How Referrals Work

What happens when you contact us

How we choose and vet programs

Three ways. We visit whenever possible: the residence, the clinical space, the people. We verify: the state license, the level of care it is licensed for, the clinical staff and their credentials, and whether the program can do what it says (withdrawal management, medication, psychiatric care). We also listen to feedback from clinicians and referring professionals who have sent people there.

If you ask about a program we do not know, we say so. We will not give you an opinion we cannot support. What we can do is give you the questions that clarify what the program provides: census (how many clients it treats at once), licensed clinical hours, medical coverage, what happens at night, and what is in the fee. We can help you read the answers.

Who we can help

Anyone looking for one-on-one or private treatment for addiction or a mental health condition, for themselves or for someone else: individuals, families, and referring professionals. We serve clients nationally and take occasional inquiries from outside the United States. If what you need is not one-on-one care (a public program, a specific insurance network, an adolescent service, a crisis service), we will say so and point you to the right resource rather than bend the referral to fit. For other treatment options, including programs that accept Medicaid or state funding, search SAMHSA's treatment locator.

What a referral contains

The program's name and location, what it is known for, its format (residential, outpatient, in-home, virtual), roughly what it costs, and the specific things to confirm with it given your situation. What it does not contain: a recommendation to pick one over the others. That is your decision, and we will talk it through with you as many times as it takes.

When no program fits

Sometimes the honest answer is that no one-on-one program is right for the situation, because the person needs a hospital, because the available options cost more than the budget allows, or because a group program would serve them better. We say that, and we help find the right next step.

If someone is in crisis

We are a resource for people in crisis and for the families around them, but we are not an emergency service. If there is immediate danger, call 911. For a suicide or mental health crisis in the United States, call or text 988. Alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal can be medically dangerous; do not stop suddenly without medical advice. Once the emergency is handled, call us, and we will help with what comes next.