My recent stay at Santa Rosa Behavioral Health offered a revealing look into both the strengths and…read moreshortcomings of the facility. While food was provided in generous amounts, the nutritional value and reliance on snacks for emotional comfort raise concerns. For many patients, especially those forming new habits around coping and self-soothing, this can create or reinforce unhealthy associations with food. Beyond meals, television, brief therapy sessions, sleep, and basic coloring activities, there is very little available for meaningful engagement. Introducing a wider range of creative art projects, structured activities, and meditation practices would significantly enhance patients' ability to develop healthy coping mechanisms. It's important to note that I participated in this week-long stay as part of a research experiment--a voluntary admission--however, staff were unaware of this distinction. Each division of the hospital appears to be run independently, which contributes to inconsistent communication and uneven patient experience. Despite the facility's limitations, several staff members stood out for their professionalism, patience, and genuine care. My assigned team included Dr. Kuala, assistant and counselor Racquel, and Jordan and Dr. Blay, all of whom were attentive and highly professional throughout my stay. In the 600 division, Maria, the head nurse, maintained a steady professional presence. Charles, the medical nurse attendant, was meticulous with medications and dosages. Conner, a therapist, brought levity and comfort through his guitar, singing voice, and calm, charismatic demeanor. Among the MHTs, Edward and Teddy were especially thoughtful and supportive, and Ana's bright personality consistently lifted the atmosphere of an otherwise somber unit. These individuals work 12-16-hour shifts, often without meaningful breaks, yet they maintain composure, humor, and order--efforts that make a tremendous difference for patients who have little else to hold onto. However, certain conditions deserve attention. Due to staffing shortages, I went nearly a week without any direct sunlight--something crucial for both mental and physical health. The mandatory quarter-hour checks at night, while necessary for safety, sometimes became grueling when doors were left fully open and harsh hallway lights made sleep difficult. Additionally, some phone messages were never passed along, which is distressing for patients whose only connection to the outside world is through loved ones. Overall, Santa Rosa Behavioral Health has a dedicated and compassionate team working under difficult circumstances, but significant improvements in structure, activities, communication, and basic patient accommodations would greatly benefit those in their care. The staff named above deserve recognition for their exceptional commitment despite the limitations of the facility.

My daughter was recently admitted to this facility and has since been discharged. I want to share…read moreour experience honestly because I don't believe this environment is the right fit for every child. My daughter is compliant, kind, and non-disruptive, yet during her stay she repeatedly called me saying she did not feel safe due to frequent fights and the overall atmosphere on the adolescent unit. She also expressed frustration with basic care routines, hygiene opportunities were limited because of the strict schedule, and even when time was available to brush teeth, she says she was denied. What concerned me most was the way some staff interacted with the patients. My daughter felt unheard and dismissed, and she reported that staff members occasionally used inappropriate language toward the teenagers. Medication also seemed to be offered very frequently despite her declining it. Thankfully, a few fellow patients helped support and comfort her during the experience, otherwise I believe her mental state could have worsened significantly. After three days, I was finally able to discharge her. Upon discharge, the facility referred us to a virtual IOP program, but personally it felt impersonal and more financially driven than individualized. Instead, I've chosen to work directly with her pediatrician to find an IOP better suited to her specific needs and personality. That said, there were several staff members who truly stood out and deserve recognition. Abby, who handled my daughter's intake, went above and beyond to make her feel comfortable. Alex, an MHT, was compassionate and supportive throughout her stay, and Tessa genuinely seemed to care about the wellbeing of the patients. Those individuals made a meaningful difference during a difficult time. One additional challenge was communication as a parent. Reaching someone by phone or getting updates about my child was extremely difficult and often frustrating. I don't necessarily place all the blame on the facility itself. To me, this experience highlights a larger issue within mental health care in the United States: while awareness has improved, there is still a long way to go in creating environments that truly feel safe, supportive, and individualized for young people. Medication can help in some situations, but it is not always the complete answer. Long-term healing also requires effective coping skills, emotional support, and personalized care.

I attended this facility hoping for recovery and healing, but what I encountered was the exact…read moreopposite--a deeply toxic and unsafe environment that is not suitable for anyone genuinely seeking help. This rehab is run more like a prison than a place of treatment. Gangs dominate the social structure inside, and these groups openly intimidate and control other residents. If you don't align with them--racially, socially, or otherwise--you're targeted, isolated, or worse. Basic safety and dignity are not guaranteed here. Staff complicity is a major concern. Instead of providing a neutral, professional environment for healing, many staff members seem to either turn a blind eye to the gang dynamics or actively support and protect certain groups. Rules are enforced selectively, and some residents are allowed to break them with no consequences, while others are unfairly punished. There is little to no real therapeutic work being done--group sessions are often hostile, dominated by those exerting power over others, and facilitators do little to restore order or safety. Confidentiality is not respected. You quickly learn to keep quiet or say what the dominant clique wants to hear. This place didn't help my recovery. It made me feel more broken, more vulnerable, and more hopeless. I left worse than I came in. If you're a person from a marginalized background or someone looking for true healing, please stay away from this facility. There are better, safer places out there--this one is a trauma machine masquerading as a rehab.

This was the grossest misrepresentation of a rehab have experienced. Could not be worse, is…read moredeplorable. Room bed seesm 65 years old and the bedding couldn't be worse, the noise, the food was disgusting and cheap. This is just a big con cash grab facading as genuine rehab. They made false promises, when got there could not use my vicks decongestent, could not sleep due to late night noise, the snacks and food couldn't be cheaper. So after 8 hours I left and no ride home as promised. 3 buses and one train made it home. Then get a bill for 3400 dollars for 8 hour stay. That is what prompted me to write this. Any other rehab better choice then this toxic dump.

Monday 12/04/2023 @ 2:39am…read more Triggered while healing: Santa Rosa Behavioral Healthcare Hospital, Shame upon thee, For the way you treated me. A quest to heal, a quest to peal and not remain so mentally trill. Trill thoughts altered my way of thought. Yet those close to me did naught. Naught, they did. Naught. Shame on ya'll for doing naught. To the employees that caused excessive snot to drip from my nasal pot, At first I wished sadness upon ya'll, but now I just demand implementation of patent led SYMPATHY TRAINING. Seeing as how ya'll come to our temporary homes to work where we temporarily live, The least ya'll could do is help make us NOT feel unwanted while we are barely standing shoulders deep in heaps of past pain and misery. I witnessed. I experienced. I witnessed and I experienced the cruelty of staff and the power they created as if carrying a staff... Intentionally pursuing our triggers in hopes of getting an angry outburst just to give them something to chart about. Chart now. Chart away. You wanted to play. Don't put your pen away... Triggers have been pushed. Pushed so fiercely that The Most High had to step in, staff and all. Get behind me staff of Satan. Staff of Satan. GET BEHIND ME. You and yours can no longer twist me mentally. I command you, Father of the Dark Angels, to remove yourself from myself and all that surrounds and loves me. Go and play with the staff of Santa Rosa Behavioral Healthcare Hospital. They have an abundance of workers doing your dark work. Astronomically we heal. Collectively, we heal. Now go head, and KNEEL.... Kneel while we rest. Bless up while we rest. Stop trying to mess us up just so that you have something to chart about. Please. We will not tolerate such treatment anymore. We will no longer allow self to be Triggered while Healing...

I was matched with Lisa Tannehill as my therapist. She was so warm and gentle and I really felt…read morelike she was listening and making an effort to understand what I was trying to say. I cried a lot so I'm sure some of my words were muddled! In just two sessions she created a safe space for me to talk about emotional issues I didn't even know I had. She encouraged me to carve out time in my day to feel whatever it is I needed to feel. I routinely shove my emotions down because I don't feel I have time for a breakdown. I tend to over-analyze everything and always want an answer. I will get frustrated and upset with myself if I can't find the source of whats making me so upset. Lisa told me it's okay to not know sometimes, you just need to allow yourself to feel. A simple lesson I suppose, but one I'm still learning.

I highly recommend Kathryn as a therapist for the young and old, she has such a calm and soothing…read morevoice and demeanor. In addition to her kind nature I've noticed that when you are talking with her, she gives you 100% of her attention and focus. I have never met a therapist who listens and processes so intently. Sometimes all we need is to be "heard" and I can say with 100% certainty that Kathryn gives you that attention.

It's hard to put into words the tremendous gratitude I feel for this wonderful and talented…read morecounselor. Erin Andersen is the real deal. She's not in it for the money. Erin is one of those rare souls who has found her life's work in psychotherapy and is doing it as a labor of love. Of course Erin charges money for her time, and her time is worth every penny she charges. But it's not a job to Erin - it's a calling. She is generous to a fault, skillful, honest, and trustworthy. Erin's expertise and professionalism as a therapist, combined with her considerable natural ability as a listener, confidant, and truly concerned person-in-your-corner, make her counseling nothing short of superb. Over the years I've found that therapists are mostly well-meaning but mediocre. Erin, however, is a champ. 99th percentile. At the very top, among the best of the best, in my experience. Time spent hunting for the right therapist is often time wasted, at best; but you won't waste time or energy with Erin. Personal fit between therapist and client critical, though it's impossible to predict. If Erin's not the right person for the job, she likely knows who is, or can give you reliable guidance and direction in your search. The benefit that I, my wife and daughter, and our entire family have gained from our association with Erin Anderson is profound, substantial, long-lasting, and extremely valuable. Thanks to Erin's hand-holding, careful advice, attentive listening ear, her faith in us, and her ability to see the big picture, we've dodged many a pothole in the various roads we've trod as a couple and as a family. You can do it. Erin can help. Thank you, Erin, for everything!

From the owner: I am a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist (MFT 83687) in private practice in Santa Rosa,…read moreCalifornia. I provide counseling and therapy services to individuals, families and couples who are looking to create better and more satisfying relationships and who want to feel more alive and at peace in their life. Life and relationships can be difficult. You don't have to go it alone. My approach is engaged and practical, with the goal of meeting you where you are. With couples, I incorporate the work of The Gottman Institute, Dan Wile and Sue Johnson/EFT. Prior to working as a therapist I enjoyed an extensive career in the business world. In Sonoma County since 1993, I hold an MA in counseling psychology and a BA in business administration. Grounded. Collaborative. Creative. Respectful. From exploring personal growth to managing incredibly stressful life situations, get in touch with me for a free consultation and let's see if I may be a good fit for you.

I had a really wonderful experience at Santa Rosa Community Health's Vista Clinic and I truly…read morerecommend them to anyone who may be struggling to access affordable healthcare. After turning 26, I lost my health insurance, and navigating the healthcare system without coverage has been really difficult. I was even denied Medi-Cal, so finding affordable medical care felt overwhelming. Thankfully, the staff here worked with me using a sliding-scale payment system. My visit was only $25, and my medication was just $10. I can't express how much that meant to me. I didn't have a traditional appointment. I was given a standby appointment, and although I had to wait, my vitals were taken in less than an hour, and I was able to see the doctor a little over an hour after arriving. When I first got there, there wasn't anyone at the front desk to check me in, which was a little confusing, but once I checked in, the staff provided me with a helpful information packet and lots of useful resources. I was born and raised going to Kaiser, so going somewhere different initially made me feel uncomfortable. However, everyone was so kind, welcoming, and respectful. My doctor was knowledgeable, thorough, and made me feel like I was in good hands. Healthcare can be stressful enough without having to worry about whether you can afford to be seen. I'm genuinely grateful that this clinic worked with me and made getting the care and medication I needed possible. You may have to wait a little, especially with a standby appointment, but for the affordable pricing, kindness of the staff, and overall quality of care, my experience was absolutely worth it. I highly recommend Santa Rosa Community Health's Vista Clinic to anyone looking for accessible and affordable healthcare. One more thing I thought was really special was that they had a little farmers market set up inside the clinic where you could get free fresh fruits and vegetables! I thought that was such a wonderful touch. It really showed me that they care about the community and want to support people beyond just their medical needs. It's not every day you come across a healthcare facility that offers resources like that, and I genuinely appreciated it. You can really tell they care about helping people who need it most.

Waiting almost 2 hours for blood test. When i comes they said just 1 waiting list . Now they said…read morethey have 2 list standing appointments and schedules appointments and i sign on schedule appointments. Blame patient because you not explaining how it works?

Those giving Dr. Pickar negative reviews are those dissatisfied with his very professional demeanor…read moreand insightful perception. My spouse breached custody orders related to co - parenting more times than I care to remember. Contrary to what others said in their reviews here, he did not favor her. Dr. Pickar basically observed our children with each parent, assessing how each of us was with our children. His behavior with each of our two children was that of a school principal, a bit distant, but chuckling when our then pre schooler said she had candy bars in her bedroom "for company" as though she were a society hostess from the fifties. He was kind, but unemotional and objective. Our children were very comfortable with him despite being very young and having been through quite a bit. Contrary to what someone else said, he also completed the nearly ninety page, very well written report in record time-mere months-something the court social worker had very much requested. His report cited specific incidents and specific issues that drew him to reach his ultimate conclusion-giving me full custody. I really need to wonder about those giving Dr. Pickar such negative reviews; probably the evaluation did not go as they anticipated. Dr. Pickar is not warm and fuzzy; he is not your uncle dressing as Santa on Christmas Eve. He is a professional psychologist, very well trained and experienced, with a job to do-and he does it.

He never did the completed report, my bad for not asking him to finish. Too late to ask now.read more

I have read these reviews. I just checked out of Azure Acres less than a month ago, so I know what…read moreit's really like right now. Yes there is a pool that is wonderful and refreshing but does need to be cleaned by the people who want to use it. There is ping-pong and corn holing, and a small weight room that is shared with a laundry area. This is a cabin that was built about 100 years ago, so it is a very old building. There is something very camp-like about being there and it is on some beautiful acreage. I'm not going to complain about the facility because that kind of entitlement is disgusting to me. Please keep in mind that the counselors that work with the residents are amazing and they really do care. Here is the problem: Azure Acres was bought by Acadia, a corporation, who cares about the bottom line only. Money, heads in beds... But I don't regret my experience for a minute, and interestingly, the person who reviewed this here on Yelp (a couple reviews down below this one) who was wishing they could give this place a "minus 5 stars", was in treatment at the same time I was. This individual spent the first two weeks praising how Amazing Azure Acres was, compared to where they had just come from. This person had other mental issues and trauma going on with them besides addiction and that's all I'll say about them. So take that review with a grain of salt please. Now, about the 30 day pre-approval and the insurance companies... If you have Kaiser they will pay for the whole 30 days there. But if you have managed care insurance, such as Blue Shield, Blue Cross, etc., when you've been there about 22 or 23 days, your insurance company will email Azure Acres, and if you have been doing well, they (insurance co, not Azure) will "step down" your care. This is not some arbitrary decision made by Azure Acres. This part is out of their hands. This is your insurance company paying less for your care, so you're moved to Day Treatment which is 8 hrs a day. Day treatment is called PHP, Partial Hospitalization Program, to round out the remaining 30 days which they pre-approved. But if you have Kaiser, after 30 days, Kaiser will take over your IOP (Kaiser calls it IRP) care at the Kaiser. For the other folks who do not have Kaiser, when you get "stepped down", the next step is PHP, (partial hospitalization program), and Azure Acres provides that as well, so if you leave on day 22 or 23 (like I did) you move over to the PHP (Day Treatment) program and finish out your 30 days there. That program takes place in an office building in Sebastopol. There is a local residential place nearby you can stay for $20 a day to finish out your program of PHP, and transportation is provided if you don't have your own vehicle. When you graduate from PHP, the next step is IOP, which is an 8 week program. Like I said, I am going through this right now so I am very familiar with how this works. Now, the reason I came on Yelp though, was to give a shout-out to the counselors. The counselors are not in this business to get rich, folks, they're here because they give a shit about helping other recovering addicts, like most of them are as well. It's the corporation Acadia having taken over, that has caused the real problem. A BIG problem. Here's why-- I know for a fact that several counselors have left in the last month (I saw them leave for other jobs), and a few nurses have left. No one is saying why but the counselors that I have run into at outside AA or NA meetings have intimated that the situation there has been untenable as of late. I found out today that all in-person groups and classes will be moving to a Zoom format. They hinted that it was because of Covid, but I am seriously questioning that. Why not just send Covid positive people home? If you are looking for reviews on Azure Acres to try to decide if you want to be a residential client at this time, I urge you to ask before u decide to go, if you will be isolated from other residents. If u are a potential client, please note that there is an initial 5 day blackout period where you can't make calls from your cell phone or the house phone. This is for a reason. They routinely give UA's and there are K-9 units that routinely visit there to look for drugs. If you're a potential client and looking into Azure, first of all, congrats on making the decision to live without substances. Secondly, please call and ask them to give you details about whether or not you will be isolated, and for how long. Here's hoping that the corporation of Acadia starts to put the People and their treatment first, and not admit any Covid positive people (*if* that's what has really happened to make them isolate the residents), and instead go back to in-person groups, because folks in recovery need fellowship! If you are Entitled and need to be treated like royalty, with red carpet treatment and mints on your pillows, please look elsewhere.

Tiffany Revilla was rude !! I had a bad experience. Turned off completely and disappointed. I would…read moreNOT recommend this place to anyone know who is struggling with any type of addiction because of her. 1 person can ruin for everyone and she did. She isn't a team player or leader. She is just an individual who comes to work just get paid. No dedication. Get rid of her if you want better reviews for this place. I am in the medical field and i take my job very seriously. She can cause clients to relapse, I'm just putting it out there!!! Because it's Facts!!!