The skills I learned here have transformed how I handle life's challenges. I'm so grateful for the dedicated staff who guided me through this journey. Sarah was my favorite therapist in both the PHP/IOP program. I love the structure of the day, but it was not rigid or inflexible. The place itself is also beautiful and peaceful, with plenty of spaces for reflection. read more

Lightfully Behavioral Health - Entryway (with flowers) - Counseling & Mental Health Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Had an awful experience here. Stuck it out for a month before I found a much better fit. Apartments are not safe, you're in the middle of Santa Monica, the groups and therapists are not helpful. Would not recommend to anyone needing treatment. read more

LightFully is committing FRAUD by completely failing to treat Trauma. I befriended two people who died there because of poor care. Many of the staff had been replaced while I was attending this location. Someone should investigate how many have died trying to get help. I witnessed two people dying. I can only imagine there are many more deceased people seeking help. read more

The company's attempt to save face by responding to my initial review that they don't treat clients like this is another absurd attempt at gaslighting. They do, and they should not, treat patients the way I was treated. My experience continues to be appalling. Trying to contact higher ups in the organization, like Taylor Stead, lead to further gaslighting and denial of retaliation for speaking up about my experience. The director Sean Burke should be fired for unethical practices. I would highly urge the CEO to look closely into this location, because while Lightfully RTC is absolutely Fantastic, their PHP program is appalling in how they "care" for their clients. I made the mistake of making my initial review while I was currently in care with Lightfully at the PHP level, and they retaliated by not allowing me to return to the (MUCH BETTER and competent) RTC. They deny that it's retaliation, but the timeline of their response and their 180 decision on my care occurred on the same day. Nice. So they clearly saw my review and decided they didn't want someone speaking up against mistreatment at any facility of theirs. Talk about a gross lack of accountability. read more

My life has tremendously improved. ALL the Therapists greatly care about our Progress. If I have any questions, concerns or needs, they address them with compassion. I am so glad I'm going through this VIOP. read more

"Hi Danielle, thank you for reaching out. We take your concerns very seriously, as what you've described is not how we work with our clients." Looks like Lightfully has responded to my review and a few others with a boilerplate template and it's a good representation of the type of care you can expect to receive especially if you have a legitimate concern. The conversation mimics one where I was scheduled to meet with my counselor and I approached them after morning group to confirm that we were meeting that day. ME: "Hey I have a lot of concerns we are meeting today at 10:30 AM right?" COUNSELOR: "No, I have you on Mondays and Wednesday." ME: "Really? I remember it being scheduled for today, Thursday?" COUNSELOR: "You're wrong I never scheduled you for Thursday. I see you Monday and Wednesday." ME: "I don't think so." *opens notebook* "I'm pretty sure I was scheduled for today, ya here -- I wrote it down last week when we met last." COUNSELOR: "No It's not necessary to look it up - I know what happened...you know I'm human too." ME: "OK..." I understand scheduling errors, but It was a bizarre interaction, my counselor was exceptionally defensive, and was unwilling to take a collaborative approach to fixing the issue or even saying sorry for it. My counselor made no attempt to connect later that day even to update me on whether or not we could meet that week and I finally was able to meet with them that Monday. I'm not sure if it was that Monday meeting that I quit the program, but I do know that it was during a counseling session with them that I ended up storming out and quitting the program because the gaslighting, lack of empathy and concern was unreal. It is similar to the interaction that has played out here on Yelp. Where I state my concerns, what occurred and how I was treated Lightfully still misses the mark by stating, "We take your concerns very seriously, as what you've described is not how we work with our clients," which is very invalidating to what I dealt with while I was there and it makes it clear that now improvements have been made there. I suspect this is a systemic issue with management, that trickles down to the counselors and its not healthy for their clients. When I started things were very new, I'd be willing to give grace to that had Lightfully's response taken accountability, was honest, stated that they were setting up and made note of ways that the program has improved since my visit, but clearly it has not. It's the lack of accountability, willingness to hear out clients, and gaslighting for me. I have no reason to reach out to their admission team to discuss this further. This review is honest, I will not be changing and it, and those are boundaries with this facility that I intend to maintain. read more

(Westwood PHP/IOP) They didn't bother to tell me that they are all UNLICENSED THERAPISTS until after many phone calls, emails, a tour, and the entire first day assessment after signing all the paperwork. Then when brought this up to them they said that no IOP/PHP programs hire experienced therapists, only unlicensed ones. That's completely untrue. I'm in my lates 20's and all the group leaders seem about my age or even younger....I'm not sure who exactly this program is for because hiring people right out of school still working towards their licenses really suggests unseriousness. Read the other 1 star reviews, they really do just leave you alone and let the patients run the program. In one group session, the program leader just sat on their computer while the patients read a worksheet and were supposed to discuss it amongst ourselves...why aren't you leading/teaching us? In another group, the leader had a more "active" part, if you could call it that, moderating a "core group" where the patients talk about their feelings/problems. Then the moderator would have other patients respond/give advice. So the patients really do everything. You can't even ask them a clarifying question without them acting unsure or answering a different easier question. Trust me don't give them even 1 hour of your time. They are taking advantage of people with real serious problems and should be ashamed of themselves. And they take zero responsibility for what they do because they already know and don't care. Man, there is so much more I could say but for now I'll leave it at that. Don't go here. read more

My daughter was admitted on 11/4/24 for self-harm. She was admitted with a KNOWN medical issue, but they discharged her the next day due to that medical issue. She had no where to go and they did not care. All they cared about was a potentail lawsuit and now they have one! The State of CA has substantiated the case! read more

Lolly Wool has no business being the president or president elect of any governing body. She is dangerous. She abandons clients. Invalidates them. Doesn't listen to them. She will be a detriment to your association. Lolly should not have a license to treat any individuals. You would do well to not associate with her. She abused multiple clients during her time at Alsana and got away with it which is one of several reasons why she left. Again, she is dangerous. During my time at Lightfully Behavioral Health, I was threatened by Lolly. She dismissed my concerns and she acted like I wasn't important. I attempted to speak with leadership of the company and was dismissed as well. It was clear that Lightfully could care less about me. They were happy to bill my insurance. But I never felt safe with the Therapist or the team there. Facilities are nice. But that's about it. read more

Residential program is great, PHP not so much. Uncaring, unprofessional individuals who lack an iota of competence. Sean Burke, in particular, a program manager at one of the PHP locations in Southern California (I forget which one) absolutely terrorized patients with his terrible attitude. They also recommended me for a "higher level of care," which was code for they just wanted to get rid of me because I was actually holding them accountable, and it caused me a lot of hours of emotional strain because I had to find outpatient providers in my hometown (a mental health dessert) who would take me despite my recommendation. Spoiler alert: I didn't need a higher level of care and I am doing much, much better ever since leaving this godforsaken place. Don't go here. Don't spend your money here and fill their coffers - that's their ultimate goal, not patient satisfaction or care. read more

If you want to feel worse about yourself than you already do, this is the place for you. You will be retaliated against for speaking out and removed from the program (Encinitas), as another reviewer has also noted. Never been more perplexed than I am right now by a mental health program punishing patients for the very behaviors for which they are seeking treatment. This place is an embarrassment to itself, from their total inability to be organized to willfully traumatizing patients and failing to enlist fully licensed and competent clinicians for their programming. You are better off using google than going here - the education they "teach" you is literally pulled from there anyway, and there is no skill application whatsoever. Disgraceful. read more

So I am on day 3 at Lightfully in Santa Monica and I am extremely grateful for the treatment I have received thus far. The staff is professional, knowledgeable, and are really committed to helping me to acclimate to the program so that I will be able to achieve my goals for admitting to the program. read more