Horrible. They will say and do anything to get your money and not followup. I would not recommend.
About Persad Center
Persad Center is a premier LGBTQ+ behavioral health facility in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They offer LGBTQ+ affirming mental health and substance use treatment. Their program options are outpatient drug or alcohol treatment and intensive outpatient dual diagnosis therapy. The latter is more structured and requires more therapy sessions. It serves those simultaneously affected by mental health and substance addiction.
Their recovery approach is 100% LGBTQ+ responsive. You’ll have access to specialists who understand addiction treatment and are knowledgeable about LGBTQ+ cultures. Their highly skilled therapists will help you break addictive patterns and live as LGBTQ+ without relying on drugs. Services include individual, family and couple counseling as well as group therapy. This is geared toward building robust coping skills, strengthening relationships and life skill development. This fosters relapse prevention and lasting recovery.
You’ll also find strength in their peer support groups and gain essential knowledge from addiction education classes that guide you through recovery. The intensive outpatient dual diagnosis treatment may include psychiatric education and medication management. Their treatment prioritizes state designated high risk patients. This includes pregnant injection drug users, pregnant substance users and injection drug users.
Other services include HIV/AIDS case management and counseling as well as battering intervention programs. This may or may not be connected to your addiction and mental health issues. Their services are very affordable. It’s especially convenient that they accept Medicaid, Medicare and TRICARE. Comments from past clients reflect an overall positive experience and impressive quality of care.
Latest Reviews
I've been a client here for years and am so grateful for how they have helped me every step of the way. If you're queer and near Pittsburgh, this is the place you want to be for therapy. The new gym is amazing, all the therapists have been great, and there are groups and lots of ways to get involved with the local community. I really appreciate Persad!
I tried to call Persad Center and I told them about my mental state because I am alone and they believe that suicide is better for somebody like me. They really don t care about gay men outside of Pittsburgh. They just want to profit. So I gave up
Filled out the form, never heard anything , called only to be told I was on a waiting list and I only had 3 ish people infront of me that was March 8th and I have yet to hear anything back
Response from the owner7 months ago
Hello, At Persad Center we take the care and service of our clients seriously and we are working to create a more seamless client experience. We apologize that your experience has not risen to the level of expectation any of us would like. With that said, we need your help. If you could call us at 412 441-9786, and speak to our Clinical Director about your experience it would help us to continue to improve how we support our clients as they await our services. Thank you. 
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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.
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.
Military members, veterans, and eligible dependents have access to specific insurance programs that help them get the care they need. TRICARE and VA insurance can help you access low cost or no cost addiction and mental health treatment. Programs that accept military insurance often have targeted treatment focused on the unique challenges military members, veterans, and their families face.
Addiction Treatments
Levels of Care
Outpatient Outpatient Programs (OP) are for those seeking mental rehab or drug rehab, but who also stay at home every night. The main difference between outpatient treatment (OP) and intensive outpatient treatment (IOP) lies in the amount of hours the patient spends at the facility. Most of the time an outpatient program is designed for someone who has completed an inpatient stay and is looking to continue their growth in recovery. Outpatient is not meant to be the starting point, it is commonly referred to as aftercare.
Intensive Outpatient Clients engaged in intensive outpatient programs (IOP) live and work in their home community while receiving frequent, high-level care. These programs offer personalized care designed to evolve with the clients' changing needs. Many intensive outpatient rehabs require a minimum of nine hours of treatment per week, but high-risk clients and those in early recovery may receive up to 20 hours of care weekly. IOP services generally include addiction counseling, recovery education, and holistic therapies, such as massage.
Intervention Services Intervention services bring extensive experience to the planning and conducting of drug interventions in Pennsylvania. These experts can facilitate interventions in a sensitive manner that encourages positive outcomes. The goal of the intervention is to educate the individual about addiction and the consequences of their substance use and encourage them to get the treatment they need. Interventions can be effective with all types of drugs and alcohol addiction.
Treatments
Many of those suffering from addiction also suffer from mental or emotional illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorders. Rehab and other substance abuse facilities treating those with a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder administer psychiatric treatment to address the person's mental health issue in addition to drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
Mental health rehabs focus on helping individuals recover from mental illnesses like bipolar disorder, clinical depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and more. Mental health professionals at these facilities are trained to understand and treat mental health issues, both in individual and group settings.
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.
LGBTQ Program
Recovery is most successful when clients feel accepted and validated by their peers and treatment providers. Facilities that offer LGBTQ-inclusive programming are committed to creating a safe space where everyone can grow and recover without fear of judgment or discrimination. They will have dedicated policies in place to create a safe and supportive environment that fosters free expression.
Clinical Services
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.
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.
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.
Research clearly demonstrates that recovery is far more successful and sustainable when loved ones like family members participate in rehab and substance abuse treatment. Genetic factors may be at play when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction, as well as mental health issues. Family dynamics often play a critical role in addiction triggers, and if properly educated, family members can be a strong source of support when it comes to rehabilitation.
Contact Information
(412) 441-9786 
5301 Butler Street
Suite 100
Pittsburgh, PA 15201
Get Help Now - 412-729-2267
Who Answers?
Who Answers?
Fact checked and written by:
Chika Uchendu
Edited by:
Kerry Nenn, BSW
