Sierra Tuscon

Founded in 1983, Sierra Tucson is one of the country’s most renowned treatment programs for addictions, mood disorders, and a wide variety of other mental health issues. The 160-acre facility is located north of Tucson in Arizona and features stunning natural features in addition to top-of-the-line amenities with space for 163 patients at any given time. The treatment program involves a holistic approach; patient treatment centers around the mind, emotions, body, and spirit. The Twelve Step philosophy is also utilized in treatment programs at Sierra Tucson. In additional to more traditional forms of counseling and psychotherapy, the facility also offers massage therapy, acupuncture, yoga, zero balancing, qi gong, chiropractic therapy, reiki, and shiatsu.

Treatment Highlights

The team of multidisciplinary staff at Sierra help to provide a variety of highly specified and individualized programs for patients. Treatment modalities involve a number of different types of therapy, from equine-assisted therapy to adventure therapy. In every case, the client is given the right to choose the modalities he or she would like to incorporate in a personal treatment plan. Sierra Tucson treats a number of afflictions, from eating disorders to addiction to depression. Residents are all housed together, regardless of gender or affliction; however, they must wear colored nametags according to what they are suffering from.

Treatment for Alcoholism

Alcohol rehabilitation at Sierra Tucson involves a number of innovative programs that address all aspects of addiction and how they may be overcome. The focus is on the mental, physical, intellectual, and spiritual well-being of the client. Co-occurring disorders, such as mood disorders or past emotional trauma, are also addressed during treatment. Services are also provided for family members in order to help them understand alcoholism as a disease. Following the development of an individualized treatment plan, the client may participate in a number of therapeutic activities over a period of weeks or months. Once the individual is ready to be released, the focus is on post-treatment monitoring and community support to help prevent relapse.

Treatment for Substance Dependence

Treatment for substance dependence follows a similar holistic model, focusing on the body, mind, and spirit. Clients in treatment for drug addiction work with experts to identify underlying factors that contribute to addiction and dependence. Counselors also work with clients to establish any co-occurring disorders that they may be suffering from. Therapy options are again, fairly diverse, with the possibility to attend adventure therapy or grief and spirituality sessions in addition to Twelve Step sessions.

Criticisms

In spite of its high profile and history in the business of rehabilitation, Sierra Tucson has been criticized as a for-profit institution that only serves to make addicts and alcoholics feel special or privileged in the luxurious facility. A string of patient deaths in the past decade, including a suicide in 2014, have marred the facility’s reputation and resulted in lawsuits for negligence. Representations for Sierra Tucson claim that they are reviewing their protocol and procedures in order to prevent future deaths. However, former staff members have indicated that training for staff members is lacking at the facility.