been GREAT it is very nice and the counselors are nice
About La Via Wellness and Recovery
In late 2023, Pacific Clinics closed Via66, a substance use and co-occurring mental health disorder treatment center on Hulbert Street in Pasadena, California. They relocated the clinic to Fair Oaks Avenue in South Pasadena and christened it with a new name: La Via Wellness and Recovery.
The new center offers programs and support for all ages, including mental health and substance use disorder treatment, employment services, housing support services, and Head Start programs. Payment shouldn’t be an obstacle at the clinic since the center accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and county and local government funds.
Serving Multicultural Communities in South Pasadena
The clinic in South Pasadena is only five minutes from the beautiful Norton Simon Museum and the charming cafes and shops of old downtown. Staff at the facility takes a client centered approach with programs tailored to individual client needs. I love that the staff is culturally relevant and respectful of each client’s background.
They have linguistically responsive services and programs. The Hye Wrap Program supports the Latino and Armenian communities while the Asian Pacific Family Center supports Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans. They specialize in suicide prevention through the Latino Youth Services program.
Supportive Mental Health and SUD Treatment in Southern California
The SUD programming includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational enhancement therapy, and recovery skills. SUD treatment includes holistic therapies such as meditation and mindfulness. Depending on your treatment plan, you may participate in individual therapy, group therapy, or both.
What strikes me about this facility is the cutting edge transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment offered at this location. It’s noninvasive and uses magnetic pulses to stimulate targeted areas of the brain. The treatment is effective for clients who haven’t responded to psychiatric medications and therapy for depression.
Prevention and Early Intervention in the San Gabriel Valley
The prevention and early intervention program (PEI) uses effective strategies to reduce the impact of mental health problems and substance use in the community. PEI services include parent coaching and workshops, behavioral support, and individual therapy. PEI enhances communication skills, boosts teens’ self esteem, and helps them manage stress.
Fact checked and written by:
Susan Bertram, BA
Edited by:
Peter Lee, PhD
Latest Reviews
Grandson was scheduled to be seen on 11/5/25 at 3pm this was my first time taking him myself. An hour goes by and I go up to tell staff that we had been waiting an hour and all four of them just looked at each other but never said there had been a problem. Mind you four girls at front and no one took the time to check if there had been any issues.Needless to say we left without being seen with a very frustrated 10 yea old. Horrible service. Unfortunately we have to return , I hope next visit they are more attentive.
I have a had an great service from here been coming here for multiple years
I wish I could give this place a negative review. I was referred to this place when I was a teenager after some mental health concerns. I was set up with a female asian doctor and therapist that spoke my parent's language.
at first, I was treated with respect and I loved it. However, I eventually learned that my doctor and therapist was also providing care to my parents.
Once, when I was in my room, I heard my doctor and therapist tell my parents that my mental health was fake, and I was doing all of this for attention. Another time, I heard my provider tell them that the best way to set me straight was to kick me out at 18 and let me suffer. This provider also spoke in my parent's language believing that I could not understand it. I recall her saying many other things and then asking if I understood the language, because if I did, she would have to be more careful with her words.
Needless to say, after overhearing those conversations I stopped trusting my provider and one day stopped going into sessions. My relationship with my parents shattered because of this place. I no longer trusted them and I no longer trusted mental health professionals.
As an adult now, I decided to be no contact with my parents, because they still firmly believe that I am faking my mental health issues for attention. If you want your child to trust you and stay in contact with you, I would never go to this place for care.
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
5.7 / 10
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Other Forms of Payment
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.
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.
Addiction Treatments
Levels of Care
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.
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 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.
Recovery is most successful when clients feel accepted and validated by their peers and treatment providers. Facilities that offer LGBTQ-inclusive programming are committed to creating a safe space where everyone can grow and recover without fear of judgment or discrimination. They will have dedicated policies in place to create a safe and supportive environment that fosters free expression.
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.
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.
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.
Staff
Kathy McCarthy
Chief Executive Officer & President
Shawn M Caracoza
Chief Operations Officer
Becky Boone
Chief Human Resources Officer
Mary Anne Chern
Chief Development Officer
Laura Pancake
Chief Clinical Officer
Kim M Wells
Chief Legal Officer
