Top Ranked Drug Rehab Centers In La Mesa, CA

Very professional. Great location, very organized, therapist Kristin and psychiatrist Dr. Chou were great. Chef Fred was amazing, but they need to do a better job feeding the kids when Fred isn’t there, especially given what these places charge. It should be 1st class across the board. Not to spoil the kids, but it’s a stressful time for them in recovery, and their food options should be vast on the weekends. They worked with me to have flexible visitation because I was coming from out of state.

Our 16-year-old son attended Evolve Adolescent Behavioral Health at their Mount Helix location in La Mesa for approximately eight weeks to address substance use and other mental health challenges. From the very beginning, the communication from Evolve was outstanding. The entire team was consistently kind, compassionate, and truly seemed to have not just my son’s best interests in mind, but our whole family’s as well. Our family therapist, Emily Bell, was wonderful — supportive, insightful, and a real asset to the team. My son’s primary therapist, Mariah, was also fantastic and really connected with him. Both therapists were instrumental in helping our son make meaningful progress. Evolve offers a very structured program based on evidence-based practices, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The program blends group therapy, individual therapy, and experiential activities such as surfing and equine therapy, which really helped keep the teens engaged. They also take the kids on outings into the community to practice the skills they are learning in real-world settings, which I thought was an incredible aspect of the program. While my son was initially very resistant to attending, he quickly found that he enjoyed the program and learned valuable skills he continues to use at home. The daily structure, along with the point system they use to encourage participation and good decision-making, really helped motivate him to stay engaged. One thing that stood out to me was how much Evolve involved us as parents throughout the process. Through weekly family therapy and regular updates, I always knew what my son was working on and felt like a true partner in his treatment journey. The only minor downside was some noticeable staff turnover during his stay, including a new educational consultant and changes in the nursing team. However, I can understand that working in this environment is extremely demanding, and it did not significantly impact the quality of care our son received. Overall, our experience with Evolve Mount Helix was extremely positive and truly life-changing for our son. I would highly recommend Evolve to any family seeking thoughtful, compassionate, and effective mental health treatment for their teenager.

My son recently spent 6 weeks at Evolve ,Mt. Helix. He received incredible care there. Alex, the nurse went above and beyond. She went out of her way to form a bond with my son! She kept in close contact with me when my son had to go the ER when he became ill . Taylor also took great care of my son as well. They both made my son feel safe and well taken care of! Kristin (his primary therapist) did an great job with both individual therapy and family therapy. My only real issue with the program was the food served at the facility. He was served high calorie /high fat takeout for a good portion of his stay as the chef was out. When I asked about it ,I was told by the clinical director that they were not required to follow any nutritional guidelines! I feel that part of the journey of getting well is nutrition. There should have been better arrangements when Fred (the chef ) had to be out. As a whole I feel the program was a great fit for my son as they use DBT along with other treatments modalities.

I want to take a moment to recognize an exceptional nurse, Alexandra Munoz, at Evolve, who has made a lasting impression on me. It’s clear that she is not just doing her job but is deeply committed to advocating for those in her care. Her ability to build meaningful connections with others is truly remarkable and inspiring. As someone who values compassionate and skilled care, I’m incredibly reassured knowing Alexandra is part of the team. She goes above and beyond, setting the standard for what nursing care should look like. As a fellow nurse, I see her as a role model and an inspiration. Her dedication, compassion, and professionalism remind me of the very best this profession has to offer. Evolve is incredibly fortunate to have such a positive and impactful nurse on their team!

My experience with Evolve was mixed. While the administrative process was chaotic & poorly managed by Margaret Gutgsell, the nurse, Alexandra Munoz, & the staff members, Kristen, Sasha, Emily, Taylor, Kaitlynn, & Meagan, were exceptional. I also want to point out that the therapy practices, outings, & coping mechanisms my loved one experienced & learned while at La Mesa made such a difference. He became a leader among his peers & has shown true growth & change since this experience. Alexandra went above & beyond, providing comfort & care to my loved one, making me feel at ease during a difficult time. However, the admission process was a nightmare, with no nurse or clinical director available when we arrived. Thank God, Alexandra took the time to call me & go over my concerns. Despite her being absent because Evolve couldn't wait until she was on site to admit him, she took the time to assess him virtually with her team & went over medication & care instructions that were vital to his post-op care until another nurse could arrive. It brought me peace of mind. Anytime I felt anxious I was reassured knowing she was taking care of him. Even when he got sick and went to urgent care, she kept me updated & made sure to tell the staff & urgent care to call me for instructions. She was the nurse but I was mom. She made me feel like my voice & my loved one mattered. The food situation was also troubling, with the La Mesa house lacking proper groceries. The discharge process was equally disorganized, with a lack of communication & coordination. His therapist went home sick. No one called me to reschedule the second of two family sessions to establish a home contract. Finally, the morning I picked him up we were able to do the second session with Kristen. Margaret should have handled the schedule & called me but she flaked & didn't follow through with his assessment meeting for his aftercare so that clinic had to reach out to finish it. It was a mess. Despite these issues, the dedication of staff members like Alexandra, Kristen, Sasha, Emily, Taylor, Kaitlynn, & Meagan and the positive impact they had on my loved one, are truly commendable. Alexandra's kindness & commitment made a significant difference, & my loved one now aspires to become an addiction counselor for teens. Evolve needs to address its administrative shortcomings, but the incredible efforts of its staff should not go unnoticed. Thank you, Alexandra, for your unwavering support & care. My loved one said that Emily got him out of his comfort zone & was someone he could talk to and super kind. He said that Taylor treated the clients like people not patients & was someone he could talk to. He said Kaitlynn cared about the clients & made sure they got the best. He said Meagan was real & also treated the clients like they were people not patients; & Alexandra made sure they got the best, made him laugh, and treated him like her own child. He said Indie was rude & made mean comments to another male client in the home with him. He said Simone was awkward, often speaking in a condescending tone to them or when they would tell her how another staff member handled something thank them for telling her how to do her job. He said Justin had an attitude towards clients & would make it a big deal if they had an issue or something they wanted. This appauled me. That child who Indie made mean comments to's parents trust Evolve. Do better. Seriously? If you can't show respect to clients find another career path. Margaret, Indie, Simone, & Justin need training. I am highly impressed with Alexandra, Emily, Taylor, Kaitlynn, & Meagan. I appreciate Brandon who stayed with my loved one at urgent care & made sure he got to call me & get some food, Dejah who was an appreciated sounding board while I voiced my frustration with Margaret dropping the ball with our therapy session & the assessment appointment for his aftercare, the therapists, Sasha & Kristen, Alejandrina who helped with his initial assessment, & Emily who helped me coordinate his aftercare.