Longest waiting time ever, for real. Literally, I have to wait for over 2 hrs just to be seen. Then my doctor acts all hurried up during our session as if it was my fault the receptionists don't know how to organize schedules
About Athens-Limestone Counseling Center
The Mental Health Center of North Central Alabama is a nonprofit that offers psychiatric and mental health services. They have multiple locations in Alabama to serve Lawrence, Limestone and Morgan counties. Services include psychiatric assessments, outpatient counseling, substance use treatment and prevention programs, and case management for clients of all ages. They’ve a sliding discount scale for qualifying clients who don’t have health insurance. Their Athens-Limestone Counseling Center (ALCC) is located in Athens.
It has mixed reviews. People who wrote low-scoring reviews mention lengthy wait times to make an appointment with the medical staff and that no one called them back after leaving messages. The positive comments focus on kind and helpful therapists.
Co-occurring Substance Abuse Treatment in Athens
ALCC provides outpatient psychiatric care for Limestone County residents. This clinic is staffed with licensed and certified social workers, counselors, nurses and psychiatrists.
Their co-occuring substance abuse treatments blend therapies to target both mental illness and substance use disorders. I like that they also provide prevention services including counseling at schools in the area and community presentations.
They specifically target residents of nursing homes as well as their caregivers, family members and nursing home staff. That way, elderly people get the care they need if they’re suffering from mental illness.
Transitional and Permanent Housing
I like that they provide both transitional housing and permanent housing for their clients. Transitional housing is the bridge between stepping down from an inpatient facility and returning to independent living.
Due to mental health challenges, finding permanent housing can be a struggle for some folks. Here, staff help you find, get into and stay in a safe and permanent living space.
Latest Reviews
They're wonderful people, always works with you when you have the struggles!
Pros and cons. I loved that they got me seen with a counselor so quickly, which I had to see 3 times before being able to talk to a NP about meds. I was able to be on their sliding scale, which was amazing. The Nurse Practitioner is booked well out from a month, which is a huge NO for me. I had bad reaction to the first meds and she pulled me off of them, put me on other meds and I had a bad reaction. I couldn t talk to a nurse about the meds before my month out appointment. They ladies at the desk told me to stop taking it. Let s just say, coming off of serious mood medication and not being able to see a doctor for over a month is not ok to do. That is a very unsafe practice to have.
No comment!!
Rehab Score
Our Methodology
Scoring is assigned by a proprietary system which helps surface key metrics that determine quality. The 10-point scale factors in categories such as operations, customer satisfaction, and trust metrics. Read Full Methodology
5.6 / 10
Other Forms of Payment
Private insurance refers to any kind of healthcare coverage that isn't from the state or federal government. This includes individual and family plans offered by an employer or purchased from the Insurance Marketplace. Every plan will have different requirements and out of pocket costs so be sure to get the full details before you start treatment.
Self-pay involves paying for treatment out of your own pocket. You can use savings or credit, get a personal loan, or receive help from family and friends to fund your treatment. If you don't have insurance or your insurance plan doesn't cover a specific program, self-pay can help ensure you still get the care you need.
Financial aid can take many forms. Centers may have grants or scholarships available to clients who meet eligibility requirements. Programs that receive SAMHSA grants may have financial aid available for those who need treatment as well. Grants and scholarships can help you pai for treatment without having to repay.
Sliding scale payments are based on a client's income and family size. The goal is to make treatment affordable to everyone. By taking these factors into account, addiction recovery care providers help ensure that your treatment does not become a financial burden to you or your family, eliminating one barrier to care.
Medicare is a federal program that provides health insurance for those 65 and older. It also serves people under 65 with chronic and disabling health challenges. To use Medicare for addiction treatment you need to find a program that accepts Medicare and is in network with your plan. Out of pocket costs and preauthorization requirements vary, so always check with your provider.
Medicaid is a state based program that helps lower-income individuals and families pay for healthcare. Medicaid covers addiction treatment so those enrolled can use their coverage to pay for rehab. When a program accepts Medicaid the client often pays very little or nothing out of their own pocket.
Addiction Treatments
Levels of Care
Outpatient Outpatient Programs (OP) are for those seeking mental rehab or drug rehab, but who also stay at home every night. The main difference between outpatient treatment (OP) and intensive outpatient treatment (IOP) lies in the amount of hours the patient spends at the facility. Most of the time an outpatient program is designed for someone who has completed an inpatient stay and is looking to continue their growth in recovery. Outpatient is not meant to be the starting point, it is commonly referred to as aftercare.
12-Step 12 step programs are often considered the standard model for addiction recovery. They're based on the use of spiritual principles to support a gradual psychological, emotional, and spiritual shift to remediate the root causes of one's addiction. Treatment depends primarily on per coaching (sponsorship) and group recovery meetings. Though rooted in spiritual principles, participants do not need to be religious and sessions are non-denominational. Specialized groups, including meetings for seniors, teens, and family members, are often available.
Partial Hospitalization Program A partial hospitalization program (PHP) provides comprehensive treatment to those who do not require 24/7 monitoring and offers a higher level of care than outpatient programs. Often referred to as "day treatment" patients typically attend sessions a minimum of 20 hours weekly, allowing clients to return home each day. PHP treatment is often covered by insurance and can provide daily therapeutic sessions and services such as relapse prevention and medication management.
Treatments
Many of those suffering from addiction also suffer from mental or emotional illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorders. Rehab and other substance abuse facilities treating those with a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder administer psychiatric treatment to address the person's mental health issue in addition to drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
Mental health rehabs focus on helping individuals recover from mental illnesses like bipolar disorder, clinical depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and more. Mental health professionals at these facilities are trained to understand and treat mental health issues, both in individual and group settings.
Programs
Adult Program
Adult rehab programs include therapies tailored to each client's specific needs, goals, and recovery progress. They are tailored to the specific challenges adult clients may face, including family and work pressures and commitments. From inpatient and residential treatment to various levels of outpatient services, there are many options available. Some facilities also help adults work through co-occurring conditions, like anxiety, that can accompany addiction.
Young Adult Program
Young adulthood can be an exciting, yet difficult, time of transition. Individuals in their late teens to mid-20s face unique stressors related to school, jobs, families, and social circles, which can lead to a rise in substance use. Rehab centers with dedicated young adult programs will include activities and amenities that cater to this age group, with an emphasis on specialized counseling, peer socialization, and ongoing aftercare.
Clinical Services
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a therapy modality that focuses on the relationship between one's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is used to establish and allow for healthy responses to thoughts and feelings (instead of unhealthy responses, like using drugs or alcohol). CBT has been proven effective for recovering addicts of all kinds, and is used to strengthen a patient's own self-awareness and ability to self-regulate. CBT allows individuals to monitor their own emotional state, become more adept at communicating with others, and manage stress without needing to engage in substance abuse.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a modified form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a treatment designed to help people understand and ultimately affect the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. DBT is often used for individuals who struggle with self-harm behaviors, such as self-mutilation (cutting) and suicidal thoughts, urges, or attempts. It has been proven clinically effective for those who struggle with out-of-control emotions and mental health illnesses like Borderline Personality Disorder.
Group therapy is any therapeutic work that happens in a group (not one-on-one). There are a number of different group therapy modalities, including support groups, experiential therapy, psycho-education, and more. Group therapy involves treatment as well as processing interaction between group members.
In individual therapy, a patient meets one-on-one with a trained psychologist or counselor. Therapy is a pivotal part of effective substance abuse treatment, as it often covers root causes of addiction, including challenges faced by the patient in their social, family, and work/school life.
Trauma therapy addresses traumatic incidents from a client's past that are likely affecting their present-day experience. Trauma is often one of the primary triggers and potential causes of addiction, and can stem from child sexual abuse, domestic violence, having a parent with a mental illness, losing one or both parents at a young age, teenage or adult sexual assault, or any number of other factors. The purpose of trauma therapy is to allow a patient to process trauma and move through and past it, with the help of trained and compassionate mental health professionals.
Whether a marriage or other committed relationship, an intimate partnership is one of the most important aspects of a person's life. Drug and alcohol addiction affects both members of a couple in deep and meaningful ways, as does rehab and recovery. Couples therapy and other couples-focused treatment programs are significant parts of exploring triggers of addiction, as well as learning how to build healthy patterns to support ongoing sobriety.
Research clearly demonstrates that recovery is far more successful and sustainable when loved ones like family members participate in rehab and substance abuse treatment. Genetic factors may be at play when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction, as well as mental health issues. Family dynamics often play a critical role in addiction triggers, and if properly educated, family members can be a strong source of support when it comes to rehabilitation.
Experiential therapy is a form of therapy in which clients are encouraged to surface and work through subconscious issues by engaging in real-time experiences. Experiential therapy departs from traditional talk therapy by involving the body, and having clients engage in activities, movements, and physical and emotional expression. This can involve role-play or using props (which can include other people). Experiential therapy can help people process trauma, memories, and emotion quickly, deeply, and in a lasting fashion, leading to substantial and impactful healing.
Staff
Judy Thomas
President
Bert Pippen
VP
Lisa S. Coleman
COO
Contact Information
(256) 232-3661 
1307 East Elm Street
Athens, AL 35611
Get Help Now - 256-434-9461
Sponsored Helpline
Sponsored Helpline
Fact checked and written by:
Mari Mendoza, BS
Edited by:
Peter Lee, PhD
Rehab in Cities Near Athens
Back to AL
