I have contacted the Center for Motivation and change for outpatient treatment. The experience was terrible. Note! This is a referral based service. They referred doctors, and probably split the fee in some way. After a ridiculous and meaningless intake procedure, they r ...
About Center for Motivation and Change
The Center for Motivation and Change is a nonprofit and has several locations, one of which is on 8th Avenue in New York City, New York. The 8th Avenue location offers outpatient treatment services for substance use and co-occurring disorders. They also have telehealth and teletherapy treatment options.
The outpatient care at this location involves individual therapy, group therapy, couples therapy, and family therapy. The individual sessions offer personalized attention to help you focus on understanding your behaviors, thoughts, and feelings. This helps to improve your well-being and overall mental health.
Group therapy is led by a therapist and you’ll be with others who share your goals. This type of therapy helps you learn better ways of communicating with others. It also gives you a sense of shared community as you interact with other people with whom you may share similar issues and life obstacles.
Family and couples therapy isn’t appropriate for everyone but keep in mind that addiction and substance use issues are usually family issues. Family and couples therapy can help you see how your substance use affects the family dynamic. It’s helpful for family members to understand their role in your substance use.
The approach taken at this center is different from many substance use treatment centers. They don’t offer the 12-step model (such as Alcoholics Anonymous or AA) that many programs focus on. While they’re not against AA, they understand that the all-or-nothing approach of AA isn’t right for everyone. They work with you to figure out the best way to deal with your substance abuse. The clinicians use harm reduction techniques when dealing with substance use and compulsive behaviors.
In working on your behavioral health, you’ll use treatment modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and cognitive processing therapy (CPT). They also have evidence-based treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) including therapies like eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).
Former clients felt the program was excellent. One former client did mention that the center doesn’t accept most insurance and that if they’re out-of-network from your insurance provider, you won’t be reimbursed for any of your treatment.
Latest Reviews
Vladimir
Reviewed on 05/05/2025
I have contacted the Center for Motivation and change for outpatient treatment. The experience was terrible. Note! This is a referral based service. They referred doctors, and probably split the fee in some way. After a ridiculous and meaningless intake procedure, they referred me to a therapist who specializes in children. I am 58 years old! Then, when I turned down the appointment; they billed me for a cancellation. They have no clue. Impersonal, uncaring, unprofessional. All they want is your money.
Fantastic group of mental health professionals. It's been a great pleasure to collaborate with their team and witness how dedicated they are to helping their clients in need.
Response from the owner6 months ago
Thanks so much for your kind words, Nicolas! We've enjoyed the collaboration with you as well.
I am truly lucky to have found CMC & have been a client since 2014. Their only drawback is that they do not accept most insurance & you can't be reimbursed if your plan doesn't have out of network benefits. However, I have found that one pays high emotional, and sometimes even physical, costs working with sub par mental health providers, even if those may be of lesser financial cost.Every provider I have met here is someone who offers valuable insight, free of judgment and cares about meeting you where you are at and building your self worth. It never ceases to surprise me that the standard for addiction treatment at most places is reliance on the 12 step model. I feel so much comfort knowing that CMC does not push me to accept 12 step ideology, when I've been to hundreds of meetings and find some AA teachings in direct conflict with what I've learned through trauma & self compassion work, and the process of learning to trust myself, identify my strengths and believe in my potential.CMC is not against 12 step programming, but encourages you to find the community that is best suited for you and your goals. I find great comfort in my therapist, Rachel, as well as my parent's therapist, Pam -- and in knowing that the company-wide sentiment is to view addiction as a symptom of complex adverse experiences in one's life and nothing to be ashamed of. I wish other treatment centers could learn from CMC, as the kind of treatment you receive for this issue is pivotal to your quality of life and moving into your future.
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5.9 / 10
Accepted Insurance
Other Forms of Payment
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.
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.
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.
Intensive Outpatient Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) are for those who want or need a very structured treatment program but who also wish to live at home and continue with certain responsibilities (such as work or school). IOP substance abuse treatment programs vary in duration and intensity, and certain outpatient rehab centers will offer individualized treatment programs.
Aftercare Support Completing a drug or alcohol rehab program shouldn't spell the end of substance abuse treatment. Aftercare involves making a sustainable plan for recovery, including ongoing support. This can include sober living arrangements like halfway houses, career counseling, and setting a patient up with community programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA).
Treatments
The goal of treatment for alcoholism is abstinence. Those with poor social support, poor motivation, or psychiatric disorders tend to relapse within a few years of treatment. For these people, success is measured by longer periods of abstinence, reduced use of alcohol, better health, and improved social functioning. Recovery and Maintenance are usually based on 12 step programs and AA meetings.
When you choose drug rehab in New York, you'll participate in a variety of treatments that are designed to help you live a drug-free lifestyle. Common methods of treatment include group, individual, and family counseling, medication management, nutrition, exercise, and management of co-occurring mental health disorders.
A combined mental health and substance abuse rehab has the staff and resources available to handle individuals with both mental health and substance abuse issues. It can be challenging to determine where a specific symptom stems from (a mental health issue or an issue related to substance abuse), so mental health and substance abuse professionals are helpful in detangling symptoms and keeping treatment on track.
Opioid rehabs specialize in supporting those recovering from opioid addiction. They treat those suffering from addiction to illegal opioids like heroin, as well as prescription drugs like oxycodone. These centers typically combine both physical as well as mental and emotional support to help stop addiction. Physical support often includes medical detox and subsequent medical support (including medication), and mental support includes in-depth therapy to address the underlying causes of addiction.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a clinical approach to helping people with substance abuse issues and other conditions shift behavior in positive ways. It is more goal-oriented than traditional psychotherapy, as MI counselors directly attempt to get clients to consider making behavioral change (rather than wait for them to come to conclusions themselves). Its primary purpose is to resolve ambivalence and help clients become able to make healthy choices freely.
Amenities
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Residential Setting -
Private Setting
Staff
Jeffrey Foote, PhD
Co-Founder & Partner
Carrie Wilkens, PhD
Co-Founder & Partner
Nicole Kosanke, PhD
Clinical Director
Jarell R. O. Myers, PhD
Director of Adolescent Services
Rachel Proujansky, PsyD
Director of Trauma Services
Sarah Goldstein, LMSW
Director of Clinical Outreach
Kristina Steelman
Administrative Director
Contact Information
(866) 887-1197 
519 8th Ave
9th Floor
New York, NY 10018
Get Help Now - 646-439-0877
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Fact checked and written by:
Susan Bertram, BA
Edited by:
Courtney Myers, MS
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