From the get-go, Alta Mira exceeded our expectations. It was a worrisome process for our family trying to find a place for my cousin to recover from his drug addiction and his depression. The staff was so compassionate and informative. In an already traumatic time, they helped us through the process with patience and care. We learned a great deal during their 4-day family workshop when we visited the beautiful facility ourselves. I would love to stay there myself! Alta Mira has a full menu of treatment options far and beyond what the other treatment centers we looked into offered. He was able to benefit from the doctors, the therapists, the neuropsychological testing, and the multi-day workshop intensives. They also have awesome options like massage, acupuncture, meditation, and adventure therapies. I truly believe that in order for one to heal, one must surrender to the methods being used by trained professionals. I can't even count how many times my family gave into his rationalizations for his drug use. We were at our wit's end. I am so glad this time, it stuck. Alta Mira doesn't cater to the source of the addiction in such that they heavily medicate the person, quite the opposite! This had been a recurring problem when trying to get him help. Instead, the staff at Alta Mira helped him dive deep into himself and identify the past triggers that perpetuated his use and gave him tools and ways to circumvent his usual behavior that feeds his addiction. They worked with him to resolve his past trauma and to get to the core of why he became addicted. Four times a year they have a complimentary 2-day workshop for their alumni. My cousin keeps taking these workshops and learning from them. We are so, so grateful to have him back and in a position where he no longer has to suffer the same way again. read more

Serious failures in treatment responsibility, and just basic respect and dignity. They just want your $$$. You'll be doing "musical beds" and dismissed by staff. If you actually complain?! Oh boy now you've really done it, and they will begin to retaliate against your dignity if you get too "uppity." I urge you to save yourself the anguish and additional trauma, and just look elsewhere. Healing does not happen in an environment like this one where the staff are reactive, untrained and inexperienced. Horrific experience, and you should steer clear of Alta Mira. Enter at your own risk. read more

Alta Mira Recovery - Slept on the couch with no blankets after fleas were biting me in the bed. - Counseling & Mental Health Near Me - Sausalito, California

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Alta Mira was a horrific experience. I left with PTSD from the two therapists I saw (Steve and Sascha) and the clinical director at the time (Karen). The two therapists I had were manipulative and verbally and emotionally abusive. The clinical director was similarly unethical and sick. The medical team was unskilled and unaware of what the withdrawal from all major drugs looks like. The medical team does not have the patients best interest at heart. Patients at Alta Mira are treated like criminals, despite it being advertised (and charged) as a luxury facility. It's also a pretty disgusting facility with a serious mold problem that causes respiratory issues. Please, please do not go here. Other good, ethical treatment facilities include: The Dunes (East Hampton), Borden Cottage (Maine) and Reflections (Novato). read more

Alta Mira is a first-class facility that tailors its care to the needs of the patient. I was struck by the flexibility of staff--from the kitchen staff in preparing specific food for me to my therapist's willingness to change his schedule to accommodate me. The facility is incomparable--views of San Francisco and Sausalito--with comfortable meeting areas for classes and unwinding. I was drawn to Alta Mira for its emphasis on therapy and a medical-oriented approach to my addiction. My therapist surprised me by jumping into the core issues of my addiction without belaboring my childhood. Having a therapist who suffered the same affliction made communication easier and made me feel more comfortable. Because the therapists speak from personal knowledge of what I was going through these same therapists provided excellent classes on the underlying science and psychology of addiction and alcoholism. Nobody makes you do anything and after a short period of time you find the classes and activities that appeal to you. I liked most classes and would have attended more if offered. Much is made of the cost of Alta Mira and my insurance did not reimburse me. Given the comfort and beauty of the facility, the high quality and emphasis on good nutrition and the time allocated to me from a medical and psychological perspective, I think the cost is quite reasonable. I didn't always get my way but I always felt my needs were considered and that efforts were made to satisfy me. I never felt that the business of running a facility came before my needs and no matter what I wanted--even when running counter to their business interests--the doctors and staff were very helpful. I had special needs when I left Alta Mira and the staff allowed me to avail myself of their resources. I followed the advice provided to me and were it not for the continuing care I get outside of Alta Mira, sobriety would be more challenging read more

I recently returned from time at Alta Mira. When I entered treatment, I felt, at 63, that the best I could hope for was to outlive my cat. Today I feel optimistic and healthy. Ready to take on the future. The professionals with whom I worked ---- from the therapists to the doctors to the folks with whom the residents interact all day every day were highly qualified, deeply committed, and super communicative with the residents and with each other. This engendered an incredible sense of community on every level, one in which I experienced healing that changed my life. Like all institutions, it is necessarily a business that faces some challenges. I imagine there is no such thing as a perfectly run recovery program. But if clients are able to avail themselves of the resources offered -- if they are ready, maybe to do the work? -- the healing that is possible outweighs any challenges posed by the business end of things. At least in my view and experience. read more

We were compelled to write this review after learning about the horrible experience our son had at Alta Mira. Our son has been suffering from addiction to both alcohol and prescription medication. So, we were looking for possible treatment centers for him.  After talking to the salesperson for Alta Mira Recovery Programs, we felt this was the best place for him. We were reassured by both the salesperson and the website's information stating Alta Mira has doctors on staff that can treat our son's conditions. It was also the most expensive center so that must mean they offer the highest quality service, right?  Wrong. Our son was not interested in entering Alta Mira and wanted to go to another center in Southern California.  We wanted him to go to Alta Mira because we were assured this specific recovery center had the expertise to handle his dual addictions. The same salesperson from Alta Mira's call center back East recommended we call an interventionist from Entelechy to help us convince him.  At a cost of an additional $7,000, this gentleman flew up from Southern California and met with us and our son for a day.  After several intense hours, where a lot of promises were made in order to get our son to agree, our son finally acquiesced and entered Alta Mira for a 30-day stay. Then the surprises started: First, after he registered, we were informed his insurance would only pay a small part of the $60,000+ fee and, if we paid cash up front instead of using insurance, they could give us a discount. Even after the discount, they were far more expensive than all the other centers we talked to. Second, there were no single rooms available which our son was told would be available during the intervention. Third, the facility was under-staffed and the doctors listed on their website were on vacation, so outside doctors and therapists were brought in to cover for them. Fourth, we were told our son would remain in detox for 7-10 days. He was transferred to a double room after four days due to new admissions requiring the detox rooms. Fifth, we were told prior to admission our son would be able to leave temporarily for the birth of his child. The administration stated they would be prepared with any necessary medications, transportation to hospital, etc. Our son had to leave the center after 14 days to attend the delivery with the plan to return to finish his 30-day stay. Our son was very clear at the time of admission regarding his possible need to leave on short notice. Alta Mira assured them they had a plan. As it turned out, Alta Mira had no plan prepared. There were no doctors available for the staff to consult, no currently prescribed medications available for discharge, no go-bag of personal items and our son had to call an Uber to get to the hospital. Consequently, we had to call repeatedly until the Alta Mira staff was able to locate a doctor and submit a script to a local pharmacy 8 hours post discharge. Unfortunately, our son suffered severe anxiety during this timeframe. Our son refused to return to Alta Mira because of the poor quality of care he received in the dated facility. He cited the general lack of organization, the poor quality of the staff, and the lack of professional help as some of the major reasons. His therapist was brought in from Kaiser to cover for the vacationing staff therapists. This Kaiser therapist lacked knowledge about how things worked at Alta Mira which made him disorganized and ineffective.  During the two weeks, this same therapist met with our son only three times. Per Alta Mira's website, individual therapy is three times per week! What is most concerning is, post discharge, Alta Mira prescribed 3 different medications with no follow up or medical supervision from their medical providers. My husband and I are both in the medical field (I have been a Nurse Practitioner for over 30 years), and we were shocked to hear about the negligent medical care our son received and the lack of organization within the staff.  To be charged the fees we paid and then to find out the primary doctors featured on the website were unavailable and an overwhelmed Kaiser therapist was assigned to our son, was extremely disappointing and concerning. In hindsight, we wish we had given more credence to the reviews that said Alta Mira is more concerned about the money than delivering positive results. We feel we were taken advantage of during a stressful and vulnerable time by a salesperson who over-promised and under-delivered.  Further, we believe there was possible medical negligence in Alta Mira's failure to provide continued care to one of their patients. read more

The work I did at Alta Mira was the most meaningful and profound work I've ever done in my life. The professionals and clinicians there are unmatched. There is meaningful thought and intention behind everything they do there. I feel Alta Mira has given me my life back. I hold that place in a very special part of my heart, along with every employee there. What a gift. read more

We selected Alta Mira for the treatment of our son, because of their strength in helping with trauma and dual diagnosis disorders that involve substance addiction.  It's reputation as being a top tier facility was also a factor.  Overall, we are thrilled with the quality of care and work they did.  Their therapists and medical staff are great at what they do, and are responsible for the successful outcomes of those that are fortunate enough to attend this facility.  The family program we attended was incredible and will help the entire family support each other and our son.  I'm grateful that Alta Mira is able to attract top tier talent in their therapists and provide a facility that provides much needed healing and education for it's clients. read more

Alta Mira saved my life. The clinical team is the best out of any substance abuse treatment center in the world, in my opinion. It is absolutely beautiful, and the experiential activities in the area are amazing. I grew so much and underwent so much healing there. read more

After years of struggling with drug addiction, my brother relapsed again last year during Covid after six months of sobriety. We really were not sure rehab was going to work again--he did well for a while after 60 days at a place near LA, but eventually relapsed after his last treatment. I'd heard of Alta Mira from a co-worker here in SF, and went to check it out myself. I was impressed by the beautifully manicured grounds, the pretty buildings, and the incredibly empathetic and sweet staff. None of us in the family were very hopeful about another rehab, but after some back and forth on the phone and email (admissions staff were very patient, knowledgeable, and accommodating) he flew to the Bay Area, we took a tour of the facility, and talked with the doctors, counselors, and support staff about his treatment (they are protective of privacy however Alta Mira allows family to accompany during tours & check-in with patient permission). The grounds are lovely, with amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco. It feels more like a hotel than a hospital; I wasn't surprised when a member of the staff told me it is a historic building that used to be a hotel. From the moment we were greeted at the airport and taken to the Admissions Director, we were immediately put at ease. Despite the anxiety around his upcoming 90 day detox, we all felt he would be getting the very best treatment in the country. Rather than just putting him through a bunch of questions, which he was dreading, Alta Mira employs medical doctors who approach addiction from a medical standpoint; the facility Director is a well-known doctor who started the American Journal of Addiction Medicine, which means they focus on treatment from a physical, as well as a psychological point of view. They do "neuropsychological testing" which they use to treat the underlying medical causes of addiction in addition to primary care. They tailored a treatment plan based on those tests, rather than answers on a generic questionnaire (my brother told me he lied on them during his past rehab stays anyway, he felt it was just easier to tell them what they wanted to hear). Alta Mira takes into account all the physical and the mental elements of addiction; he had separate doctors for mental and physical, as well as a whole team of supportive staff behind him. He said he felt like he was actively taking part in his treatment, rather than a bunch of people telling him what was best for him. He learned that there are medical reasons for his addiction and was able to finally address them, in addition to the psychological issues that he has always had, and was masking with drug and alcohol abuse. The three months went by incredibly fast. Finally we were able to come get him; I just couldn't get over how KIND everyone was. Six months later my brother is still sober (taking it "day by day")--we are now at day 180+--and I just thank God we got him into this wonderful place. I know it was the doctors and staff that helped get him to where he is now, but I think those incredible views and the gourmet food really helped. Thank you Alta Mira for helping my family understand my brother's disease and start the recovery process with him. We are so proud and grateful. read more

As the mother of a child who has struggled with substance abuse for more than 7 years, we have been through quite a few rehabilitation programs, some were good, some were not. Alta Mira was without question the most wonderful program we could have hoped for, for our daughter and for our family. The staff was incredible from day one. We were introduced to the MOST professional, knowledgeable and compassionate people we have EVER met along this journey. Our first phone conversation with Karen, her therapist, the clinical director, opened our eyes in ways no other therapist had ever done. Alta Mira offered programs that gave us incredible perspective on our daughter and addiction as a whole. They made a plan that followed her through all the steps that come after their program with the focus on keeping her a healthy, happy, sober adult. Alta Mira was the first program to focus on WHY our daughter would relapse and how to prevent further relapses in the future. Anyone that has dealt with addiction understands there is no guarantee as to what the future holds, but for the first time, when our daughter has left a program, we all have a higher level of hope and optimism. That is a direct result of all the hard work of Alta Mira's staff. Consequently, I would HIGHLY recommend Alta Mira to anyone who is struggling with addiction. Their program is life changing. read more

While the accommodations are great and the food is wonderful, the quality of the care in the curriculum is what sets it apart. This place does more than just treat addiction. They provide the tools to work with the underlying issues. The program is customized and is nurturing from the inside out. You will be treated with respect and dignity but also with compassion and genuine care. This is a place to rediscover strength and develop tools to maintain sobriety no matter what life throws at you. I recommend this program to anyone out there suffering. read more

Alta Mira Recovery - Counseling & Mental Health Near Me - Sausalito, California

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I can not begin to tell you how much this place changed my life. I went in wanting to reevaluate my relationship with alcohol & I ended up realizing I was, although mild, an alcoholic. I could not stop drinking & for years I questioned myself. If you are thinking this way & want to go to thee best, I promise you won't be disappointed. Look no further and call them when you are ready. It's a little crazy mixed with the smartest therapists and guest experts explaining to you the whys and how's of different addictions. I made lifelong friends there while I was at it:) read more

Alta Mira has been instrumental in saving my life from the destruction of alcoholism. I have struggled for many years with continuous sobriety and I have been to many rehabs as well. However, something very different occurred at Alta Mira and I am extremely grateful and strong today after completing the 90 day inpatient treatment program at AM. My therapist and the extensive team of professionals on staff helped heal me through hard work and love without judgment. Today, I work a program every single day with meetings and women in recovery. This hopeless, desperate alcoholic that entered AM last May is now full of joy and purpose because I am sober. I would not be sober without the expertise of Alta Mira, I owe you my life and I will be forever indebted and grateful to you. Gina read more

What a terrible experience. They were more concerned about money than recovery. What a bunch of shysters. Felt like I was at the People's Temple, Jim Jones all over again, asking to drink the Kool Aid. Don't go there. Creepy. The food is not good, the rooms are a joke, they take you to AA meetings that are horrific, unless you enjoy stories of beastiality. They are completely insensitive to trauma or anything else that upsets their "little world". read more

The most expensive hotel stay you can ask for. Do not go here unless you want to pay top dollar to strictly keep yourself away from substances. They are complete crooks and should be sued for insurance fraud. Some of the nurses are genuinely nice, others are absolutely awful. Some of the staff are well trained and highly educated, others only were hired on the basis that they are in recovery and have no training or experience. There are little to no amenities. The gym, "art therapy," yoga, massage, and excursions are a complete joke. They will absolutely not get you any insurance reimbursement. I was told I would get at least 50% of my payment back from my insurance by the intake person on the phone and when I called my insurance after my $100k month stay, I found that the representative from Alta Mira had told them that I was in out patient there after five days - they do not have out patient and my insurance had to file a claim on them. They have a psychiatrist who has absolutely no idea what he is doing with meds and administers the same thing to everyone, no matter what they are there for. I left with no guidance or outpatient treatment whatsoever and on meds I should not have been on. I spent five months recovering from my stay there and left in a much, much more dire circumstance than what I came in for. Thank god I found professionals who actually know what they are doing or I don't think I would have survived. Alta Mira wants your money and nothing else. DO NOT GO HERE. read more

Alta Mira is an amazing place. It was the perfect place for me to restart my life. The therapists allowed me to understand deep rooted issues that I had been carrying with me for 45 years. None of my previous attempts had been able to go this deep. My time there was much more the just getting sober. My family was allowed to be involved, setting me up for success as I returned home and went back to work. The setting is beautiful, the food is great, and I have kept in touch with several people that were there with me. Thank you read more

My stay here was not nearly what I hoped for. Sleep deprivation was an ongoing issue. I made it clear I needed a quiet place to sleep, but it sure did not go that way. They put me in detox when I clearly was not detoxing. I was also forced to "room" with someone who clearly should have been in detox. They didn't even check to see if we were a good fit to be "living together". I found him standing over me at 3 in the morning? Just 1 example of the many disheartening and bizarre experiences I had at Alta Mira. The food is great but the program overall was a total disappointment. At 55K for 30 days, I cannot believe how disappointing it was. I came to work on strengthening my marriage and left very stressed out. I would strongly suggest a simple inexpensive program. The price of the facility is obviously not the end all. I just noticed a charge for a massage and toiletries a month after leaving? No call or Notification, just threw it on my credit card. When I called Alta Mira I was referred to their outpatient clinic? I never stepped foot in there, yet the charge was from there? Ironically I was supposed to get 4 massages and only got three, yet was billed for a 5th? and never ordered any toiletries while there. I would do your homework before committing to this facility, I sure wish I had. read more

I was very disappointed with Alta Mira. It is not worth $55K. I wish I had done more homework as well. They cut corners with individual therapy and massage. You would think with this amount of money you would actually get decent treatment. I wanted to work on deep drama issues in a safe supportive environment but soon realized it was pointless as the therapy sessions were only 45 minutes. You can't achieve anything deep in 45 minutes, by the time you get comfortable the session is over. I have not received any extra bills yet but will be very disappointed to find out if I will be charged for massage or anything extra. This was all advertised on their web site as included. The massage is only 45 minutes as well. I have never in my life been anywhere where they only give you a 45 minute massage . Additionally the gym equipment and room is old and funky. The art room is a dark hole. Some of the lectures were educational but a lot of them seemed like time fillers. I felt I was sold a bill of goods that wasn't delivered. You would be better off spending your money somewhere else. The rooms are decent and the food is good but that's not worth $1800 a day! You could stay at an incredible Spa for that!. read more

Overall I had a very good experience at AM. I was there 225 days. I needed all of those days to battle my alcoholism. I feel I really clicked with some of the staff and basically feel that AM help to save my life. I feel like the staff was like my second family and they were very supportive with me and my situation. I was able to see my children once a week, and I know AM worked with several different people on their circumstances. They tailored their program for me after I had been there 90 days. The therapists were excellent and I learned a lot about the disease of alcoholism, and many other issues that go along with it. The lectures were interesting and worthwhile. I would encourage anyone battling this disease to take the time to go to rehab. read more

My experience is very different from the person who attended this program (the other two people reviewing never went through treatment). The information learned and the lectures were great, but it was the people who stood out for me. I can't say enough about the staff - everyone from medical to clinical were knowledgable and just good at what they did. My therapist was amazing and we focused on individualistic care - not cookie cutter sobriety. The best thing I can say for the program? I never thought I'd be able to get sober. Drugs and alcohol were such a big part of my life. As I write this I have two years sober and that journey began at Alta Mira. I am extremely grateful for this program and would recommend it to anyone suffering from addiction and the causes underlying it. read more