Positive Sobriety Institute Alcohol & Drug Rehab Chicago

Location :

142 E Ontario St Suite 1000, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
Added by Jopie, at 11 August 2019

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• Andy H

  04 March 2022

  4.5 Stars
  
  UPDATE 2.5 years later
  I look back at my time at PSI as incredibly meaningful and fruitful. I am not a day counter, but just for fun I calculated: today I'm 962 days free from opioid addiction. I am not sure I would have been this successful if I had ended up at a program that was 12 step based. The many psychological approaches to facing addiction (and life) - CBT, REBT, mindfulness, etc. - were presented really well and have stayed with me.
  
  I have read extensively on addiction since seeking treatment. I do not feel I had or have a truly chronic neurobehavioral disease in the way NIH researchers (or perhaps even many at PSI ) would suggest. My experience is that addiction was a terrible cycle I was trapped in. I went and got it treated. I am cured. I do not wake up thinking "I hope I can make it today without turning to opioids". I have taken opioids (or any substance) out from my list of coping mechanisms. It's not an option. It was a destructive, false coping strategy. Could I end up going down a path to dependence on something again? Yes. So I am mindful and purposeful about dealing with stress. Check out Marc Lewis's "The Biology of Desire"; Erica Spiegelman "Rewired"; Maia Szalavitz's "Unbroken Brain".
  I would recommend PSI to anyone, and especially high achievers, healthcare providers, thinkers.
  
  ~
  
  I am a health care professional who spent ~8 weeks at PSI in 2019 for opioid dependence/abuse. My experience there was very good in most every way.
  -felt welcomed by the empathetic staff & therapists.
  -no loss of phone, computer, etc.
  -nice offices/environment.
  -nice living situation - right across the street w/amazing city & lake views from above the 50th floor.
  -relieved to find the group overall was "good people", and in particular had several other health care providers and professionals.
  -medical and psychological support for early sobriety was very good.
  -Chicago offers many, many options for recovery meetings (SMART recovery, Life Ring, Recovery Dharma, Atheist & Agnostic AA, etc. in addition to the plethora of typical 12 step AA/NA).
  -Good Eats; it's Chicago! I suggest having your professional and personal crisis during warm weather so you can fully enjoy Chicago. Best of luck.
  
  Criticisms:
  ~The focus has to be on our overall sobriety & sanity, but some of us face complex professional issues at a time when we are essentially in shock, and often not fully aware of the big picture. I think they would serve us better if they made sure we were connected to a source of legal information and advice very soon after arriving.
  ~PSI commonly suggests a follow up visit 3-6 months after discharge. It was a major exercise in persistence to get through to someone there who would return my calls & emails. Not cool.
  
  Overall, I consider myself VERY fortunate to have found PSI!

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• Bob Jones MD

  25 February 2022

  I can best describe this program as weak and lacking in direction. There is no discernable coherence to their methods which left me feeling lost in the shuffle. Family week was somewhat of a disaster with squabbling spouses: this was not therapeutic to myself and I'd venture to others too.
  
  There is no end to the obvious and shameless financial bilking that PSI does to its physician clients.
  
  Lastly, PSI's "expert medical director" went medical school in Guadalajara, Mexico back in the 70's when such programs not only lacked prestige but were often highly suspect.
  
  Overall PSI is unimpressive, ineffective and excessively expensive. It is quite odd that, in an ostensibly professional situation, the medical director's wife and son also run the program. Seems 'bush-league'because it is.

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• Sara Smith MD

  14 August 2021

  This rehab program did not serve my partner well in any way at all. I could go on and on about PSI's deficiencies. But to spare you that I'll just advise looking at rehab programs that are not run by an incompetent, greedy husband/wife/son team.
  My partner went to another program which was comprehensive, compassionate and effective and its been working!
  Best of luck !

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• Sara Quam MD, PhD

  20 April 2021

  I was at PSI for 3 days before my counsellor even sat down to meet me personally. During that time I was thinking, "when is this going to start". I'm here, ready to start my recovery process. But I needed someone with experience and expertise to show me the way. Instead, for days nothing happened. All I did was their mandatory computer personality tests and the other computer tests they require for their own research. I waitedI worriedMy partner worried tooNothing was happening. I was ready to move forward.
  
  When I finally met with my assigned counsellor I was told, "You are in denial about your addiction!" At this point I'm thinking, "Wait, here I am. I left work which is costing us loads. I'm away from my family which is a hardship on my partner with our kids." But PSI says I'm not serious enough. And this was our first sit down after being there for days! And hey, on day one I charged $25,000 on my credit card for this! And that was only the down payment.
  
  Look people, I read the green book PSI gives to clients at admission which is written by their director. I read it cover to cover by the second day. Its a quick and easy read: basically a compilation of other's research and anecdotes. So, mostly its fluff. But I read it.
  
  The daily group sessions started with 15 minutes of meditation and then they go around the group for a 'check-in'. Before you know it half the morning is gone and its time for a 30 min break. Still, I'm wondering when is this going to start? Who here is going to take an interest and help me get started? I know there are issues and here I am ready to get busy on them. But the art therapy, sound therapy, yoga and daily dispassionate canned lectures were of no help.
  
  After two weeks as clients came and went it dawned on me that I'm just a number. I am just another professional with deep pockets to bilk. I wasn't at PSI just to check the rehab box and get back to the world. Many are there for just that. And that is ok as long as it works for them. But not me. I wanted and needed help! But it wasn't forthcoming. They don't seem to do that kind of work at PSI.
  
  Eventually I went elsewhere. I'm not allowed to mention where I went: hint, its in Florida. That program helped me. Thank God! Its been over a year and I've been gratefully sober and happily working my program. I am working and my family is thriving.
  
  Positive Sobriety now seems like a bump in the road. But at the time it was a somewhat of a disaster! The PSI experience made me and my family feel more lost in the abyss. And it cost a lot of money without any return for that investment.
  
  Good luck!

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• Whistler Mother

  18 August 2019

  When I read the rare negative reviews about PSI, especially when they include character assassinations, I can't help but feel sorry for the person that wrote the review. I have only "positive" experiences and statements to report. This is a one in a million program that really cares - been through enough of them to know. They hang in for the long haul too. With tons of expertise and talented staff. Wouldn't be here without these folks and this program. Keep up the tremendous work, work that is recognized nationally because there are patients there from other states.

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