Name: Meridell Achievement Center
Address: 12550 West State Highway 29, Liberty Hill, TX, 78642
Telephone: 512-528-2100
Rating: 2.5849

Private & Confidential

(877) 322-2450

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Meridell Achievement Center

53 Reviews

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This is just a drug and alcohol rehab in Liberty Hill, Texas easing Emotional health treatment emphasizing Emotional wellness services within suitable Residential setting.

Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment

Alcohol and Drug Treatment Services

Meridell Achievement Center Offers comprehensive drug and alcohol treatment by easing the following ancillary services:

Assertive community treatment
Case management
Diet and exercise counseling
Education services
Family psychoeducation
Illness management and recovery
Integrated primary care service
Non-nicotine smoking/tobacco cessation medications
Psychosocial rehabilitation services
Screening for tobacco use

Focusing on individualized treatment, Meridell Achievement Center's smoking policy is'Smoking not permitted' and requires in Male and Female as well as Children/adolescents focusing on the following:

Regularly handled special programs and groups are eased only at that substance abuse rehab in Texas teaching customers essential skills used to cope with daily challenges in sobriety. The following groups and programs cater to the following:

Individual psychotherapy
Couples/family therapy
Group therapy
Cognitive/behavioral therapy
Dialectical behavioral therapy
Behavior modification
Integrated dual disorders treatment
Trauma therapy
Activity therapy
Psychotropic medication

Addiction Treatment Programs

Getting into a successful treatment plan is the initial step to creating a new life. Meridell Achievement Center comprehends this and takes Money or self-payment, Medicaid, State financed health insurance coverage other than Medicaid, Private health insurance, Military insurance (e.g., State mental health agency (or equivalent) capital, State welfare or child and family services financing, State adjustments or juvenile justice financing, State education financing, Additional State financing, County or town funding and U.S Department of VA funding.

For any more specific info, we invite you to reach out to this addiction treatment facility.

Meridell Achievement Center Reviews

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sugarcayna13 .

Life changing experience for my daughter! If you are a parent searching for a Res. Treatment Center to help your child overcome Depression and Anxiety, this is where you will find the Best help. We searched so long to find somewhere we could trust, and ultimately chose Meridell. The staff there Really care about your kid. It was obvious that they did want to help our daughter succeed in life. Although the 3 months away from her were very difficult, we always had peace of mind that she was in the right place. She has come home armed with Coping skills, and a new way of looking at life. I have thanked God over and over for helping us find Meridell. If you\'re looking for a Residential Treatment Center for your child, let me just encourage you, that your Child DOES have a chance at a good life. Put your trust in God and know that your child is loved and cared for!

Yvette R.

Let me start by saying \"This Is Not A Game.\" the staff and the doctors are there to help troubled kids learn to function in society so they can be productive and not end up in the prison system. You are not there to make friend for a reason. Focus on getting yourself better and this will work for you. The staff and doctors are there because they have a calling to help heal the the broken. They are underpaid and under appreciated but they don\'t give up.

Adam Barrish

I attended this place for 7 months. It\'s not for everyone. I\'m not going to sit here and tell you that it\'s the best place in the world and that it will help everyone that goes there, but I will tell you that the rules that are in place there are in place to keep the patients safe. I went there a month after I turned 16, and I\'m 18 now and have a job, and I\'m going to college pretty soon. They teach you social skills and they talk with you about the problems you have and how to fix them. All the reviews about previous patients not liking it most likely didn\'t like it because to succeed there, you have to follow the rules and understand that the people there will help you and not give up on you. The staff there aren\'t there for the pay. The staff don\'t get paid as much as they should. They saved my life. That\'s all I have to say. Every person that reads this, have a great day and remember that it will seemingly get worse before it gets better, and trust me, you won\'t regret sending your child to this place. Thank you for listening

Chantha Kammer

Was a patient at La-Casa during summer of 16, this place isnt for everyone. What I did like about it was the respectful staff, the therapists, and the doctors that put me on the right things. It can be a stressful environment at the other units from yelling, and I did see a few violent things in the time I was there, but the staff keep you safe.

Micah Mitchell

I was in La Casa fall ‘14 to spring ‘15. It was depressing spending every holiday here. The living conditions are horrible. The units are disgusting with bugs. Anyone like cold showers? They based my whole life off of a house/tree/person drawing. The staff is obnoxious and act like they are running a detention center. Speaking of which, if you look up there glassdoor page, the employees have rated it overal 2.1 stars out of 5. I was once told that if I didn’t line dance to the Wobble, I’d be put on freeze. Let me tell you, you don’t want to be on freeze. Every day was Russian Roulette in the Cafe. You risked getting chunky spoiled milk every time you cracked open your only beverage choice. The food portions are also so tiny, your kid will always be starving. I followed the rules and was a level 3. But I basically had to kiss A** to get it. The staff is oblivious to behind the scenes. None of us level 3’s followed the rules every way they thought we did. Did you know one of the Recreation Therapists was arrested for Possession of Methamphetamines and Marijuana on campus? I met some cool guys in here. One of my close buddies from here flew and stayed at my apartment for a week last year. We both have made it but agree that Meridell didn’t help us one bit. The staff did not aid out treatment. Our peers did. I broke my finger here while playing football. The staff kept telling me it was jammed. Two months later, I was discharged. My mother noticed how much pain I was in when we went bowling the day after I got home. We went to the doctor and did xrays. Ended up having to get $21,000 worth of surgery. My mom fought them and they said they couldn’t find anything about me breaking my finger in my files. Finally, they found two months prior, I had asked for Tylenol because I “jammed” my finger. They don’t care about the kids there. The staff all feed on the power they give themselves.

Miranda A

I get scared just by thinking about this place. When i first got admitted i thought that it would be the best for me, quickly i realized it was for the wrose. Thankfully they helped get my meds corrected, but the ptsd is worse. All the screaming, doors slamming shut, the crying. We couldnt even talk to each other, even though correct communication is a big thing that they strive for, it just wasnt there. I was on the ravens unit and let me tell you that, that was just a trashy unit. Even though there was a person who mopped the floor like once a week it was dusty. The side door near the rocks didnt touch the ground all the way so, there was always spiders, centipedes, moths. EVERYWHERE. There was also once a bunch of sugar ants behind a chair by the window. It made me feel like i was in a prison. The food was worse than school food. And always ALWAYS wear socks. When i discharged i had to throw away a good, 10 pairs of socks just because how nasty they got. Dress code is worse then school dress codes. Shorts at minimum has to be one inch above the knee, no leggings, no dresses, no skirts, no tank tops, and at all times you have to have a bra on(non wire). And the staff would yell so loud, I still have nightmares about this place even though i discharged 6 months ago. 0 out of 10, i would not recommend sending your child here.

Kenta\'s Husband

My friend (lets call her Kyu ) got admitted in middle of October 2018 and got discharged in early January 2019. thankfully Meridell helped her sort out her meds and learn coping skills. But during her time she would always complain about how dirty her unit that she was in, like the dirtiness was to the point where there where bugs in the rooms, spiders living in every corner, there was also a tiny sugar ant war, and don\'t even let me start with the centipedes. She also now has ptsd from the harsh rudeness some of the workers had towards her and others. Hell, kyu\'s even told me that she has NIGHTMARES thinking about this place. she has also told me that a worker told her to stop acting like a baby because she found out one her best friend\'s dog died. And the list goes on, and on. Email me if you want the full list of why meridell practically scared my friend.

Zephaniah Jeffries

My son went to Meridell (4/2018-9/2018) after years of dealing with his physical Abuse both towards me and his younger siblings. Tricare coupled with inexperienced therapy staff made for a calculated stay, no real intervention. I traveled there once a month and did over the phone family sessions once a week. Upon discussion of release my son said \"I\'m not going to listen and submit to her authority \" and it was discussed in therapy but never resolved. I was extremely distraught and felt so anxious about him being released and expressed it clearly to the whole team including the therapist and doctor. Nonetheless he was sent home days later. It wasn\'t two weeks before we were back in the same predicament and to add to it a couple of months later my son attempted suicide. It really was no surprise to me.....I knew he was still unstable and not any sort of rehabilitated. Tricare basically wasted $16,000 a month and THAT\'S WHY REAL MENTAL HEALTH HELP IS NON EXISTENT, IT\'S JUST A BUSINESS. My son is still violent and manipulative and I have almost no legal grounds to protect my other children or myself from him...or him from himself. If you\'re in real need of help, look elsewhere. Really. (I heard a place in Reno nevada has great results) Lanae Rogers

bella reyes

This place will cause me great pain for the rest of my life im 14 years old and i must say this has to be the worst place to send your kid I now have PTSD form this place I cant even be in a room with normal people anymore its sad i came out worst I had to lie to get out my therapist was awful no one cared only some staff cared and they all knew it was a little messed up most staff is rude or unprofessional i never felt safe half of the staff there hates it alot of them fight and sometimes units are short on staff the food was nasty school was just a huge mess cause of all the grades dont even get me started about dream team if you didn\'t make it you felt use less honestly you went more crazy there and you never felt at home you will always feel alone all we use to do in my unit is watch movies and sadly this is the best one in the state and its so bad my mom and dad have PTSD form this place I had to fight my way out and honestly till this day im so scared someone is gonna send me back i fainted due to stress while being there and the nurse said i was fine the next day when i was all bruised and went to the ER the night before the doctor told me to rest they are just there to get a check one staff was so rude and always picked on me and honestly it was sad an adult was doing this to a 14 year old my mom read the reviews before sending me here and it all said dont send your kid here and i can say as a 14 year old with PTSD form that place please dont send your kids here honestly goregetown was a hotel compared to meridell I still have nightmares form this place its a gate way to hell and I\'ve been to a lot of places and I have to say if you wanna be scared and messed up in the brain for a long time then go here I was only there for a month and when I got there some girls were there for almost 7 months its sad

Lacey Gallagher

I stayed here for about 2.5 months and I got out in January of 2019. But it did much more damage than it did help. I was on the unit called hacienda, which is SUPPOSED to be for the neuro-behavioral kids, instead of just behavioral. There were way more behavioral kids on my unit than there were neuro-behavioral kids. Supposedly each unit is structured differently, and because my unit was the only neuro unit for teenagers, it was stricter. When you first get there, you’re put on full safety precautions for the first day/night that you’re there. Which basically means that you’re not allowed to leave the unit. You eat & do school work on the unit, & you sleep with your Mattress out in the hallway so they can keep an eye on you. A lot of the rules that they have are downright ridiculous. You’re hardly ever allowed to talk to the other girls on the unit. And by talking,I mean no verbal or nonverbal communication.They sometimes wont allow you to make eye contact with the other girls because that’s considered non verbal communication. They also don’t allow you to make friends. Because they claim it prevents you from focusing on yourself. I’ve been to other treatment centers & the other ones I’ve been to, you’re allowed to make friends. And you’re allowed to talk to the other girls. And if the staff here thought you were talking too much with one or more of your peers, they would put you on what they call a 10 foot & with that you’re not allowed to talk to your 10 foot & you always have to be at least 10 feet away from them. And a lot of the staff at this place would treat you unfairly if they didn’t like you. A lot of favoritism. This one staff. Ms. Viola is what we called her. She took this girl’s photos of her family away & tried to say that her boss, who was also one of the counselors, said she wasn’t allowed to have it. Well, this girl went out & asked Mrs Ashley a little bit later about it..turns out it was a team decision. That didn’t involve Mrs Ashley. And then a couple weeks later, an incident with the same girl, Mrs viola, and Mrs Ashley occurred. So this girl and I had become sorta close, I considered her a friend, even though you’re not technically allowed to make friends. And she was trying to problem solve with Mrs viola so she could try to talk to me. Mrs viola shut down every suggestion she gave. And she had said, I’m really trying to problem solve with you here, in actually a decent tone of voice. And Mrs viola said I know, but there’s nothing to problem solve here. Minutes later Mrs Ashley walks in because our dayroom got loud & she noticed this girl was upset. Long story short. Mrs viola denied that this girl had ever tried to problem solve anything. In front Mrs Ashley who is her boss. Now later on Mrs Ashley says to Mrs viola that she wants to do whatever she can to make her comfortable on the unit, completely disregarding the fact that Mrs viola literally just did something unjust to this poor girl. And a lot of the staff are like this. They also serve such small portions of food in the cafeteria. I was constantly hungry. If you think your regular school makes small portions of food, trust me the portions are way smaller here. Another thing, they have these ridiculous perceptions on what is okay & not okay to do. For example, at lunch, someone was carrying their tray to the trash cans & their fork dropped on the ground and I picked it up for them. In the real world, it would be acceptable to do that, but at meridell, it’s poor boundaries & caretaking they literally have being polite confused with poor boundaries & caretaking. All of the staff even told us that in the real world, it’s okay, but it’s not here. And also, before I went here, I had no sense of personal space when it came to my friends and family. And leaving here, I left not being okay with my family being so physically close to me. The only thing that made me better was the motivation to work so hard so that I never had to come back.

Alisha Watkins

My niece went there and said it was the worst experience. Ever!!! Evrything they say about the place is a.lie.

heidi jacobsen

i went there in 2018 from january to march. it was one of the worst experiences of my life. they control who you talk to and if you seem to be talking to someone too much they put you on a “10 foot” which basically means that you wont be able to talk to them and you cant be near them. the staff was also very rude and judgemental of you and your issues. my last few days of being at meridell, out unit was put on something called community rebuild which is basically when everyone is punished for a few peoples actions. youre basically forced to sit in a room all day and do paperwork that doesnt help with anything. youre not allowed to talk to the other girls or leave the unit. i was on hacienda, and it was an all girls unit with 25-30 girls. some girls had been there for 6 months before they were finally allowed to go home. my therapist there accused me of doing things i didnt and i continously told her i didnt. i basically had to lie my way through treatment because if i opened up i risked staying for much longer and not getting anything done other than being homesick. if you have a serious issue they just tell you the same things over and over again in hopes that you’ll get better. dont send your child here there are better places.

As much as this place helped me, it also caused a lot of damage. I stayed for 6 months, and the last month was solely to ’fix’ relationship with my mother. I had nightmares at least 5-6x a week for the first 3-4 months. After a few other patients reached out to me, I realized that they also had very similar reactions. My last week was a community rebuild, meaning that I received punishment for the people around me. Punishment is a full day of paperwork without interaction. The only reason this is not considered solitary is because you can see your peers, and still have to ask to use the bathroom. Community rebuild is the same, except it’s the whole group, even when it’s only half the group that had issues. I gained 60lbs in meridell as well, even with the minimal amount of ‘prison food’ that would keep me from getting a punishment (you’re are punished for not eating even without an eating disorder. Good luck if you skip breakfast!) The staff is very supportive and kind, but I don’t know if they understand how this affects the patients. The patient will start to become anxious and afraid in the real world for a pretty long time after returning from their stay. Big stores, movies, and crowds have a way on the patients. Meridell seems worse than prison when you’re in it. There’s constant reprimand, even for those who avoid trouble and even more stress to complete school and 24/7 therapy. There’s not any downtime, which can stress out those who have lower energy. My need for meds was about the only upside to meridell. It helped me stabilize meds and figure out which helped. Please take a serious consideration into account before sending a child here. I was 17 when I was checked in, and it was the hardest thing in my life that i’ve had to do. My happiness and will to live didn’t come from meridell either; it came from the exact thing the staff told me was a lie/excuse. Their answer is the right answer and you don’t leave until you fit their mold, insurance fails, or your parents realize that they had sent you to a mental health prison (there are juveniles sent here for drug use, shoplifting, etc.).

Tyler Bennett

Let me spare everyone the hell of putting their child here. They restrain all upset children and, administer medicine with a shot that knocks the child out. If you want a pointer as to how bad it was for me, I STILL HAVE NIGHTMARES FROM WHEN I WAS ELEVEN ABOUT THIS PLACE

Avery Thompson

I was admitted in 2017 I stayed for 3 months on unit bunk house When admitted the do blood work they have you on safety till your doctor okeys it and safety is you can’t leave the unit so you eat and do school work on the unit and when you use the bathroom they have you keep the door slightly open while a tech stands outside the door and have you count or something like that so they can hear you and make sure you’re okey I’m going to tell you right now a lot of people when they are first admitted think all the patients are brainwashed but they really aren’t so that’s good but I believe that when someone thinks that it’s because they aren’t used to the atmosphere yet At one point in my stay I HATED it with a very strong passion but I got over it with some talking with some of the staff and some of my peers Every morning we would read poem I guess you could say I still have my original copy of it I love it so much it means a lot to me I learned soooo mich at Meridell They teach you a lot of coping skills and responsibility ooo and resiliency ooo and accountability that was huge but they don’t baby you they don’t put up with that maaan it’s serious business when you get on consequence the first time but if you do what you’re supposed to do the you get off of it in a reasonable amount of time They have levels there are 4 when you are admitted you are level 2 and if you get in some big time trouble you get put on level 1 but level 3 is always your goal but if you get level 3 then your goal is level 4 The level system really teaches you self discipline when you’re level 3 or 4 you have more trust you get to lead morning groups which is writing down how everyone feels and you can even lead issues group which is a group were everyone that wants some feedback on an issue has a chance to say the issue and two people will give feedback soo when you lead that you just write the persons issue and who gives feedback The food has it’s good days and it’s bad days my favorite is the round pizza and also the ravioli day I would get the cheese one with Alfredo sauce I did stay during Halloween and thanksgiving they have events during that day or the week it depends on what your idea of fun is sooo the events are fun if you enjoy them The staff is pretty much your opinion not everyone agrees on how a person is and plus like that’s kinda messed up but I do admit that I don’t like some of the staff but the most strict nurse they had on my unit turned out to be my favorite she’s only strict because she wants to make sure you learn the right ways and don’t get to comfortable there When you wake up you have to be ready by a certain time and if you aren’t on time you eat on the unit and when you go to eat you walk in a single filed line to the cafeteria and the other places that you will walk is the gym and school or if you go in the summer the pool At school I was able to understand more of the material and was able to get help when needed You can receive mail and send mail if you have stamps When I stayed they were doing construction on my unit expanding the day room and upgrading the bathrooms so we had to adjust to it but hey I bet you during shower time your turn would come way faster You get Like a 20 minute or so phone call 2 times a week You do have a visit with your doctor and a 1 on 1 I believe once a week and you tell them what’s going on and stuff It’s been a little over a year since I have last self harmed yes I had some set backs and that’s bound to happen but I was resilient and got back up I joined drillteam at school I’m one of the head people I have also been volunteering a lot I have become a usual volunteer and now considered a part of their team on top of that I have been able to not only grow as a person but I have been helping a lot of people process threw things and I admit I have gone up to random people at school when they are crying or looked worked up and I was there to be someone they can spill their guts out to I actually have a plan for my future I honestly and truly recommend

Juliana Johnson

My son was in and out of hospitals for two years. We had almost given up. He had medications changed a half dozen times. I thought I was going to lose him... This place SAVED MY SON!!! They performed a \"QEEG\" which was more advanced than other tests, and they were able to find the right meds for him. When he came out of Meridell, he was respectful, sweet, considerate, and loving. I GOT MY SON back. Its been 2.5 years now, and he hasn\'t had to go back to a hospital. I LOVE This place. They know how to turn the hard cases around. Best part? place doesn\'t look like a hospital. Kids can still feel like kids. Its beautiful...lots of acreage, a swimming pool, indoor gym, outdoor courts for basketball, volley ball, a game room, open cafeteria, and as a parent, when you visit, you have free access with your child to the grounds...no orderlies staring over your shoulder.

Nate Brandt

Very unprofessional staff and boarderline abusive at times, the most minor mistakes they can make you not speak to anyone and even force you to leave the door open while in the restroom. Aending children here is childabuse, look elswhere if you love your kids.

Ryan Stringfellow

I escaped their back in 2005 and got picked up and brought back the staff took all my clothes away and threw me in a room and they were all starring ate through the gas laughing at me. And than they told my parents I was stupid and I was never going to be successful in life and here I am fixing to be a police officer soon. Do not take your children I do not recommend that place. Staff acted like correctional officers most of the time.

Kimberly Dunnahoo

I was a patient here in 2017, October through December in Bunkhouse. There were many, many things I disliked about being at Meridell. I wish I could completely erase my stay from my mind. They policed everything you did. What you ate, wore, said, read, your tone of voice, how you spent your time, who you talked to the most, what you wrote (they could open your personal mail going to and from), how long you spent in the bathroom. You spend your entire stay stuck in a group of about 15 to 20 girls, with new girls coming in occasionally, but you are strictly prohibited from talking to any other girls in other houses, and especially any boys. It drove me crazy. Although a minor, I was not at all considered in this process and the staff were not sympathetic at all. Throughout my stay, I was put on consequence frequently, whether it be freeze, social or process papers. With freeze and social, patients are not allowed to speak to other patients for 24 hours (sometimes longer due to different circumstances), could not join the others at meal time, at times could not even join group therapy, work with other students during school, had to \"process off\" during evening group, (basically going into detail about what you did wrong) and had to complete process work while at the house the entire time. My second freeze was even extended because I confided in one of the staff that I was feeling unmotivated on my process work and wanted to change that, so I asked her for advice. Later when I was processing off, she scolded me in front of all of the girls and said that SHE was the one who noticed I was \"slacking\" so that was why she extended my freeze, which made me tear up, and she subsequently scolded me for that as well. The entire extenuation was was based on a blatant lie, and she publicly shamed me for not going along with it. There was a very obvious tension between all of the girls, and because we could not communicate honestly (in fear of hurting each other\'s feelings and getting in trouble), many girls became extremely passive-aggressive towards each other, which created an uncomfortable environment. We had to directly tell the staff, who then talked to the girl, and it was like playing a game of broken telephone. There was a large range in age in our house, so naturally older girls would \"group\" up and younger girls would complain about it, thus creating a problem and putting other girls on punishment. There were levels, and everyone wanted to be on levels 3 or 4 for rewards nobody else had, so it felt like a competition at times. My therapist and I had several bumps in the road, and she frequently made me feel belittled, one time to the point where I went back to Bunkhouse, went to my room and sobbed. She was simply a manipulative person and I left thinking all of our head-butting was my fault, and now looking back, I realized that she was actually quite toxic. The only alone time we ever got was when we were changing, using the restroom or showering, which all lasted less than 15 minutes. As a person who likes to recharge alone sometimes, it was incredibly frustrating at times holding in emotions because I was around other people and was afraid to be accused of being inappropriate for being annoyed or snappy. The entire environment in Meridell feels incredibly delicate, like you could offend anyone or get in trouble at any time. It was very, very easy to be ostracized from the group if you said the wrong thing. As a result of my experience here, I\'ve been having reoccurring nightmares and bad dreams, centering around being back in a place like this because I felt abandoned, neglected and sad. Of course, I have some fond memories here. There are selective staff I miss, and of course some friends I made, but my time spent here was overwhelming negative.

Gerard Might_Be_Ok

I was there for 5 months and the skills I learned were good and this place really helped. But the food was very unhealthy and there wasn\'t a variety really. Also it\'s not very gender accepting and LGBT+ friendly. As a trans male I had a hard time becuase they forced me to go in the girls unit and to by my birth name. I couldn\'t talk about any of my LGBT issues at all and neither could the other peers. That started to change as I left so I\'m not sure the statuts is now. But most of the staff was nice and helpful. I could really talk to them when I was feeling down and unsafe. But if I\'m being honest it\'s really strict and restricting and I wouldn\'t recommend it for a lot of reasons..

Kilynn Weber

Meridell has been a blessing for our son.

Lexi Arredondo

I was in Meridell for 6 months and I had the best treatment. My life is saved and I dont know where I would be without them Thant you staff at Meridell

Alicia Stadler

I was a patient here in high school. I have nightmares and PTSD from what I went through. It was a living hell.

Will Brunt

This place was arguably the best thing to ever happen in my life. The people here are just like you & me, but they have caring hearts & want to help you through life. Not only that, but they teach you how to articulate yourself in a positive & appropriate manner. My heart goes out to a therapist that used to work there, David Reed, I honestly believe he saved my life. As well as Calvin Ford, who also helped me develop more positive social skills.

PiscesAreWhack TrustMeIAmOne

This place saved my life. I recommend it to everyone in need of help. The staff was nice, the other patients were (mostly) nice. I felt very respected, and very protected. Thank you so much.

Elise Reiger

I stayed here in 2016 and my life did a 180. If you see any bad reviews on here, its because whomever attended did not work their treatment correctly. You have to do a fair amount of work for things to change. I stayed for 6 months because of depression, ptsd and many other things and because of the strict regulations (which werent my favorite at first), I learned how to manage everything. I am so grateful to everyone here.

Bonnie Cotton

TLDR: Unacceptable shame tactics, corruption, questionable medications for questionable reasons. I was a patient at Meridell six years ago. My shrink and I are actually working on treating the PTSD I sustained from this place. *1.) Let\'s start with the \"level system.\"* The \"level system\" was more like a breeding ground for unnecessary animosity and competition. The best way to level up, was to \"call upon\" in group, and be a \"prompt\" to others. I cannot think of a situation where a safe therapeutic environment involved pitting the patients against each other to level up for more privileges. Patients were quick to call each other out for \"disrespectful behavior\" or \"breaking unit expectations\" because they knew they\'d get a gold star if they were \"the positive influence.\" So now we have kids in need of psychiatric help pitted against their peers in close living quarters, everyone eyeing each other for any sign of a \"transgression\" to hold each other \"accountable.\" How does competing for privileges help a patient focus on their treatment? *2.) Actively shaming patients is a part of the \"treatment plan.\"* The staff gave out freezes like Opera gave out prizes to her audience. In fact, we told every new girl that came in, \"Even the best behaved patients will get put on freeze at least once, probably twice.\" When a patient is put on freeze, they are isolated from the group to do \"refocusing assignments\" for 24 hours. Isolating from the group means you are within proximity of the group of patients, but you are not allowed to participate, and your peers were not to acknowledge your existence so you could \"focus on your treatment.\" You were to speak when spoken to by an adult, who would hand you \"refocusing assignments\" which involved writing about what you did wrong. It\'s a shame tactic. Putting a punished child on display in the side-lines for the other patients to see as the \"consequence of negative behavior\", forcing the victim to write about what they did wrong while they got to \"watch others benefit from not doing what they did.\" What terrible thing did they do to deserve such an extreme consequence? *>>* One girl got put on freeze for asking a question about the rules. They said she asked it in a manipulative manner. The rest of us looked just as baffled when she was put on \"freeze\", but rolled with it because at least it wasn\'t us. *>>* Another girl got put on freeze because she made a call home talking about how she hated it here. *>>* Another girl was threatened to be put on freeze for \"telling stories\" when she was talking about something traumatic she endured. Would it have killed them to check the damn chart before shooting off about \"attention-seeking?\" She defended herself, turned out to be right, and we all watched her have to go write a process paper about it... even though THEY were the ones who messed up. *3.) I wasted years of my life with an incorrect diagnosis and treatment because they failed to consider my birth control as a possible factor.* I was on Depo-Provera, a hormone shot notorious aggravating mental illness. I was told I had severe Borderline Personality, wasn\'t trying hard enough, had no interest in trying hard enough, and every doctor after that went off of her prognosis. For YEARS, I \"wasn\'t trying hard enough\" until I stopped Depo because I was suspicious this was the cause of my behaviors. Symptoms damn-near evaporated overnight. Thank you, Meridell, for failing to consider hormonal treatment as a possible factor for problematic behavior in a hormonal teenage girl with mental health issues. *4.) \"Frontal Lobe Stuff\" is NOT an acceptable reason to prescribe a child Amantadine.* Yep. That is the literal reason they put down for my amantadine prescription. \"Frontal Lobe Stuff.\" 0/10 do NOT recommend.

Marlyn W.

Meridell was my first residential center. I had been hospitalized over 5 Times. After being hospitalized 2 Times in one month. My parents decided to send me to Texas from Illinois. I was put into the what they called the Jewels program. I was put in the rubies room which is normally for high school adolescence that are girls. I was 17 when admited and stayed for 5 months. I am about to turn 19 in a few days. At first I was scared of Meridell. I was scarred of how long I might stay in, but that’s most patients thoughts. “How long will I be here?” “When will I be set free?” I was in Meridell due to anger out outbursts, depression, and suicidal attempt. I found out very soon that the more I thought about how I could be helped, and the less I thought about when I would get out, the faster I got out and the more I was being helped. The therapist I had, had high expectations of me, but if she didn’t I wouldn’t be where I am today. I was used to having an outburst almost every month. I have had one in almost 2 years now and not one suicidal thought. She helped me get through all the difficulties with my parents, as long as I was completely honest with her. They performed brain scans / tests on me to help figure out the correct diagnosis. Then trying new medications and keeping close watch over me to make sure nothing went wrong. All the nurses/ staff were extremely nice. The only time i would consider them ever being harsh but never mean or rude was when another patient was being disrespectful or aggressive. They only ever did this for the well being/safety. As for rewards i was able to go on outings off campus to eat. During Christmas, my group went to go see Christmas lights. I also excercised a lot/ had better eating habits while attending Meridell and lost the weight I had gained from medication side affects. I was able to go on overnight stays or day outings with my parents when they flew in to see me if My treatment was getting better, and I was making an effort. After asking for help from teachers and therapist, I graduated early due to the schooling program. I chose this option because I had enough credits and doubled up on classes so I didn’t have to return to school so I could focus on my mental health. I was also aloud to socialize with the other girls in the same program/class and with the staff. After leaving Meridell I didn’t change who I was but I definitely found out who I am and how I wanted to act towards others and myself. Also how I would like to be treated. I left Meridell being diagnosed with Aspergers. I wouldn’t change my experience, because it definitely made me into a better person. As I attend college full time/work full time. I’m about to get a managers position. Then attending cosmetology school soon. I have an amazing bond with my family. Even though we argue, we get though them in sophisticated manners. As we both learned how to deal with each others issues/ concerns. I also have a great relationship with my boyfriend and my friends. While attending church on Sundays while being the Video Editor for our church’s events due to being a film major. Life is great but I couldn’t have done it without the help of Meridell and their staff.

Julie S

After many attempts at getting my daughter the right help for her anxiety and depression, Meridell hit it on the head! She came back with more sparkle and confidence than I have seen in her in a long time. Thank you to the great staff, therapists and doctors!!

Brittany Gomez

I was here 6 years ago and it was absolutely the most horrifying time of my life. I was there for an attempted suicide. I was a compliant patient and did as I was told. When I got there did a qeeg test and then thought meds were the way to go. I never argued about meds. If that was my course of treatment then that was it. At the time I was 17 and didn’t know any better. Well I did notice everyone in my unit was on the exact same medication. Unless they were visibly allergic and would break out in hives. Now that I am older, and I joined the medical field myself, I questioned it: do you know the odds of everyone being compatible with the same medication? Now I suffer from epilepsy, which supposedly the medication was supposed to also help with. Well when I started it I would get extremely dizzy, like fall over dizzy. They told me it was a normal side effect. They were slowly titrating the medication. As it increased, my legs began to, for lack of a better word, spaz. When I walked I was walking like Bambi. My legs would lunch forward and slowly my hand eye coordination went off. If you told me to touch my nose with my finger I would end up somewhere on my eye. When they raised the medication again my speech became slurred. When I talked it would sound like I was biting my tongue. The staff would tell me I was faking. They told me none of the other patients had this symptom. My finger nails and toenails began turning blue (for those that don’t know this happens when you are being deprived of oxygen, well there can be a number of reasons but that’s a common one that fits the scenario). By this time I was begging to take something else. They told me I was unsafe, I was forced to stay in my unit the duration of my stay. I had to move my mattress in the hall at night and while the other kids got to go to school I was there on my unit the whole time. I told them I’m not refusing to take medication, but that I was refusing to take that medication. So I stopped. I wouldn’t take it anymore. And what do you know, the symptoms began to go away. I was feeling better. Even though I was doing physically better they still confined me to my unit because I refused to take the medication they originally prescribed. And they did give me something else. A few years later I found out the drug company had a huge lawsuit against them for giving the doctors kickbacks. Which then made me question is this why everyone was taking it? I found out the medication was never approved as a mood stabilizer and never approved for epilepsy. A neurologist also later told me that the medication was a counter indication of my specific type of epilepsy. I wouldn’t recommend this place for anyone. I won’t lie I had been to a number of hospitals, and none of them were as scary as that one. Might I suggest laurel ridge?

eden!!

worst place i\'ve ever been to. they\'re more focused on you getting along with your unit than getting you help.

mays bros

This is the worst place for a child. I stayed here as a child I am now a 39 year old mother of 5 and even as I have aged and learned many lessons In life, I can honestly still say the staff was very physically and mentally abusive not only to me but others who also lived there. They would keep us drugged and like zombies . I was lucky enough to have a wonderful foster mother who figured this out and fought to bring me home! Please please do not send your children to this place!

Donnelle Vallejo

I have to agree 100% with another mom who wrote her review within the last week while her son is still there. When I began the search for a treatment center that could help my daughter, I vowed that I would write an honest review of whatever place we chose in an effort to help and guide parents...because this was absolutely the scariest decision I\'ve had to make as a parent. My daughter is currently there and has been for a little more than a month. She is on the \"behavioral\" track with her treatment team monitoring her closely for signs of Bipolar Disorder. My daughter is 16 and began acting out almost 2 years ago. She has always been socially awkward and immature, but as she went through puberty and her body matured and her mind didn\'t, we began running into major problems. My sweet girl with an amazing heart began to steal from family, lie to us regularly, and sneak out in the middle of the night, even having the police bring her home one night at 3:00 in the morning. We turned to residential treatment in an effort to save her life because she truly did not see how dangerous her actions were and we felt that, without extreme intervention, she was going to end up in jail or dead....or, best case scenario, an adult who was unable to hold a job or support herself. While most parents would consider this unacceptable, it was especially hard for us because she was in AP classes and made perfect scores on standardized tests. Her intelligence was never a question, but her behavior was holding her back. Meridell has been a life-saver. She has NOT liked every minute that she has been there, and she BEGGED me to come get her the 2nd week she was there...but she now agrees that she NEEDS to be there and we are seeing tremendous progress. (Just a warning that it is SO hard not to break down and give in when you get that tearful phone call...but I am so glad that I didn\'t.) Like another parent mentioned, I did not find Merridell quick to medicate AT ALL. They waited weeks before making that call and, when they did, they decided on an extremely non-threatening, non-habit-forming medication to treat her anxiety. Even then, they called me, emailed me extensive information about the medication, and waited for my approval before it was given. They have kept me fully informed about everything from another patient having the flu, to when my daughter fell during rec therapy and scraped her knee badly. I have been impressed with all the staff there. She has told me that there are a few who are not as nice as others, but no one is abusive and I have tried to raise my kids to realize that there will be people in every occupation and walk of life who simply go through the motions to get a paycheck. So I am sure there are a couple there, but they seem to be few and far between. Meridell has also done a phenomenal job of keeping her safe as we have encountered issues with her biological father suddenly wanting to intrude and interfere when he has been out of her life for years. They have walked the thin line of keeping me informed, honoring his rights as a parent, but following our decree that gives him no rights when it comes to her psychological or psychiatric care. I appreciate their careful handling of the entire situation as they make the decisions based on what is best for my daughter...not just what I want or what he wants. I hope this review is helpful to any parent who is looking for answers and feels lost. Feel free to find me on Facebook and message me if you have any questions. I can tell you that I located and emailed a parent when making my decision and looking for guidance and reassurance. Best wishes and prayers!

Barry And Bella

I was a patient there for nearly two months and it was the worst experience of my life. They are incredibly strict and they are quick to punish. If you were to panic they would just tell you to get over it. The entire group was punished for three days because of panic caused from someone having a meltdown. Punishment was spending the entire day writing papers, not being able to talk to anyone unless it was during a therapy group, and not being able to leave the building for any reason. The therapist I was assigned to see once a week was not always there and didn\'t always see me when they were supposed to. This place left me traumatized and just going down the road towards that place will make me start to panic and I have to be reminded that I\'m not going back. The only reason I was able to leave was because I forced myself to get better. They did nothing to help and made me feel generally worse. This place never truly felt safe. If you do end up going, you better hope that you like the people in your \"house\" as you will not be allowed to talk to any of the other students. This is a very strict place and they just didn\'t seem to truly care about our wellbeing.

Charity McDowell

I was in there about three months I mean it was okay but when I first got there I ran maybe four times but then not just the staff were talking about working your treatment is the only way u gonna get out of here my peers were also encouraged me to work my treatment so I finally just starts working my treatment .but someone who really helped me was Mrs Olivia.

Thomas Brannen

I was here at Meridell four years ago, shortly after a mental health crisis following high school graduation. I desperately needed help, and I got it at Meridell. The staff helped me work through my problems and become a functional person once again. Four years later, I\'m sitting in my house with my bills paid and my college degree sitting on the mantel. I genuinely do not believe I would be alive today if not for Meridell and its wonderful staff, especially Mr. Calvin. I will say you have to put effort in to get good out- there were people there with me who did not care to get better at all, and they had a bad time and were unable to work through their issues. Something to keep in mind if you or a loved one find yourselves there.

Rebecca Ortensie

I know that we can only speak about what we have experienced, but I would take a lot of the nay-sayers to Meridell as upset that it couldn\'t help them. I know if you ask our son who is there now, he would say he hates being there as well, but it is an AMAZING place and he IS improving each and every time we see and talk to him. First to the nay-sayers about wanting to medicate you in to an oblivion, I would have to disagree. And I am a medical professional who quit my job to take care of our kids, so I am more than qualified to speak on this topic. We adopted all of our kids. The son who is there at this moment needed more help than we could personally give him. When we got A, he was just over 4 years old. He was a drug baby who went home with a drug addict mom. He fought to survive, he dug through trash to eat, and he didn\'t go in to care until they found him outside a bar at 1 am in the morning while birth mom was in getting drunk while pregnant with my youngest. Then he went to an abusive foster home where they used to lock him in the closet for hours, sometimes over night; where they \"buckle beat\" him; and where he shared a room with sexual abuse victims who then turned around and abused him. We finally found out about Meridell. If ever there was a child who needed the \"neuropsych\" program, our son was it. We have had him for almost 8 years and have discovered: -- He is visually impaired, with an oculomotor delay -- He has an auditory impairment and an auditory processing delay -- He has significant occupational therapy needs for sensory integrative disorder -- He has a confirmed case of Fetal Alcohol that took FOREVER to diagnose because he doesn\'t have all of the markers for it -- He has a significant learning delay -- His qEEG shows significant brain damage We have him in behavioral therapy, OT, PT, speech, visual therapy, and neurofeedback. I am a HUGe advocate for our children and even with 8 years of therapy, when he began going thru puberty we \"lost\" him. Meridell is giving him back to us. Meridell is giving him the tools he needs and he is ABLE TO USE THEM which he has never been able to do before this. We have always had to force him to use his coping tools. And the doctors waited over a month to get a really accurate read on what his challenges still were before they even CONSIDERED adding any meds. I know that our children are an exception to most rules. Most families don\'t know what goes wrong in their child\'s brains. We knew all of our drug baby children would come with neuro damage, but had NO clue that we would deal with this level of aggression and behavioral problems. The teachers at Meridell accommodated for A before they even had his paperwork. They were all there to help these kids, no matter why they needed it. The doctors are amazing and I can NOT say enough about the therapists, admissions team, nurses on unit and the Youth Care Counselors (YCCs). And Meridell was committed to figuring out what was from his trauma versus what was brain damage before, during and after his admission. They took ALL of his records from every care giver. When we did the admission intake, we met with his ENTIRE team one by one to make sure we had the full picture of what he needed help with. And he hasn\'t been able to \"honeymoon\" his way out of there quickly, as with the in city short term acute care he had been in. Kids who are there may not like the structure and rules, but life is full of them. These rules are there for their safety, for their feeling of security to they can manage unsafe behaviors in a safe manner. I can not ever say enough about this place, but I know that my family would not be surviving without Meridell! I HIGHLY recommend it, even when you have to wait for months like we did to get a bed. We need him safe before he comes home and Meridell is SO caring!!!!!! Let them deal with the angry, the fight, the sadness, the betrayal, and so much more. They are helping us work with our son so he knows we love him, and we want him to be safe and happy!

Conner Mosley

No. Do not EVER send your child here. I was sent there and all it did was make me hate my parents 200000% more for doing it. I was there for 6 months and the staff are somewhat emotionally abusive. If you love your child, you wouldn\'t DARE send your child to any of these kinds of places. I have a friend who literally didn\'t talk for 7 months, did everything he was told, and how was he rewarded??? By being sent to ANOTHER residential treatment center because he was \"unstable\". I literally have only heard him say a few words, and those words were only spoken at the school, which is also horrible. +ALSO+: Anyone under 18 cannot visit UNLESS there is a guardian or parent over 26 (or something like that) years of age. This is a miserable place. Pool is only open in summer. No contact WHATSOEVER is allowed with the other gender, with the only exception being the Hacienda unit, which is 7 and younger. Separated by age group. And you aren\'t allowed to talk 98% of the day (if your child is on one of the male units).

Mello

Honestly, this is the second worst facility I've ever been to. I was admitted towards the end of 2019, and for the first 2 months, I became more defiant than I ever had in any other treatment facility. As a closeted trans male, they wrote in my psych report about my dysphoria. I felt comfortable with them during therapy, and decided to tell them about past trauma. They also put that into my psych report. Upon discharge, my guardians was given the psych report. I didn't know I had signed papers allowing my guardians access to that part of my records. I felt violated and everything I was trying to work on or had worked on felt like it was for nothing. The house I was on was very strict. Not being able to talk a majority of the day was stressful. Therapy issues involving anything "triggering" were to only be discussed with a therapist or charge nurse. Talking about them in group or with direct staff wasn't allowed, so if the nurse was busy and you didn't have therapy that day, you were stuck with emotions that you couldn't effectively process, especially if you were new to treatment. A "consequence" that was given to us was a process of paper. This was practically an essay we had to write in very though-out detail about what we did wrong. I got one for accidently leaving my shampoo bottle in the shower, which meant I had to explain things like: what thinking errors I used, how this affects my treatment, and how staff and peers probably felt from this incident. Some staff were genuinly nice, I'll give Meridell that much. Overall, however, I don't recommend this place to anyone looking for serious help, especially anyone with PTSD.

Mello

FUCK YOU MERIDELL. If you want to be starved, manipulated, stripped of your basic human rights, and forget any social skills you have, this is the place for you! :)

Sherry merola

My daughter has been out of Meredell for more than a year.I would definitely recommend Meridell !

Sherry merola

My daughter has been out of Meredell for more than a year.I would definitely recommend Meridell !

Sherry merola

My daughter has been out of Meredell for more than a year.I would definitely recommend Meridell !

Loren

My 17 year old son attend Meridell for 3 months. Prior to going he had extreme anxiety, poor self-esteem and had stopped going to school. We had recently moved to another state and my son was deteriorating before my eyes. I had heard about Meridell from a friend. Her daughter had also spent 3 months there and came back a different version of her former self. After hearing about her daughter’s progress, my husband and I realized that my son truly needed an in/treatment facility. It was the best decision we could have made. Meridell is structured, rigorous and teaches the young men the true meaning of accountability. The positive peer culture definitely allowed my son to take a long, hard look in the mirror. He thrived from his individual sessions with Taylor Bryant and Dr. Reitel. He revered both men and was in awe of their intelligence and ability to help him slowly rebuild his broken character. This was obviously a slow and painful journey. I looked forward to our family phone sessions with Taylor and witnessed my son’s triumphs and failures. We also became cognizant if the changes and compromises we had to work on as a family. I have given a 5-star rating due to the constant communication of the entire staff, the true dedication exemplified by every member of the La Casa Unit and for the sincere impact my son’s stay at Meridell had on his mental health and ability to change for the better. When my son first came home, we were blown away by the self-assured, logical, reflective, hard working young man that returned home. He was able to articulate his feelings and concerns clearly and concisely. He had a very detailed dismissal plan which we utilized to the best if our ability. My son has been home for 4 months. It's still a slippery slipe. We cannot provide the rigor, structure & valuable therapy entrenched in Meridell’s successful program. He's now 18 and has all the tools he needs to succeed. My son will either rise to the occasion during his Senior year in Bigh School or fall on his face. The decision will be his. Overall, we are forever indebted for the major positive changes my son achieved as a result of Meridell Achievement Center.

Loren

Shelby

I went to meridell just at the start of covid in 2020. i had already been to several treatment centers so i figured i knew somewhat of what i was getting into. i was very wrong. the three worst things in my opinion about this place are the food, (and no, not just how it tasted), the little to no respect, freedom, or basic human rights, and the schooling system. i was here for about three months. i ate three very small extremely unhealthy meals a day and if i did not eat what the staff thought was "enough" i would be forced to eat it or i would be punished. i gained a total of about 65 lbs by eating the food and having little to no exercise and later developed a serious ED because i hated the way meridell cause my weight gain. the staff treated us with almost no respect and basically stripped us of our human rights because we were "troubled teens not fit for society". our punishments would consist of but are not limited to: not being able to speak, look at or talk to, either specific people, or the unit as a whole including staff, and vice versa, being forced to bring your mattress into the living room with several lights on to go to sleep, having to use the restroom with the door slightly open, not being allowed to shower, brush your teeth or hair, and almost always involved some sort of essay explaining why what you did was wrong and what "thinking errors you use were, and how you won't make this mistake again. this would/ could happen for something as small as being in the restroom while it was time to get your hygiene bucket from the closet, therefore being unable to do your morning or nightly routine. if the essay was not to the staffs liking, your punishment would either be extended, increased, or you would have to rewrite it as many times as the staff think it needs to be. you are forced to speak about your (what should be) private mental health issues in a room of 20+ people. if you did not speak if they wanted you to, you would be punished. you are often denied medical attention or over-the-counter pain medication for serious issues. you are aloud two twenty-minute phone calls with the family member of your choice that they have redeemed acceptable and put on your call list, if the staff did not like what you had to say about the place or them on the phone with, let's say, your mother, they would hang up the phone and your "phone call PRIVALEDGES" would be suspended. because of covid 19, also, i was not allowed to see anyone from the outside world for the entirety of my stay. meaning, what i saw in there was my normal for three months, making transitioning back into the world an extremely difficult and long struggle. the other patients we were not allowed to refer to as friends. they were known as peers. we could not talk about anything from the outside including family. the "old you" dies when you arrive and it is hard to remember the person you were. expressing gender identity and sexual orientation would result in punishment. i unfortunately have had to undergo several forms of punishment just by expressing who i was. you're therapist see you as a paycheck, they do not try to get to know you or your family dynamic and will punish you if they see something that they do not like, even if it is a normal interaction that you would normally have and that your family is ok with. the parents of these patients often have no idea what goes on here and are being told that their children are lying to them. meridell will then tell these parents false statements about their child's progression and mental state. and lastly school. all that needs to be said is that before meridell i was on my way to a possible early graduation and nailing every course i took. because of meridell and their lack of attention to kids who need certain help or have a certain way of learning, i am now a high school dropout. if you are thinking about sending your child to a treatment center, no matter who they are, this is not the one. the way this place handles mental health and just youth in general, is abuse. i pray for every kid (and adult) struggling with mental illness, good luck to you all and if you ever do go here. (remember, it will be over eventually, fake it til you make it, follow their ridiculous rules, you'll make it through.) love you

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