reviews from 11 former residents were mixed with six alumni leaving mostly positive feedback on the program and five negative. Ten alumni who addressed the program’s overall treatment gave a mediocre average of 3.6 out of five stars. In addition, six alumni surveyed on the staff’s level of training and experience rated it 4.5 out of five stars and five alumni rated the program’s holistic offerings 2.4 stars.
Several alumni felt the program successfully got to the root issues of their substance abuse. “This facility broke down my behaviors and helped me address them in a safe environment,” alum Kyra wrote. Alumni also praised the quality of staff, with one alum, Candyce, writing “They are very supportive and treat us all fairly and give us a lot of help with bad situations” while A.M. felt “The staff was amazing. They were compassionate and caring.”
Despite the positive comments, various weaknesses were mentioned as well. Alum T.M. felt the program lacked therapeutic support and was “a waste of time all the way around”: “It should have been more about healing and less about educating,” T.M. wrote. In addition, an anonymous alum wrote about not receiving their medications.
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
Six loved ones shared mostly negative reviews to date. All three individuals surveyed on the program’s level of family participation gave the lowest possible rating of one star, while counseling options received only two out of five stars.
Criticism from loved ones of alumni centered around a lack of treatment effectiveness. Reviewer Terri wrote to Best-rehabs.com: “Did not help my son wuth addiction at all. Did not teach coping skills at all or how to deal with relapse, just that you are bad if you relapse!” Another loved one, J.T., whose son attended the program gave a low rating and said, “He relapsed after just 55 days after finishing the program. It was not helpful.”
Loved one C.P., whose spouse was a client, gave just two out of five stars for treatment effectiveness and wrote: “They treat the people in the facility like they are criminals and their ‘professional staff’ disregards the family members and makes no effort to include the family members to participate in their loved ones recovery…”
WHAT STAFF SAY
Three reviews from staff members were also mixed, with one staffer, R.M., sharing a positive feedback in a Best-rehabs.com survey while two anonymous staffers disagreed. “The overall program is very good at meeting patients individual needs,” R.M wrote in addition to recommending the program to others. However, an anonymous staffer rated their likeliness of recommending the program only two out of five and suggesting the facility is overly focused on money.
FINANCING
According to the facility’s website, private pay and private insurance are accepted and they work with the Department of Corrections and the Washington State Department of Social & Health Services.