I spent five years in and out of many behavioral health and mental health hospitals so I can give a very thorough review of WellSpan Philhaven as I was a patient both in the adolescent wing and the adult wing (I was 18 at the time, now 22). They were not the WORST hospital I had been in,but that isn't saying much given that I had been in some extremely horrible hospitals. There was one staff member there who was good to me, he would take time to talk to me and actually listen. They do have individual therapy for the patients there, at least in the adolescent wing they did- I don't remember if they did or not in the adult wing. This is a plus because only two out of approximately 13-15 hospitals I was in had individual therapy, and this was one of them. However, I witnessed many uses of excessive force in restraints and unnecessary fear tactics and coercion being used by staff to get the patients to comply. Additionally,the doctors-in my opinion and experience - were not at all qualified. They spent more time with me compared to other hospitals, but the time they spent was not spent listening and actually trying to help. The bedside manner was horrible and there was almost no compassion. It was very chaotic and overwhelming for me as an autistic person (though I wasn't diagnosed back then, I was recently diagnosed) and was not at all helpful or healing for me. In fact it only added to my growing medical trauma. read more

Constant fights and complete chaos among the patients. The people who started the fiascos weren't disciplined properly, and all they did was take away some privilege that applied to everyone on the pod rather than just giving the select few a consequence of some sort. One of the staff members showed up visibly intoxicated. TWICE. Keep in mind this was a night shift staff member on the CHILDREN'S pod. Food was meh. 2/10 experience. read more

Do not go here. Had my daughter for 1 wk. And released her. One week later she throws herself in front of a tractor trailer. THERE WAS NO CARE AT THIS FACILITY read more

so I was in there for about a week, I was supposed to be with the adolescents but they didn't have space so I ended up with the little kids. the staff is sometimes kind but some of them are very mean, like VERY!! The place wasn't the cleanest but I did like being there honestly. I wasnt a fan of the ankle tracker thing though. Just a warning, if you're a minor there or your child is a minor there even if you sign a 72 they can and will keep your child there for longer if they think they need to. most are there for atleast 10 days, at most a month but in more extreme cases multiple months. read more

This not a place where you'd like to be and it can feel very overwhelming. But it does have a place and there are some beautiful souls serving in this place who treat you with respect and care. I also had an outstanding therapist who I still miss. I love that my team all gave me hug and wished me the best before I left. We have to also realize that it can be an extremely stressful profession for all involved and that some not all faced struggles that have made them passionate about this work. Thank you, Philhaven. read more

I have been inpatient here twice and day hospital once. Philhaven has saved my life multiple times in multiple different ways.

The food sucked for the most part, as did the staff, both with exceptions. Stayed there for 21 days. The showers had "you'll catch something" written all over em and the pods weren't as clean as I'd like but maybe that's just me. The place doesn't exist to fix you and it damn sure isn't a vacation spot, but if you gotta be safe and stabilized it's a good option. read more

They make mistakes with diagnosis, which I understand happens. In my case they were way off, and the misdiagnosis has followed me my whole life. Now that I am an adult trying to get the real help I need, they refuse to see their mistake. My misdiagnosis truly changed my whole life for the worse. Being able to do my own research it has become very clear that I have ASD, but because I am a woman, this was always overlooked. I even had a CADD evaluation recently and they are completely stuck on my original diagnosis and old and outdated stereotypes for diagnosis. I really hope I can find someone qualified to help me get the correct diagnosis. It won't help the struggles of my past but for my own validation, and for my children's future (because I suspect some of them are also on the spectrum) I don't want them to have to go through what I have. read more

I have stage 3 heart failure. Long story short my cardiologist recommended that I talk to someone. I choose a counselor from wellspan philhaven lancaster. I saw the counselor 7 or 8 times. Instead of talking about how my heart condition effects my life today, she wanted to know about my life from young to present. I had a very dysfunctional childhood, made same poor decisions along the way along with some bad luck. What my philhaven consolor told me is that she can't believe that I was able to live functioning life. Every time I left my philhaven consolor, she had tears in her eyes and running down her face. This is no exaggeration. Everytime I left her office, I was depressed for the next 3 days. I finally threw in the towel and stopped going. I would not recommend wellspan philhaven for counseling. I realize that it was just this one counselor but someone from philhaven gave her the green light to see patients. Just saying read more

Was pushed through different depression medications every week I was out patient. They treat you like cattle. Especially minors.

NASTY. My first time going to the place there were kids screaming and crying in rooms and I wasn't even in there yet, we just were checking out the place before my mom sent me there and even after seeing the kids scream in pain she still sent me. The staff were disrespectful, I was there with a few other kids and they wouldn't even let us talk nor be friends with each other to the point where they would put dividers in between us while we ate and while we were just in the room. A few of the other kids and I secretly talked and one of the times I ripped a piece of paper off one of my check-in sheets or something and they SCREAMED at me and asked me where the missing piece was. I don't know why we can't talk to each other wouldn't that help our recovery. When we ate we got to eat whatever we wanted from the cafeteria but if we were too loud then we would have to eat in the room silently. They didn't do anything to help us and we weren't even allowed outside the time I was there. For "recess" we were allowed in this big gym room and all they could give us was deflated balls. The room itself was disgusting it's like they couldn't clean it. A few other kids and I found a dead rat as well as multiple bugs. If I could put no stars I would, this place is absolute hell, and most of my friends who went there only have bad experiences all worse than mine. Even my mom got upset at the staff she got pissed off because they wouldn't call her and or give her any progress or results. All I have to say is PLEASE DONT SEND YOUR KIDS HERE!!!!! ITS SO TERRIBLE AND IT WON'T HELP AT ALL!!! read more

Poor outpatient care...very poor! I had a good experience inpatient and at day hospital. But they really leave you hanging when you get out. Very, very rude check-in staff, over worked doctors and nurses that just don't give a shit. Forget about getting phone calls returned or forms filled out. They don't even make eye contact with you. read more

I have been in Phil Haven three times in my life. they treated me with care and respect. its now been years since I have been admitted because they did what was needed to help me. I also did what I needed to do to better myself. great place read more

I was really treated like garbage by the entire Philhaven staff. They talk a good game of "being all Christian and stuff," but that is pure HYPOCRISY. ALL THEY CARE ABOUT IS $$MONEY$$. They do NOT care about your mental health. The entire staff, save maybe for a few doctors, are EXTREMELY JUDGMENTAL. They ignore you when you are standing at the front desk, waiting and waiting and waiting for some "customer service," which they do not ever give, and this happens even when there is NOBODY in line! Then, the mean secretaries look up at you with an irritated "why are you bothering me" kind of look. The worst part about Philhaven is their billing department. PHILHAVEN WILL RIP YOU OFF AT THE FIRST CHANCE THEY GET. They erroneously billed my $100's of dollars for "services" I never agreed to. Then they blamed it on the billing codes because they are too dishonest to actually man-up and admit they love to rip you off. I had a billing dispute with them and it took over 3 months for me to get a finally get a refund. I would never, ever, ever take my child or loved one to Philhaven unless I was prepared to have them come out even more sick than when they went in. Philhaven is the opposite of "health care." They really could care less about your health, not to mention they could really care less about my mental health. All they cared about was whether or not my account was paid up and how long they could delay my care by not scheduling me in... saying how "busy" the doctors were. In the meantime, all you see the doctors do is wander the hallways with a confused look on their face. And oh yeah... Philhaven does not return phone calls either. They make it impossible to get in touch with your "doctor." I understand that medical care in the U.S. is not that great (we rank about #37 in the world), but even considering this, Philhaven is soooo bad that unless you want to be treated like crap and get ripped off, do NOT go there and do NOT refer a patient to Philhaven. And again, what makes this place the most insidious is that they make a pathetic attempt to take the high moral ground based on their BS, hypocritical religion. What they do is NOT Christ-like. It's Satan-like. Jesus would not approve. read more

These people are extremely rude and disrespectful. Do not at all recommend, you honestly have a better chance of winning the lottery than connecting with a nice person at this facility. They should be there to help and not make people feel worse or bad for wanting help. HIRE BETTER STAFF AND BE BETTER this was a disgusting experience. Seriously, don't give them any business, it's sad. read more

Dealing with Philhaven has been frustrating for me and I don't have a mental disability. It is pushing my daughter to the edge with the lack of follow through for medication, being put into the program she needs, and for financial assistance. I have made 4 phone calls today and have not reached one person to talk to. It is so sad. read more

So far...not good. A medical facility that does not recognize lactose intolerance? Really? Day1 1 fail. Kids pooping themselves has no psychological affect? read more

My mother had been admitted to Philhaven a few years ago. They treated her terribly. They have her electric shock therapy against her will and her Mother had to come and discharge her. My mother was so out of it from their care that she didn't even recognize her mother. She had to look at her drivers license to understand it was her mom. The fact they kept her longer for more money disgusts me. We still consider suing them. Left me with trauma of my own. I would never leave anyone in their care. Absolutely disgusting. read more

ALMOST KILLED ME!!! I would give 0 stars if possible. I went to Philhaven because my mother did not know any better at the time. I was 18 years old bipolar with a host of other physical and mental health issues and unmedicated. The first psychiatrist I had at the East Pete location diagnosed me immediately with Bipolar 1 and I was tried on multiple medications that did not seem to help. She then transferred out and I received a horrible new psychiatrist. I came out of her office in tears for how rude and down right mean her comments to me were. My mother called the head office to get my psychiatrist changed and they did not oblige. Instead, they made us drive up there for a meeting to which the head psychiatrist claimed I was not in fact bipolar and I would not receive any treatment or medication unless I did their day program. I did not need this as I was stable on medication alone, still in school and did not have access to a car or someone to drive me there. They were incredibly rude and sent me into a manic depressive episode due to withholding my medication that I needed to keep me from committing suicide. Philhaven played with my life and I DO NOT recommend anyone to take their child here or go here themselves. They are extremely unprofessional and could not care less if they have a hand in a patient's death. HORRIBLE HORRIBLE FACILITY, EXTREMELY JUDGEMENTAL AND RUDE STAFF, UNKNOWLEDGEABLE PSYCHIATRISTS. Try Behavioral Health Services or read more

this is the worst mental hospital ever everything was restricted and the nurses did a very very very very very very very poor job, one of my roommates HAD A HEART ATTACK MY G- I called a nurse in and they did shit they literally just left us there and she just stood there- like....is this even worth giving a star ;-; then I pulled another nurse and HE JUST LEFT THE ROOM AND CAME BACK LIKE 2 HOURS LATER WITHOUT ANY MEDS that got me so mad cause I can't just let my roommate die there right so I basically felt the urge to pull a nurse in and he was like I'll get the meds and I was waiting for him at the door bc I couldn't go out of the pods he came back with nothing literally nothing. i was like super shocked and when He came back to my roommate he just gave her a pep talk like excuse me? at that point I doubt she felt any better until some nurse that I talked her in finally for fucks sakes gave Her some meds- but she told me THE GOD DAM NURSE OVER DOSED HER- Im a pretty healthy girl and I never took meds so I didn't know u can over dose certain meds. she was suppose normally to have 6 doses but she had much more that day.....other Thing is the hospital was god dam chaotic- some girl threw a TRASHCAN at some other girl. Btw if I hadn't said I usually don't prefer meat and I told them ig they didn't document it THEY KEPT SURVING MEAT- I starved for a few days until I can finally call my mom and she brought Me actual food. then the pods (aka rooms/dorms) isn't suitable for anxiety it's always loud and it triggers ppl- I was only there for like 3 days cause I can't bare the restrictions and all the chaotic situations. reminder THE NURSE COULD CARE LESS ABOUT UR CHILDREN. They put ur problems aside and never solve it. i Also want to give an example of this. my parents brought clothes for me with some snacks and stuff IT TOOK THEM HOURS to get all that stuff back to me. like hurry that ass bro. read more

I agree completely with Andrew M's review. They treat you like absolute garbage and strip you of control of your life. You almost get the impression that these "people" sort of get off on being in a position of power. It's more like a prison than anything. Is this seriously the type of mental healthcare somebody should receive in 2015? The clearly under-skilled staff takes enjoyment in bullying patients, as does the billing department, and by the time you are finished with the place, you realize your life would have been better off never coming in the first place. Avoid like the plague. read more

ABSOLUTE HELL. Everything about Philhaven disgusted me. I was placed there in 2017 and I immediately knew that I didn't have to be there. I was not near ill enough to be there, yet the kept me there anyway for 6 days. I met kids there who've been there for MONTHS. You get a rock-hard bed, one sheet for a blanket, minimal food and no outdoor activity. I didn't see the sunlight for 6 straight days, and the poor children who've been there for half a year haven't seen it either. They treated the children (around ages 3-7) like complete garbage, screaming at them and not giving them their belongings or even their lunch unless they begged for it, I saw it myself. Besides horrible treatment, help is shit also. The doctors put me on at least 5 different heavy medications while I was there "to see what they would do". I felt like a lab rat. They give you ice cold peas for your food on a styrofoam tray to eat. They didn't have the heat on when I was there in the winter so all of us were left to huddle up together and would be restrained because we were touching each other. I got a cold 3 minute shower and when I didn't finish in time I had to finish washing my hair in the sink. Visiting time for families is supervised and you can't say anything either. If I could I would give this place a 0/5. DO NOT GO THERE if you want to keep your sanity and your health. read more

Starting in my early 20s I began seeking treatment for bettering my mental health. I have attended a few local outpatient programs with various hospitals during my more difficult periods, and Philhaven's program was superior. I think anyone looking to improve themselves that is currently struggling with their mental state should be open to Philhaven treatment. All the workers there never once tried to push a religious agenda on me during my appointments there. The only time spirituality has ever been brought up during my treatment was when i myself brought it up to therapists or doctors in my own inquiries and journey. From my outpatient experience, I have only seen a well trained staff that truly wants to help their patients. Philhaven is the best mental health facility in the central pa region. If u feel the desire to seek help from a mental health program, philhaven is your golden ticket regardless of your idealogical background. Don't give up. read more

Beware of giving consent for a loved one to be given an injection...the staff pushes the patient against the wall, and shoots away. Instead of being given one injection, if you are like my loved one, you will receive the frustration of the staff and be shot up like an animal, maybe 4 times all over your body. This is traumatic and the trauma stay with the person!! read more