ABOUT JOURNEY MALIBU
Nestled on the coast of Southern California, Journey Malibu is a luxury rehabilitation center providing residential and outpatient services to men and women dealing with substance abuse, as well as co-occurring conditions, one of the just 720 (54.9 percent) centers in the state with this programming track. In addition, this is one of the only 197 (15 percent) non-hospital California treatment centers with detoxification services available on-site.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Admission at Journey Malibu begins with a physical and psychiatric evaluation to determine the best level of care. The assessments will be repeated weekly to make sure they are up-to-date. Clients needing detoxification may participate in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) utilizing Suboxone, Subutex, or Vivitrol, which generally lasts for three to five days.
Residential treatment is provided in 30-, 60-, or 90-day increments with extended-care options available. Only 440 (33.6 percent) treatment centers in the state provide long-term residential programming. Journey Malibu utilizes evidence-based treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and eye movement desensitization and restoration (EMDR), as well as a range of holistic offerings.
Clients participate in one-on-one counseling, group therapy, and 12-step meetings. Family and couples counseling is also available. Holistic programming includes adventure therapy, equine therapy, yoga, meditation, and acupuncture. Relapse prevention, life skills training, career planning, and nutritional planning better prepare clients for life after treatment. Following residential treatment, clients receive an individualized aftercare plan, emphasizing the importance of continuing counseling and 12-step meetings.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
Journey Malibu employs licensed psychotherapists, nurses, counselors, and a hypnotherapist.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
The modern Journey Malibu residence is tucked into a Mediterranean environment and boasts luxurious accommodations, spa treatments, and a private beach. Clients have access to big screen TVs, electronic devices, and views of the coastline. The facility's website states that it accommodates a "small, select group of clients."
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
The two former clients surveyed by Rehabs.com to date provided mixed feedback regarding their treatment experiences. One of the two gave perfect five-star ratings for treatment effectiveness, meals, and accommodations. The reviewer, John, wrote, "Great place to be." The other individual provided a one-star rating for treatment effectiveness, and noted that while treatment itself was adequate, they had many issues with billing and claims.
Third-party sites also yielded mixed reports to date. Six individuals on Google gave Journey Malibu an average of three out of five stars.[1] In a positive review, J.G. wrote, "The various therapy methods I found there opened and expanded my mind." However, those who were dissatisfied with their experience frequently cited false advertising and rude staff.
Feedback was equally divided on Yelp at the time of this writing, with a single one-star review and a single five-star review.[2] "After trying to deal with this place for the last 18 months, this place is a joke when it comes to terms of being a business and operating as a business," C.C. wrote, echoing the Rehabs.com reviews that the billing and claims department is mismanaged.
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
The sole loved one surveyed by Rehabs.com at the time of this writing gave mostly positive feedback, offering perfect five-star ratings to 13 of 15 categories surveyed. They gave five out of five stars to Journey Malibu's treatment effectiveness, family participation, counseling options, holistic offerings, and the staff's level of training and experience.
"The staff is very caring, understanding, and good at open communication regarding all important matters," the anonymous reviewer wrote. "The price is a little high, but seems worth it. It was very easy to work with the staff, and made me and my family feel more relaxed about everything."
Four reviewers on CiteHealth gave the facility an overall four out of five stars to date.[3] One five-star reviewer wrote, “Journeymalibu saved my mothers life. after 5 other treatment centers, they are the ones that made her change her mind about drinking.”
WHAT STAFF SAY
The sole staffer polled by Rehabs.com at this time of writing gave one out of five stars to Journey Malibu's standard of care and its staff's quality of training and experience. They noted the lack of 12-step programming as a weakness of the facility. The anonymous reviewer wrote, “I don't consider a treatment facility (as they state) that offers massage and yoga and zero meetings can help a client get clean and stay clean!”
FINANCING
The facility accepts most major insurance such as Aetna, Cigna, and Premera. The center’s website provides an insurance verification form.
[2] https://www.yelp.com/biz/journey-malibu-malibu-3
[3] http://citehealth.com/rehab-centers/california/cities/malibu/journey-malibu#reviews
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