Before going into inpatient rehab, it’s important to have an idea of the kind of environment that exists in that rehab. Is the staff compassionate? Is the staff qualified and easy to talk to? Are there security measures taken at the rehab to make sure that everyone is safe and sound from threats both outside and within? Finding these answers is easier in today’s world than ever before thanks to the abundance of reliable rehab reviews.
Any old rehab reviews won’t do, though. You need to make sure that the rehab being reviewed has no connection to the source reviewing it. You might want reviews from former clients, but you wouldn’t want reviews by a publication that the rehab paid to review it. Spotting reliable reviews are dependent on your knowledge of what they look like.
Online Sources
There are many terrific places that review rehabs and give you detailed information about the facility. They’ll sound unbiased and very specific (as much as confidentiality will allow). These publications can be trusted and will usually be something you’ve heard of just word of mouth. They’ll also look professional and be run by people who update the site often.
Search engines often have reviews as well, and this is where you can read about the rehab center from happy customers. They’ll often tell you about how the facility helped them and why they’d recommend it to a friend. In many cases, they can rate the rehab facility so that you have an idea of the overall quality of it (a four-star rating will be higher than a three-star rating, for example). This denotes quality in the rehab facility. Search engines are often a reliable source for finding out more about the rehab you’re considering.
Are Client Reviews Trustworthy?
A question that addicts struggle within choosing a rehab facility for the first time is how to interpret previous client reviews. As with any type of business, customer reviews are important to the business but should be taken with a grain of salt. Every rehab facility is going to have its share of bad reviews, but this doesn’t mean the facility is necessary to be avoided. There may be many reasons for a few bad reviews. Those particular addicts may have relapsed and blamed the facility for not helping them, or they might have had bad experiences that colored their perspectives.
So, when are negative reviews to be given more weight? As you look over the reviews left by previous clients, pay attention to the number of good reviews versus bad reviews. If there seems to be an overwhelmingly high number of negative reviews, this should raise a red flag. Similarly, if several negative reviews offer criticisms about the same aspects of treatment or of the facility, this lends confirmation. For instance, if three or four reviews of the same facility mention that a certain bathroom in the facility is never in working order, you can probably accept this as truth.
Offline Sources
Word of mouth reviews is often the most helpful. If you know friends or family who has been an actual client at a rehab treatment center, then you might have an idea of whether the person telling you about it is reliable or not. If they wouldn’t steer you wrong on things like that, it’s likely they’re a reliable source of information about that treatment center. Magazines tend to be more of a national source of information, so if you are willing to travel to go to rehab, reading reliable reviews in a magazine might be a helpful venture.
Paper publications like magazines and newspaper often have reviews about rehab centers. Many magazines rank rehabs annually and give you quality information about the kind of treatment program they offer. Newspapers will sometimes take a local facility they’ve investigated and give potential clients more information. They may even have awards for local rehabs and let you know which ones are award-worthy. Newspapers are a time-tested media format that has helped people learn more about the world around them for years. They continue to serve the public with excellent reliable rehab reviews sometimes.
How Reliable Rehab Reviews Help
Before traveling to a place, it’s wise to know more about it. Certain rehabs cater to certain kinds of clients, while others will serve all. For example, you can find rehabs that have a spiritual approach to rehab, while others help clients who have a strong Christian faith and want to find a Christian rehab. Reading reviews can help you know if you will fit into the environment the rehab fosters. If you’re spiritual, you’ll want to find a rehab that has a natural, spiritual approach to recovery. If you have strong Christian faith, reviews can help you recognize when rehab is a Christian one.
Reading reviews can also curb some of the anxiety that might become with checking yourself into a rehab center. Many people are understandably nervous about the process and don’t want to be in the dark about it. By reading reviews, you increase your knowledge of the rehab center. You also learn a little from former clients, and begin to feel more at ease with the possibility of becoming a client of a certain facility. Thanks to reliable reviews, you can also cross out and avoid those rehabs that don’t have a less than stellar reputation with reviewers and/or clients. Sometimes ruling out rehab centers can make it easier to find the one that’s right for you. Reviews accomplish all of these many important things.
Are Rehab Certifications Important?
Now that you understand why each factor is important in choosing a rehab facility, you may be wondering which one is more important. While reviews should always be consulted, you may want to avoid facilities that are not CARF certified. Think of the certification as an insurance policy that protects your recovery and your finances from fraud. While there may be reputable facilities that are not certified, why take that chance? It’s much safer for you to limit your search to accredited rehab treatment centers.
This doesn’t mean reviews are useless, however. Imagine you have narrowed your choices down to three treatment centers, but they all offer the same amenities and they are all certified. Reading the reviews for each treatment center can help you further narrow down your choices. You can use client reviews to support your instincts about which facility is better for you. This will make it easier to make your final choice.
If you’re ready to learn more about spotting reliable rehab reviews or ready to get started on the treatment of your own, please call us today at 844-903-2111.
