Pittsburgh Mercy Behavioral Health

264 South 9th Street Pittsburgh, PA 15203

About Pittsburgh Mercy Behavioral Health

Pittsburgh Mercy Behavioral Health is a comprehensive mental health center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that offers walk in crisis care 24/7. They provide several programs and levels of care for those in need of addiction treatment or addiction with co-occurring disorders. They have programs for adults, adolescents and children. They also welcome veterans.

They accept Medicare, Pennsylvania Medicaid, and a few Highmark Commercial plans for behavioral health care services. They only take TRICARE at their primary care center. If you don’t have insurance, they have financial coordinators who can help you determine what benefits you might be eligible for.

They have an intensive outpatient program, a regular outpatient program, and a special program for DUIs for adults. In the outpatient programs you’ll receive individual, group and family therapy if necessary. You can also get medication for addiction and medication management services. There’s also a Hepatitis Project which includes testing, education and counseling.

If housing is an issue, they offer emergency winter housing and permanent supportive housing. Even after you’ve found housing, you can still get care management support to help with recovery.

They have addiction intervention and DUI programs for children and adolescents. They also offer the Hepatitis Project to kids and teens. These are education, testing, and prevention programs to help minors avoid forming long-term substance use habits.

Latest Reviews

Dan Donovan

6 months ago on Google

This has to be the worst place ever. My sister has gone here for years, and she has the wrong diagnosis and wrong medication. Her therapist Sharon Opitz is horrible and only talks about herself. I'm an LPC and I see how bad MBH is lacking.

Chuck

10 months ago on Google

As a patient in mercy's Adult DAS program for almost two months, I will ALWAYS refer people in need of help to their services and program. The staff and fellow residents literally saved my life at the darkest moment in my life. The staff was AMAZING and VERY helpful.

Rita Tardio

10 months ago on Google

Great doctors and great therapists.

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

6.7 / 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.

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.

Intervention Services

Intervention services bring extensive experience to the planning and conducting of drug interventions in Pennsylvania. These experts can facilitate interventions in a sensitive manner that encourages positive outcomes. The goal of the intervention is to educate the individual about addiction and the consequences of their substance use and encourage them to get the treatment they need. Interventions can be effective with all types of drugs and alcohol addiction.

24-Hour Clinical Care

Because the severity of withdrawal symptoms can fluctuate, constant monitoring under 24-hour clinical care in Pennsylvania is recommended for early recovery. As you undergo detox, medical staff will supervise your health and ensure severe symptoms do not develop or threaten your life. Professional counselors will also be available to treat mental and emotional health needs.

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.

Clinical Services

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.

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.

Staff & Accreditations

Staff

Tony Beltran, MBA

President & CEO

Jeremiah Dodrill

CFO

Sarah Fallica

VP Behavioral Health Services

Jody Figas

VP of Development

David Grabowski

COO

Meg Reimer

Chief Human Resources Officer

Jack Todd Wahrenberger, MD

Chief Medical Officer

Accreditations

The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) is a non-profit organization that specifically accredits rehab organizations. Founded in 1966, CARF's, mission is to help service providers like rehab facilities maintain high standards of care.

CARF Accreditation: Yes

Contact Information

(877) 637-2924

Website

264 South 9th Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203

Get Help Now - 412-729-2267

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Reviews of Pittsburgh Mercy Behavioral Health

2.8/5 (59 reviews)

Google Reviews

2.8 (59 reviews)

Toti Spade

1 month ago

I only went for a few months because I was already suicidal when I started, but my therapist always made me feel worse. She would ask me questions and then put down my answers. As if starting a business was an unrealistic goal. She made me cry every meeting. What was the point of her job? Because every time I left there I wanted to drive off a bridge

6 months ago

10 months ago

11 months ago

Kenzie Savage

1 year ago

If you’re in need of mental health support. Definitely avoid mercy. Dr. Harlan made sexual comments about my body. Bragged about his Tesla. Pushed me to get adderall. After a few months stopped prescribing with no explanation. Wanted me to “get some tests” he insisted I needed the adderall but I would have to go through extensive tests to prove it. So I switched. Dr. kistorik isn’t much better. While she is more caring she is incompetent. She struggled to work the computer program during each visit. She keeps paper notes. Unfortunately computers are essential. So I have suffered multiple withdrawals for no reason due to Mercy. The nurse on my case English isn’t her first language. When I spoke to her finally after two weeks of being told my prescription was sent. They ignored my pleas to get a refill. Because I had an appointment scheduled a week away. And they assumed it can wait till then. It couldn’t. On the phone she laughs at me when I asked if she was sure this time. Then I call her out on the laugh she denied it. I would call about an issue and the person on the phone would say whatever I wanted to hear. Claiming the issue is resolved. Only to find out days later, it wasn’t. This has happened four times. They have too many patients and cannot provide adequate care to those very sick adults they have. I am not that sick but if I was I know I would have a hell of a time dealing with Mercy Behavioral Health. The only person who cared was Karen at the front desk.

fire starter

The front desk staff is highly unprofessional. I took a relative to their appointment and the staff was on their phone and didn't even notice my relative. They eat at the front desk which just looks nasty. I am actively trying to find my relative a new location to go to cause I was just flabbergasted at how the staff acted. The Drs and therapist are good. But when getting checked in is the first impression and that fails....you need to do much better.

Tracy Arat

After 4 years with Mercy mental health services is the worst case ever. I have been struggling for help throughout the years which none of therapist and psychiatrist will be helpful but disrespectful to clients needs. It's just sad how all things going downhill after patiently waiting for the right help. Only the first time beginning two years were good but after that all changes health care workers are like to kick me in the curb because she wants case closed . It's all about money business from either health insurance or your pocket.

Justin Young

mit mop

Mercy Behavioral Health is one of the few locations in the Pittsburgh region that accepts new patients for psychiatric care and medication management without a months-long waitlist. You will be provided with *immediately-actionable* resources, help, and guidance at this location. I encountered most of the major psychiatric hospitals and private practices in the Pittsburgh region; this is the place that immediately got me a case worker when everyone else had me on a waitlist or referred me to others' waitlists. This is a community health center; don't expect UPMC-level cleanliness or building upkeep. For your first visit, staff may advise you to arrive early or before opening hours. In exchange, you skip the waitlists, receive care ASAP, and can schedule/reschedule without difficulty.

sup235 bach

riley g

over the last 4-5 years of working with mercy, it has been a HASTLE to get literally ANYTHING done through them. Scheduling doctors appointments or nurses appointments is like pulling teeth, getting my MANDATORY medication refilled is EXTREMELY difficult, and the ladies who answer the phone are all incredibly rude and ignorant. I missed 2 doctors appointments over the last 4-5 years, and even though their discharge policy is after 3 missed appointments, they threatened to discharge me and refused to schedule me with my doctor for my MANDATORY medication refill. Mercy behavioral is a god awful "healthcare system", and they dont care about the patients, they only care about meeting their quota.

Diane

I would of given a 4 star but, after going here for over 20 yrs I have no therapist since mine retired 2yrs ago when i ask for one I'm told I'm on a WAIT LIST I asked again last month and was given a list of places to call to get a therapist in other words go to Mercy for meds but somewhere else for therapy. Are kidding me How very sad if something happens to me god help u mercy after all this time this is how ur treated

Overall Experience

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