Mpi Adult Program

Recently, I met with the Medical Director of MPI regarding my very unusual but extremely serious iatrogenic drug addiction. I also interviewed the medical directors of the in-​patient drug treatments programs at John Muir and Mills Peninsula Hospitals.
On the good side, the MPI director was the only one of the three who was able to describe to me a reasonable and comprehensive detox and treatment program for my unusual case. But the next day he called and left a message saying that I was not a good fit for his program and thus could not go there for treatment.
He might have been right in regard to me being a bad fit for his very narrowly focused program, which operates their way or the highway, based on my reading of other reviews on Unilocal,our meeting and his message. He offered only the highway, without other suggestions or guidance, which I regard as very unprofessional, at best.
After this rejection I believed that I had no good insurance-​covered in-​patient options in Northern California (i.e. facilities that I was confident weren’t going to kill me), so I anted up $ 40,000 and shipped myself to the Betty Ford Center for 28 days of treatment. They treated my addiction with only modest suffering and with dignity, I am now free of the addictive drug and feeling great. But a non-​trivial percentage of my retirement savings is gone.
Well worth it, but you would have thought that this would have not been necessary after working 31 years for the University of California. I have the best insurance UC offers, it costs me almost $ 900/​month, but on the behavioral health (Optum) side, it sucks. I did read that they are replacing Optum as the vendor next year, too late to help me.

No time for long review. So, I’ll just say, it works.
For some, no. Rehab revolves. Continued recovery will require continued intention and effort.
But, MPI met my needs for thoughtfulness, adequate comfort and food, caring, low-​dgma-​level, and consistency between the diverse staff/​counseling/​medical folk.
And, among the many folks that had experienced one or several ‘other’ rehab approaches and «places», they almost unanimously expressed that MPI was superior. Not the food, the privacy, the beds, the showers, the laundry, the view, or such — though all that is between okay and good — it’s the people — and their gentle, firm, humorous, and consistent approach.
There is no time like now. And likely, no better than MPI.

This place is an oasis of help for addicts and their families. My son has been heavily self-​medicating with drugs and alcohol for at least 8 years, but I had always looked at his addictions as a symptom, not as a main issue to prioritize. However, seeing the person I love return to himself in the course of his 28 days in the MPI in-​patient program has changed my perspective. It seems you’ve got to tackle the addiction before you can really do anything else.
I don’t mean to suggest that MPI wrought miracles. Recovery seems to be a slow, painstaking process for most people, including my son (and there are no guarantees). But the staff at MPI is so grounded, perceptive, realistic, and kind that they can make a significant difference. They have been responsive to my son’s individual needs and seem to really see him and get him. They have helped me and our family understand what’s going on and helped us cope. Having tried to get mental health services from Kaiser for many years, I was surprised by the level of care and expertise at MPI.
The family therapy and services, under the direction of Joyce Gidel, are especially good. She runs a Thursday night group for the families of patients and former patients that is free and quite helpful, and seems several steps up from typical Al Anon. Terry Arnold, the program director, is tough as steel (behind a courtly manner) and he really knows the terrain. He was particularly insightful and attentive about the specifics of my son’s situation, as was the psychiatrist in residence, Joshua Kayman. The staff works very well as a team.
This is a diverse, down-​to-​earth place that knows what it’s doing. I wish they had other modalities besides 12 Step (getting a meditation teacher in several times a week would be helpful, as would scheduled, rather than optional, exercise, and better food). But on the other hand, MPI has found 12 Step effective, and they know how to work with it. MPI’s top priority seems to be to bring a strong focus to bear on each patient, and in the end, I’m just fine with that. I deeply appreciate their work and wholeheartedly recommend them.

I’m a 24 year old name is Sam ketron I was brought up in Benicia by a good middle class family I could of had anything but turned to drugs at 13 by 24 I was using meth heroine zanex and my favorite oxycotin went here not knowing what to expect but got more than I bargain for. MPI really saved my life I highly suggest anyone you love that is suffering from addiction of drugs or alcohol to consider this place and when they finish transition them into a SLE. The staff and counselors and Your peers are fucking amazing and truly care about you. I have a whole new life thanks to recovery and MPI

I am the spouse of a recovering alcoholic. My husband was an in-​patient for 2 weeks and then did 2 weeks of evening treatment. He now goes to the Thursday evening after-​care meeting.
I felt compelled to write a review because of the many negative reviews. The only negative aspect of MPI is that the building is pretty old and one does get the feeling of being locked inside, especially on a beautiful sunny day. Let’s just say it’s not what I picture the Betty Ford clinic to be!
BUT!
My husband had been an alcoholic for many years and he had been in outpatient treatment and AA for many years. He also saw a psychiatrist for many years, often twice a week. But it wasn’t until he went to MPI that he started really believing that he had a problem and he is now working very hard on his recovery. He talks highly of the counselors and really appreciated all the other patients. Something about this program really made a huge difference.
As a family member, I love that they have an ongoing weekly family therapy group that is open to family members over 13, free of charge (!!!) and incredibly helpful. I’ve been attending this group for about 6 to 8 weeks and have come to absolutely cherish my time there. It is so helpful to learn about what to expect from the recovery process. Why is your spouse so irritable, aggressive and irascible? It’s just a normal phase called PAWS, short for post acute withdrawal syndrome! Somehow that makes it easier to stomach.
Yes, there are many people who relapse. But that seems to be par for the course, unfortunately. At least MPI gives you some education, some tools, some insight into how to proceed. They do warn everyone that it isn’t easy. MPI has been a life-​saver for my husband and our family.

I’ve been there twice. The people there are nice. But it is so 12-​Step based and has the attitude that it is the ONLY way to get sober. But guess what? Not so. It is like a prison, treating people like prisoners and telling them what they can and cannot read, taking away rights to read besides the AA book and other addiction literature. And the lectures often went in one ear out the other. They tout themselves as «the best» rehab program but guess what? When i went back the 2^nd time, there were THREE other people with whom I was there with 2 years earlier! Very effective, right? And what pissed me off the most is that I when my privacy was disturbed, freely opening my bedroom door when I was completely naked, Telling me when or when not I could watch TV… AND most especially… we were obligated to do services such as kitchen cleaning that they should be able to pay for considering how much it costs to stay there. It’s basically a prison and not allowing adults to leave the premise without a counselor is ridiculous. I didn’t get to be my age to be treated like a child
They restricted us from having any sugar or caffeine yet they fed us food that was swimming in grease?
Too expensive a program. Paying so much and making you do service while denying you your rights is unforgivable and does not promote recovery AT ALL.

Where do I start?
A family member went here at our suggestion recently.
This program has some incredible ideas. However, their staff is divided at best.
My family member was refused prescribed meds for a very serious medical condition which caused a problem yet they give EVERYONE sleeping medication. They are very quick to want to medicate everyone here instead of allowing the detox and seeing what is needed.
The doctor who oversees all meds etc was unwilling to call the specialist who cares for my relative and wanted to change medications which take months to taper off of even thought he will not be seeing the patient after the rehab is over. And the family member’s doctor asked for a call from the doctor.
Their are two family counselors one who likes to pat them self on the back about all the time in «recovery» from their co dependency and one who is in recovery from addiction and LIVES a life of true recovery. The first is extremely disconnected and truly failed my relative in the family meeting. They did not talk to them first which meant that they could not say things that could have unburdened them.
I am deeply saddened that this opportunity was in many ways wasted. I get that the person has a choice to stay clean and sober. Yet this 28 days would have been a great time to get deep and make changes from within that would give them a great advantage.
The one thing that is completely unacceptable about this program is that they say «Relapse is a part of recovery»! They actually believe that the clients will relapse.
Now, we are a family in recovery so I get that people relapse. But to tell people it is expected??? NO your job is to give the clients every advantage available.
I will tell you… I could go run those groups and teach these «trained professionals» some valuable tools to be present for the clients.
MPI is a huge failure and again. that saddens me so. They have a captive audience.
And one more thing while I am here. The family members personal counselor spent way too much time suggesting diagnosis which she is not qualified to make. She also talked openly about my family member to us in the open where other families could hear. We were told not to speak to them so her talking to us was completely unsolicited and shocking. She needs some appropriate boundaries and to do the job which she is hired and qualified to do. She holds very fragile people in her care and that seems to be taken for granted by her.
I would like to urge Terry, the director, to clean that place up and take control of the loose cannons. Lives, many of them, depend on it.
I gave this business a 1 because I could not post my review without it.

I went to MPI trying to get help for my alcoholism. I had no idea at the time that I was so sick because I was detoxing from Alcohol. I was scared to death to go into treatment. The people at MPI made me feel so welcome and that there was hope. They helped me detox by giving me medicine and helping me be more comfortable. I spent 6 days in detox and learned so much about the disease of alcoholism. Here I am 9 months later still sober and don’t plan on drinking. I highly reccomend MPI for people trying to get sober and their families to learn more about the disease. MPI saved my life!

I took my son here for medical detox for opiates. He was trying to detox at home and wanted some medical help. The intake person turned us away because my son did not seem motivated and did not make enough eye contact with him! What hospital turns away a person asking for help? It was like a job interview. My son was not belligerent or saying he did not want to be there. He was there to seek help for detox and was sent away because he did not seem eager enough! Shame on you Alta Bates and MPI. What person in the middle of opiate withdrawal is up for an interview? Help first, interview later.

I am so thankful my best friend is at mpi.
Not only have I been able to get educated on addiction, I am so impressed with their schedule and ideals.
It is an amazing place. My friend is happy and sober.
And he was pretty bad.
They make friends and family part of the journey too
Highly recommend!
Forever indebted to this place and the man that brought it to us!

If you think science and common-​sense have no place in addiction treatment, then MPI is for you. Although current research demonstrates that individually-​tailored approaches are vastly more effective, nearly all of the MPI «counselors» are AA «two-​hatters» who cajole and pressure patients into AA irrespective of the patients best interest. MPI is an AA shill-​mill. Ask for their «success rate» and-​just like AA-​MPI will not give you an answer. Why? Because-​again like AA-it’s probably in the neighborhood of 5%. There are much better MEDICALLY/​SCIENCE-​based options like Kaiser CDRP, where a variety of approaches are available.

The best rehab facility in the Bay Area! It’s hard admitting you have an alcohol or drug addiction, and they provide the best care to get you back to your new life. I appreciate the staff for all their caring and support. I did the inpatient and evening outpatient. It’s so worth it.