La Selva Group

During the time I was here, I had a point person and doctor who provided me with quality care and would have given 4 stars (because the place had room for improvement). The point person is no longer there. A friend of mine who attended no longer recognizes any of the staff since they attended. Since then, attending the evening alumni program, I've had negative experiences that I wrote staff members about, but do not see improvement on. While there are some staff that I think create a safe space here, it's not enough for validly concerning permissive actions within a vulnerable community (e.g. providers that discuss patients in a common area). I appreciate the friends I met here and hope to continue seeing, but I can no longer get a net benefit from attending and no longer feel safe attending.

DO NOT EVER GO HERE. My sister took out $7,000 out of her retirement money. She suffers from FND. Look at the pics of what happened to her. Two words: Bed Bugs.

Don’t come here.

My wife came here at literally the most vulnerable time of her life seeking to constructively address her trauma, have her behavior observed and medications adjusted accordingly. As is the case in many mental health programs, the staff was disturbingly unqualified, unprofessional, and were generally indifferent whenever she voiced a need in terms of her physical or emotional well being. Look at their mannerisms and demeanor I wouldn't be surprised if half of them are popping the pills they're supposed to give the patients. Any time my wife would bring up a negative or intense emotion, it was the same response: Stuff it down or, here, take this pill. Oh, and the house is disgusting. Stained carpets, dust, flies, mold smell. It's gross. Reminded me of a haunted house. That they charge people thousands of dollars a week to stay here is criminal. Stay away if you want to actually help your mental health and not make it worse.

La Selva is a superb place for healing with competent diverse team that deeply cares about the well being of the patients, and saying this doesn’t fully describe my very positive experience nor how much this place helped me with the skills, sense of safety I learned from it. Not to mention, my experience with the community was actually incredibly unique and helpful. Thank you La Selva’s team, I feel very fortunate that my path took me to this healing place.

So I have been through intensive outpatient programs before for mental health crisis. In particular, the Kaiser one for severe anxiety. It was pretty much worthless. This is honestly one of the best decisions of my life going here. I have to say I am incredibly impressed by every practitioner. I was wary because of the review but another person saying that unqualified people were leading the groups. Most of the classes are led by LCSW's LMFTs and people who have a doctorate in psychiatry or psychology. They have several tracks here. One is trauma -focused. I know there is a wait list for that, but if this applies to you, I encourage you to apply for this list. Another one is for alcohol and substance recovery. Most patients here are not on any of the three tracks, but are usually experiencing a mental health crisis, perhaps spurred by an extremely stressful event such as a divorce or loss or just folks who realize they need to take a few months to focus on their mental Health. The third track is for FND, which is the condition I have. Basically my nerves are overreactive. The condition is diagnosed by neurologists but is treated by psychotherapy, as symptoms are triggered and exacerbated by stress or anxiety. It is incredibly difficult to find treatment programs for this very common neurological condition. I am forever grateful to Dr Lockman, the FND therapist Kathleen Gray (the best therapist I have encountered in years of fairly ineffective therapy over my life) and the other FND group coordinator Kristen for the invaluable support and education. I also attended the other daily classes on healthy communication, mindfulness ,DBT, CBT, ACT and others. I found the group where folks play-acted conversations with significant people in their lives, including themselves, incredibly moving and healing. I would recommend attending this program to anyone, TBH. I can't see anyone not finding this helpful. Essentially all of the classes and therapy are to help you integrate recognition of your emotions and thoughts and accepting them and yourself. The program includes weekly individual therapy and psychiatry appointments, lunch and optional afternoon classes.

Never go here. This place takes advantage of people in vulnerable mental states. They tried to make me do crazy stuff. Unbelievably unprofessional and inappropriate. I will forever be scarred by my experience here.

My sister had a great experience here and the staff kept me updated on her care. I always knew she was in good hands.