Michael’s House

I loved this place the staff the facility the program everything about my experience was fantastic thank you michaels house

I am am addiction counselor that does most of his work pro bono or at low fee because I have a passion for helping people achieve long term sobriety. that being said, I never recommend a facility to clients unless I have done a thorough investigation of it and its staff as there are many companies that are more interested in money than helping people achieve long term sobriety and this is one.
they are a basic cookie cutter 12 step program where u esentally pay a huge sum of money to learn how to run the steps which u can do for free at any AA meeting.
theu claim to have an «alternative track» for those who do not want to use 12 step to get better, but that is a total lie.

I just returned from the Michael’s House family weekend. We have been through other family programs (and my son through other addiction treatment programs) and we thought they were fine. If you are reading this, you have probably felt he same helplessness we did until we came to spend the weekend with the Michael’s House staff. I can’t speak to the reviews regarding the program itself, but I know that what I have seen is an incredibly committed, experienced and caring group of people who are clearly working in this program based on a calling to their hearts.
My family, including my son who was in the residential program and is now in the sober living/​IOP program, felt completely supported, educated and understood. The program helped us to «live» the tenants that we all knew from al-​anon and other family programs. They made them real to us and, in the process, allowed our family to communicate in a way that we have not done in many years.
I rarely write reviews, but I feel strongly that I would be doing a huge disservice to any family who is dealing with a family member in need to addiction/​mental health treatment if I didn’t include my impressions. This place is the real deal, and the people here care, support and nurture those who are there willing to do the sometimes painful, difficult work or getting their life back.
I know that they have saved my son’s life. He knows that they have saved his life. There is still much work to be done but, with their help, I know that he will continue to move forward and discover what happiness looks like. Before Michael’s House that seemed an impossibility.

If you’re looking at this, I’m sorry. I know what you’re going through. I want to share our family’s experience as it might help you with your decision. First, Michael’s House in Palm Springs is comprised of 4 locations… Detox/​Intake Center (Indian Canyon), Men’s House (Camino Real), Women’s House (Cahuilla) and the Outpatient facility (Palm Canyon). My family just took part in the 3day family weekend and I highly urge you to participate as it helps you, which in turn helps your loved one too. So far every employee I’ve communicated with or met at MH is in recovery…5+, 13+, 16 years and more… so they, more than anyone, can truly understand and relate to what your loved one is experiencing. Based on some of the negative comments that have been previously posted and my own experience from my own insurance company, most of the comments deal with the issues with the insurance company, not MH. I called my insurance company before admitting my child at MH and they told me that it was an in-​network facility and I just needed to meet my deductible and out-​of-​pocket, which I did. My insurance company declined to cover several items that MH cannot possibly anticipate as everyone’s insurance benefits are different. In spite of the negative comments, my family and I decided to use MH and I am beyond relieved that we did. Alcoholism/​addiction is not something from which you heal, it’s a daily struggle, but MH helps you and your loved one with that journey and I felt a genuine willingness from them to help. I began family weekend Friday morning feeling anxious and scared about what lies ahead for our family and left feeling like I had some tools to help myself and my child. I also left feeling connected with 10+ other family members that attended family weekend to support their own loved ones. We became so connected that we exchanged contact info on Sunday before we all went our separate ways. I can’t stress enough how important it is to talk with other people who understand what you’re going through. I wish I could post my telephone number and say «call me»… Please know that like you, I was scared and I still am a little. The road ahead is not going to be easy, but with the information I learned at family weekend, I feel I can take one step at a time. If you have any questions, call them, you won’t regret this decision. I also want to share that this is my child’s first detox, but I met several parents at family weekend that have gone through this experience before several times at other facilities they shared that this was the best experience they had and they too feel better about the road ahead… and one last thing, take care of yourself… don’t lose yourself in this journey, because it is easy to do. I hope this post helps you.

First of all if your reading this I am so sorry for you! You are either a heartbroken family member grasping on to a bit of some hope or looking for some safe place for your love one to go to. Or the person who is afraid and figured out you finally need help. I highly recommend micheals place. I don’t know what the future has for my family! My daughter is 60 days clean. It’s been a really rough time and it’s one day at a time! One thing is for sure. I thank god every day for micheals house. It is a dual diagnoses center. I know in my heart a regular rehab would not have worked. As a mother they were signs of problems early on before drugs. And with these great people we are able to get to to core. My daughter said to me the other day «she wishes there was more dual diagnoses rehab» that alone made me feel as a mother I am doing everything and all that I can. I love my daughter and can’t imagine my world without her as most parents. This disease wants them, it’s a fight that we have to win. Give them the best and micheals is the best. They just have to want it. I believe if you want it bad enough it’s there. These people have it all in place. And parent weekend was amazing don’t miss out on having your family come together for this experience. It’s amazing. I believe in them. We believe in them.
Thank you
Linda

Not really sure how to rate this place. The staff was really great and accomodations were very comfortable. Oh and the food was always top of the line great.
I saw people go through the stabilization center and come out in really good shape. Detoxed, happy and full of energy. Thing is, these were nearly all people in their early 20s. Other than me I think the oldest patient I saw was maybe 25 or so. Well — I’m a few generations beyond that. No one there I could relate to or even sit and talk to — so I spent my time there pretty isolated.
At intake, I was told I would see a doctor for medical evaluation within 24 hours. I did and the doctor was clearly a very good one. Met with him every day I was there. I was also told I would meet with my assigned Rehab Counselor in a day, two max to get me started on my program. I had been off opiates almost 2 weeks so I was considered already detoxed and was told after a couple sessions to complete necessary stuff I would be transferred to the Men’s Center. Probably in 2 or 3 days. That never happened.
After being in the Stabilization center over a week, I still had not met with my Rehab Counselor except one brief time and that was because I fell and she was required to file a report. Also, my kids called her every day. They never spoke with her. Voice mails and emails were never returned. I never got the full indoctrinaton and wasn’t given the books, notebook and other material the others received right away. Never went to any meetings. Basically, I spent nearly 8 days in my room laying on my bed with nothing to do but stare at a small digital clock.
On my 8^th day there I was automatically discharged because of a serious, non-​related illness. They told me — and I understood — they are not a medical facility and not able to provide the medical care I needed. Also there were liability issues. This does make sense.
Thing is — after I was discharged I had the chance to talk with a staff member I happened to really like. I was told that the 2^nd day I was there they discussed me at staff and it was pretty much unanimous that their program was wrong for me and I would most likely never get on board with it. This seems to be the consistent opinion of staff members — but they kept me there anyway. I do wonder how long I would have just languished there if I hadn’t got sick. After about two or three days I started to get a feeling they didn’t want me there. That feeling got stronger every day, although no staff member or patient ever said a bad word to me. I could feel it. I was never included in any group activities.
So — from what I saw I really would recommend the place if you’re a young (in your 20s) healthy person. That seems to be where they do excel and are very successful.
If you’re a generation or more beyond that — I’d really give this place some serious 2^nd thought. At a minimum, before you commit to registering — go there. Take a tour. See what the other patients are like and see if you’re compatible with that age group. You may be glad you did before making your decision. I wish I had.

Michael’s House is a wonderful treatment facility and the staff is committed to the treatment of their patients. My friend recently left this treatment program and has benefitted from being there. The therapists are all unique and she appreciated being around people who understood her specifics needs. Truly a transformative place.

Every time I visit Michael’s House I am warmly greeted by patients and staff. I am not sure if they are taught this or not, but whenever I arrive at the Men’s Center, patients immediately approach me and introduce themselves, which makes me feel welcome. I have had several friends go through this program who are still living a life of sobriety today. One common theme I hear among the many people who have completed treatment at Michael’s House is that it really prepares them and gives them a solid foundation for their next step on the road to recovery.

I organized a intervention for my son. I set up my credit card to pay for 90 days. My mother superseded me and gave them her credit card… a perfect codependent. she visited him in the first week he was there and paid lip service to his counselor. I talked with the counselor and tried to explain that my father was an addict and she was encouraging. when I had my son removed from my home at colleges suggestion my mother took him in and gave him a thousand dollars a month. the therapist develops a close relationship with my mother and she visited my son weekly. I was cut out of the loop. He was in a sober living home in La Jolla for 2 months but my mother asked him to leave in October of 2008 so that he could fly first class to Virginia with her. he overdosed in January of 2009. I saw the train wreck but I could do nothing while she gave him a Mercedes to drive and $ 1000 a month as well as paying for his needs at her home. Michaels House did not deal with this as a family disease. I am heartbroken. Despite five calls on my part, none were returned. My mother was footing the bill so she was the one they catered to… my mother and my son are both dead. I do not blame a facility if an addict dies of this hideous disease, but they didn’t identify an enabler and he wasn’t given treatment for long enough although I was willing to pay and follow up was hideous. This was his first rehab and he died at 24 years old

DO NOT DO IT ! STAY AWAY AT ALL COSTS.
I, like nearly all the rest of the clients (inmates) I was housed with, was lied to by the call center. Due to the nature of these lies I was forced to endure a severe episode of PTSD that was brought on by the lock down aspect of the stabilization unit, which oddly enough I had been told by the call center, was somewhere I would not be sent to as I arrived clean and sober for over a week.
Upon arrival at the Mens Center, I was informed that the things I was promised while in stabilization, both of which were means to alleviate my PTSD — music and exercise, were things I needed to earn by working my way up their «level system». This system is used to decide who gets access to outside meetings and other eluded to activities.
The result is an overall caste system that creates a competitive environment where things like getting a front seat in a van or a chance to do something as simple as go on a walk, is determined by seniority.
I did my best to battle my way out of my anxiety, which I have to point out, I did not have prior to arriving there, all the while being subjected to snide comments by other residents (inmates) who were not happy with me being unhappy.
A quick side note. During my brief stay at the Mens Unit, one client got into at least 3 verbal and 1 physical altercation with other residents, The staff solution was not to expel him, since that would cease the company receiving funds from his insurance company, but rather move him to another room — MINE !
But I digress, I was in constant contact with my assigned therapist, all the while requesting contact with my outside therapist. For a host of reasons, that never materialized over the course of 5 days. During one of the group therapy sessions, led by above mentioned assigned therapist, I was verbally attacked by another client while the therapist sat silent, I walked out since I had no desire to go to jail over this person.
Upon returning to the therapist, he disagreed with my concern that Michaels House was an emotionally and perhaps physically unsafe environment for me. When I requested to be released he said I would be «ACA» — against clinical advice — and therefore, should I choose to leave, I would not be allowed to contact anyone to make advanced plans to return home. Basically, they would hand me my bags and possessions and close the gates behind me. I was basically forced to plan an escape, which I had to do in a whispered phone call to my wife since my one 10 minute phone call a week was not private !
As a closing kicker, when I finally did leave, I was only given 3 days of medication — medication that I brought in with me ! I was told they would Fedex the remainder, but since I left on a Saturday, they could not guarantee that the package would arrive by Tuesday, How that is not medical malpractice, I’ll never guess.
Oh by the way, my wife dropped me off on a Saturday, on the following Monday, received a call from the call center inquiring as to my whereabouts. I can even imagine how terrifying that must have been ! His response — oh someone forgot to check a box !
Bottom line — I was One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nested !!!

Don’t do it. This can be likened to minimum security prison. There are few outings besides the gym. No horseback riding, and only two people get to go to equine therapy each Friday. Most of the nurses are temps. You really have to be on top of your medication and advocate for yourself to avoid medical malpractice incidents. There is no doctor in the men’s or women’s houses. Only a physician’s assistant. The staff talks down to you, is rude, and misses so many wrongdoings. This place is a class action suit waiting to happen.

If I could choose no stars I would. I went to this place 3 years ago. Admitted myself for dual diagnosis and it was awful. It was a huge waste of money and my time. I might as well went to prison! That’s how they treat you! The «nurses» tried to 5150 me and when I went to the hospital that night after a panic attack, the psychologist told me I’m clearly smart and coherent and there is no need for me to be there. She said they do this a lot with the people there. This place was awful! Brings back nightmares! Don’t go there or don’t let your children go there! The staff are cruel!!!

This place is a complete money making sham! I am a patient who self addmitted myself for a dual diagnosis program. I am not a drug addict but need certain medications due to an autoimmune thyroid disese I have.
From day one they lied about everything. The call center told me I would see a Psychiatrist upon admitting myself so I would have the proper medication ordered for the first evening. That Never happenend. They took away all my meds with no repacemnt meds for benzo withdrawl. I had a panic attack twice and after day 2 I still have not seen a Psychitrist.
I asked the nursing station if they could do something about my panic attack. Medication, therapy, something! They did none of that. As a result of my panic attack, the nurse Natashia said to me «Being a Bitch and yelling wont get you anywhere and if you continue I will call the police!» So they called the cops in the middle of my full blown panic attack. Thats how they deal with or «Understand» a patients condition.
I entered the stabilazation unit Stable, then by them not working with me at all, I became very unstable. So they threw me out and called the police. The cops came and saw me crying outside the center and I explained that I am upset because they did nothing to help me and I have suffered Panic disorder for 15 yrs. The police officer agreed with me that patients should see a psych first thing to get the proper meds orered before patient gets to the stage of a panic attack. The staff are not real nurses or doctors. You get one sesion of therapy a week for 45 min and see a Psychiatrist once a week for 30 minutes. It is not worth the kind of money they charge! Anyone would get better help on the outside if they are in anyway depresed or anxious. Its better to work with a doctor on a plan for treatment that we both agree too. They just make you suffer at Michaels House and are not equiped to handle anyone with a Medical condition. They don’t take medical conditions into consideration. This is strickly a drug rehab! Not duel diagnosis like they advertise.
Bottom line is I would never recomend Michaels House to my worse enemy and I would not even admit a dog there! The program is a lie! Stay clear and far away from Michaels House! Someone you love could end up dead by them.

I’ve recommended Michael’s House to two people recently. One needed an intervention and the other asked for help. Both are now a few months into their journey and they are doing well. They have a chance now and the tools to make it.

when at the end of the road what is there left to do go on to the bitter ends jails, institutions, or death or find a new way to live. thank you micheals house for saving my life. i am clean and sober for over 3 years from the care of the most professional staff and the tools i received at micheals house. i have been in 5 other rehabs in my 35+ years of drug addiction. only this in house program was able to help me deal with alcohol, drugs, guilt, shame and the biggest factor in a lot of addicts lives including mine.trauma. they never profess to fix you but they do give you the care and all the tools an addict like me need to get better one day at a time. they provided balanced meals, one on one therapy, meditation walks, introduced me to 12 step programs and the steps to work to better my life. lectures that taught me about all the facets of addiction. they gave me dbt skills to use during my day and to stay in the moment. nothing in my care was overlooked. this is for serious people that want so desperately to find a new way to live. grateful and thankful and highly recommended.

My grandson was kicked out of Michael’s House onto the street today in 103 degrees of heat after relapsing during the night with other boys from the program. He had no where to go. His therapist, Jordan Weissman, knew I was out of the country from our conversation earlier in the day when he called me to question if I had brought «drugs» to my grandson along with the clothing I delivered from Target before I left for my trip. Of course, I had not. He said dismissal from the program would be discussed and I would be notified. I asked him to consider that my grandson had no where to go and as I was out of the country, I couldn’t help him. He said he would consider the alternatives. Later in the day I received a final phone call from Tony Brown who said he was just following orders and that my grandson was out. The other boys involved were never drug tested, as far as I know, and were out spending time with their families. This kind of behavior is heartless and unforgiving.
Drug addicts relapse and often because theirs is a brain disease. It is unfortunate and heartbreaking for their families. The people who run rehabs should know this all too well. At this point my grandson’s treatment should have included detox not being ostracized. I would not send a dog here!