Above It All Treatment Center

ABOUT ABOVE IT ALL TREATMENT CENTER

Located on the banks of Lake Arrowhead in California’s San Bernardino Mountains, Above It All (AIA) offers medication-assisted detoxification and residential treatment for adults struggling with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. AIA is among 26.9 percent of substance abuse treatment facilities in the state accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).

TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT

Some clients come to AIA following an intervention conducted by the center’s staff. Most treatment programs begin with detox. Individual client treatment plans may address co-occurring behavioral challenges, such as anorexia, gambling, and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

Residents participate in personalized, 12-step treatment plans that include individual and group therapy sessions along with life skills development, nutritional education, yoga, meditation, and outdoor activities.

Additional AIA services include assistance with legal issues, a transitional sober living program on-site, and aftercare planning.

STAFF CREDENTIALS

AIA employs master’s level therapists, registered alcohol and drug technicians, and licensed vocational nurses. Several treatment team members, including the hands-on founder and CEO, are in long-term recovery. To date, the 17 individuals polled by Rehabs.com on the matter praised the facility's staff.

Staff's Level of Experience and Training: 4.8/5

ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES

Living accommodations are in rustic, cabin-style homes, where residents share bedrooms. Cozy common areas represented in facility photographs feature fireplaces and views of the woods and lake outside. On-site chefs prepare meals. Overall, individuals polled by Rehabs.com lauded the accommodations.

Facility's Cleanliness and Upkeep: 4.8/5

WHAT ALUMNI SAY

The 14 alumni who submitted reviews of AIA to date provided largely positive feedback: 10 positive, four negative. Most of the seven alumni polled extensively by Rehabs.com offered consistently favorable opinions, specifically for the facility's counseling options, though gave more moderate opinions regarding its holistic offerings. A majority also indicated that they would strongly recommend the facility to others.

Counseling Options: 4.6/5
Likelihood to Recommend the Facility: 4.4/5
Holistic Offerings: 3.7/5

Alumni praised the caring, understanding treatment they received; structure of the program; beautiful location; and long-term, life-saving results they achieved. Others characterized staff members as rude and one expressed concerns about medication. A negative reviewer, C.B.D., criticized management’s focus on money, yet wrote: “The atmosphere … is great, and if you really want change you can get it.”

On secondary review sites, feedback was largely positive to date: 4.2 out of five stars based on 29 reviews on Google, 4.5 stars based on 105 reviews on Facebook, which the organization can manage, and a three out of five-star average based on 14 recommended reviews on Yelp. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Positive comments reflected those identified by Rehabs.com: personalized attention; compassionate, dedicated staff; and long-term, life-saving sobriety.

WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY

Five reviews submitted by loved ones to date yielded mixed results, skewed to the positive: three were overwhelmingly positive, two negative. Three loved ones polled by Rehabs.com provided more granular feedback, offering perfect five-star ratings for the level of family participation, as well as four- and five-star ratings for the facility's counseling options.

Satisfied loved ones praised the staff, personalized nature of the program, and environment. Matt, a negative reviewer, question billing practices. A separate write-in reviewer warned about unmet promises and medical mistakes, which they claimed resulted in the death of their loved one during detox at the facility.

WHAT STAFF SAY

Rehabs.com has received eight very positive reviews and no negative feedback from the staff to date. Seven polled by Rehabs.com provided more detailed impressions, praising almost all elements of the facility .

Level of Family Participation: 5/5
Counseling options: 4.9/5

FINANCING

AIA accepts most PPO and HMO in-network plans and other insurance, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and United Healthcare. Financial assistance is available through a partnership with a healthcare loans company. The facility offers a guarantee to qualified individuals who have completed an AIA 60-day residential program or 90 days of outpatient treatment authorized by AIA: access to 30 days of treatment free of charge. Overall, the 17 individuals polled on the matter approved of the cost.

Affordability: 4.4/5

CONCLUSION

AIA has received attention in local news outlets for four deaths associated with the facility. A March 2017 Alpenhorn News story reported the death of a client on-site while detoxing. It also mentions three pending lawsuits related to previous deaths. AIA’s CEO is quoted about facility’s medical protocol and staffing, which go “above and beyond the requirements.” No further information is available.

^[1] GoogleReviews

^[2] https://www.facebook.com/pg/aboveitalltreatmentcenter/reviews/?ref=page_internal

^[3] https://www.yelp.com/above-it-all-treatment-center-lake-arrowhead