The Palm Beach Institute in West Palm Beach, FL
Treatment Center Setting
- Residential Neighborhood
The Palm Beach Institute Philosophy
Founded in 1970, the Palm Beach Institute was the first private drug and alcohol treatment center in the state of Florida. As a leader in the 12-step, residential treatment model, the Institute offers medical detoxification, along with inpatient, transitional living and aftercare services for men, women and adolescent males.
Areas of Specialization
Facility Highlights
Testimonials
Meet the Staff
Dan Dowdle B.A., LADC
Executive Director
Dan is an experienced businessman with more than 30 years of management expertise. Dan began his career in a family owned and operated chain of retail shoe stores where he spent the first 10 years working after college. Dan has also owned and operated full service and quick serve restaurants. Dan began his journey in the Behavioral Health Industry after having his own issues with alcoholism. Sobriety took root in the tenet of working with others and he soon began pursuing a second career in the treatment field. After completing a yearlong resident training program at the Hazelden Foundation, Dan stayed on and worked for three years as primary counselor on an adult male unit. After moving to Florida in 2002, Dan worked in an Intake and admissions capacity where he discovered the passion for working with families. He soon began his intervention practice as well as business development work representing treatment facilities. Dan is an advocate of 12 step treatment that integrates proven clinical practices to deliver the finest possible experience to clients and their families. Dan is a graduate of Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina, and is a native of Chicago and a huge sports fan rooting for his favorite teams including the north side professional baseball team.
Lisa Sussman
Clinical Director
Lisa Sussman is the Clinical Director at The Palm Beach Institute. Lisa has over 13 years in the substance abuse field. She graduated with a Master’s Degree in Professional Counseling from South University. She is a licensed mental health counselor, a clinical hypnotherapist and trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing. Her counseling experience entails working with numerous life issues that vary from substance abuse, addiction, eating disorders, sexual abuse, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, to a variety of other diagnoses to family systems, couples, individual, and group therapy. Additionally, she has worked with adolescents and adults in inpatient treatment, intensive outpatient programs, and in private practice, treating those with co-occurring disorders. She has developed and facilitated family programs in substance abuse treatment.
Rehabs.com 360 Guide
ABOUT THE PALM BEACH INSTITUTE
Founded in 1970, the Palm Beach Institute (PBI) was the first private drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in southern Florida. Located in West Palm Beach, Fla., the center provides residential and outpatient treatment, transitional living, and aftercare services for adults and adolescent males, including those with co-occurring disorders. Additionally, the Palm Beach Institute offers on-site, medical detox and a three-day family program.
A 2017 SAMHSA survey indicated that of all treatment facilities in Florida, 52.7 percent are private for-profit organizations, 29.2 percent offer a residential treatment program, and 10.9 percent offer non-hospital detox in a residential setting.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
If necessary, treatment begins with detoxification. To reduce withdrawal symptoms during detox, clients may be prescribed Suboxone or methadone, which in Florida are used by 29.3 and 7.5 percent of treatment facilities respectively, as indicated by a 2017 SAMHSA survey.
Once stabilized, residents participate in 12-step- and evidence-based programming that includes individual and group counseling, peer support, anger management, and relapse prevention. According to PBI's website, residential treatment length varies greatly depending on the severity of the disorder, ranging anywhere from short-term (30 days or less) and long-term (30 to 90 days or more). A 2017 SAMHSA survey indicates that 16.9 percent of rehabs in Florida offer a short-term residential program and 20.8 percent offer a long-term residential program.
After completing the residential program, clients may decide to enter one of three outpatient tracks—general, intensive outpatient (IOP), and partial hospitalization (PHP)— or the transitional living program.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
PBI's multidisciplinary staff consists of master’s level therapists, mental health counselors, licensed alcohol and drug counselors, a registered nurse, and a case manager. All staff members are highly experienced in working with recovering clients, and many hold advanced certifications in their respective areas.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
Located minutes from the Atlantic Ocean, PBI’s Olive House residential facility is a homelike residence cheerfully decorated and surrounded by tropical vegetation. Bedrooms are shared and common areas are comfortably furnished and equipped with fireplaces and flat screen TVs.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
The ten alumni polled by Rehabs.com to date offered highly varying opinions. Five of these alumni gave scathing reviews, and, in particular, highlighted sub-par treatment and poorly trained medical staff. "Shameful management...Medical staff simply abomination led by a quack," Michael wrote in a representative review. "I regret my decision to admit myself to this totally incompetent institution."
Positive reviews tended to contradict these claims, with several alumni praising both the treatment effectiveness and staff. The two alumni who completed more in-depth surveys gave mixed feedback on specific metrics such as exercise and leisure options, cleanliness of the facility, and connectivity. They did both however give low ratings to PBI's holistic offerings and high ratings to meals and nutrition and accommodations and amenities.
Reviews on secondary sites were overwhelmingly positive. On Google, PBI received an average rating of 4.5 out of five stars from 41 reviews to date.[1] On its Facebook page, which staff can manage, the facility earned 4.3 stars from 91 reviews.[2] Many alumni on both sites expressed gratitude to the staff and program effectiveness.
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
The two loved ones surveyed by Rehabs.com to date provided mostly negative feedback. While one loved one polled on specific metrics gave four-star ratings to holistic offerings and exercise and leisure options, they indicated that family participation may be lacking and that the treatment was not affordable. “They let me call my brother every night. However, we couldn't call when we wanted to,” the anonymous loved one wrote. The other loved one, J.M.H., called the treatment program a “complete joke” and indicated that his father quickly relapsed after treatment.
WHAT STAFF SAY
The lone staff member surveyed by Rehabs.com to date gave a highly negative review. R.N., a former nurse, wrote, "The medical director is incompetent and the techs are over worked and burnt out. Half the amenities you will be promised do not exist."
FINANCING
PBI does not publish its rates. However, according to its website, PBI accepts private insurance as well as full and private-pay options for those who are uninsured or underinsured.
CONCLUSION
PBI was acquired by the Delphi Behavioral Health Group in 2017. Delphi operates numerous other treatment facilities in southern Florida and California.
[1] GoogleReviews
[2] https://www.facebook.com/ThePalmBeachInstitute/
Published on December 2018
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