Phoenix House operates 97 programs in 52 locations in nine states and has been recognized as a leader in addiction treatment for over 50 years.
Introduction and Basic Services
Phoenix House was founded in 1967 by six friends who met while in heroin addiction recovery. They bonded over the struggles of staying clean and building a support system. The idea of Phoenix House was born after they moved in together to support each other’s sobriety and participated in a program led by psychiatrist Dr. Mitchell S. Rosenthal. Dr. Rosenthal’s Phoenix House program became a blueprint for New York City’s treatment network. One year later, Phoenix House became an independent nonprofit organization and is now the nation’s leading provider of alcohol drug abuse treatment and prevention. It currently cares for 3,500 adults and adolescents in 97 programs at 52 locations in nine states including California, New York, Florida, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Texas, Metro D.C., Vermont, New Hampshire and Virginia.
Phoenix House is a nationally recognized and accredited behavioral healthcare provider, specializing in the treatment and prevention of substance use disorders and co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. Treatment includes assessment and evaluation, detox, outpatient and residential programs, sober living residences, after-school and day programs for teens, case management, special women’s services, and programs that serve substance abusers with mental health problems. Phoenix House also operates a residential high school for teens to catch up on schooling lost during their addiction.
Facility and Meals
Phoenix House offers a wide variety of different styles of residential, sober living and outpatient programs.A typical day in Phoenix House’s residential programs is a combination of individual and group therapy, educational lectures and specialized services based on the needs of the client. The day begins and ends with a community meeting meant to help organize information and provide motivation and reflection.
Adult programs allow smoking in designated areas though smoking is not permitted in adolescent programs. Phoenix House also offers smoking cessation therapy and counseling to clients who want to quit. Time is built in clients’ schedule for meals, recreation, recovery-centered personal time. Clients are permitted to spend time off-site for school and vocational training, child visits, medical and court appointments and job and housing searches.
Treatment Protocol and Team
Treatment at Phoenix House is highly individualized to meet the specific needs of clients. As a result, residential treatment can be as short as one week to as long as one year. Clients are encouraged to participate in peer support programs including 12-step, SMART Recovery or Celebrate Recovery. Twelve-step is not an official part of Phoenix House treatment, but AA and NA literature is available and attendance is encouraged during and after formalized care.
Phoenix House’s programming approaches addiction as a disease and utilizes evidence-based therapeutic practices like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). It also facilitates Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) like buprenorphine to help individuals struggling with the painful symptoms of opioid withdrawal. Treatment plans also feature holistic offerings and aim to treat the client’s biological, social and psychological needs, and not just the symptoms of their addiction. Staff includes physicians, psychiatrists and psychologists, medical professionals, social workers, family therapist, clinical case managers, certified alcohol and substance abuse counselors, aftercare counselors, wellness specialists and vocational training specialists.
Specialized treatment programs are available to meet the needs of women, mothers with young children, military members and clients with co-occurring mental health challenges including and psychiatric services. Additional therapeutic outlets for clientele includes art therapy, meditation and fitness.
Aftercare is an important part of continued recovery. As such, Phoenix House includes a plan for step-down services that give clients the opportunity to move to less intensive care including Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), standard outpatient services and supported recovery housing. It sometimes combines levels of therapeutic services with housing and supervision.
Family care options includes individual family sessions, group therapy and significant other education groups. Families are invited to special educational sessions and are given treatment education materials in English and Spanish. Loved ones can also stay in touch with their family member in treatment via Skype.
Bonus Amenities
Phoenix House offers various supportive and recreational services in its facilities and programs. Supportive services include vocational training, life skills, anger management and housing assistance. Recreational amenities could include equine therapy, horticulture therapy, performing and visual art therapy, walking trails, yoga, meditation, fitness equipment and access to baseball fields and basketball courts. In addition, some of the facilities have on-site recording studios for clients to record original music. Academic and vocational programming is available to meet a client’s individual needs and talents including high school education, GED prep, vocational training and job placement.
In Summary
Phoenix House operates 97 programs in 52 locations in nine states and has been recognized as a leader in addiction treatment for over 50 years. Its wide range of treatment programs and facilities throughout the United States offer myriad services, from assessment and detox, to residential treatment and sober living. There are also after-school and wraparound services. Phoenix House seeks to meet the addiction, mental health and case management needs of all adult and adolescent clients who seek its help. Phoenix House accepts all major insurance providers and Medicaid.
Phoenix House Location
Various locations
888-671-9393
Phoenix House Cost
Insurance, Medicaid, Private Pay (30 days)
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