I was at Arbour Hospital for duel diagnosis therapy. It was a " hell hole " from day one. Many patient here are court mandated and have absolutely no desire to be there. The unit was poorly staffed and filthy. The nurses have all but given up. I was told by two of the nurses ...
About Arbour Hospital
Arbour Hospital is a behavioral health hospital that’s located in the Jamaica Plain area of Boston, Massachusetts. This facility offers inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment. They also offer psychiatric care for adults and adolescents. All programs have a dual diagnosis approach and address substance abuse.
If you’re entering the adult substance abuse programs, you can choose from inpatient treatment, an intensive outpatient program, or outpatient counseling. Treatment generally includes an assessment and medical detox if needed. During treatment, you’ll engage in group therapy sessions and family counseling. There will also be psychiatric evaluation and aftercare planning.
The adolescent program treats kids aged 13 through 17. These programs include crisis intervention and responsive community-based treatment. The partial hospitalization program for adolescents meets Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. This program also includes relapse prevention planning and group therapy. Treatment sessions focus on coping skills development.
Some former clients commented that their stay was constructive and that the facility had good food. Others didn’t like the unprofessional comments of the staff and were disappointed in the cleanliness of the facility.
Latest Reviews
This review is just for Velysha (not necessarily Arbour as a whole). However, as a daughter of one of the patients here, Velysha was so kind, and helpful when it came to helping me visiting my mother. I give Velysha 10 out of 10 stars.
Response from the owner1 week ago
Thank you for your kind words, Tiffany! Shout-outs like this are so meaningful to our team and we will be sure to pass your comments along. Thank you again and take care!
This place is a nightmare. The clinicians misconstrue anything you tell them and lie to the patients. Serious safety concerns. The level of care patients receive is atrocious. Group therapy consists of coloring pages and listening to music. Place is a joke. They cash in on insurance money and keep people who don't need this level of treatment longer than necessary to make money. Place is a disgrace. If you want real help for mental illness with people who are caring and actually concerned, don't go here.
Response from the owner1 week ago
Hi, Melissa. Thank you for sharing your concerns with us. We'd appreciate the opportunity to discuss them with you in more detail directly. Should you wish to speak with a representative in more detail, please provide us with your contact information by visiting http://www.arbourhospital.com/contact-us/. Thank you again.
Staff were nice and helpful enough, though there could have been more open communication / explanation to new intakes
Response from the owner6 days ago
Hi, Cass. Thank you for taking the time to leave us these kind comments. We'd like to learn more about any concerns you may have. At your convenience, please provide us with your contact information by visiting https://arbourhospital.com/contact/. We hope to hear from you soon. 
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7 / 10
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Location
Accepted Insurance
Other Forms of Payment
Self-pay involves paying for treatment out of your own pocket. You can use savings or credit, get a personal loan, or receive help from family and friends to fund your treatment. If you don't have insurance or your insurance plan doesn't cover a specific program, self-pay can help ensure you still get the care you need.
Medicare is a federal program that provides health insurance for those 65 and older. It also serves people under 65 with chronic and disabling health challenges. To use Medicare for addiction treatment you need to find a program that accepts Medicare and is in network with your plan. Out of pocket costs and preauthorization requirements vary, so always check with your provider.
Medicaid is a state based program that helps lower-income individuals and families pay for healthcare. Medicaid covers addiction treatment so those enrolled can use their coverage to pay for rehab. When a program accepts Medicaid the client often pays very little or nothing out of their own pocket.
Addiction Treatments
Levels of Care
Outpatient Partial hospitalization programs (PHP) are offered for patients as part of the treatment continuum. These programs offer a safe, structured environment while enabling the patient to return home at night and maintain important family and community relationships. Partial hospitalization may be appropriate for patients making the transition from inpatient to outpatient treatment or as a program alternative for patients who do not present any danger to themselves or others but need a structured treatment plan and environment.
Inpatient The adult inpatient psychiatric services provide short-term admission for intensive diagnostic evaluation and treatment to stabilize individuals in crisis. While hospitalized, patients will work with a multi-disciplinary team headed by a psychiatrist who will design and implement an individualized treatment plan, including 24-hour nursing care, psychopharmacological interventions and a full range of psychosocial interventions. Treatment may involve psychological and behavioral components, medication management, family education and participation in group therapy.
Partial Hospitalization Program A partial hospitalization program (PHP), also known as day treatment, allows you to receive rehab-level care while living at home. PHP treatment requires a minimum of 20 hours of treatment each week for an average of 90 days. PHP treatment plans can vary depending on your needs but typically includes relapse prevention, medication management, and evidence-based therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Most insurance providers fully or partially cover PHP treatment.
24-Hour Clinical Care At certain points in the recovery process, it's important to have support available 24/7. 24-hour clinical care offers a safe environment in which to recover from drug or alcohol addiction in peace, knowing medical detox and other treatment will happen with professionals on hand.
Treatments
The goal of treatment for alcoholism is abstinence. Those with poor social support, poor motivation, or psychiatric disorders tend to relapse within a few years of treatment. For these people, success is measured by longer periods of abstinence, reduced use of alcohol, better health, and improved social functioning. Recovery and Maintenance are usually based on 12 step programs and AA meetings.
Addiction is a highly complex problem, and drug rehab in Massachusetts is often necessary to address it. These programs treat physical, mental, and relational issues that are involved. Treatment empowers individuals to manage these issues without the use of drugs.
Dual Diagnosis services offer a managed continuum of care designed to provide a comprehensive system of treatment and recovery from co-occurring psychiatric and substance disorders. Co-occurring psychiatric and substance disorders are treated simultaneously with a clear recognition that stabilization/arresting of the addiction is the most immediate concern upon the patient’s entering treatment.
A combined mental health and substance abuse rehab has the staff and resources available to handle individuals with both mental health and substance abuse issues. It can be challenging to determine where a specific symptom stems from (a mental health issue or an issue related to substance abuse), so mental health and substance abuse professionals are helpful in detangling symptoms and keeping treatment on track.
Opioid rehabs specialize in supporting those recovering from opioid addiction. They treat those suffering from addiction to illegal opioids like heroin, as well as prescription drugs like oxycodone. These centers typically combine both physical as well as mental and emotional support to help stop addiction. Physical support often includes medical detox and subsequent medical support (including medication), and mental support includes in-depth therapy to address the underlying causes of addiction.
Programs
Adult Program
Adult rehab programs include therapies tailored to each client's specific needs, goals, and recovery progress. They are tailored to the specific challenges adult clients may face, including family and work pressures and commitments. From inpatient and residential treatment to various levels of outpatient services, there are many options available. Some facilities also help adults work through co-occurring conditions, like anxiety, that can accompany addiction.
Clinical Services
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a therapy modality that focuses on the relationship between one's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is used to establish and allow for healthy responses to thoughts and feelings (instead of unhealthy responses, like using drugs or alcohol). CBT has been proven effective for recovering addicts of all kinds, and is used to strengthen a patient's own self-awareness and ability to self-regulate. CBT allows individuals to monitor their own emotional state, become more adept at communicating with others, and manage stress without needing to engage in substance abuse.
Whether a marriage or other committed relationship, an intimate partnership is one of the most important aspects of a person's life. Drug and alcohol addiction affects both members of a couple in deep and meaningful ways, as does rehab and recovery. Couples therapy and other couples-focused treatment programs are significant parts of exploring triggers of addiction, as well as learning how to build healthy patterns to support ongoing sobriety.
Creativity is inherently healing, and can help those in recovery express thoughts or feelings they might not otherwise be able to. Creative arts therapy can include music, poetry/writing, painting, sculpting, dance, theater, sandplay, and more. Unlike traditional art, the final product matters far less than the experience of creation and expression itself.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a modified form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a treatment designed to help people understand and ultimately affect the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. DBT is often used for individuals who struggle with self-harm behaviors, such as self-mutilation (cutting) and suicidal thoughts, urges, or attempts. It has been proven clinically effective for those who struggle with out-of-control emotions and mental health illnesses like Borderline Personality Disorder.
ECT stimulates brain cells via a brief electrical pulse to the scalp while the patient is under anesthesia. ECT appears to cause changes in brain function that can quickly reverse symptoms of certain mental illnesses. ECT is commonly used to treat patients with severe or treatment resistant depression who have not responded to medications or who cannot tolerate medications’ side effects. ECT treatments are extremely safe and medical complications are rare. Patients are monitored constantly throughout treatment.
Experiential therapy is a form of therapy in which clients are encouraged to surface and work through subconscious issues by engaging in real-time experiences. Experiential therapy departs from traditional talk therapy by involving the body, and having clients engage in activities, movements, and physical and emotional expression. This can involve role-play or using props (which can include other people). Experiential therapy can help people process trauma, memories, and emotion quickly, deeply, and in a lasting fashion, leading to substantial and impactful healing.
Group therapy is any therapeutic work that happens in a group (not one-on-one). There are a number of different group therapy modalities, including support groups, experiential therapy, psycho-education, and more. Group therapy involves treatment as well as processing interaction between group members.
In individual therapy, a patient meets one-on-one with a trained psychologist or counselor. Therapy is a pivotal part of effective substance abuse treatment, as it often covers root causes of addiction, including challenges faced by the patient in their social, family, and work/school life.
Life skills trainings involve all the skills a person must have in order to function successfully in the world. These include time management, career guidance, money management, and effective communication. Truly successful addiction recovery is based on the ability to not only live substance-free, but to thrive. Life skills teaches the practical necessities of functioning in society, which sets clients up for success in life, and therefore sobriety.
Trauma therapy addresses traumatic incidents from a client's past that are likely affecting their present-day experience. Trauma is often one of the primary triggers and potential causes of addiction, and can stem from child sexual abuse, domestic violence, having a parent with a mental illness, losing one or both parents at a young age, teenage or adult sexual assault, or any number of other factors. The purpose of trauma therapy is to allow a patient to process trauma and move through and past it, with the help of trained and compassionate mental health professionals.
Amenities
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Residential Setting -
Private Setting
Staff & Accreditations
Staff
Steve Fahey
Chief Executive Officer
Anmir Aggresar, MD
Chief Medical Director
Justin Douglas
Chief Nursing Officer
Allison Bernier
Chief Clinical Officer
Jordan Eastham
Director of Admissions
John Erramouspe
Director of Human Resources
Accreditations
The Joint Commission, formerly known as JCAHO, is a nonprofit organization that accredits rehab organizations and programs. Founded in 1951, the Joint Commision's mission is to improve the quality of patient care and demonstrating the quality of patient care.
Joint Commission Accreditation: Yes
Contact Information
(617) 522-4400 
49 Robinwood Avenue
Boston MA, 02130
Get Help Now - 617-862-0388
Who Answers?
Who Answers?
Fact checked and written by:
Kelly Junco, CPC, CPRC, BA, BS
Edited by:
Anna Spooner
