Sierra Tucson
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10 years ago
The place is highly rated but once they get your money, you can't get anyone to return a phone call. The admissions people are great but the rest of the staff is horrible. It is so frustrating to leave messages and not get returned phone calls. Here are some of my issues: 1- Trying to get a refund is taking over 4 weeks. Still waiting for my 36k. 2- My sister had to leave and go to a hospital. Her clothes did not go with her. I called to get her clothes sent and I won't mention names but she said she would mail them to her. I told her her stay was only for 5 days and it would be nice for her to wear something besides scrubs. She would not send their car service to deliver. I finally got it resolved but it took 90 minutes of my day. This place does not even deserve one star. read more
Business owner information
Sierra T.
Employee
Dear Patricia,…
11 years ago
Amazing place for anyone who is looking to get any type of help! They were great with me when I went there in July 2015. I was diagnosed with a mood disorder which was my main reason of drinking. The staff is great, the food is really good, the rooms are exceptionally clean. I may say that the place is like a resort except that there is staff 24/7 and people that work there truly care for your wellbeing. There is alsp massages and accupuncture as well as yoga and arts available - all for therapeudic recovery of course. I've been to another rehab in florida, but sierra truly addressed my problems and with their help, I've been sober ever since I left there, which I never thought was possible. I'll always be greatful for their help. read more
11 years ago
I helped to get a friend into Sierra Tuscon who was suicidal. He did not have much money so I worked with friends and family to find the money for a 45 day treatment program. My friend was very direct in telling the inpatient people the issues he was dealing with. His greatest fear, after trying other clinics was that Sierra Tucson could not help him. He arrived on a Wednesday evening at 11 PM and was told on Friday morning by Dr. Genovese, the lead doctor on the case, that they could not help him. I spoke with Dr. Genovese and he said it would be unethical for ST to keep my friend knowing they could not effectively treat him. Very concerned that my friend had been suicidal and his worst fears were that ST could not treat him, I requested they try to find him an alternate solution. This the did. In working with the "business office" at ST, they told me that had not run the credit cards and would not do so until they could assess the total costs for his 2 day visit. We could only get my friend into the new facility recommended by ST if we had the money we had committed to ST for his treatment. To make a very long and frustrating story much shorter, ST was not truthful with me on "running the credit cards" of the people I had gotten to support the treatment. Sierra Tucson had run all the credit cards the first full day of my friends visit and help them for a full month making it impossible for us to get my suicidal friend into a new treatment program. The news reports are that there have been three suicides at Sierra Tucson. It is very easy for me to see how this could happen based on how they treated this particular case. Sierra Tucson lied to me as the person coordinating the treatment and made it impossible for us to get my friend into a new treatment facility. There was absolutely no coordination between the "business office" and the treatment team lead by Dr. Genovese and seemingly no concern about releasing a suicidal patient while keeping all the money for this 45 day treatment in hock making it impossible for us to get him into a different facility. I consider Sierra Tucson a highly unethical organization and it is easy for me to understand why they have had suicides on site when they treat clients the way they treated my friend. read more
10 years ago
What a laugh this place was. Dr. Moyer touts her credentials and her dissertation yet they're no where to be found. Just like any good predator, this doctor finds your vulnerabilities and uses them against you. They are all so afraid of their own shadows since the negative media due to their own negligence that they are still doing things wrong. The program they sell is not as advertised, buyers BEWARE! If you want luxury at the expense of understaffing and apathetic top dogs then fork over your money baby, and never mind receiving one iota of decent care from the treatment team. Now, the nursing staff and psych techs are amazing and compassionate, unfortunately they're all under the thumb of the money hungry wolves at the top. Also, this place answers to shareholders and profit margins, not patients and their families. Their owner, Acadia Healthcare, is proud that they finally had the best FYQ1 in 2016 despite cuts in staff. All of their panic to send people away is due to suicides they could have been prevented had they been properly staffed and trained, instead they blame the incoming patients whom they've already admitted and forced to fly there and pay the outrageous fees. This is all just one giant circus that'll eventually get shutdown because of lackluster management and downright indifference towards their patients. Another patient was sent home for something they had disclosed during the initial intake process and was assured it would not be a problem. One staff member said this had become common practice as of late, which is pathetic and sick. And as for drugs or alcohol, know that three patients were there for the second time within a month (all self-pay no less), so I wouldn't recommend Sierra Tucson for chemical dependency despite its "premier" status. The game playing, cover ups, and run arounds are insurmountable. Take heed from my cautionary misadventure, that has left me in a deeper pit of hell than before! read more
16 years ago
Sierra Tucson is a joke. It is a terrible facility and the counselors are clueless. My wife (now exwife), went to the facility for Bipolar disorder. In addition, she was cheating on me. When I attended for "family week" they had labeled her as depressed and "love addicted." However, they allowed her boyfriend to talk to her on the phone and also send her cards, letters and flowers -- all while my daughter and I were there for the week to be supportive and helpful. The staff also promised to have a plan for us after leaving the facility. The plan they gave us was not feasible -- and included advising her to attend programs that did not exist. All this after spending over $50,000. Furthermore, after her six weeks (extended an extra week) at Sierra Tucson, she came home and announced to me that she had been cheating on me with her boyfriend - but now wanted to be with me. The people at Sierra Tucson were clueless. When I called the staff at the facility and some of the people I had met there, they were cold and uncaring. This place ought to be shut down for incompetence. They don't care about anything but money -- and they don't know what they are doing. read more
13 years ago
I attended for post partum depression. While the food did leave something to be desired & the night staff seemed sparse, overall it was exactly what I needed to overcome my depression. I saw a few patients behaving like spoiled brats, trying to avoid recovery by distracting themselves with gossip or flirting. But I got out of it what I put in it- I did the work, tried all the alternative therapies-equine-assisted therapy, EMDR, Qigong, Reiki, Shiatsu massage, & others and they all helped me in a way I honestly did not think they could. I remember letting myself get distracted with a few trivial things like not having tv or constant phone access but I realize those things distract from the precious short time you have there- 30 days goes by quick! As we are all human, there were staff personnel I liked more than others but never did they allow me to be in a dangerous situation or treat me sub-human. I'm not saying it couldn't have happened to others but I do know of several people that hated being in treatment that created chaos & constantly complained to get out of therapy & not participate. The mountains were beautiful at sunset, but I wasn't there for the view. I highly recommend Sierra Tucson for Mood disorder treatment. read more
8 years ago
This is based on a one week stay at the desert flowers unit. I was struggling to find a place that would accept me due to dual diagnosis, and when they said they would I got excited, oh would I learn. I went there for eating disorder, trauma, and mood disorder. When it came to my eating disorder they had no idea what to do once I got there. I have struggled for a long time and someone telling me to eat isn't going work. I was told there would be support for meals and groups just for ED, but there is nothing in DF. When it came to the psychiatrist there was multiple different ones I saw in my short stay. All but one I found twisted the truth to me, which only made me apprehensive of them. I would told one thing, while they would do something else. Since I signed a release for my mom when they would talk to her it would be completely different from what I was told. The schedule was pretty much the same thing every day. I ended up getting a sinus infection while I was there, and I was not given anything other then a immune booster drink, which I couldn't take due to the taste. I wasn't allowed my vitamins, which I take because I am moderately-severely deficient on many different vitamins. The nurses and staff where amazing on the unit, but not all the therapist were good. I ended up getting told I needed a higher level of care, but I left. I was recommended inpatient eating disorder treatment, but instead Im going the residential route again. In the end it only cost 2,000 after insurance. If you have an eating disorder I would not go here at all, and I would find somewhere else. I would not recommend this place from my experience. read more
7 years ago
Do not come here. I have been here twice. There are currently multiple lawsuits here including malpractice, medical neglect, the list goes on. The "doctors" are not even licensed. A man had a stroke during my most recent stay, and they refused to send him to the hospital. There were 6 patient deaths in one year, the only thing they care about is money, and the only staff that actually cares about you don't have jurisdiction to help. My therapist made two mysognistic comments to me, I have been refused medication that I have been on for 7 years and lied to about the effects of the medication. The staff is full of liars. They have been reported to the American Mental Health Association multiple times. The staff here are bullies and they do not do anything about your problems unless you threaten to report them to the state. Throughout my time here, there have been 4 lawsuits placed and 2 deaths. Do not waste your time or money. Sierra Tucson is a scam and they do not care about you or your concerns until you threaten to report them to a higher above. They are infamous for losing valuable items and not refunding anyone. All this place cares about is money. The intake staff are paid to lie, I was told things that were not true as were other patients. I even called multiple times asking the same question, and was given a different answer each time. All this place cares about is money, the staff are bullies, neglectful, liars, and immature, as if they are still stuck in middle school. Whatever you do, do not come here. It is a dangerous place. A woman has gone missing and wa never found. More than a handful of lawsuits. read more
9 years ago
I went for the pain program, but instead they put me on a different program I couldn't keep up with and then yelled & verbally abused me. Anytime I tried to talk to upper mng I was ignored & they lied to me and my family. You cannot trust this place or the ppl. It's very sad because you can tell at one point it was a wonderful healing place, but since corporate took over everything went to sh#$. read more
Business owner information
Sierra T.
Employee
Dear Jody,…
12 years ago
I just left Sierra Tuscan and would have to say their program gave me the skills to stay alive and choose not to use drugs to get through life. I found the staff to be top notch, they knew their stuff and were there to help me in my thirty day journey. I got the most out of it because I came prepared to do the hard work and was willing to do whatever they said. My best addict thinking got me there, so I was ready to listen and do what was necessary. The Native American spirituality resonated with me and helped me develop my concept of a Higher Power. They saved my life. read more
7 years ago
Sierra Tucson is one of the few programs in the country that is willing to treat very complex mental health disorders in a dignified residential campus. (Instead of a psych unit or hospital based environment) Some of the disorders treated include personality disorders. The people who take the time to write these dramatic negative reviews were most likely not ready to get well-parents and the family systems included. The state with it's stringent protocols would not have just granted Sierra Tucson clearance to build and open a new 40,000 square foot inpatient program if these reviews had merit. Sure some people have valid concerns-no program is perfect- but please consider the source and make your decision about serious medical conditions like mental health disorders with your therapist or treating physician. Reviews are great for planning a trip and shopping for things like computers and gadgets , not for deciding on medical care. Anyone can write them and just because a program has no reviews or mainly good reviews -is no indication that it is a good program. Anyone can ask their buddy to give a 5 star review. Think about it. Please don't make decisions about life threatening chronic illnesses using Yelp! Sierra Tucson changed my life for the better in every possible way. I was ready to change and worked very hard while there. It is sad to see some of these reviews as it keeps some people from receiving the best treatment in the country for mental health. Sierra Tucson treats thousands of people every year for over 35 years. Please consider the source and partner with your medical provider to make these very important decisions. read more
10 years ago
This place may be ok for pure addicts, but where mental health issues go, specifically personality disorders, stay away! The director denies the existence of personality disorders, seeking to pin everything on childhood trauma. My ex wife went there for alcoholism and metal health issues. They enabled her with psychobabble that lead her to blame all of her problems on her mother and me. Her mother and I did extensive research of qualified sources, both in written and person form. Many qualified therapists will verify the reality of personality disorders and say that childhood trauma is a factor that leads to them, but that denying the existence of personality disorders is irresponsible health care. They also poo-poo'd her addressing her rampant infidelity, saying that it wasn't advisable to go into that in any detail, while other experts I consulted said that it was necessary to save the marriage. This place marches to it's own beat. A beat which other therapists I have spoken to were abhorred by. In the end, my now ex-wife went to another place in CA, per their guidance, then decided to not return home to our kids and me. She went on to attempt suicide for a third time that year, and continued to believe that the kids could come visit her for summers, in a place that the police told me was full of substance abuse problems. I would NEVER recommend this place. They did nothing for my now, ex-wife, who continues to have a pity party about how all of her choices are because she is so sick due to other people's faults. She still takes no responsibility, shows no remorse, nor contrition for the years of abusive behavior toward me and our kids. I got better value from my divorce lawyer who had spent 15 years as a psych nurse, prior to getting his law degree. He helped me secure the kids and require that my ex-wife's time with them is limited and supervised. read more
Business owner information
Sierra T.
Employee
Dear Brian,…
7 years ago
AVOID SIERRA TUCSON LIKE THE PLAGUE! Went to a very expensive week long therapy for eating disorders at Sierra Tucson. One of the worst experiences of my life. I was also in sexual recovery and very sensitive to how people dress in a sexually provocative way. So I made certain to read their literature in advance which specified that there was a conservative dress code in respect for people like me. But when I arrived even the head counselor was dressed in short shorts and tube top! I was shocked and said something to the head counselor who insisted that I had misread the literature. When I got home, I reread the literature and sure enough, I was right. I called and told Sierra Tucson staff about it and they acted like I was crazy. No acknowledgement, no apology. This is just one small part of the senseless insanity they dished out there. Sierra Tucson actually made my eating disorder worse. AVOID SIERRA TUCSON LIKE THE PLAGUE! read more
11 years ago
although admittedly established, sierra tucscon is not a good place! NEVER been quite sure how they get away with seeming like a top facility.. i'd say they pay off the reviewers. if you dont already have a problem, theyll give you one. there are highly trained professionals here who give nonsense diagnoses; the staff is disorganized and rude as hell, not to mention the layout is completely isolating and depressing. do yourself a favor and save your money! Go somewhere else....anywhere else. read more
9 years ago
I have a pit in my stomach, reading these reviews. I wish I had read them before going all the way to Arizona to spend a month in their greedy hands. They told me 3 times "I was good to go" which meant they had filed for the preauthorization. They made me pay my deductable of over 3,000$. One week later they were scrambling to get me out of there because insurance denied the preauthorization that was submitted 1 day after I arrived. I had to change my round trip airfare. So that was another 400$. I have been calling my insurance and ST every week. Then they billed my insurance 21,000 on top of my deductible. Originally, they said that it would'nt out because of insurance. They called me back 2 weeks later and said it would work out. I was excited then. Now I am so disappointed, angry and depressed. I was a patient for mood disorder and this experience has made my mood grouchy. It's over-priced and it's bait and switch. Go to Arizona for golf, good mexican food and warm sunshine. DON'T go for treatment at Sierra Tucson. read more
Business owner information
Sierra T.
Employee
Dear Liz,…
10 years ago
I attended Sierra Tuscon in September of 2013- October 2013. I had the most excellent experience. I went for their co-occuring disorder program since I suffer from addiction, major depressive disorder and bad anxiety. I wanted to write this review because my boyfriend is about to attend and after reading copious amounts of reviews from other websites like, rehabs.com, I thought I could put some truth and expierience into how "normal" addicts and head cases view this place and not just the nutballs who decided to give ST one star and say it was a waste of time-how untrue that could be. Please keep an open mind that not all places are the "cure all". However, while attending ST, I learned so many coping gained a ton of knowledge about myself that I never had before. I'm now a 28 year old female from Long Island and like I said, I attended this place 3 years ago. ST was one out of 6 rehabs I've attended througbout my life and I'm so very grateful and pleased to say it was my last. (Though I am a work in progress). Let me start from the beginning and what you should expect. First, yes, it is VERY EXPENSIVE. However, I was fortunate enough to have full coverage by my insurance(United Healthcare choice plus one). It was worth the money. It kinda sucked as a young woman to pack the things that are allowed. Like you can't wear leggings or shorts or tank tops & woman had to wear one piece unrevealing bathing suits. I was there in the beginning of September so you can imagine the difficulty. So I get there and I spent a night in the detox wing. Once I was deemed healthy enough, I was assigned a therapist and main group and also a psychiatrist. Chris Craig was my therapist and he was great! Don't remember my psychiatrist's name but she was lovely as well. Everyday you have a schedule. Usually you meet with your primary group and then you have something special scheduled like EMDR or DBT or a massage. At this place you MUST be proactive in scheduling your appointments or else you will have a lot of down time which is not good. Staff there is great at helping you and making sure you end up happy. I made a lot of friends and smoked a lot of cigarettes in the "butt hut" which only had certain hours. Warning- if you get caught smoking outside the butt hut you will get a $500 fine and get a dumb green wrist band which bars you from going in the pool during free time for 24 hrs. I would sneak cigarettes if it wasn't the designated time but I've heard they made the butt hut hours 24/7 now. Thank God! I mean I go can go on forever about this place but the bottom line is that it was the place to go to get yourself together and well again. I wish I could take a mini vacation there once a year for a tune up! read more
9 years ago
I really don't like giving 1 stars but this place deserves 0 stars for the billing and upper management type personnel. My 19 year old daughter went here and she got most of her treatment from speaking with the other patients. They continually scheduled her for appointments with her PCP and main Therapist on days they didn't work, tell me how are they suppose to know when she can be discharged. Then they practically forced her to take their recommendation on her next step in the healing process and go to one of 2 outpatient clinics in California, googled them and they had terrible ratings. Finally convinced them she was going to one we found in Washington and they did everything they could to screw up the transfer. It's been almost a week now and her discharge papers still aren't at the new place because they say "she didn't sign the paperwork" that gave them the approval to send it (she signed it twice before). It's a beautiful place and if your loved one is their own self advocate then they'll do okay but if not I wouldn't send anyone I loved here. read more
Business owner information
Sierra T.
Employee
Dear Barbara,…
10 years ago
So, I am back reviewing yet again. Why? Because I have been waiting for a month for two refunds from this group. My insurance company paid about $2000 on Nov 16 and I can't get it refunded to me, plus they promised me a refund of $1400. This group is very difficult to deal with. read more
Business owner information
Sierra T.
Employee
Dear Beth,…
7 years ago
My daughter was at Sierra Tucson for challenges related to childhood trauma. As with all places, over the time that she was there, there were ups and downs. However, through it all, the staff were incredibly caring, open to input and highly professional! The range of possible therapies is extensive, with qualified therapists. The availability of residential therapists at any time of the day and weekends was a HUGE plus!! My daughter developed meaningful support relationships that were equally important to her ongoing progress with her primary therapy times. When something wasn't going well, the team approach was highly effective as all of the professionals who knew the client could get together to share perspectives, gather input, and then make a well-informed decision about any needed course changes. Recovery is a long process, and I'm grateful that my daughter was able to experience the boost in skills, strategies and understanding developed from her time at Sierra Tucson. read more
Business owner information
Sierra Tucson Outreach
Manager
Thank you for taking time to share your positive experience, Ellen.…
10 years ago
I spent 30 days at Sierra Tucson. It was in 1989. So I really don't know what it is like today. However, the program changed my life. The most important thing is that it changed my attitude toward me. There were several who left while I was there without completing the program. It is a hard program. It is hard to change the way you see yourself and how you view the world. It is well worth the work and discomfort involved. I loved it and hated it. I am to this day overwhelming grateful for being screwed up enough to realize that I needed to do something different. And overwhelmingly grateful that I landed in a place that could help me do that. read more
10 years ago
When I attended Sierra Tucson, I was severely depressed. I was there for 6 weeks and it was the worst six weeks of my life. I was charged for appointments I didn't have, was promised refunds, had terrible counseling where I was put in a group with a stalker when I had been stalked. I was harassed and threatened by staff, and after reporting the incident was treated cruelly. The administration lied about their ability to create an unthreatening environment. I felt like I was treated like a terrible child who deserved punishment. Although the facility had a good rep, it is quite different from their claims. For $40k, I can get better service by staying home. Only 2 of 50 people I met recovered. At this point, I doubt they'll be around much longer. If this post disappears, it's on Sierra Tucson. Shame shame. I still want my refund. read more
Business owner information
Sierra T.
Employee
Dear Kat,…
8 years ago
I am suing Sierra Tucson for fraud and negligence. They claim to have a chronic pain program tailored to an individual's needs, but it does not exist, and I was put in the general population of "recovery" clients. They promised to courtesy bill my insurance company, but did not do so until after a week had passed, and when the insurance company denied the claim, they failed to inform me or to contest the denial with a peer to peer review. They billed me for $2700/day, after having promised a lower but still outrageous sum. I left after 10 days feeling worse, $30,000 poorer, and outraged that such an institution can get away with this. I am suing for $1 million in punitive damages and am certain that if names could be released, this would be a class action suit. STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE, even (in my opinion) if you are not seeking pain management. They treat people like sh*t, infants actually, and do not attempt to take into account the needs of individual clients. I cannot emphasize enough the need to stay away. read more
9 years ago
Wonderful place! I can't speak highly enough about the staff. They are what makes Sierra such a wonderful place.
15 years ago
I arrived at Sierra Tucson in April 2008 for trauma/depression/PTSD/eating disorder. At first they wanted me to go into the eating disorder program but I told them that I wanted to work on my issues and not my coping skills. Sierra Tucson respected my decision and I started my journey. The hardest part about going into rehab is walking through the doors. Sure it's a little scary at first but you make it through step by step. After checking in I was welcomed into my new therapy group and I was in the "trauma track". Everybody in my group had similar experiences to my own. Relating to others is what really helped me work through the process. My therapist was excellent and helped me take the steps I needed to heal. I learned that I don't have to make everybody happy in my life to feel safe. That was big for me because I didn't feel safe when I was in my abusive home growing up. So I stayed quiet and tried to make everybody else happy. I also learned to shed the layers of "sludge" and give it back to the abusers that gave it to me. During therapy I made lifelong friends who continue to support me and they will be with me forever. As well as our core therapy group, we have grief group, psychodrama (which is excellent), 12 step groups, Equine therapy (my fave) and many other group activities. If you need to heal and overcome addiction, depression, pain, trauma, eating disorders, etc., you will not regret walking through the doors of Sierra Tucson. As they say on a sign on the way in...."Expect a Miracle". And on the way out the sign says, "You are a Miracle." You will feel that way when you leave! Trust the process and keep the faith! read more
13 years ago
To anyone reading this: let me give it to you straight from the perspective of a person who has extensively done their due diligence... I consider myself to be a self appointed "expert" in treatment centers for substance abuse and/or eating disorders. If you or a loved one are considering going to Sierra Tucson, PLEASE do yourself a favor, save the money and STAY AWAY FROM THIS HELLHOLE. This place is run by money hungry, incompetent monkeys. 1. All they want is your $$$. I certainly got a glimpse of this when I asked my intake coordinator if he could come up with a financial plan so that I could make payments instead of paying everything upfront (paying $40,000-$50,000 upfront is not easy). Not only did he make it sound like I was asking for something ridiculous but he also told me blatantly "if you don't have money then we are the wrong place for you.. we are a FOR- PROFIT organization and are here TO MAKE MONEY." After arguing with him he finally conceded and agreed to work with me but only AFTER THEY RUN A CREDIT CHECK. Ridiculous. Also, do not get fooled by thinking that since you're paying over $1,000/day every aspect of her/his treatment will be included (certainly not the meds, but that's the case in most treatment centers). Everything is what they call an ancillary charge. You want to visit your psychiatrist and you don't have it on your schedule? Ancillary charge. You want to get a massage? Ancillary charge. You need extra support for your trauma? Ancillary charge. I wouldn't be surprised if you saw 50 ancillary charges labelled "bathroom visits." They certainly are trying to milk you of your money. 2. The treatment team DOES NOT care about your well-being. If a patient is struggling and asks for help and additional support, you don't blow them off telling them that they are extremely sick and that it's their eating disorder talking. I don't care how many medical degrees you have or how recognized you are on your field, you should never speak to a patient like that. That is not part of the healing process, and would only lead to more depression and hopelessness. Now challenging them, giving them responsibilities and showing them that they have the power to make their own decisions is a different thing. But treating them as if they are crazy? I don't think so. But please do your own homework. Run a search on "sierra tucson complaints" and you'll find proof- including a patient that has DIED while being there. 3. If you are the kind of family/friend that needs to stay in touch and wants to be engaged and be part of your significant other's treatment process, good luck with this place. Getting in touch with any therapist, psychiatrist, ED specialist, even family therapist is not only nearly impossible, but it's actually frowned upon. They don't have direct access phone numbers. Every time you want to get in touch with anybody you have to go through the front desk. When my brother admitted I asked if I could speak with his therapist, they gave me a straight "NO" followed with a "why would you want to do that?" When I spoke with his ED specialist I asked her if I could email her with any questions I had. She told me I certainly could, but that she wasn't going to reply to it because she's "extremely busy with her patients." If you want to get any kind of update they tell you to wait until family week, which is 2-3 weeks into treatment. 4. The facility looks nice, but this can be a bad thing. ST certainly looks nice on the outside, from its gated entrance welcoming you with a sign that reads "expect a miracle" to its luscious desert grounds filled with cacti and fountains. But a quick tour of the facility will make you wonder how they actually keep an eye out on patients. This place is so vast it would be impossible to assure the security of patients (something the intake coordinator tried to sugarcoat and explained very briefly and vaguely). I would certainly be concerned for safety if my sister was in that facility. Again do your homework and search for sierra tucson complaints. This man that died while in treatment was found 2 WEEKS after he had gone missing. You might have heard good things about ST. I certainly did. But please do not get fooled by their stellar reviews. ST was actually bought and sold several times and is now owned and operated by a company called CRC Health. I am planning on filing a complaint to the joint commission and the Arizona department of health. STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE. It's hard enough battling this illness, don't waste your precious time and hard earned money with this place. I'll be more than happy to give you recommendations of other facilities that have been extremely helpful for my brother and my family. read more
11 years ago
This is a long post, but I think you should read all of it. I spent 5 long days in Sierra Tucson, a rehab facility that also is supposed to treat PTSD and depression. Here are just the highlights: 1. A male patient hung himself to death in the residential lodge. We were offered no support, and at least one patient who knew him left against medical advice. 2. A supposed millionaire was brought into the hospital close to me in my area and surrounded by staff as he yelled and screamed for a phone to call 911 because he felt that he was being kept there against his will. The sheriff took him away. 3. I was promised by an intake rep on the phone, on a recorded line, that Sierra Tucson was NOT a faith-based rehab, and while they do offer the 12-step option, I could simply not partake. This was a lie. Among other things, I was required to participate twice a day in a "check in" which consisted of a prayer to God; if I refused to participate, I would be charged $250 for each incident of not checking in for accountability. 4. When I argued my perspective as an Atheist, the roaming therapist suggested that I open my mind to Christianity, that the word God was not at all a religious word, and that I was not being reasonable, even after I told her that Christianity is a big PTSD trigger for me. 5. That roaming therapist sent out an email to all the staff telling them that I am Atheist, and to permit me to check in without joining the prayer circle. A few hours after her email went out, the staff stopped talking to me, hugging me, touching me, smiling at me, nor making any eye contact. 6. As I drove past the smoking area on my electric scooter, someone there screamed out the words to the gospel song "Glory Glory Glory". Not singing it, but screaming out the words. I called for a roaming therapist, but she never showed up. 7. I drove to my first group class, on the topic of resentment, and the room had God messages and prayers on 3 out of four walls. My core feeling was anger. The staff member leading the group, whom I just told that Christianity is a PTSD trigger for me, told the group to pray for those who resent us. I decided to leave Sierra Tucson; I left the classroom and went to start the process of leaving. 8. I went to the dining room to eat one last meal before driving home, and parked my electric scooter right behind me. I sat alone and ate my lunch while trying not to make noise as I cried. My friends I had made during the 5 days I was there, whom I told I am Atheist and triggered by this place, saw me crying from the very next table, but made no move. When I finished my lunch, I got up and turned around to get back on my scooter. then I saw that the key to my electric scooter was missing. Someone there had stolen the key to my electric scooter while I was less than 3 feet away and crying my eyes out. I began crying like a toddler. The bottom dropped out and I felt like a turd in the swimming pool. I screamed. No patient nor any staff member approached me, helped me, or reacted in any way. There's more to this story, but these facts are only the highlights. I am not giving up, but instead I am now searching for a religion-free place or therapist to help me. Oh yes, and that same person on Sierra Tucson's recorded line who lied to me about the treatment being faith-based also told me that the stay would be free to me because I had met my deductible and out of pocket max for the year. Guess who received a bill from the facility today? Just another lie from the friendly Christian folks at Sierra Tucson. But I wonder if that recorded phone call can be found now? read more
14 years ago
This place was absolutely horrid. They advertise themselves as a cure for everything. I went there to handle my grief 3 months after my child died. I was frankly suicidal. I have had a lot of trauma in my life, that I have worked on a lot. I WAS GRIEVING THE VERY RECENT UNEXPECTED TRAGIC DEATH OF MY CHILD. But the idiot intake person decided to pigeon hole me into truama treatment. I had to sit with my grief in groups while people went into elaborate detail about the sexual abuse they had experienced. The food was horrible. I am vegan and while I was assured that I would be fed, often there was nothing for me to eat but lettuce and olives. When I complained to the director, she was so triggered by the loss of her own daughter four years previously that she would assure me things would change and then forget all about me. When I said I was up for any treatment but could not handle a massage, that is what they booked me for. When I cancelled it they had nothing else available. I signed up for a month and left after a week with them begging me to stay. For what? more incompetence? They treated me like a drug addict and a criminal- i am neither and do not have any substance abuse issues. I was isolated and alone and they took my phone because "it wouldn't be fair to the others" I needed to talk to supportive people. There weren't any there of any caliber at all. This place is a bad, expensive joke geared toward drug addicts, while they pretend to be a healing center. It was full of uber wealthy, spoiled teenagers. They haven't changed since the 80's. The treatment modalities are like stepping back in time. Don't waste your money. The cost is absolutely absurd. ZERO STARS read more
7 years ago
had to put our son into Sierra for anxiety and mood disorder. They have a farce they call family week which we attended. It is billed as family therapy to help both the patient and the family better understand the circumstances regarding the patient which it is not. They start by trying to get you to consistently use 'CORE FEELINGS'. Do not be fooled they do this so they can control conversations. We found the grounds beautiful and spa like however when it comes to being honest as to the underlying cause as to why the patient is there they are totally clueless. We found the mental health staff to be downright obnoxious and fully one sided. To surmise this is a for profit business and they will do anything to give the patient assurances that they have to stay there as long as insurance will pay at the expense of not trying to resolve the issue as to what put them there and effectively blaming and convincing the patient that their loved one is crazy and they are fine. Again in my opinion this facility is a farce and their only concern is profit. It's a shame that they play these mind games with the patient but the. Odell they build and follow only insures that the patient will be back at least one more time in the future thereby increasing their bottom line. In summary I would not send an animal no less a human being who needs help there even if they were on their death bed read more
10 years ago
Michele E. If you are reading these reviews, probably either you or a loved one is in need of help and I am sorry for that. Life is difficult enough without the added extra stress of trauma, an addiction, or an eating disorder (or even possibly all thee). I wish you well in getting the help you need. I encourage you to take the negative reviews with a grain of salt as some may be from addicts who just didn't want to work the program. I was just released from Sierra Tucson last Thursday. I was on the trauma track there and the care I received was AMAZING! I have struggled with complex PTSD for all of my life, but didn't even know it. I had been treated for depression and anxiety, but never for PTSD. When I got to ST, I was at the end. I was within 24 hours of taking my life because the PTSD symptoms were so bad. The trauma treatment team I had pretty much saved me. It was a hard road, however, I came out with skills to help settle down the symptoms when they flair up. Here's the thing, no place on earth is going to be perfect. All treatment centers are run by individuals and individuals make mistakes. In the 6 weeks I was there, a few things happened that really shouldn't have. For example: I needed a muscle relaxer for a serious neck issue I had and couldn't get one for three days. The problem is that this happened on a weekend when they weren't fully staffed, and as soon as Monday came around, I got what I needed before noon that day. Some people complained about the food. I thought the food was very good. There is a full salad bar at lunch time and at dinner. For all three meals, there is also a hot meal choice, soup, and usually either pudding (I was addicted), ice cream (personalized for you with toppings of choice), or cookies. For breakfast, there was always two different kinds of eggs, either bacon or sausage, tater tots, etc. Coffee (decaf or reg) was available all day long as well as fresh fruits. There is a snack at 8:30 every night which is a meal in and of itself. To summarize the food: you never go hungry and the staff and the chef in the kitchen are incredibly nice. I really can't say enough good things about this place. In addition to your treatment team, there are RT's (Registered Therapists) on campus from 7:30 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. for you to talk to if you are struggling. Along with the RT's, if something comes up, you can grab a RASC. I don't know what that stands for. We just always called them RASC's. These people are all over the place and some of the nicest people you ever want to meet. They will help you get whatever it is you need at that moment. I felt safe there for the first time in my life because I knew they were going to take care of my needs. I could write a book about the miracles that happened for me at ST - one after another. My recommendation is that if you decide to give this place a shot, really work whatever track you are on. Be honest about what's going on inside of you and leave it all on the table. This is a place where you can receive exceptional healing - if you are up for the challenge! read more
9 years ago
Very unprofessional environment. As any negative opinions of the patient population Sierra Tuscon deals with are dismissed as coming from those " who aren't ready to receive help yet", this facility is able to continue its unsafe and toxic practices. The accounting dept is quick to collect payment, while the mental health/ addiction services are unresponsive and real treatment unavailable . Most days the treatment offerings consist of a massage, yoga and AA groups that would be free outside the facility. A coherent ongoing plan for Individualized help or aftercare is nonexistent. The medication mismanagement, inconsistent and abruptly discontinued "therapy" sessions our son received are too long to list. Unanswered phone calls/emails to follow up on reasons for these events are also too numerous to note. The final torture came when on discharge our son was given two days of medication and released. There was no follow up on doctor's appt to continue medication and treatment. He was released on to the street in a state he doesn't live in with no way to continue his medication. Of course he ran out of meds and his nightmare continued. The treatment and discharge was so poorly handled our insurance company has initiated an investigation of Sierra Tuscon's treatment protocols. AVOID Sierra Tuscon ... it's a wildly expensive spa read more
Business owner information
Sierra T.
Employee
Dear Pat,…
14 years ago
When I went to ST I had a lot of hope. Unfortunately it was more of a vacation, it is beautiful with caring staff but they were way to quick to label me with "disorders" and then just give me medications for those disorders, i left on more substances than I went in on. I just didn't feel I had the opportunity to confront some underlying issues read more
8 years ago
I really don't know where to start I genuinely love Sierra Tucson. I needed help and didn't know where to turn. A very close family friend did the research and came up with Sierra Tucson as the best place to go to. I was so scared and uncomfortable going to rehab and being in such a vulnerable position. From the moment I was met by their people in the airport until I was checked in I was treated with such love and care. I detoxed in their detox the staff was so courteous supportive and caring. Every single detail from my diet to a personal trainer to my mental evaluation was taken care of with such professionalism and expertise. The clinical staff is top notch with a true knowledge of addiction and trauma. I have learned so much and coming in as a skeptic I am a true believer! As for the accommodations they are five star in a beautiful picturesque location with the most gorgeous mountains in the background. I could really write this review forever but I need to eventually end. Take it from someone who has been to hell and back that there are no better hands to be in and this place will change your life! as of writing this review I am coming up on six months of sobriety with meaning and purpose read more
10 years ago
This Treatment Facility is HORRIBLE. Terrible experience from the time I arrived all the way from Alaska until I could leave. Dealing with the initial experience with the business office in signing the paper work where I was treated disrespectfully all the way through the intake process. I was mistreated and not offered any food or water. I was not allowed access to a phone. Horrible overall experience. Basic patient rights violated. I would not recommend to anyone. read more
Business owner information
Sierra T.
Employee
Dear Jennifer,…
12 years ago
It's a retreat for public speaking. You pay a lot of money to tell people all about your problems, then listen to everyone else's issues. Many people love the attention & hearing themselves speak. I hated it! I have issues with alcohol. Alcohol makes me crazy, but the staff is also crazy, all on their own, & should not be helping people. Sleeping is difficult. They open the door to your room all through the night to spy on you. They pound on your door at 5:45 am to wake you up. If you have a snoring roommate, well too bad, you won't be sleeping for the next month. You start out the program in full lockdown stuck in a small building for days. It's a mental ward complete with strip searches. Many patients suffered from PTSD. I now have PTSD from having spent time there. I still have nightmares about this horrid place. It's been over a year. I'm still sober, but it has nothing to do with their program. On the plus side you get to meet some nice interesting people. Talking with patients during free time was probably the only therapeutic activity for me read more
13 years ago
Every rehab has it's up and downs, but if you do your research you will find that ST is one of the best hands down. This is why people come from all over the world to get treatment. My experience was life changing and one I will never forget. There were pros and cons. Some things that I didn't agree with, but overall it provided valuable information, treatment and life skills. It changed my life and those around me. read more
10 years ago
I attended Sierra Tucson in July 2002-Aug 2002 and it was life-saving/life-changing. The tools I learned jumpstarted my recovery from childhood trauma and saved me from my self destructive patterns of behavior. I had been to several inpatient hospitals before ST, but not residential treatment and my psychiatris at the time strongly recommended this level of care at the time. Before I went to ST I had given up hope that I deserved to live anymore, but thru hard work and caring staff, including my primary therapist and the medical staff and nurses who were very compassionate and understanding, I started to change my belief systems. Recovery is hard work and not everyone is ready when they come to residential treatment. I was and I am forever greatful for the opportunity I was given and also for the challenges provided to me in treatment. A hard day in recovery is better than the best day in my illness. I read these reviews and I know that people are hurting and all I can say is that treatment is there when you are ready and willing to receive the gifts of recovery and do the work required. No one can do the work but you. ST had amazing family week services when I was there that were helpful for my parents and myself. Also I have access to alumni services in my town currently and have gone to several yearly alumni reunions and find them a powerful reminder of the gifts of my recovery. Good luck! read more
Business owner information
Sierra T.
Employee
Nancy,…
9 years ago
Sierra Tucson is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been, no doubt. They spare no expense to make their facility and its surroundings look absolutely beautiful and that is one area in which they definitely succeed. Where they don't succeed would be the vast majority of everything else they do. If there's one thing I've learned from my time there, it's that money is and always has been their first and utmost priority. If you dare to voice an opinion of disapproval at anything they say or do, they will be more than happy to kick you out on the street and replace you with a new "patient". This might explain why 3 former patients at this facility have committed suicide after there time there. And to be completely honest, I was pretty close myself. When I first began my time at Sierra Tucson, sleep became an immediate issue. My sleep schedule was already a mess in large part due to the severe depression and anxiety I had been experiencing beforehand. What really pushed it over the edge however, was the 3 hour jet lag between Arizona and my home state of Connecticut. Rather than empathizing or attempting to help me re-orchestrate my sleep schedule in order to adapt to my new surroundings, they insisted I follow their set rules and put me on heavy medication (2 MG of Klonopin every night) to force me to fall asleep. Every morning at 5:30 am, they would wake all their patients up with incredibly loud banging on each of our doors. How anyone, let alone people suffering from severe mental trauma, could wake up to this every day is beyond me, but despite my constant pleas and attempts to work with staff to find a solution or some kind of middle ground, they continued to wake me up. It got to a point where I actually made a sign with staff specifically specifying whoever was on duty in the morning not to wake me up until 6 am at the earliest and take a wild guess what they did. That very next day they deliberately ignored the sign and woke me up at 5 am with an increased number of even louder knocks in what felt like an almost spiteful attempt to hurt me for voicing my displeasure. I became increasingly sleep deprived and incredibly frustrated as I truly hoped that this would be a place that would care about me and my general wellbeing. I was undoubtedly wrong and things continued to spiral downwards. I talked to my therapist there and she told me she'd help me work out a schedule that would allow me to get proper sleep and still attend classes. What she actually did however, was the complete opposite as she went to her higher ups and insisted they kick me out because she didn't want to deal with me. This woman had many personal issues and was needless to say the worst therapist I've ever had, but out of respect I will not name her though I do hope she feels some guilt about her actions. Anyway, as time went on I became more and more frustrated and I was treated more like a prisoner than a patient. Then, finally, I was sentenced to some main office where some woman I had never met or seen before let me know I was being kicked out. You could almost hear the pleasure she took from it in her voice. It was just common procedure for her. She wasn't worried about the outcome of her patient. Shit, she'd already had 3 kill themselves after the mistreatment they received there. She was strictly worried about her income. This happened to me personally and words cannot express the shear sadness and anger I experienced but the real irony here is a I had a plane ride back to Conncticut scheduled for that Saturday because I fully intended on leaving on my own terms. Upon discovering this, they decided to use me to make a point and kicked me out that Tuesday so I so I would be stranded on the streets of Arizona for 5 days at the very least. Mind you, I went to this facility for DEPRESSION and SUICIDAL THOUGHTS and this is how they treated me. Hopped me up on drugs then kicked me out hoping for the worst. It doesn't end there though. When I finally made it home, they went out of their way to add insult to injury. The strong medication they put me on I now required to sleep and when I called them and told them I had no access to it and was experiencing horrible withdrawals they HUNG UP ON ME. I kid you not, they hung up on me. The only reason I was on these notoriously terrible meds was because of their insistent and encouragement and they knew I no longer had access and they knew the withdrawals that would occur. They wanted me to experience pain for having the gaul to voice my displeasure at certain procedures they conducted. It's really sick and twisted for a supposed "premier residential treatment center" to do such horrible things, but this is where we are. Fortunately, after nearly killing myself after my god awful experience there, I worked my way back up and found the happiness I had so longed for. While I still harbor much hatred for Sierra Tucson, I do hope that this comment will serve as a warning for potential Sierr read more
Business owner information
Sierra T.
Employee
Dear Dillon,…
8 years ago
If I could give this place a negative rating I definitely would. The staff is absolutely horrible along with everyone involved with Sierra Tucson. The administration and medical staff disgusts me as I came out of Sierra Tucson more depressed than I've ever been before. I was originally there for Xanax and Alcohol addiction but came out on more prescriptions and medications than I went into Sierra Tucson on. Everything advertised on their website is a complete lie. What they don't tell you if you actually have a problem with anxiety, depression and addiction is that they won't help you.... they would rather send you to a psych ward and do everything they can to get you out of their care. I had multiple seizures and was even hospitalized once due to their unprofessional medical staff. The crazy thing is while I was there multiple of the people I made friends with had the same problems. Every time I went to the administrative office there was a line of up to fifteen people to file complaints. Many of the people I knew left before the first week was even over due to their lack of care. I am now trying to find a new rehab facility that will actually take care of their patients but I made the mistake of letting them speak with Sierra Tucson and they told lie upon lie without even having their facts straight. So now due to their lies the place I was looking at won't even accept me. I am going to continue my search but am absolutely NOT going to mention I ever went to Sierra Tucson. Long story short if you or a loved one need help NEVER ever send them to this place as it is will destroy them. Absolutely horrendous place it is very sad they even call themselves a rehab facility. Oh and they also broke my laptop and are not willing to pay for it. Disgusting and a complete waste of money read more
13 years ago
I would give 2 ZERO STARS IF I COULD!!! I went there for chronic pain and major depressive disorder. When I left there 7 days later on the 4th of Sept 2013 I had/ filed a formal grievance against them. I was in the beginning stages of with drawl of my pain meds. ALL OF YOUR NARCOTICS YOU BRING are NOT GIVEN BACK, SO DON'T BRING SQUAT WITH YOU! (I was even told to bring my meds by admissions) The best part was Dr L*****r only gave me 4 Tylenol 3's when I rebuffed his trying to get me to stay. My fentanyl 50 mcg patch (was on 75mcgs 6 days before plus Tylenol 4's) was 2 days old out of 3days it was good for. I HAD to make a flight home that eve to Va. As it was Thurs eve. No pressure here right, make your flight home, or get to enjoy withdraw at a hotel and try to get a ER to issue you a class ll control ed substance!! Like I said above I was sent there for chronic pain, and after 3 years+ of it was where the major depression part came from. After my 2 days of intake, I was under the foolish belief, a program designed "just for me" (or so I/we were lead down the path, to belive.) Was ready to spring into action...No. like another reviewer said, I found AA meetings, and going to "pass the flame or torch" crap. Felt like I was in some kind of cult, and excuse me, but what the hell good was this to me? 1500 a day and 2 or 3 hours worth, do the math. No Physical therapy, had one class finally at the gym. Talked to a staff member there. He said wasn't much going on now ant to just try again later date. I thought it was the ball boy or janitor I spoke to, it was the physical therapy lead I spoke to I found out later!! In the end, after 8days I never had a single physical therapy session, a one on one counseling session. NONE OF MY RECORDS WERE EVER REQUESTED!!! They were required to have a new prescription from my orthopedic doctor, not done! No files from my therapist or psych Doctor Even better, I informed several of the staff including Dr L****r, and the admin office I had MRI scans and most of my medical files with me, some on paper and the majority on a pen drive. I mentioned this several times. NOT A SINGLE TAKER!!!!! Admin person looked at me like I had 3 heads or something! The worst thing evolved around 1 "group therapy" session. I had never participated in one before. Our therapist was on vacation and another gentleman was there. Not sure what his background was, but went with the flow. I was totally unprepared to listen to the horror stories of the lives these poor souls had to tell!! I was in no condition to be dealing with my self, much much less, able to absorb the pain from them!!!! I didn't make it back to my room before breaking down. The best was yet to come. A few nights later as I finished another 2 star meal, a lady with her purse came up to me and asked if I remembered her. No I didn't but she introduced herself as my therapist ( unbeknown st to me, she had just spoken at some length to my therapist back home) She wanted to talk, I was cold and try ed to put it off. She insisted in sitting in the cafeteria and wanting me to discuss what happened in group. I told her I didn't want to at this time, however she kept talking around me. I felt like her toy, as 3 time I asked to "not talk about this now" or " I think we should stop now" somehow I ended up telling her what was said. On top of the still raw feelings of the inital telling. I ended up enduring not only reliving it again, but after wards, the shamefaced embarrassment, of having half a cafeteria full of people seeing me crying as I left!!! That is when I found out the deepest darkest thoughts of my depression! I was getting worse, physically and mentally. If I had stayed, no telling Ware I would be now. I belive this facility is pretending to be a "center for everything" but in fact they are mostly a addiction center ( were doing a great job of taking my addiction away) so, unless you are battling a addiction, you may want to consider other places. P.S. the pic of the "Zen" rock maze, well if the camera was a little more to The left, you could see the big yellow sign warning you of "Dangerous Plants and wildlife" I found out the wildlife part are( from what I was told) rattle snakes, moutain lion ,coyote! Made it very hard for me to Walk it and be calmed!! Good luck if you go! Hope this helped some Not make the same mistake. 2 others were leaving early like me, This place is for those needing addiction help not much help. On My 3 day there, some guys, 3 to be exact told me" As soon as you can, Start advocating for yourself to get the most out of this" !!! Made me think, why, I thought after all the talk with my workers comp to get me in, they should have my plan layed out. That how it sounds in the brocure right? For all that money, it should be, and the food is like Denny's or ihop. Also, if you want that nice log cabin place DONT get put in the coed wing/dorm. M or F only read more
12 years ago
ST Saved My LIFE 10 years ago. Never would have guessed there was such a place and there is not a day, in these past 10 years, where I do not think of my beloved Sierra Tucson. GOD BLESS THE PEOPLE AND THE PATIENTS. It is the staff that makes the place work and keeps the structure, and it is the patients who help you realize the value and the worth of your life and if you are open to the help, you will become the best person you NEVER thought you could be - but YOU ARE THAT MIRACLE!!!!! GOD BLESS ST AND EVERYONE WHO HAS SUCCESSFULLY PASSED THROUGH THEIR SYSTEM - it saved me and I know it can and will save those who need the help - even if you don't want to go (as I didn't) you wont want to leave once you go there. It's a 5-star resort with WONDERFUL PEOPLE and an amazing life-changing transformative system that DOES WORK MIRACLES. If it could help me the way I was before I went in, it can help ANYONE. ST is a Godsend. read more
More info about Sierra Tucson
39580 S Lago Del Oro Pkwy
Tucson, AZ 85739
Directions
(855) 978-2139
Call Now
Visit Website
https://www.sierratucson.com
Hours
What time does Sierra Tucson open?
Sierra Tucson is open 24 hours on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
What time does Sierra Tucson close?
Sierra Tucson is open 24 hours on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Mon-Sun Open 24 hours
Payment methods
Does Sierra Tucson accept insurance?
Yes, Sierra Tucson accepts insurance.
Does Sierra Tucson take credit cards?
Yes, Sierra Tucson takes credit cards.
Other Amenities
Does Sierra Tucson have free WiFi?
Yes, Sierra Tucson has free WiFi.
Ask the Community - Sierra Tucson
Review Highlights - Sierra Tucson
“All of the staff in the Red, White, and Blue program are caring, honest, and helpful.”
Mentioned in 5 reviews
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
30 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
14 years ago
I am not thrilled with the fact that most reviews tend to be negative, but I really feel the need to warn people about this facility, Sierra Tucson. Sierra Tucson is definitely not the place it purportedly used to be or the place that you hear about celebs. going to. Don't fall into the trap of its history. Analyze it from the present day, and you will find that its license is on probation with the State of Arizona. Also, the facility is far too low end these days to attract upper echelon clientele. Also, beware that Sierra Tucson purports to label themsevles as 1.) an acute care facility when they are trying to bill you B.) a rehab center with custom programs for your specific disorder when they sell you and C.) a top notch medical facility with top doctors and counselors when they sell your family D.) A play camp for young adults when they are working with parents, who pay the outlandish bills. Sierra Tucson tries to be everything to everyone, and they fail miserably at doing so. I actually had post traumatic disorder after I left Sierra Tucson from the neglect I experienced while I was there and the torture of navigating their facility on a day-to-day basis. I am middle aged, and was in couseling groups with 18-25 year olds. If you are over 30, and mature, you may want to consider that 75% of the people you are in close quarters with at Sierra Tucson are under 30, young adults (children aged 18-25,) and these young people feel like they are in summer camp. The act like it too. You are surrounded by Cig. smoke all the time while walking around. The facility is gross. I agree with the other poster, who suffered from the desert environment. Everything is sharp and prickly there, including their staff, who are for the most part temps and obese. You are surrounded by too much ugliness to heal at Sierra Tucson. I sustainted a serious injury while at Sierra Tucson, at the hands of their staff, that went untreated. I tried to leave the facility on my third day there, because of the injury. When the nurse or temp at the counter overheard my conversation with the airlines, as I was making flight arrangements to leave, they halled me into a back room and pressured me not to leave. They loaded me up with sedatives, so I was weak, and I could not make rational, informed decisions while I was there. Had they just let me leave on day 3, my injury would not have gotten worse. To treat my injury they sent me to a Physician's assistant, when I needed an M.D. and a specialist. This caused my injury to get worse, and I ended up departing two weeks into the four week program, and I ended up in emergency surgery and an emergency room after I returned home. To leave Sierra Tucson, I had to call a car service to pick me up, and I just crawled out the door without giving them an opportunity to stop me. The entire experience was a nightmare. If you are 18-25, and need a place to go away to, Sierra Tucson could be a wise choice. However, if you are an adult, you would be better off going to a Four Seasons Resort and having a doctor or specialist or nurse visit you everyday for counseling and medications. It would be far less expensive, and you would have a better experience. Also, beware of Sierra Tucson's roommate issues as well. The beds are twin/double, and a complete stranger is two feet from you. This person could be suicidal, drug addicted, or someone seriously disturbed (or they could be normal if you are lucky.) Also, they only send housekeeping once a week to clean your rooms for $50,000. The staff is constantly dealing wiht roomate problems. Sierra Tucson charges more than the Four Seasons, and you get Holiday Inn service. Also, their meal situation is a disaster. You have to stand in long lines and wait for food and service. I mean 30 minute lines, not 5 or 10 minutes. They purportedly claim to have an iron chef, which is a half truth. The food is mediocre at best, you can't get a good cup of coffee anywhere after 9am. They allow patients to breath second hand smoke all over the place, in the outdoor areas, but you can't get a cup of coffee when you want one. They say coffee is addictive. What about the cigs????? The truth is that if they did not allow smoking...all of their young, drug addicted kids (18-25 year olds,) would not attend Sierra Tucson, and it would dent their bottom line. Being a business person myself, the blatant corners that Sierra Tucson cuts to earn a profit is obvious. It glares out at you. Also, beware the sales person that signs you up, because they may misrepresent what you pay for. BEWARE OF THIS PLACE! Do yourself a favor and go stay at the Four Seasons George V in Paris for a month for $50,000, and your disorder will be healed. read more
10 years ago
This was a very sad and expensive experience. My husband and I were given a walk around to see the facilities. We were told that I would be receiving daily therapy/treatment with Psychiatrists (MDs) to assist me in my anxiety and PTSD problems. I am a chronic pain patient (due to back surgeries/fusions/exasperated by a high-speed auto accident) and did NOT go there to be removed from pain meds, only to help me learn how to better handle the pain with other modalities in addition to the medication. I received no modalities the two weeks, and then maybe one or two per week thereafter. I did not see my physician for the first 2 weeks. And, after that, it was only if I adamantly requested it. I was not given the one-on-one treatment that my husband and I were promised when we reviewed the facility by phone and then in person. I was utterly lied to. Many people in the facility were in the same position that I was and I heard the same complaints over and over - "They just want our money. Once we are in here they don't care." Although phone access is to be provided within 48 hours of receiving a room, it took me 10 days to get my phone. No one could tell me why. When my physician made medication changes, it took days for that to happen. But, in the meantime, they withdrew the medications I was on, but did not implement the new medications for up to 48 hours due to "difficulty receiving them from a very busy pharmacy" which was ON SITE. So I went through withdrawals every time the doctor changed my medications. I asked why they couldn't just keep me on the same medication until the new ones came, but the nurses said the Dr. took me off the med therefore I couldn't have it. But I also could not have the new one since they had not received it yet. Does that make any sense? Three withdrawals during a 25 day treatment? I asked for hydrotherapy. Received it three times. None of their promises were met. I basically learned to say what they wanted to hear and do what they wanted me to do, in order to get out as soon as possible and continue my treatment elsewhere. This was a huge waste of money, a very stressful time for me when I was already stressed out, and it felt more like jail than a helpful place to regain physical and mental health. I would not advise anyone to attend that facility. When I broke down, literally had a breakdown, there was no trained person to counsel me since it was after 5:30 pm. Just the people who monitor the dormitories. There is no after hours staff to deal with a nervous breakdown, psychotic break, etc. I even asked the nurse to contact the Doctor on Call. She told me she didn't want to bother him at night. I told her that his job was to be on call and that she must contact him. She denied my request. Their solution is to just put the patient in an ambulance, at the patient's expense, and send them to the local hospital. This is not a full-care facility. There are no medical staff available after 5:30 pm. In fact, it is not a worthy facility at all. It is more of a "club" for those who spend many times in rehab on their parents' funds, and laugh about how many times they have been in rehab. Some even have the audacity to threaten their parents if they refuse to continue paying for rehab, even on their 4th, 5th, 6th or more rehab attempts. It is mostly young people who do not wish to get a job and adjust to the real world. If they can't live at home, they live at a rehab. And Sierra Tucson provides the perfect place for those people to continue to take their parents' money and live without consequences or rules, do whatever they feel, and the worst thing is that they lose their pool pass, which is the local joke, as they skip class to go to the pool anyway. I cannot say enough about this scam. I hope that at least one person will not fall into the entrapment of how busy they are and how quickly you must make a decision because there are only so many openings and you will lose your spot if you don't commit right away. Believe me - there are many places to go. Take your time. Do not fall into this trap. If you truly want help, find somewhere else. If you want to go to a day camp where the most you have to do is show up for a few classes, get 3 meals a day, and have a lot of religion forced on you, then SIERRA TUCSON MAY BE JUST FOR YOU. It was not for me. And I am happy to say that I am happy, healthy and doing well inspite of the setback I had at Sierra Tucson. read more
13 years ago
I was forced to Sierra Tucson by family because I had severe PTSD, panic attacks and anxiety as a result of a prolonged domestic "situation." Studies prove that confining someone who truly has PTSD compounds their trauma. So if you're considering this place for PTSD treatment, take it off your list unless you want your trauma to have trauma, because. . . The patient milieu is 18-25. The campus atmosphere is loosy-goosy with lots of pool time. When I was there, there were Sex Addicts (in recovery), along with patients who were engaging in inappropriate conduct. A middle-aged man was removed after slapping an 18-year-old girl on the ass and making other unwanted and inappropriate sexual advances on other young women, but it took three days to expel him. Also, there were other individuals processed through their psyche unit who had to be pulled in for further evaluation because they were either a danger to themselves, the ST community or both. If you think that the above would reduce your trauma symptoms, then go for it. If not, read on. Trauma track is six weeks, but they tell you four weeks to get you in the door and then try to make you extend your stay. If you don't extend, they stick you in the "mood" track and you find yourself at AA, NA, EA (emotions anonymous), Codependency meetings, meetings on eating disorders, bipolar. . .but nothin' about trauma, domestic violence, whatever. If you're a trauma victim, it will trip your triggers when you are stripped searched on intake and your favorite belongings are sent home as "contraband" - like a full length black jersey dress that is your pool "cover-up" so you can't go to the pool. Next, you're thrown into a patient population that mixes heroin addicts (in recovery, of course), meth heads, alcoholics, rage-aholics who have sobriety (just no friends), and a whole lotta psychopathology that you're not prepared for -- passive-aggressives, pathological liars, petty thieves. Oh, yeah, $200 was stolen from a patient's room while I was there and a wallet with credit cards and cash was stolen from the business office's safe -- THEIR OWN SAFE -- while I was there. So if you believe that's not enough to trip your triggers. . . There's a whole lotta hookin' up that goes on there. Behind the TRAP area -- therapeutic recreational activities program -- there were rocks that spelled out "TWAT SPOT" in honor of a young woman who was a sex/love addict (not in recovery) and slept with -- by her own admission to me in her second week there -- seven guys. And there were more hookups. It was juvenile and. . .junvenile. Heard enough? Hmmm. . . Group therapy. Sitting around in rooms for two hours a day with up to eight strangers where you're expected to share you feelings or your situation for them to comment on. Of course, we pledge our confidentiality to the group, with staff exceptions, yeah, right. . .until you hear someone's story retold in the dining hall behind their back or a therapist breaks a confidence and discusses it directly with a patient. There's also family therapy that plays out in the group setting where you watch families process their shit and you're expected to comment. As if you know anything about their entire family dynamic from an hour of watching them! Huh? You change your own linens, do your own laundry, eat the crappiest food (ever), are harrassed by night staff who are untrained morons making minimum wage, and are subjected to bizarre, untried therapies. The staff lies about your progress -- with you present -- to impress your family. If I could give Sierra Tucson zero stars, I would. They owe me a total refund. The place is a big fraud whose parent company, CRC, is flush with venture capital money from Bain Capital. So it's more about churning revenue and less about patient care. Thanks, Sierra Tucson!! Now my trauma has trauma! Fantastic. PS: If I wasn't direct or descriptive enough, it boils down to three words: DON'T DO IT! read more
13 years ago
I am a psychologist who went there for pain a few years ago and I am currently in recovery for 11 years from substances. I felt compelled to write this review when I saw some of the other ones. First, let me urge you to read all the filtered reviews that are mostly terrible as this will be. Second, please keep in mind that just because someone's parent is happy that his/her child is doing better, it doesn't mean Sierra Tucson is a good place or even was the reason. Third, for those not in the field, Sierra Tucson has been bought out a few times so people who attended 15 years ago (as an example) probably did have an amazing experience, as they once stood out for this, but sadly the various owners got rid of the old guard in favor of people who don't know much that they can pay less. Fourth, while most are very sick when they get there and this undoubtably affects how you see things, that does not negate the fact that this place has been causing serious damage to many people for years now. I was in the chronic pain program in 2009 and I believe we went there together Charlie as I am a psychologist and remember another person who was as well. The utter chaos and mismanagement is alarming at best and seriously dangerous at worst. I too remember that woman who broke her arm and jaw because of how overly medicated she was. It was heart braking seeing the laceration on her face and how they swept it under the rug. I also have trauma issues and sex and love issues stemming from that and could not believe that they had a sex addict there who was highly predatory with the young girls (instead of recommending him to a sexual recovery institute such as in Los Angeles) simply because he could pay enough to make it worth their while (sex addiction, fine, but a guy who was clearly a predator?). Dr. Michael Loes, who they raved about could not even remember who I was from appointment to appointment. He only had 10 patients max at a time! I often have 30! Inevitably we'd spend most of the appointment with him reacquainting himself with my case and little else got accomplished. Dr. Loes started me on a medicine that I later found out was totally inappropriate and that every medical study ever done had refuted any claims of it's effectiveness. The part that irked me the most was his insistence on telling me and anyone who would listen that Jesus would save us from our pain and sins. We reported this to no avail. There were vey few regular nurses which ended up just making the chaos worse and as a patient you had to be hyper aware at all times lest you be given the wrong medication or not given something. One time before I knew this I just went and swallowed my pills and informed them that they had not given me my seizure medicine. The woman told me I was wrong despite the fact that I have been on this medicine most of my adult life and it is a unique looking pill. I'm sure I don't need to tell you what happened, but I will. I had a breakthrough seizure that night and they acted completely mystified as to how it could have happened. The actual therapy employed is not based off any form of evidence based treatment that I have ever heard of or any other professionals I know have. The family treatment seemed wholly ineffective and more often than not did nothing more than cause a huge amount of hurt and anger with no outlet in which to process those feelings. Therapy times were inconsistent in number, time, and length of the session, sometimes not occurring at all in a given week. This does not foster trust or a safe place on which to build a foundation. This place caused me such severe trauma to an extent that i don't feel comfortable sharing in a public forum, but am happy to explain if someone messages me. I ended up having to go elsewhere to get help for that trauma as well as my other problems. read more
15 years ago
i would literally give zero stars if it was possible. as someone who is already sober many years and a psychologist by profession, i went there for chronic pain treatment as it was known as a good place back many many years ago. little did i know i was walking into a nightmare and the once wonderful place was bought out by a corporation that fired all the knowledgable seasoned people that had made the place wonderful. i had a doctor that tried to convert me to his religion every time i saw him. there were only a few regular nurses. the rest were from a temp agency. nevertheless, neither were very competent. one evening they didn't give me one medicine, i told them and i wasn't believed (this was not an addictive medicine, something for a condition i have). i spent the night awake in searing pain very ill. on another couple of occasions i was given medicine that was not mine and i literally had to argue that i knew what i took. They tried to give me klonopin (which is addictive and strong, especially for someone who has never taken it). I was trying to reduce pain medication and was frequently offered more. When i did do the detox, the doctor was out of town with no one covering and i was supposed to have a medically supported detox. Instead i was left to lie naked in the shower shaking, shivering, gagging, vomiting and shitting all over myself for EIGHT HOURS with my roommate desperately begging someone to help me. Their response was to tell her i had to come down the short hallway to the medication counter. She tried to help me stand and get clothes on and i puked on my clothes and had diarrhea on them and couldn't even stand between the pain and the shaking. she told them this and they told her to "go away" and i would "get myself together" when i "was ready". there were ten of us in that track and the doctor had no idea who i was every time i met with him. they didn't coordinate with my physicians at home and removed an immunosuppressant medication without talking to my primary doctor even though i was there for something else and i became very ill. the only thing that was helpful was biofeedback and emdr which you can get anywhere and shouldn't waste your money at this place. The food tasted like crap. there was basically pasta of some form for every meal. the salad bar was the only saving grace. i found their therapeutic techniques to be bizarre and quite frankly ridiculous. now i don't say that as someone who just uses other techniques, but it was stuff that made no sense that no one uses but them. The experience was very traumatic in a lot of ways. I went to get help at a time in my life when i was in so much pain and was so exhausted that i was extremely depressed and desperate for help. What i got was medical incompetence, crazy religiosity, verbal abuse, and lost a lot of money in the process. don't waste your time and money with these frauds. read more
13 years ago
DO NOT, REPEAT DO NOT send yourself or a loved one here. Do the math, it will cost you over $73.00 per hour just to be locked up .I would get an 2 hour lunch break and then they would schedule me an 2 hour study hall. I couldn't figure out what the hell I needed a study hall for when I saw nobody and got no home work to do. I never did find an AA meeting, actually I found no meetings. In all my life I had never seen such carrying on. The Sex, the Smoking where ever and when ever they wanted. I went for anxiety and one of the counselors told us when we felt our anxiety rise, just up your meds. I went for 3 EMDR treatments, never saw a light or anything. Matter of a fact I knew more about her when I left that room than I did about myself. I went to front office and complain, yes we will take that off your bill. But she says I can only remove two. Hell a couple of weeks after I got home I received a bill from ST for another almost $5000.00 they charged me for those treatments any way. Which by the way I got to pay because of the damage they can do to my credit. What they want is just your money. I decided to check out at 2 weeks. I had to run all over the campus to get a piece of paper signed by everyone I dealt with. When I asked my counselor to sign she ask me why. I told her it was a waste of my time and money, I was getting nothing out of this. She took me to the office, and asked me to explain why I was leaving early to one of head cheese guys, so I did explain everything. Then I told him that I was leaving to go to the Meadows. He asked me if I would email him and tell him the difference between ST and the Meadows. Hell, I am not going to pay for his education at $30,000.00 for two weeks of nothing but sitting on my ass. Now if you like to eat this is the place for you. read more
1 year ago
During my time at Sierra Tucson, I observed significant inconsistencies in staff professionalism and care practices. The staff frequently enforced rules arbitrarily, often without explanation, and treatment of clients at times felt condescending rather than therapeutic. The BHA's are overworked and underpaid. Rule enforcement seemed to vary depending on which staff member was on duty, leading to confusion and a lack of structure. Group sessions were repetitive and mandatory, even when the topics were irrelevant to individual treatment plans. There was also a concerning tendency for staff to make changes to prescribed medications without clear justification or consultation, even when the medications had previously been effective. During my stay, there were multiple reports of malpractice and serious incidents involving residents. In one case, a resident who had brought in substances and was reportedly suicidal did not receive the immediate care she needed despite staff being informed. Tragically, she later left the facility grounds and passed away. In another case, a resident experienced severe side effects after changes were made to his medication regimen, which nearly resulted in a suicide attempt. Overall, my experience raised serious concerns about the facility's oversight, consistency in treatment, and prioritization of patient well-being. read more
7 years ago
The only downside is the food, and connect 365. It is what you are willing to put in and work on. From the RTs to the nurses to the RASCS to your process group lodge mates and your therapists it can be a life changing experience for you. I went in for trauma primary and secondary ED. The trauma/addiction/pain lodge is absolutely amazing filled with women that will become like family to you. Who will help you when a RT isn't available. In the real world you are in a crisis you have to make an appointment with your therapist and wait. To get to spend sometimes hours with a RT no matter what you were going through at an instant was extremely beneficial. I'll never forget my experience here. If it wasn't for Melinda and Erica, I wouldn't have lived, and I wouldn't have changed. The ED program is great as well. Like I said earlier it is what you put into it. Best decision of my life. Even though your at a mental health facility they don't make it feel like that I was able to play soccer, play basketball, hike, and walk the track without any issues at all. The friends I've made here will last a lifetime. Thank you Erica and Melinda for giving me my life back, and showing me that life is worth living. read more
6 months ago
DO NOT GO! This is the worst excuse for medical and emotional support, they should be shut down!!! They over bill and abuse the patients, especially the white patient. They should do an undercover story about this place! The staff was horrible and the only thing decent was the food! Save yourself and don't go there. They get you because celebrities have been there for help and you think they know best. They do not! They allow patients to bully and actually called the police on a patient and had her removed when that patient was the one being bullied! So messed up! The doctors are lunatics and need help! Half the time there are no doctors were even there! A mom of 5 killed herself when there. How does that happen when you are on suicide watch? They are in their own bubble in a way backward town, from healthcare to the police! Nothing good in Tucson area except corruption... You think you are going to get a reset from going and their so called treatment actually makes it worse! I talk to other people and they agree that they do more harm than good. Really scary, especially when you go there to clear your mind! Like I said, soooo messed up! read more
15 years ago
My daughter is a 2006 alum of ST. She entered treatment there at the age of 20 and it was the best experience for us all. She has been sober since and I thank ST every day for the wonderful experience she had there as well as the family week my husband and I had there with her. I am finally writing a long overdue review in hopes of helping other families, as we were helped, after finding out last week that a friend's young teenage son died far too young from addiction. I don't know if our daughter would be where she is had she not had treatment at ST. WE attribute her success to the doctors, nurses, counselors and overall treatment focus at ST. ST did strongly encourage that our daughter attend an after-care sober living facility, which she did for a year, and we strongly believe that was also a huge plus to her sobriety. Our daughter recently graduated from college with honors and we thank ST for a lot of our daughter's success and healthy well-being she learned there. read more
8 years ago
I attended Sierra Tucson in August/September of 2012 after going in and out of sobriety for over a decade and a half. I had a habit of creating a great life for myself and throwing it all away by falling back into old habits. I was referred to Sierra Tucson after trying to remedy my destructive lifestyle myself unsuccessfully. Their program was exactly what i needed. I loved everything about it from my therapist and psychiatrist to massage and equine therapy. My process group was absolutely amazing and family week was a real eye opener. Overall my experience was second to none and I've referred multiple friends and aquaintances to them since. I celebrated 6 years sober on Tuesday and I am beyond grateful for the foundation that Sierra Tucson built in my recovery while there. read more
13 years ago
I cannot stress enough how much loathing I feel for this establishment. I can't speak to anything, but the pain and trauma programs. The staff is incompetent at best and outright abusive and traumatizing. The level of disorganization is pretty bad. I wanted to like it here. I had heard they were a good place ten years ago, but that is clearly not the case now. The price is enough to seriously break the bank and the food is Inedible. I have nightmares about being here and the things that happened to me here. The rest of the people there were pretty upset as well and some of these positive reviews sound like they were written by people who haven't actually been at the place. Anyone who has been here knows how things truly go down. read more
9 years ago
My grandfather, like many other ST patients, died do to medical malpractice at the hands of their doctors. Furthermore, they hid his body in a bush so that coroners could not determine the cause of death. Needless to say, I'd give them zero stars if I could. Please go down and read the section of the Yelp page that says "52 other reviews that are not currently recommended " - somehow, ST has gotten all these negative reviews to be hidden on their page. I implore you, do not send a loved one to ST, if you do you risk killing them. You can read more about the other people killed by ST here: http://tucson.com/news/local/third-sierra-tucson-patient-death-in-months/article_b073f788-4af9-512f-bb37-8692aecb9292.html read more
8 years ago
As someone whose family was provided with their services: They got away with patient deaths, sexual harassment and sexual assaults. Then hid the truth to announce their $16.5 million dollar expansion and profit off of their own corruption. Our whole family is devastated and shocked. They are now attempting a PR propaganda to raise their poor ratings. Core feelings: anger. Anger message: When big businesses spread trauma and then make money off of trauma in deep hypocrisy, it doesn't provide the healing that every patient deserves. You deserve better. PS - Keep deleting the truth again ST and you'll only prove my point. read more
5 years ago
If you need real help don't go here because you will waste your time and money and come out worse off than when you came in. It was probably better years ago when it was privately owned. Having a one on one session with your therapist once a week is not helping. They do have some great people but few of them. They have zero concern about people's safety especially women. I was witness to a man sexually harassing women residents and nothing was done. That alone speaks volumes about the operation. It's a very expensive place and for that amount of money find a place that will actually give you the help you need. read more
6 years ago
VENTURE CAPITALIST OWNED! I was not the patient. I was the health care advocate for the patient. The patient was in for pain rehabilitation, not for alcohol, drugs or an eating disorder. My issue are long and numerous with Sierra Tucson. I think what is at the heart of my issues has a lot to do with when some venture capitalist take over health care facilities. Do a news search on venture capitalist, health care, business week (try one word) and see if you can find an article in a publication that has the last name of a man, first name Michael, that recently ran for president of the United States. read more
2 years ago
They put a man in my room and told me "she" was my new roommate - no one asked me if this was ok or if I consent. I strongly objected and stated "I do not consent" after the damage was done, and the nursing staff and the male roommate threatened me and I got assaulted by a group of these angry, delusional transvestites. I had to file two police reports, I then had to file an insurance claim to get my stuff back that Sierra Tucson tried to steal from me. Sierra Tucson did NOTHING to help me and made everything far worse, after this they billed my health insurance - which is insurance fraud. read more
2 years ago
SCAM- beware!! (i am from San Francisco, and this is a real review) Absolute garbage treatment .. complete waste of money, time and hope.. DO NOT GO HERE- DO NOT GIVE THEM YOUR MONEY. CEO, Timothy Palus, called me multiple times per week, confirming the treatment provided was below adequate... offered to discuss crediting us back funds.. and as soon as we left the facility, went dark. His email is: Timothy Palus Timothy.Palus@acadiahealthcare.com His cell phone number is: Direct: (520) 432-0879 Ext. 134 DO NOT GO HERE. THIS IS A SCAM- read more
8 years ago
I called to seek help (which was a huge step) and was greeted on the phone with a sigh of annoyance from the admissions woman. When asking about how much my insurance would cover, I was made to feel embarrassed and unimportant. To whoever is working, please know that whoever is calling your facility probably really is in a low place and is taking a huge step to better themselves....so please do not make people feel belittled or unheard. It is truly an awful feeling. read more
10 years ago
I left after one of the other "patients, or clients" physically assaulted a 19 yr old drug addict and then verbally came after me. This was 12 days into the program. For a $60k place. I can say nothing good... save your parents money!! DO NOT GO TO SIERRA TUCSON , EVER OR NEVER!!!! A true, fair warning. GL w/ your addiction. Get Help, but somewhere else. read more





























