How do I know when it’s time to consider out-of-home treatment options?

If you are considering an out-of-home placement, it is typically because your family is in the midst of a crisis, there is a concern for safety and the current combination of services are not working.  Most families have usually already attempted many approaches offered in outpatient services, without results. This is never an easy decision, but comes out of the necessity to give your loved one the opportunity to reset the trajectory of their life.

Why do I need a consultant?

We are your "Google Review."  We have conducted the program research for you, we know who they are, we know what conditions they treat, how they do it, and we have visited these programs personally.  We use our clinical expertise to inform you if we believe treatment is a good next step and if so, which programs are the best ones for you.  We will provide guidance on what to do next, we serve as a liaison between you and the treatment program, and they often expect you to have one.  We are with you each step of the way, from when your loved one leaves home to when they are ready to return.  We also have no affiliation with these programs, we do not work for them, which means we only choose ones that are clinically sophisticated and appropriate for what your loved one needs.

Why shouldn't I find a placement on my own?

That is definitely your prerogative, however, when parents try to do this, they run the risk of finding programs that are not clinically sophisticated and caring and compassionate.  Choosing an inappropriate treatment option, can not only be costly in both financial and emotional terms, it may also contribute to, or exacerbate, a child’s presenting issues.  Additionally, our clinical expertise as Licensed mental health professionals allows us to clinically assess the situation and evaluate which out of home treatment option is best suited for your situation.

What types of programs do you recommend?

This depends on the relevant clinical issues your loved one is experiencing.  Each program has a different specialty population they work with.  There are Wilderness  Therapy Programs, Inpatient Psychiatric, Therapeutic Boarding Schools, Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centers, Residential Treatment Center and Transitional Independent Living Programs.  Programs can treat anything from Autism Spectrum Disorder, Addiction, Bipolar Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, OCD, and more.

How much do consultation services cost?

The first step is an in depth biopsychosocial Assessment, which does not obligate you to sign a contract.  The Assessment fee is $300 per hour, after which we can inform you if an out-of-home placement would be an appropriate next step.  In order for us to serve as your Consultant and provide specific program recommendations, a 90-Day and/or Year-long contract must be signed.

How much do out-of-home programs cost?

Cost varies by program and length of stay, but they are not cheap.  These programs have highly specialized clinical treatment populations, specific admissions criteria, small treatment group limits, and are employed by staff with relevant experience and specialties.  These programs are designed to facilitate significant change and provide healing.  We have found that if your child has an IEP, and if you employ a Special Education Attorney, many of your expenses have the potential to be reimbursed later on.

Do out-of-home programs take insurance?

In general, the programs we recommend do not take insurance, this is because of the specialized nature of treatment that they provide.  If using insurance is a prerequisite for you, our services will most likely not work for you.  The reality of insurance based treatment programs in California is that they do not allow for specialized treatment populations and that significantly limits the quality of care they can provide.