I'm still traumatized to this day because of yellowbrick and stand by what I said on google 7 years ago. "The most traumatic experience of my life was my 10 months at this treatment center from hell. The staff full on engaged in psychological manipulation, to the point where I was hallucinating because of how much they messed with my head. Jesse Viner, the founder, has indirected killed 3 known individuals. Two from suicide, the other from a heroin overdose. You could say that what they did was graphically molest each patients psyche to the point where they threw all the fragments of each person's Self out of the window, and expected each and every one of them to jump and put them all together in mid-air. The manipulation and trauma caused by the staff upon the patients is most likely among the worst on the planet. The place is laced with pure malpractice and should be shut down immediately. That is all." read more

I had to advance funds to get my son admitted while YB and United worked out a Single Case Agreement when United had no in-network facilities available. SCA covered the stay. But I'm still in court trying to get my money back. 3 and 1/2 years later they created a bill to claim services were billed as extra/different than the SCA. The place is not worth the headaches they will cause, go somewhere else. Here it is all about moving money from your pocket to his. Run. read more

I have to warn families against using Yellowbrick based my experience. I found them to be indifferent, unprofessional, unresponsive and ultimately unhelpful. 1) Yellowbrick promised an assessment of their findings in a month, but took three and half months to send the report about an urgent mental health issue, without explanation or apology. 2) A summary of the assessment recommended an alcohol treatment plan, when my child has no history of alcohol use. The document they sent me was literally called "boilerplate" and included this boilerplate recommendation. 3) My child had previously been diagnosed with an eating disorder, a main reason I wanted the assessment. Yellowbrick concluded they found no evidence of this because my child did not verbally confirm this condition. 4) Finally, my insurance company found coding errors on their 14500k invoice and denied all but 2k of the reimbursement because of this. For six months I have tried to get Yellowbrick to correct this, no avail. If your family is in crisis, Yellowbrick will only deepen it. read more

Yellowbrick talks a lot about their modern, science-based approach to treatment. In reality this is just an excuse to perform a bunch of expensive tests they can bill to your insurance. They misdiagnosed my autism as bipolar disorder and tried to treat it by shredding my kidneys with lithium. Dr Viner is believes he has a "healing gift from God". If you express doubt in his "healing gift" he will guilt trip you about how not wanting to go along with his therapy is a moral failing of yours. The "community" aspect sounds nice until you realize that there's a huge emphasis on public shaming. This place is more like a Synanon cult that uses guilt and shame as tools of social and behavioral control than a place you go to get help with actual mental illnesses. It should be shut down. read more

Almost 9 years since posting my initial review and I stand by every word. The only difference is I have overcome the trauma caused by Dr. Viner. I am now a mother, a productive member of society with stability, empathy and no longer struggle with any destructive behaviors. All of this despite not due to this program. Looking back at my years spent at Yellowbrick, now with clear perspective, and being a parent myself, I feel robbed. Dr. Viner exploited my illness and my family's income to my detriment. I still firmly believe his facility should be shut down. read more

I am a better person for having been here. I now know who I am, I know what I'm feeling, and I know what I'm capable of. It also had a number of flaws. For me, the benefits outweighed the flaws, but this wasn't true for everyone. I attended many years ago. I hope these flaws have since been corrected. If you are considering attending, I hope you consider my concerns, and ask staff how they've been addressed. Positives: * Most of the professionals were empathetic and insightful and just really, really good therapists and OTs. Some of the best I've ever met. * I got to be part of a community that wanted to hear from me, and wanted to hear what I was feeling. * I received executive functioning help from people who weren't scared of my really intense feelings (sobbing, panic attacks, hopelessness). I've yet to find a coach or counselor who can do that outside of here. * While attending, I graduated college, which I hadn't been able to do for almost a decade. * I still use the things I learned here. * I still miss it. Negatives: * Lack of clarity around payment. There was a pamphlet given at the beginning that explained the price of additional services, but I remember it being unclear about which services fell under that category. The professional staff did not know what their services cost, and would suggest additional services and meetings without mentioning there will be an additional cost. If you asked about cost, you were referred to the extremely overworked business center. Mistakes in payment were common, and difficult to correct. * They implied you could see success if you attended for only ten weeks. That was not the experience of the people I knew here. I think this is important to be clear about, particularly with families who can only afford to attend for ten week. * Almost everyone I know who attended needed additional treatment after leaving. I don't consider that surprising or a negative given the population, and sometimes it was less intensive treatment, but you need to consider this when deciding whether the price is worth it. * There was no one on staff who would diagnose learning disabilities. Friends of mine who asked for a referral to receive diagnosis outside of the facility were not given resources. I arrived with a learning assessment already done elsewhere, and I believe without it, my treatment would not have been as successful. If you learn differently, but don't know the details, how can you learn in treatment? * I found the help finding resources after treatment to be inadequate. Other than clarity around payment, this is the biggest flaw I saw - people just got dropped, people who still really needed help, just help not quite as intensive as Yellowbrick. We were given a few names of local therapists, but if they were not in your insurance network, or not close enough to your neighborhood, you were on your own. Have you ever called 30 therapists in hopes that just one might call you back? This is an extremely difficult process for anyone, even a "transitioned" adult. A social worker who focused on assisting with this transition would have made a huge difference for so many people. * There was a leader I found abrasive and a poor listener. I'm concerned this negatively affected the ability of both patients and staff to speak up. But it inspired the subject of my thesis, so I guess it all worked out in the end. Again - for me, the positives outweighed the negatives. I am so, so grateful. As their incredibly patient staff learned during my stay, when I feel fully engaged in a community, I am very loud about what I think should change. I've thought about this review for years. It is as honest as I could make it. I hope these things have already changed, and I encourage you to ask how. read more

Yellow Brick seems to focus on teens and early-20s who "fail to launch". (They may be using more current psycho-mumble-jumble language now.) Applicants, after a battery of 2 days of "testing" (including a genetic test of some variety) are placed in the center of a circle of 6 to 8 psychiatrists and psychologists to listen "what is wrong with them". Full of psycho-medical mumbo jumbo seemed designed to bamboozle and frighten wealthy parents to enroll their loved one in a very expensive program. Program is physician owned. read more

Do not send your kid here. Period. And they won't let me say this unless I type enough characters, so hopefully I have met their criteria and can stop typing. read more

I honestly try not to review mental health treatment centers because everyone finds different things helpful, and I would never want to deter anyone from getting help. I also try not to name names because I don't like singling people out. I'm making exceptions for Yellowbrick because my experience was so unbelievably awful. There was a lot I found weird and inappropriate about yellowbrick, particularly the lack of patient privacy. I kid you not, everytime a patient made a "mistake" (sexual encounter, drinking, drug use). We would all have to make a big meeting out of it and they would have to apologize in front of everyone and then other patients and staff were supposed to basically shame them and act personally victimized. At Yellowbrick, everyone else's problems are made your problem. It seemed really counterproductive for me. I was there for my own treatment, my family was not paying a god awful amount of money for me to hear about who someone else (who would have been a legal adult) slept with. One girl was shamed for "hooking up" with a guy who frequently sexually harassed and threatened to rape other residents there, but the people at Yellowbrick didn't consider (or care) that the encounter was possibly non consensual. It felt like a total violation of privacy. Yellowbrick was completely unorganized and most of my time was spent playing around looking at my phone or knitting because there was nothing we were supposed to be doing most of the time. I would be told to get to programming at nine, only to arrive and be told I had nothing to do until 11. I was told it wasn't realistic to do school or work while in this program, and that was only true because I spent so much time sitting around there doing nothing. As I mentioned before there was also sexual harassment going on when I was there and staff didn't seemed too concerned about it, Dr Viner acted like the victim when patients asked what would be done about it and said he felt like he was "being bullied". Grow up. There was SO MUCH drama there, I didn't even live in the res but the constant drama was a huge distraction from the therapeutic process. In addition to sexual harassment, there were people using racial slurs, making homophobic/transphobic comments, and patients being bullied for their appearance by staff. Dr. Viner also insulted my family members. Staff lied to my mom about several things. I missed a lot of group because they lock you out if you are late or have to go to the bathroom. When I told my mom this she called Dr. Ye and asked if I could still be allowed in after using the bathroom, as I have a medical condition that makes me go more than normal. Dr. Ye literally told her that the doors weren't locked, which is not at all true. After reading these reviews it's obvious Viner doesn't care, he just responds "yellowbrick is not a restaurant. Of course Yellowbrick is not a restaurant, at restaurants employees would have consequences for behaving completely inappropriately. That is not how you run a business, especially a treatment center. A good program welcomes feedback and tries to use it to improve. Stay away and save your money, do not let the awful staff here take advantage of you or your child's mental health crisis. When we left treatment that we had paid for in advance, Yellowbrick held the money and refused to refund my family for over six months. My family was actually just prepared to take legal action. There are so many alternatives for therapy and treatment in the area, many of which take insurance. None are perfect but all are better alternatives to Yellowbrick. Compass in Northbrook, Pathlight in Chicago, Rogers behavioral Health in Skokie, The family institute in Evanston, Gateway foundation in Chicago, The CG Jung center in Evanston, as well as plenty of support groups. Just because something is expensive doesn't mean it's good and Yellowbrick is strong proof of that. read more

This place is dangerous. People struggling with mental health deserve so much better. I went here high functioning on a full college scholarship, realizing I needed to get some help with depression/ anxiety and my trauma issues. The owner looked at my parents income statements and devised my treatment program from there. I left there feeling crazy, incapable of life and with the diagnosis of a personality disorder. I did not receive help at yellowbrick. I got so much worse and was in a fight for my life. I lost so many people to suicide that went there at the same time as me. It was a journey to get back to who I was. Luckily I found amazing therapists and psychiatric care and now am an employee at a major hospital, have degrees, a family, and am rarely reminded of my time at yellowbrick. It is so unfortunate that the owner can dismiss all of these negative reviews, and hide them. He can dismiss bad outcomes as a result of mental illness, and take no responsibility. Would you want someone treating you that will use your issues against you? This is my first review of this place after several years. My only intention is that people looking for quality help for their kids find it, and it isn't here. Please look elsewhere. Good help is out there. read more

First of all, let me preface this with saying that I am so happy for anybody that has had a positive experience with Yellowbrick. I do believe that there are some practitioners within Yellowbrick that have very good intentions. However, I really feel as though I have to contribute to this conversation by telling the honest truth of my own experiences. I would not recommend Yellowbrick to anybody. The leadership at Yellowbrick are incredibly dismissive of their patients and they shut down any dissent, oftentimes by painting patients as unstable or deranged for disagreeing with aspects of how they run their business. During my time at Yellowbrick there was a rash of stealings within the residence, likely by another resident. During community meetings my peers and I repeatedly pleaded with leadership for some security measures to be taken. We repeatedly proposed the idea of at least having safes or somewhere safe we could store our valuables while we were away. We just wanted some security for our valuables. Yellowbrick dismissed us repeatedly, instead framing our concern about our valuables as a symptom of our various mental illnesses. The thefts continued until one resident was eventually booted from the program (for unrelated reasons). Those who lost items were never compensated and didn't even seem to receive sympathy from leadership. Another incident during my time at Yellowbrick occurred when more patients were admitted to the residence than Yellowbrick was legally authorized to house. We were packed in there and a new patient was sleeping on a blow-up mattress in a room the size of a closet. I believe the room was called the "self-care room" and it was across from the office. It was typically used as a place to monitor patients that were in crisis or for patients to cool down in a quiet space. Because the new patient was staying there indefinitely, however, we could no longer use this space. My peers and I brought up our concerns about this in community meetings and were, again, dismissed. Once again it was framed as us being irrational or unhinged. The over-occupancy of the residence was affecting everybody and seemed incredibly unfair to the newly admitted patient. Eventually, after repeated appeals to staff regarding the situation, one of my peers reported Yellowbrick to the city of Evanston. Yellowbrick very quickly hid signs that the peer had been sleeping in the closet before inspectors came over and the peer that reported them nearly got kicked out for their actions. Viner will frame this in a certain light- he'll claim that there were residents that were going to leave the residence shortly and that this was a temporary situation. However, that was false- there wasn't anybody that was ready to leave the program anytime soon. Yellowbrick was breaking the law by housing more people than they were licensed to. I would like to address the incredibly active presence that Dr. Jesse Viner has on Yelp. He gets very cross about bad reviews- I know this because he sent out this email blast a while ago that my mother received. He really hates any sort of dissent. In his responses to reviews, Viner always tries to direct people to the testimonials on the Yellowbrick website rather than Yelp. Please consider that the testimonials on Yellowbrick's website are carefully curated to paint Yellowbrick in a specific light to sell you on the program. Viner wants to portray Yelp reviews as unreliable- the result of mentally ill and untrustworthy children taking out their anger. Yet a lot of the negative reviews on here closely line up to my own experiences at Yellowbrick. In one of his responses here, he says the following: "Yellowbrick's Yelp experience has been an increasingly frustrating one. We work with many vulnerable, difficult and dysregulated clients and their families." You can see how he's trying to portray those that leave negative reviews as untrustworthy. "Vulnerable, difficult and dysregulated..." In particular, the term "difficult" strikes me as very unkind. What a cruel thing to say about mentally ill youth. Yes, the situations that we deal with are difficult, but, if I were a practitioner, I would NEVER publicly call a patient themself difficult. How incredibly unprofessional. The way that Viner speaks about his patients and tries to dismiss their experiences as soon as they criticize his program is very interesting. If anybody reading this would like to reach out to me to hear more about my experience, I absolutely welcome them to. I think you can message people on Yelp, so feel free to get in touch. We can even schedule a time to have a phone conversation if you'd like. Would be happy to talk more about my experience. I know that I was put into Yellowbrick because my mom felt she had no other options to help me. I know what that's like, and I know it's scary. But please consider the testimonies of the people who have had poor experiences with Yellowbrick. All the best. read more

I have been to three previous residential treatment centers, and first, I will say that Yellowbrick is different, and far better than any of the others that I have been to. I have seen Yellowbrick help many people, but saying this- RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT IS NOT FOR EVERYONE. And I did have some major problems while trying to work with them. Firstly, I have ADD. They tried to help me with this very poorly. Nothing they were doing was helping for a really long time, so I requested to be put back on adderall. They were skeptical of my request, so they gave me a "stimulant test," with an EEG, to see if it was actually helping me. My psychiatrist told me that they would give it to me, however they ended up giving me a different medication than they actually used for the test, and that medication didnt work. I told them this, and they refused to help, and eventually KICKED ME OUT OF THE SCHOOL, saying that I didn't try to do things their way, and they felt uncomfortable with me. I think that I am mostly writing this review for the STAFF- to try to push you to HELP somebody next time instead of TAKE THEIR MONEY and leave. read more

After three years since finishing up my stay at Yellowbrick, I continue to see the benefits of being a part of the YB community in my life today. Since finishing YB, I've graduated college, moved to a new city, started a full-time job, successfully transitioned to a second job, and really have embraced adulthood. Life is not without its bumps and I'm still someone who deals with depression and anxiety. But that's a part of life and I'm not scared to face all the emotions and feelings that once derailed me and my family. I was talking with a fellow alumni from my time at YB and we continue to look back fondly at the experience. YB was a special place that fostered vulnerability and self-discovery. Again, in the moment, there were definite struggles. It was the most challenging work of my life. But I feel proud of the work I was able to accomplish and have so much love for my therapist, the other doctors, the staff, the patients, everyone who cultivated a community at YB that allowed me to be, well, me. I've taken this experience with me into other environments and settings that has allowed me to really thrive as a more confident and loving person. I sincerely hope young adults and families who feel hopeless take a look at Yellowbrick. It's an investment that saved my life and I will forever be thankful. read more

Also they sent a pittance rebate check after we fought with them, because my daughter only stayed 3-4 days and they STOPPED PAYMENT ON IT before I could cash it! This is the kind of people they are! BEWARE! read more

My time at Yellowbrick was nothing short of a miracle. After 25 years of living with an eating disorder and other mental health issues, and being in over 100 different placements during that time, I thought I was a lost cause and many others thought the same. I was living in a very dark place. Seven suicide attempts, enduring every kind of abuse possible, being removed from my home and living in foster homes and state facilities, I silently suffered and starved myself behind the intense pain and emotions. At the height of my disorder I was in a wheelchair, living with a feeding tube for years, and going into hospice because I was told I was dying. I had no quality of life and was so medically compromised that no treatment facilities would touch me. However, Yellowbrick was different. Once medically stabilized they were ready to take on my difficult case that no one else would touch. The unique treatment model at Yellowbrick gave me my life back. I was able to learn how to successfully live with my disorders and disabilities, and not have them take over my life. The amazing highly specialized care I received was by far the best that I have ever received in 25 years of consistent treatment and hospitalizations. The unique team collaboration allowed every aspect of my life to be addressed, not only my disorder. Their neurobiology clinic was even able to correct dysregulation in my brain. At Yellowbrick they truly care about you as a person and not just dollar signs like many other facilities I've been to. They will go above and beyond to make sure you are getting the highest level of treatment possible. You have a say in your care and treatment and can accomplish things on your terms when you feel ready. Their supportive housing had to be one of the most important aspects to my treatment. I was able to escape an abusive situation and have a place to call home. The staff were there for me 24 hours a day and I could always feel safe while going through the recovery process. If you are reading this and saying, "No one can help me, it's pointless, and I always fail!" Then this is the place for you! If you are being told your life will never amount to anything and your worthless, then this is the place for you! If you have been in treatment like a revolving door and nothing has worked, this is the place for you! In my 38 years of life I can finally say I'm happy and have my life back. I'm healthy and living a successful life thanks to Yellowbrick. Yellowbrick has showed me that I am worth it, and so are you! Take the leap and let Yellowbrick help you find your way home! -KB read more

Dr. Viner, Chief Medical Officer and CEO, AKA the BOSS, is a true hero, wants what's best for his clients no doubt, "former patient " . (Yellowbrick saved my life) read more

Yellowbrick entered into my son's life after six years of struggling with depression, anxiety and finally a correct diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Multiple psychiatrists and multiple psychotherapists couldn't seem to make a dent in his mental health, until he got to Yellowbrick. Their level of professionalism and expertise was unrivaled by anyone else he had worked with. Within two weeks of arriving there, and living in the beautiful brownstone, Yellowbrick got him on the right medication and as he said, "I feel like myself again." He last felt this way six years before during his freshman year in college. I highly recommend Yellowbrick and the entire staff there...a thankful parent. read more

It has been 6 months since I posted my last review--and I stand by that review. The past 6 months have been wonderful. I have continued to use all of the tools that yellowbrick taught me. Yellowbrick was truly life changing for me. If it weren't for Dr Viner and the yellowbrick staff, I wouldn't have come out of my shell and become my authentic self. Every single day I think about how lucky I am to have been a part of such an amazing program. I think about how lucky I am that Dr. Viner believed in me. I think about the conversation I had with Dr. Viner when he said I was worth it. Now, finally, I believe that. I believe that I was and am still worth it. My life is drastically different, and yellowbrick gave me the opportunity to do the work and turn my life around. Dr. Viner, thank you again. Words cannot express how grateful I am. If you're looking into Yellowbrick for yourself or your child, please take the time to read ALL of the reviews, not just the "recommended" ones. Believe me, there are so many good reviews that are "not currently recommended" but should be! read more

terrible. be careful before going here, they are only after your money and do not genuinely care about patient's mental health

Yellowbrick is not a restaurant!!! Lots of seating but almost no tables to speak of. Waitstaff seemed confused as to why I was even there. They wouldn't even give me a menu! Never coming back!!! Would give zero stars if I could... read more

Yellowbrick saved our son's life. It is that simple and that complex. Our son (now 21) spent 7 months in the Yellowbrick program and he too agrees that it saved his life. I have worked in the field of children's behavioral health my entire career and can say without a doubt the professional staff at YB is the most expert, clinically sophisticated, caring and committed group I have ever experienced. They work nearly 24 hours a day, always on call, talking with the kids and the parents and managing endless crises. Yes, treatment at YB is expensive....but you are getting the best of the best. Honestly, most families get to YB once they have tried everything else; for years; at our wit's end. These are young adults experiencing multiple very significant behavioral health challenges. In our case, no one had been able to even clearly diagnose our son over 8 years of treatment at some other "best institutions" in the country. Had it not been for YB he would have ended up dead or in jail. I imagine he was not the only one in that same situation. I have read the negative reviews and I hear what these former participants in the program are saying - yes, there are young adults there who are very self-destructive, suicidal, traumatized, self-injurious - that is exactly why they are there! I am more than sure all of the kids at YB have been hospitalized (in our case multiple times) where they experience the same kind of behaviors without the excellent treatment to support them. YB is also amazingly supportive to parents in a way we had never experienced with any other program or treatment center. They truly partner with parents - and the young adult - and provide education and support. Is our son cured? Of course not. There is no cure (yet!) for mental illness. However, we have repaired our relationship together and enjoy each others' company; he has some measure of self-respect and competence (which he had none of when he entered YB); he is clean and sober; and he is committed to continuing to seek the treatment he needs. My husband and I are so thankful to have found such a unique and effective program. And yes, it is clinically at the forefront of treatment. It does have a most clinically expert staff. The milieu of accountability they create is uniquely effective. Most importantly, our son would agree. read more

I can say with absolute certainty that I regressed during my time at Yellowbrick. I developed harmful coping mechanisms as a result of the toxic environment, I felt unsafe several times during my stay at the Residence, and I experienced disturbing interactions with several staff members. My parents would have spent any amount of money to help me get better. Many of the patients have parents who feel the same way about their children, and Dr. Viner takes full advantage of that. I literally cringe when I think about my family's money going into this institution. I honestly feel that every penny (hundreds of thousands of dollars worth) spent at Yellowbrick was a penny wasted. I am still stick to think about the sacrifices my family made, when I ended up leaving worse off than when I entered treatment there. I also keep in touch with patients that were there during stay, and most of us feel the same way. Everyone has a bad taste in their mouths, especially about Viner. His sole goal is not to restore his patients to health; he is 100% motivated by money. Many patients are kept way past the time that is necessary, and it's clear that the institution just does this to keep the funds coming in from caring parents. When I hear about suicides and overdoses that have happened since I left, I'm not the least bit surprised. Yellowbrick has "rules" but they don't enforce them. Your "punishment" for relapsing or breaking these rules is a form of public shaming--you have to stand in front of the community, confess your crime and then take the heat. When people are in a state of emotional distress that warrants serious treatment, how the staff thinks this method is helpful, I'll never know. While I was there, numerous people brought drugs and alcohol into the Residence and were allowed to stay. Some did this on more than one occasion, and were still allowed to stay. So, as I mentioned above, the environment is not a safe one. If I could re-do anything in my life, it would be my choice to go to Yellowbrick for treatment. Stay far, far away from this institution. read more

I posted a positive review for Yellowbrick about 2 years ago, just a few months after I left the program. I fully stand behind my previous review and urge anyone considering treatment here to read it. Yellowbrick is a uniquely life-changing treatment center, and my experiences there continue to have a positive impact on my life now. I am posting again to provide an update regarding Yellowbrick's commitment to their patients. Last fall, long after I had been a patient, I sent a few staff members an email asking for advice. I was looking to transfer out of community college to finish my education, but was unsure how to approach time gaps in my transcript, prior poor academic performance, etc. Given Yellowbrick's emerging adult patient demographic, I thought they would be able to provide some guidance. Within the day, I heard back from each staff member and was given helpful, free advice. I took their words to heart, put in my own hard work, and just started my first semester at an Ivy League university. I cannot tell you how much my life has taken a turn for the better and how much my experiences at Yellowbrick helped me to get where I am today. I urge anyone reading this to do yourself or your loved one a favor and seriously consider this program. read more

It was discouraging being a young woman here. Too many of the male doctors were startlingly condescending. One psychiatrist went so far as to say my hope to one day be a parent directly conflicted with my own self-identification as a feminist. Another one, seemingly unaware that I was in the eating disorders program, complimented me on "shedding a few pounds". This place read like a lurid, unpublished Saul Bellow novel. It's a surreal chapter for anyone I know who's lived it and moved on. You will get denigrated for such minor offenses as drawing a portrait of Mia Farrow during art. The female doctors and staff were, on the whole, well-intentioned and kind, but ultimately held little influence over the process. I wish I'd been clearheaded enough to see the forest for the trees and leave sooner than I did. read more

If I could give zero stars I would. Do not even consider this organization. This place is horrible. They do not deliver what's promised. The owner, Jesse Viner, is an egotistical self serving individual who preys on the hearts of vulnerable parents. They make you sign a contract and pay thousands in advance. When our daughter ran from the program no one made any attempt to reach out and get her to return. We requested a refund for the weeks she wasn't there and they gave us a minimal refund. When we expressed our unhappiness at the small refund an additional minor refund was offered but with a "gag order"attached. They clearly have something to hide. We opted to forfeit the gag order refund in order to try to help stop another family from sending their child here and spare them the expense and pain and suffering we as a family incurred. The program uses some highly unethical procedures like a type of public shaming for infractions and the residence is an unsafe and unhealthy environment. This is a terrible organization. Run as fast as you can if you love your child. There are way too many programs led by professionals who are not self serving and truly care about the individual rather than the money they can make from people who are at a very vulnerable point in their lives. read more

5 stars = as good as it gets!!!Yellowrick is a unique treatment program. Unlike other programs that separate themselves according to diagnosis or special condition, Yellowbrick does not. Yellowbrick views each young adult as a unique individual who can be a valuable member of the Yellowbrick community. Yellowbrick recognizes and respects the particular struggles that are inherent to this critical time in a young person's development. Most young adults come to Yellowbrick with painful histories that often include failure at other programs. Anxiety, depression eating disorders, substance abuse, traumatic exposure are some of the issues that face these young adults . Many have despaired and hold little hope for change. The clinical approach at YB is by far the most comprehensive treatment available. As a clinician myself and a parent of a YB alumni I cannot begin to express my appreciation for the care and kindness and integrity that our family was shown. The program philosphy is backed by evidence based research and years of experience. One size does not fit all and YB recognizes that the path to recovery and self efficacy is through authentic relationships within a community based program. The demands are high because YB takes each life seriously. The work is difficult and requires courage and trust, however the results can be life altering and in our case, life saving. read more

While there were quite a few things right about this program, they were far outweighed by the things that were wrong. If you are are looking for treatment or are seeking it for a family member, I would recommend looking elsewhere. The price is the most obvious source of concern. It is incredibly valuable to recovery to have a family that will do anything to help, but spending a small fortune on the Yellowbrick recovery program is not necessarily the answer (I would imagine that some programs are well worth their cost, just not this one). During my stay there, many of the families of the patients were coaxed into paying for 'just one more month' after being promised results that did not materialize. Most of the staff there have the patients' best interests at heart, but I think some of the decision-making ones do not. I found most of the therapists to kind-hearted individuals with a great amount of useful experience to share. The main psychiatrist, however, left me with a different impression. He was quite self-centered, and would frequently spend our entire sessions talking about himself. In addition, he would often miss appointments, and all but admitted to me that he is in his field for the money. While these were small issues that I had with him, the main issue is with his medical advice. Besides over-medicating me and paying for lab-tests that I later learned were unjustified (does he get paid based on how aggressive his treatments are?), he was a strong proponent of an expensive medical procedure called TMS. He exaggerated the data supporting this treatment for a case like mine, and had me undergo a process that was expensive and ultimately fruitless. The list goes on. In summary, I respect a lot of the work that gets done at Yellowbrick, but I would urge someone considering Yellowbrick to look at other options before they subject themselves or their loved-ones to the toxic environment and poor treatment that Yellowbrick provides. read more

First of all, as has already been mentioned, Yellowbrick costs an arm and a leg and is not as "revolutionary" as Viner would like to believe. Sure, the apartments are fancy and enormous and the treatment center is located in a wealthy Chicago suburb, but these details merely fuel the facade. Yellowbrick functions as a reality TV show, but in its case, the drugs are prescribed and the audience consists of its brainwashed staff members. It is difficult not to feel like Viner's sick science experiment, having your every word and movement recorded and analyzed. My paranoia was so great that I often found myself checking the walls for cameras and recording equipment. But no, Yellowbrick has you policing yourself and breaking an "agreement" (read:RULE) most often results in a confession out of guilt or being told on. You will then confess your wrong-doing in front of the entire community in a Salem witch trial fashion. Now, the FACTS: I lived with two girls throughout my entire stay, with other roommates coming in and out. At one point, Viner thought it wise to have five trauma victims living on the same floor. How WRONG he was. Three of the five ended up in the hospital for self harm and suicidality at one point or another, creating an INCREDIBLY unsafe environment for myself and my good friend, though we were both attending Yellowbrick for trauma. Our other consistant roommate tried to commit suicide numerous times. She attempted to drown herself, hang herself with a phone cord, cut herself with her glasses lenses, and overdose. YET THEY STILL ALLOWED HER TO STAY IN THE PROGRAM. The problems reached a head three weeks ago when my roommate and I awoke to screaming and then to the realization that our apartment mate had indeed succeeding in hanging herself. I was the only one to make any attempt in trying to break into the room, but it was too late. She is not dead, but has been in a coma for three weeks. While the paramedics were tending to the situation, Dr. Jesse Viner screamed at both me and my roommate and physically pushed me at one point. When confronted, he took our complaints and turned them back on us -- a frequent pattern in his behavior. I moved out of the residence that very day and it took weeks of crying and yelling to get any sort of refund for the month I had left at the residence. Viner's condescension and narcism is carefully disguised by his excessively soft and silent speaking voice. Don't fall for it and don't fall for Yellowbrick's promises. The thought of those three sterile rooms and Viner's fake plants and inconsequential art pieces truly makes me nauseous. For those considering Yellowbrick, I'll leave you with some parting words -- DO NOT live in the garden. read more

It has been a couple years since I left the Yellowbrick program. I feel that writing this review might help guide others to get the help that they need. Like many, I came into YB immature, angry and unable to live a productive life. I knew I couldn't live life the way I was living, but I was too angry and depressed to do anything about it. Spending time there helped me become self confident and independent, to be able to face life's challenges head-on instead of running away from my problems. Yellowbrick is unique among treatment centers because allows patients to learn from their mistakes in a therapeutic environment. The therapists guide their patients along their journey towards recovery from their issues. When patients act out, they are not punished or kicked to the curb. Instead, they are forced to examine these behaviors with their team of therapists and the community around them. While this was extremely difficult at times, I know this was a vital part of my treatment. The program's strong focus on community and working together was also extremely beneficial and has helped me immensely going forward. The program was just as important for my relationship with my family. We have never been closer or better at communicating. While many would like a quick fix for their problems, Yellowbrick is not some sort of panacea that will make its patients' lives perfect and make their problems go away. It is, however, a place that gives young people the tools to do hard work that will help them into long term recovery from serious issues. In the couple years since I left, I finished my undergraduate degree and I now work in an industry I always dreamed about. Yellowbrick taught me that I matter to the world and gave me the skills to succeed. read more

Yellowbrick is a life changing program. Myself and numerous friends are at much better places in our lives for having gone there. The staff is knowledgeable, professional and compassionate, and the attention that they give to each patient is truly exceptional. The program is designed for those whose lives are in crisis, and for whom deciding to attend can be a life saving choice. The program thus demands much of its patients in terms of emotional commitment and time, but I have seen far more success than failure for those who are willing to make the effort. Although it is also an expensive program, Dr. Viner has shown on multiple occasions that he is willing to assist those with financial difficulties so that they may continue treatment. Also, I cannot remember hearing the term "behavioral disorder" once in all of the time that I was there. read more

Yellowbrick has great facilities, uses best practice interventions, and creates a unique treatment environment for those seeking an intensive program. What impresses me most about Yellowbrick, though, is its dedicated interdisciplinary team. An incredible amount of empathy, clinical reasoning, and passion goes into the work being done by each professional to support clients towards treatment goals. Having a community model means that peers are responsible for their behaviors and accountable to the entire community for both their successes and struggles. This is challenging for most, as it creates room for open dialogue and deeper self-exploration without isolation. But that challenge is where the work of treatment lies. I have found Yellowbrick to be truly unique, and I fully recommend it to those looking for a holistic, intensive setting to work on transitioning to adulthood. read more

I am the parent of a young adult who took part in Yellowbrick's treatment program and in reading some of the postings on Yelp, I felt the need to offer a sincere and POSITIVE experience. My child was part of the programming during the time detailed in the previous postings and our experience was very different. Yellowbrick changed our lives for the better, it gave us (both child and parent) hope and the tools to deal with the difficulties mental illness brings. Yellowbrick's programing and care is meant to assist a young or emerging adult in dealing with mental illnesses such as: depression, anxiety, trauma, bi polar disorders, eating disorders, addictions, ADHD, and other psychological issues. They are treated as adults and the residential program is not a locked facility - each young adult is asked to follow certain guidelines for their own benefit as well as the benefit of the others, like no alcohol or drugs on the premises or set curfews. Staff onsite 24/7, but this is different from a locked facility with round the clock observation on purpose - here the young adult is forced to make daily decisions, to cook and clean for oneself and to move in the direction of being on their own. Each day they attend multiple group therapy sessions with peers as well as individual therapy sessions, they are required to be accountable for their own behavior. It is a difficult journey, often including many ups and downs, progress followed by setbacks - but if the young adult is serious about moving forward, is honest in their treatment, these setbacks are part of the learning process, part of discovering a new way to live. Learning to stay away from situations which put them at risk as well as learning new, healthier ways to handle the issues they face. Yellowbrick's goal was to actively assist my child in finding a pathway to having a productive life, despite the difficulties presented each and every day. The medical staff worked to diagnose and treat the medical issues they could while the therapists and clinicians worked hard to bring light to what was needed in terms of changing behaviors and understanding the patterns and ruts one finds oneself in. It is a long process and treatment for the individual is hard work of which there is no escaping, no shortcuts. My child struggled, sometimes returning to isolation as a means of protection, but in doing so, shutting out any hope of moving forward. Yellowbrick insisted in full participation, in my child taking the risk, so they could understand better what was needed. Change came slowly, but over time an understanding was discovered and tools learned, even for the parent. I learned how as a parent I can assist, but when and where to step back. It is on ongoing struggle, but without the help of Yellowbrick, my child would be in a very closed place - limited and dependent. read more

Our son was treated at Yellowbrick for five months in 2012-2013. It was not an easy decision for him ( or us) to commit to the program, but we are all grateful we did. While our son knew he needed help, he also was resistant to it. Over the course of his time at Yellowbrick, which was characterized by advances and setbacks, he emerged from a depressed state, and left ready to take the next steps in his life. He is now in college, engaging with his peers and getting great grades. For this we are immensely appreciative and thankful for the dedicated efforts of all the staff at Yellowbrick who made this possible. read more

I have been at yellowbrick for some time now and I have to disagree with the other 2 reviews. I am sad that these two ladies have had such a sad experience with Yellowbrick, but my experience has been the complete opposite. Yellowbrick has become like a family to me, I am here working on trauma and a number of other things and one thing I never thought I would ever do is connect to someone-let alone a group of people- but I have somehow made incredible connections here at Yellowbrick. Like the others have said- the apartments are beautiful. But something more beautiful than the apartments are the hearts of the staff and the community here. Yes, some people have their ups and downs, that's only natural, but overall this community is extremely supportive. Viner is like a father to the community, he only has your best interest at heart, and wants what is best for the rest of the community. Also, many of the stories these ladies recount are highly dramatized, I feel bad they had such sour experience at yellowbrick, but I promise you that if you or a family member are thinking about coming to yellowbrick you are making the right decision. In the amount of time I have been here my life has turned around for the better, I am becoming a new, healthier, version of me. I love yellowbrick, and I cannot begin to tell you how fortunate I feel to be here and to be with these incredible people and to be apart of such a wonderful program. read more

Please do not seek treatment or send someone you love here. I believe this place should be shut down. I spent two years there and got progressively worse. I did not leave because I was told that everyone who left without the staff's blessings did terribly, that yellowbrick was my only chance at a future. It has been 3 years since I've left and remembering the person I used to be at Yellowbrick is painful. I have kept up with most of the people I was in treatment with and I cannot think of a single person who did not improve when they got out of the chaotic environment described in the other post. Self-injury, drugs, yelling, general chaos is the norm. When I was there the therapists stay in an office building and the residence is staffed by young adults working on their college degree. While Yellowbrick does take in troubled individuals, 4 people I was at treatment with died from suicide, drugs, and other avoidable causes. 2 people had serious suicide attempts and now apparently someone is in a coma. I am not sure of the intentions of Dr. Viner and the staff, but something is very wrong with Dr. Viner. People with trauma I think are especially vulnerable to his personality, he plays games with your mind, like telling sexual abuse victims that cutting is a behavior or a perpetrator comparable to the perpetrators that raped you. It is frightening because they are so convincing, but please if you are considering going there look at the price, how they help you when you run out of money, and how their former patients are doing. read more