Gundersen Health System

About Gundersen Health System

Gundersen Health System’s Unity House for Women is an eight bed residential drug and alcohol rehab center for women. Located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, the center provides inpatient treatment, transitional housing, and aftercare support, including specialized services for clients with co-occurring conditions. Treatment methods embrace the 12 Step approach to teach women how to live a lifestyle free of substances.

Their inpatient treatment program accepts women age 18 and older, including those on opioid medication. Programs include 28-30 day residential drug and alcohol rehab, long term residential rehab, and short term residential rehab.

During treatment, women live at the facility and receive 24 hour care and support. Treatment focuses on identifying relapse triggers, education on substance use disorders, and helping women develop a supportive recovery environment. During your stay, you’ll follow a schedule that includes household responsibilities and ongoing treatment interventions, including 12 Step meetings. Providers incorporate several addiction treatment approaches into their program, including cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational therapy, anger management, trauma related counseling and relapse prevention. Counseling approaches include individual, group, and educational sessions.

They also provide discharge planning and aftercare services to help women transition to their regular lives after treatment. Ongoing support may include additional therapy, 12 Step meetings, and other community resources to help program graduates maintain long term sobriety.

They accept Medicaid, private health insurance, and government funding to help cover the costs of treatment. A sliding scale payment option is also available, allowing women to pay only what they can afford based on their income and other factors. Contact your provider to check your coverage because out of network benefits can vary.

Rehab Score

Our Methodology

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7 / 10

Other Forms of Payment

Private insurance refers to any kind of healthcare coverage that isn't from the state or federal government. This includes individual and family plans offered by an employer or purchased from the Insurance Marketplace. Every plan will have different requirements and out of pocket costs so be sure to get the full details before you start treatment.

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.

Financial aid can take many forms. Centers may have grants or scholarships available to clients who meet eligibility requirements. Programs that receive SAMHSA grants may have financial aid available for those who need treatment as well. Grants and scholarships can help you pai for treatment without having to repay.

Sliding scale payments are based on a client's income and family size. The goal is to make treatment affordable to everyone. By taking these factors into account, addiction recovery care providers help ensure that your treatment does not become a financial burden to you or your family, eliminating one barrier to care.

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

Clients who are admitted to an outpatient rehab may be stepping down from intensive inpatient care or may be transitioning directly from a detox facility. Outpatient treatment enables clients to remain in or return to their home, workplace, and community without compromising access to care. Clients engage in addiction counseling and recovery education and may also receive evidence-based complementary therapies, such as yoga, acupuncture, and massage. Medication assisted treatment (MAT) is commonly available for clients in alcohol and/or opioid recovery.

Inpatient

Residential treatment programs are those that offer housing and meals in addition to substance abuse treatment. Rehab facilities that offer residential treatment allow patients to focus solely on recovery, in an environment totally separate from their lives. Some rehab centers specialize in short-term residential treatment (a few days to a week or two), while others solely provide treatment on a long-term basis (several weeks to months). Some offer both, and tailor treatment to the patient's individual requirements.

Partial Hospitalization Program

A partial hospitalization program (PHP) offers short-term intensive care for drug and alcohol addiction. Often part of a step-down service, PHP treatment allows you to attend treatment on-site during the day, then return home during non-treatment hours. Plans of care typically include relapse prevention, medication management, and behavioral therapy services. Depending on your progress, the duration of a PHP can average 90 days with daily sessions running 4-8 hours per week. Most insurance providers fully or partially cover PHP treatment.

Aftercare Support

Rehab aftercare programs support clients' long-term recovery through highly customized wraparound care aligned with clients' evolving needs. Most have been sober for a period of weeks or longer and have completed intensive inpatient rehab but may be receiving outpatient care. Many clients also receive services after being discharged from formal treatment. Long-term care plans are typically developed in collaboration with the client's case manager and care team and may include peer coaching, relapse prevention, and related services.

Intervention Services

If you are planning a drug intervention in Wisconsin, many rehab facilities offer professional intervention services to assist you. Having the expert insight of a trained intervention specialist can improve your chances of success when helping you plan and facilitate the intervention. This third-party involvement can provide the impartiality necessary for a productive conversation and appropriate guidance for next steps.

Medically Assisted Detox

Medical detox involves weaning your body off drugs and/or alcohol in an inpatient setting, and is often the first step in addiction recovery. Quitting alcohol and certain drugs (like benzodiazepines or opioids) can cause dangerous side effects once you have become physically dependent. In medically assisted detox, a team of on-site healthcare professionals will work to keep you safe and comfortable during this process. Additionally, they may administer medications when needed to alleviate any withdrawal symptoms.

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.

The goal of drug rehab in Wisconsin is to address drug addiction as a complex issue that involves physical, mental, and relational aspects. During rehab, treatment focuses on each of these areas and gives you the tools you need to achieve and maintain sobriety.

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.

Substance rehabs focus on helping individuals recover from substance abuse, including alcohol and drug addiction (both illegal and prescription drugs). They often include the opportunity to engage in both individual as well as group therapy.

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.

Young Adult Program

Young adulthood can be an exciting, yet difficult, time of transition. Individuals in their late teens to mid-20s face unique stressors related to school, jobs, families, and social circles, which can lead to a rise in substance use. Rehab centers with dedicated young adult programs will include activities and amenities that cater to this age group, with an emphasis on specialized counseling, peer socialization, and ongoing aftercare.

Clinical Services

As a form of substance use treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy in Wisconsin offers several advantages. The duration of this talk therapy is typically 20 sessions or less, so it can be more affordable, with quicker results. It's also offered in multiple formats, so it can be tailored to meet individual needs.

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.

When conducting motivational interviewing in Wisconsin, therapists engage with their clients as equal partners. They don't provide unsolicited advice or confront clients. Instead, they ask questions and listen, with the goal of empowering clients to recognize any need for change and their ability to make those changes.

Trauma therapy gives you the opportunity to understand and manage the emotional and physical responses that often follow witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event. Working with an experienced and trained therapist, you can process the events of the trauma and develop healthier coping strategies to reduce your symptoms.

During couples therapy, you will engage in activities that promote forgiveness, healthy communication, and understanding. You'll receive "homework" to practice these skills during the week between sessions. Couples therapy typically lasts around 12 weeks.

One focus of family therapy is to create a network for the individual in recovery. Families must identify dysfunctional patterns and develop healthier ways of interacting. This can significantly improve their loved one's treatment outcome.

Proper nutrition is essential to addiction recovery. That's why nutrition therapy is often included in drug rehab in Wisconsin. This treatment will help you relearn good self care habits such as meal planning and maintaining a nutritious diet.

Nicotine replacement therapy in Wisconsin eases withdrawal and cravings when you quit smoking. By making you more comfortable, these tools increase your chances of success. Examples include nicotine lozenges, patches, and gum.

Amenities

Residential Setting
Private Rooms

Staff & Accreditations

Staff

Diana Broniec

Director of Inpatient Operations

Lori Wittig

Director of Business Operations

Aaron Bonnett

Foundation Manager

Richard Sternhagen

Board Chairman

Paul Fisch

Board Vice Chairman

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