Southwood Psychiatric Hospital

2575 Boyce Plaza Road
Pittsburgh PA, 15241

About Southwood Psychiatric Hospital

Southwood Psychiatric Hospital provides treatment for behavioral and cognitive concerns for children and adolescents. Southwood Psychiatric Hospital is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

At Southwood Psychiatric Hospital, they believe in providing treatment unique to young people. They provide customized care for each patient, taking care to address every need resulting in a favorable treatment outcome. They believe people are capable of change.

Some of the services offered at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital include: medication management prescribed by a psychiatrist, individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy like recreation groups, anger management, medication education and social skill development.

Latest Reviews

Priscilla Ocon

3 weeks ago on Google

It's under renovation. So I hope there will be individual rooms for the kids soon.They toss in all the kids divided into two sectionsOne section is girls the other is boys. there is no more separation. So a non violent child could be eating and sleeping in the same room as a very violent volatile child.The patients attack nurses and other patients. The nurses yell at the patients and tell them to stop crying or else. Some nurses gossip behind the backs of patients. And others threaten the patients that " if they say anything, that staff member will turn around and sue the parents. because it's their word against the patients."Others yell at the patients to"shut up or else" at night when the patients are crying.I tried calling and calling all day every day. For 21 days. These awful people turned off the ringer on the phone and would just not answer. If my daughter didn't call me I would never have heard from her.How can someone heal mentally with all that drama daily. It gives you a worse bout of PTSD called hyper vigilance.This place gave me the sense of a bonafide prison.A simple cat pillow was considered contraband and not allowed without dr prescription.There's only a few staff that are nice. and care about these kids. The rest look like they are in it just for the money and have become jaded. Dr monetta is so fabulous she did a wonderful job with my daughter and she came home so much better.

Response from the owner1 day ago

Your review is important to us. We strive to deliver clinically excellent care, and gathering additional information would be highly beneficial. If you are willing to offer more details, please send us an email at Feedback@southwoodhospital.com. Thank you.

Ken Kosh III

1 month ago on Google

Something really bad happened to me there in 1998 when I was just 14. Please, stay away from this place. Do not send your kids here.

Response from the owner1 week ago

We aim to offer the utmost in clinical care, and feedback is invaluable to us. If you are open to providing additional information, we kindly ask you to email us at Feedback@southwoodhospital.com. Thank you.

alaina griffith

1 month ago on Google

i dont understand why this place is even open. i would give it zero stars if i could. i stayed at this psych ward for a little less than a month a few years ago. DO NOT bring your children here. i had lice in my hair. every time i would ask when i would be treated they would just say they had put a work order in. it was four whole days before i was treated. mind you before i even got lice there i had problems at home and had fleas in my hair aswell for several months prior. i was screamed at by a nurse to stop scratching my head. i broke down and cried and told them i had been telling them there were bugs in my hair. they did absolutely nothing until i told everyone on the unit about it. the place is extremely unsanitary. they would move places people were sleeping in frequently without wiping down the beds, hence how i ended up with lice. also when i was finally treated for lice they forced me to keep the treatment in my hair longer than the directions said to, causing my hair to fall out in clumps. what i have just described sadly is only the tip of the iceberg. staying in this place for not even a month caused me to actually go insane. it wasnt just me either, everyone in my unit was going through the exact same thing. i shudder thinking of the long periods of time these CHILDREN were forced there. we were forced to sit in uncomfortable weirdly shaped plastic chairs ALL DAY. we werent even allowed to prop our legs up on said chairs to be remotely comfortable. as i remember they told us it was a sexual behavior, to do so. we didnt have time alone, we werent allowed to go into our rooms unless it was bed time. which was a big issue for me considering i am an introvert. the only thing i would look forward to was sleeping. i would think about it all day. just having time to be alone and not be forced to be around others when i mentally couldnt handle it. we werent taught coping skills, we didnt have mental health conversations, nothing. they would give a random prompt per day (sometimes not even) that we were supposed to answer in the journals. all we had to entertain ourselves was a journal, crayons, and sometimes playing cards. i remember fearing going to certain places in this psych ward. i was scared because its like walking into a murder house. you can feel that horrible things have happened there. i did make a friend there, she was full on screaming bloody murder one day and it sounded like she was slammed against the wall. mind you the commotion was so loud it was heard while we were outside on the concrete fenced in area. i cant say exactly what happened since i didnt directly witness it but it terrified me considering her sweet nature. im not even religious but i was full on praying for her to be okay. the nurses there were outright cruel. we were allowed ZERO physical contact with anyone. i begged for a hug and was given a look of disgust by a nurse. she looked alien to me. like i wasnt even viewed as human. by the time i was released, i couldnt function. i couldnt talk right or think straight from repeated abuse at this facility. i have hope in my heart this place will be shut down one day. thank you for reading if youve gotten this far. i could say more, but i have already wrote quite a bit.

Response from the owner1 week ago

Although this review is concerning, we thank you for writing it. We value your feedback, and having an opportunity to gather more details would be highly beneficial. To discuss this in depth, we kindly ask you to reach out to us at Feedback@southwoodhospital.com. Thank you.

Gallery

The facilities at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA 1

The facilities at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA 2

The facilities at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA 3

The facilities at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA 4

Location

Accepted Insurance

Southwood Psychiatric Hospital works with several private insurance providers and also accepts private payments when possible, Please contact to verify your specific insurance provider.

Call now to check and verify your insurance

800-985-8516

Who Answers?

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.

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.

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

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.

24-Hour Clinical Care

Because the severity of withdrawal symptoms can fluctuate, constant monitoring under 24-hour clinical care in Pennsylvania is recommended for early recovery. As you undergo detox, medical staff will supervise your health and ensure severe symptoms do not develop or threaten your life. Professional counselors will also be available to treat mental and emotional health needs.

Aftercare Support

Clients receiving services from a rehab aftercare program are usually stable and in the maintenance phase of recovery, having completed detox and/or intensive inpatient treatment. Rehab aftercare services can vary widely based on clients' individual and evolving needs, but often include peer coaching, relapse prevention support, 12 step program induction, and medical, mental health, and social service referrals. Individual care plans are typically developed by the client in partnership with their case manager and care team.

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

Teen Program

Teen programs are designed to address the unique pressures teens face, pressures that can drive them to experiment with dangerous, addictive substances. They need programs that meet them exactly where they are and give them tools for long-term recovery. Therapy can help teenagers understand and work through underlying issues so they can reclaim the life ahead of them.

Child Program

The providers who specialize in the children's rehab space understand the specialized needs that this population faces. School-based and social services such as tutoring and family counseling are often central to treatment. Child programs may also address the needs of youth experiencing substance abuse in the home, including a parent's or sibling's addiction.

Program For Men

Men face specific challenges and concerns when seeking addiction treatment. Gender-specific recovery programs help them tackle these issues head-on in an environment that's focused, targeted, and distraction-free. It also gives them the opportunity to connect with and learn from other men who have been through a similar journey and can offer support for the next step.

Program For Women

Rehabs for women provide a safe, nurturing space for female clients to heal. These treatment programs consider the specific obstacles that women can face during recovery and place a special emphasis on mental, social, physical, and reproductive health. They explore how each woman's experience has shaped the trajectory of their substance use, addressing issues such as sexual abuse and past trauma.

Clinical Services

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.

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.

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.

Amenities

Private Setting
Basketball Court
Yoga Studio
Recreation Room
Music Room
Gym
Day School
Art Activities

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
Accreditation Number: 1048

Contact Information

(888) 597-3432

Website

2575 Boyce Plaza Road
Pittsburgh PA, 15241

Get Help Now - 800-985-8516

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Reviews of Southwood Psychiatric Hospital

2/5 (226 reviews)

156

Google Reviews

2 (226 reviews)

3 weeks ago

Response from the owner3 weeks ago

1 month ago

Response from the owner1 month ago

I was incarcenated at the age 14 in 2015 for adults allowing me to drink. Im currently 28 in 2024. Seeing Southwood has not changed. Which I gathered from recent reviews. I will tell my story. Before I was admitted. Which took place 4 months prior to my admittance. I said some unreasonable things because I blacked out. The adults whom provided me with alcohol substances did not like what I said. So still upset months later. They told my mother what I had said when blacked out due to there negligence. No evaluation took place at southwood. The buildig was extremely dirty. I contracted ring worm. That staff were not professional. I was given benadryl nightly to put me to sleep. They had no concern for their patients mental health. I had seen numerous fights between patients within the month I was there. The employees care only about gaining a check. Rather than the rehabilitation of patients. This facility puts anyone with any serious mental illness with those whom have had mild mental illness, if any at all. In the same facility section. I would NOT recommend this hospital to anyone whom seeks help for their child/children!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This place should be shut down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kassidy Krocker

2 months ago

This is the worst psychiatric hospital around. I had another review up and it was taken down for the truth being exposed.I was admitted to this hospital a week before I turned 18 because my foster parents no longer could control my actions. I was a well behaved straight A student who had a mishap happen early in life where I had to grow up in the CYS community. I get dropped off at this location and am admitted with no testing or screening and not having a clue as to what is going on. They take everything my foster parents are making up and go along with it. May I add these foster parents lost their fostering privileges a week later when cys found out I was admitted for no reasonable cause? :)This location is filthy. It s abusive and traumatic to kids who actually need help. Once you are in you are put into this large room, with one bathroom and a back area with bedrooms. The windows are boarded, there s no outside time, no privacy for when you need to use the bathroom, and sit in a cold empty room all day with little activity. You are boarded with 10-20 other people.One of the most traumatic pieces of this story is how you get given a therapist who will threaten you with a shot in your butt to knock you asleep for days if you question ANYTHING about why or what is going on. Vulnerable children are put into these situations needing help and come into a building being threatened and abused. It s no way to help your mind being locked in a room all day with little interaction. Then when I had a family member ready to come take me out, they forced me to stay an extra day(over my birthday ) because they wanted to make sure I was evaluated properly. So when they should have evaluated me properly the first time it never happened but when I was ready to leave on my birthday it was not time yet .You are forced on medication. Never have I ever needed medication in my entire life, I ve had therapist Properly evaluate me and see that I have coping mechanisms for my trauma. They threw me on a depression pill claiming nobody can leave unless they are medicated even though it was against my beliefs. The medication didn t work, and yet I was still forced into these situations and threatened. We had pat downs for the wards where children were misbehaving. There is no system to this hospital. What truly aggravates me is how the negative responses go unnoticed but the positive ones are by employees or guardians of the children that attend this facility that believe in harsh punishment is how to correct depression.

Response from the owner2 months ago

Thank you for providing this feedback. We strive to deliver the highest standard of care, and it s important to us that we understand this matter. Please reach out to us directly at Feedback@southwoodhospital.com so that we can discuss this in more detail.

Jaci Pribish

This place traumatized me even more than I already was. It exposes me to horrific behaviors. Staff loved to drag patients, and treat them like they are scum under their shoes. There was no respect towards the patients: the staff seemed to treat us like prisoners Vs kids who just need help. Saw on many occasions kids dragged, tackled, administered medications to sedate. Etc. Never take ur kids here.

We appreciate you sharing this review with us. Reading this is disheartening, but we are thankful that you ve taken the time to express these concerns. Please get in touch with us at Feedback@southwoodhospital.com so that we can have an in-depth conversation.

Anne Mageras

3 months ago

To start, staff were extremely disrespectful, and borderline abusive. Would constantly cuss and put others down. (ahem.. mr bert and mr dwayne)We would have to ask to do anything and we were constantly threatened with being sedated with a PRN. Being in Boys 2 was the worst experience at this hospital because our group had tons of fights and staff were constantly yelling and on their phones. As a place designed to "give psychological care and advice" they do a horrible job at trying to provide that promise. The doctors were constantly putting patients down and once I was released, the doctor didn't even give the correct information to the Therapy places THEY provided. (they wouldn't have taken our insurance anyway) Overall, this place is a no-go unless you want to put your kids through hell and back.

Response from the owner3 months ago

We are grateful for your willingness to write this review, though it raises concerns. For a more detailed discussion, please contact us at Feedback@southwoodhospital.com. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

aint hit

i was admitted here at southwood hospital a few weeks ago and got out now the rooms are cold and so is the facilty until you get to the part where the staff work i was given a alot of RTF's for just crying but there are some people who desver a raise mr mike the nurse on the boys unit mr darrel and mrs kaite they were good peoplr who actually help me but there was this one kid who was picking on me i will name him j but j used to torment me by saying that he would fight me or punch me one time i said to stop and he pushed me and the staff didnt notice but they are always distracted i would not recomend going here west point better

Thank you for initiating a dialogue on this matter. To continue this conversation, we encourage you to get in touch with us at Feedback@southwoodhospital.com. Your input is appreciated, and we are dedicated to understanding these circumstances.

Lisa Lefever

This place is horrible!I was in south wood last December, and let me tell you this was not a place for a kid! The food was horrible and the staff was horrible! I was crying all the time and the staff didn't tell my parents what medication I was on and they didn't tell my parents about anything nor did they tell me anything! I hated this place and I'm so traumatized! Do NOT send you kid/teen here!

Reuven Knight (Laz0r50)

Been almost 25 years. Good to know that nothing has changed except now the staff have cell phones to play on when they ignore the kids.Ugh...I was faking when I went in because I wanted to get away from my abusive family, although I did report some issues that were bothering me. Wish they would have figured out those were OCD symptoms then, instead of it taking a whole lot more years for me to learn that it could present in a lot of ways, go back for a diagnosis, and learn that OCD had been pretty much ruling my life for decades and it was extremely obvious when doing the screening packet for it. Kind of surprised they missed the ADHD as well, but it was the 90's and they didn't realize sluggish fat kids like me could have it.Anyways, everything in the reviews is stuff that has been going on forever with this place. And yes, it did screw me up for years and made me never want to go back. However, it is, unfortunately, a good primer for what to expect from adult mental health facilities. Yep kiddos, it does not get better than this unless you find some rare and special facility. Most are the same way, you just are surrounded by other adults, some of whom are terrifying, and the staff still treats you like liars and ignores you when you need help. Worse, you will be the one paying for it! It sucks. Try to find other ways to get mental help while you are young and get into good self-care habits, avoid self-medicating with substances because when you can't get those you won't know how to cope well and could end up back again, try to get some good self-awareness going as well so you can head off symptoms before they get too bad and never end up back in one of these places.When it comes to mental health hospitals, Southwood is just par for the course.

Linda Baker

I am so deeply saddened that my family trusted Southwood when placing my 10 year old grandson. His belongings have been stolen; a summer wardrobe bought for him yet hes dressed in l9st and found cl9thes when we visit, alot of personal bel9ngings missing. Try to call him and the phone rings for HOURS. I call him and I hear staff screaming and swearing at kids in the background.My grandson was injured by another child and denied medical care for days until family threatened lawsuit. Honestly theres a huge difference in Southwood and other residentials. I cant wait to get my grandson out.

Gemma Night

20 years ago I spent a total of 2 years here between the ages of 14-17. It s 20 years later and I can finally see how much those years affected the trajectory of my life. Besides the obvious trauma of being in an institution that profits off the decline of your mental health, I was instilled with a twisted set of coping mechanisms that have taken decades of my life from me. Giving a 14 year old cocktails of medications every-time they have a feeling does not set them up for success. I was given depakote, serequel, Wellbutrin, lithium, trazadone ect. I developed severe chronic physical health problems caused by the side effects of these drugs on my small developing body. I will never have children, I have severe insomnia and since I was taught that drugs cure emotions I struggled with debilitating addiction for years. This is a multi billion dollar industry that tricks parents into giving up on their normal children, to pay to have their child traumatized. I could list the devastating details, the flashbacks I still have, the amount of times I was sedated for crying, the amount of times I woke up confused, bruised and scared from being injected with sedatives but it seems everyone else has left those reviews. If you take anything from this let it be that I am writing this review 20 years after being here, it s still traumatic, it s still painful. Please just love your child enough to take care of them yourself, this place is not going to help.

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