Please don't come here. This place is an absolute nightmare and I have never recovered from my stay years ago. I find it sad that people you pay to help you actually want to hurt you. The doctors and staff treat you like absolute garbage. The goal is to get as much money out ...
About LewisGale Center – Behavioral Health
LewisGale Medical Center in Salem, Virginia, is a mental health and drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. Their multidisciplinary team utilizes evidence backed approaches to treat substance abuse and its associated problems. They provide state of the art amenities in a comfortable clinical setting.
LewisGale Medical Center accepts clients 13 years and older. Their facilities provide spaces for community mental health support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous.
Clients with severe symptoms who may be a danger to themselves or others require greater care, which is what the inpatient program allows. Clients live onsite and undergo group and individual therapies in a safe, secure environment under close supervision. Clients work with their treatment plan during an assessment to build the care plan that best addresses their needs and concerns.
Therapy and counseling help clients explore their addiction in a controlled environment, discover their triggers, and cultivate healthy coping skills to abstain from substance abuse and other dangerous behaviors. Therapy also helps prepare clients to return to their communities once treatment ends.
Clients who are stable with less severe symptoms and who wish to live at home during treatment may be accepted into IOP. Clients attend sessions with their treatment team at the facility for three hours a day, three days a week. IOP usually consists of 18 sessions.
The residential program is sometimes followed with IOP to help clients transition and practice the skills they learned in treatment.
Falling somewhere between inpatient and outpatient, PHP sees clients come to the facility Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 3 PM, throughout seven to 10 sessions. PHP ensures clients can get a higher level of care without living on campus. PHP is an effective alternative for clients who need a high level of care but are safe to live at home during treatment.
LewisGale Medical Center is accredited by the American College of Residential Services and the Joint Commission.
Latest Reviews
Robyn Reid
Reviewed on 05/31/2025
Please don't come here. This place is an absolute nightmare and I have never recovered from my stay years ago. I find it sad that people you pay to help you actually want to hurt you. The doctors and staff treat you like absolute garbage. The goal is to get as much money out of you as possible and that is about it. Stay away from these awful people and never ask or help under any circumstances.
Robyn Reid
Reviewed on 05/28/2025
If you do not have insurance, you need to know the following before calling a hotline or asking for help. 1. No one will actually help you.
2. Your life will be ruined. 3. People who you thought might help you actually want to hurt you. This is really sad. 4. Your days and nights will be filled with threatening phone calls. Your mailbox will be stuffed with bills you can't possibly pay. 5. You will be prescribed medication you can't possibly afford. 6. The horror of the experience here will never go away. Your life will be effectively over.
These are hateful awful people. Please save yourself and give yourself a chance. Stay away.
People told me the the care at Lewis Gale Mental Health was terrible but because I was in a crisis and was considering suicide, I didn't listen and went there for help. My Primary Care Doctor with Lewis Gale is a very nice and caring man and I mistakenly thought their Mental Health professionals would be the same. But, I learned the hard way about how bad it is trying to get Mental Health help there. It wasn't easy for me to try to ask for help for my Mental Health issues. I was diagnosed with Chronic PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder that goes back to Childhood Trauma. I was embarassed about trying to get help because I am 76 years old and I have an Essential Tremor which causes my hands, arms and voice to shake. I spent some time as an inpatient and then several months as an outpatient in therapy. Some of the nurses and psychiatrists were very rude to me. Some were very nice. After being discharged, I was told to find an outside therapist which is very difficult if you're on Medicare because very few Therapists take Medicare in the Roanoke area. Anyway, luckily since I was a Veteran, I was able to get into therapy at Salem, Veterans Hospital. The help there is so much better than Lewis Gale. So I would advise anyone who needs Mental Health counseling to go somewhere else, like Carilion or the VA Hospital, if you're a Veteran rather than Lewis Gale.
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Accepted Insurance
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.
Military members, veterans, and eligible dependents have access to specific insurance programs that help them get the care they need. TRICARE and VA insurance can help you access low cost or no cost addiction and mental health treatment. Programs that accept military insurance often have targeted treatment focused on the unique challenges military members, veterans, and their families face.
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.
Inpatient Residential treatment programs are those that offer housing and meals in addition to substance abuse treatment. Rehab facilities that offer residential treatment allow patients to focus solely on recovery, in an environment totally separate from their lives. Some rehab centers specialize in short-term residential treatment (a few days to a week or two), while others solely provide treatment on a long-term basis (several weeks to months). Some offer both, and tailor treatment to the patient's individual requirements.
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 Clients participating in a rehab aftercare program receive comprehensive and customized support as they leave high-intensity treatment, reintegrate into their community, and focus on maintaining their sobriety. These programs offer a wide variety of services to align with the client's unique and evolving needs, often including medical, mental health, and social service program referrals. Clients typically develop their drug rehab aftercare plan in conjunction with their case manager and care team.
12-Step Once involved in a 12 step recovery program, clients can commit to a model of life-long recovery rooted in spiritual growth and intensive peer support. 12 step meetings are anonymous, peer-led, free, and accessible day and night, year-round, in most communities. Self-selected sponsors provide one-on-one coaching as participants work through the steps of recovery. These steps are based on spiritual principles used to address the origins of the addiction and to encourage self-compassion, forgiveness, acceptance, and accountability.
Sober Living Homes A sober living home in Vermont offers a balance between monitored structure and living in mainstream society. No alcohol or drugs are allowed on the premises, and residents must participate in 12-step meetings. Residents of the halfway house also agree to submit to random drug screenings, pay rent, and participate in household activities such as meetings, meals, and chores.
Intervention Services A drug intervention in Virginia requires careful planning and execution. Due to complex family dynamics, intervention services are often necessary to help families successfully navigate the process. An intervention specialist can help family members plan what they will say and then facilitate the conversation. This expert also educates everyone involved about addiction, enabling behaviors, and treatment options.
24-Hour Clinical Care 24-hour clinical care in Virginia features a highly trained team of professionals to treat your physical, mental, and emotional needs. Doctors and nurses are available to prescribe and administer medications. Psychologists and counselors provide professional counseling. Other experts such as nutritionists and addiction specialists may also offer support. This 24/7, comprehensive care is designed to give you the support you need to begin a successful recovery.
Medically Assisted Detox Drug and alcohol addiction often takes a heavy toll on one's body. Over time, a physical dependence can develop, meaning the body physiologically needs the substance to function. Detox is the process of removing drugs and/or alcohol from the body, a process that can be lethal if mismanaged. Medical detox is done by licensed medical professionals who monitor vital signs and keep you safe, healthy, and as comfortable as possible as you go through detox and withdrawal.
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 enroll in drug rehab in Virginia, a treatment plan is designed by professional staff in order to help you overcome drug addiction and modify addictive behaviors. This may include evidence-based treatments, group and individual therapy, and relapse prevention.
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.
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 in Virginia is a short term form of talk therapy. Participants usually have homework between sessions, which may include journaling, self talk, and setting SMART goals. The aim is to transform negative thought patterns into positive ones.
For those experiencing mental health challenges, including substance use disorder, dialectical behavior therapy in Virginia offers an evidence based method of treatment. This therapy teaches skills for emotional regulation and interpersonal relations so you can break free from negative patterns.
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.
Men and women in Virginia use individual therapy to focus on addiction related challenges as a necessary part of their drug and alcohol addiction treatment. Your therapist guides you in developing coping strategies, setting realistic goals, and building a strong foundation for an improved quality of life.
Motivational interviewing in Virginia allows clients to examine their lives and consider their options. It is particularly useful if the client lacks confidence in their ability to change or is feeling uncertain about their desire to change.
Trauma therapy helps you understand and manage the emotional and physical responses that often follow witnessing or experiencing traumatic events. Using therapeutic interventions, your therapist works with you to reframe that experience, which in turn reduces your anxiety and helps you regain control over your life.
If you and your partner are facing challenges, couples therapy in Virginia is designed to help you work through those in a healthy way. Common challenges that couples therapy addresses include conflict resolution, financial disagreements, intimacy challenges, health issues, and substance abuse.
Family therapists work with all members of the family to understand the roles they play in the addiction dynamic. Addressing these patterns is crucial to developing healthier ways to interact and support each other, as well as contributing to a more effective recovery for their loved ones.
If you've experienced addiction, you may have lost the skills to self manage and adapt to change. Because these basic life skills are crucial for recovery, drug rehab programs typically include life skills training as an integral part of treatment.
Nutrition therapy teaches you what to eat and not eat, how to grocery shop, how to cook easy nutritious meals, and how to use food as medicine to address your health issues. These skills will help speed up your recovery process and reduce the risk of relapse.
Recreational therapy is often a part of a holistic treatment center program for drug and alcohol addiction in Virginia. It offers structured activities that replace substance use with positive experiences like swimming, painting, and hiking. These encourage social interactions, promote physical and mental health, and help reduce stress, all of which are factors that are important to help you rebuild your life.
Amenities
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Private Transportation -
Residential Setting -
Private Rooms
Staff
Collin McLaughlin
CEO
Jack Holmes
Assistant Chief Nursing Officer
Angela Reynolds
CFO
Andrew Welcome
COO
Contact Information
(540) 772-2801 
1902 Braeburn Drive
Salem, VA 24153
Get Help Now - 540-554-1054
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Fact checked and written by:
Terri Beth Miller, PhD
Edited by:
Quentin Blount
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