This blog post was created as part of a collaboration with SelfGrowth.com
If you clicked on this blog post, it could be for one of many reasons: you’re searching for answers or alcohol abuse treatment centers for yourself, you’re seeking information for a loved one, you’re looking for help for a client, or perhaps you’re researching for a school paper.
No matter why you’re here—we’re glad you are, and we welcome you with open arms.
Below you’ll find the top three questions that Seasons in Malibu CEO and Founder, Don Varden, believes you should ask before attending or recommending a treatment center.
Here are The Three Most Important Questions for Addiction Treatment.
Question 1: Is the addiction treatment facility licensed by its state and is it accredited?
What to Look For: These markers indicate that the best drug rehab centers have been well-vetted. There are two primary accreditors: CARF and The Joint Commission, so keep an eye out for any mention of either of these accreditors as you’re doing your research. If you can’t easily find licensing or accreditation information on the facility’s website—this could be a red flag. This is something that most rehabilitation centers shine a spotlight on right on their homepage. It’s that important—to ensure reliable, trusted addiction help.
Question 2: How long has the facility been in business and what’s the education and experience level of its clinical team?
What to Look For: When it comes to the business side of addiction treatment, it takes years to learn and develop a quality program and to find the best, skilled individuals to invite onto your team. It’s a sad truth that many treatment centers actually save money by hiring less credentialed and less experienced staff.
While some drug and alcohol counselors with a college degree might be very good—and on their way to greatness—there is a huge difference between receiving help from those individuals who are still learning and getting one-on-one care from a primary therapist who holds a doctorate degree in psychology and has a decade of experience. Make sure to take a look at the staff—and their credentials—that the treatment center has on board.
Question 3: Along with experience in addiction treatment, do they treat and have experience with mental health co-occurring disorders?
What to Look For: Many people suffering from addiction have an underlying issue or disorder (anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, PTSD, etc.) called a co-occurring disorder that is heavily influencing the self-medication that has led to the addiction.
While 12-step programs are great for certain addictions and for certain people, many facilities that are strictly based on a 12-step program don’t treat co-occurring disorders. Other facilities that do offer treatment for co-occurring disorders may not have the experience and expertise required to dig into the root cause of a person’s addiction. Find out how long the facility has offered this type of treatment. Is it new to them or are they experts on the subject?
The Takeaway: Take your time doing your research—or if you need help, don’t be afraid to reach out to someone you love and trust. It can be overwhelming to start this process—and to make a decision—with so many options out there.
You don’t have to do this alone.
But…where do you even start?
Let’s try this together. If you were to ask these three questions while researching Seasons in Malibu, this is what you’d find:
Question 1: Is the addiction treatment facility licensed by its state and is it accredited?
Answer: Seasons in Malibu is a world-class, CARF-accredited, substance abuse and mental health treatment center licensed by the state of California and located in Malibu, CA.
Question 2: How long has the facility been in business and what’s the education and experience level of its clinical team?
Answer: Each of Seasons’ Primary Therapists holds a doctorate degree in psychology. Our Case Managers hold at least a master’s degree, and most of our clinical team has been with us for several years out of the 11 that we have been in business, helping individuals down the street in Malibu to across the US to different countries.
Question 3: Along with experience in addiction treatment, do they treat and have experience with mental health co-occurring disorders?
Answer: Seasons in Malibu is a licensed rehab facility and is accredited to treat mental health disorders and is a true dual-diagnosis facility that specializes in treating co-occurring disorders.
There’s one more question that you might be asking yourself—and for good reason: “How can I afford treatment?”
It’s true—a top rehab facility can be expensive. But when you choose a facility that can truly help you change your life…it’s worth every single penny.
Some treatment centers like Seasons in Malibu offer insurance help and a free insurance check to help you determine if your PPO insurance is accepted.
We want to help as many people as we can get the help they need and deserve.
We may have already answered the top three (or four!), but if you have any other questions about treatment, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
When you or a loved one are ready—so are we.
