Valley Bridge House Review
Since 1955, Valley Bridge House has provided men in the state of Maryland with a structured program for the early stages of recovery from alcoholism. The inpatient facility in Baltimore offers long-term substance abuse treatment that requires adult males to attend group therapy sessions and 12-step meetings on a daily basis. Detox is not offered at Valley Bridge but it is recommended that prospective residents go through a detox program before admission.
Accommodations and Food
Residents at Valley Bridge live in two fully renovated brick buildings located next to one another. Clients share rooms that are set up dormitory-style with twin beds, a desk and chair and limited closet space. The facility also has a workout room that comes equipped with weights, stationary bikes and treadmills. Residents are encouraged to exercise during their free time. Aside from the workout room, there are large common areas, a living room with a TV and an outdoor courtyard.
Clients get three meals every day. Breakfast is served cold and consists of yogurt, cereal, fruit, toast and coffee. Lunch and dinner are both hot meals and may include pizza, pasta, fried chicken and other comfort food options. There’s also a salad bar available at all meals where residents can get themselves a soup or a salad.
Treatment and Staff
As a first step, each resident completes a comprehensive assessment. Treatment follows individualized plans and uses evidence-based treatment modalities such as CBT and DBT. Though dual diagnosis support is not available, clients can be referred to outside facilities. Therapists can also offer educational, vocational and financial resources when needed.
The program is highly structured and lasts three to six months. Each resident’s schedule includes mandatory group and individual therapy, 12-step or other self-help meetings and educational groups. While Valley Bridge’s main focus is treatment, residents are encouraged to seek employment after 90 days. If the client gets a job, they are only required to attend one AA/NA meeting a day and attendance at group meetings is flexible.
Individual sessions are held on a weekly basis. During this time, clients work with a licensed therapist who monitors their progress and helps set goals. Group counseling sessions are discussion-based, allowing clients to openly share their stories and motivate one another. These are held every morning from 9 to 11 am, with a 15-minute break. In the afternoon, residents in their first 90 days are required to attend at least two AA/NA meetings before dinner at 5 pm. There is also a meeting after dinner from 7 to 8 pm. On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, there are on-site AA/NA meetings, led by an alum with at least one year of sobriety.
Mixed in with the group counseling sessions are educational groups covering the negative effects of substance abuse, the addiction-as-a-disease model, relapse prevention, anger management and boundary setting. The educational meetings are led by one of the LPCs on staff who lectures for the first half of the meeting; the second half is open discussion.
Though dual diagnosis support is not available, clients can be referred to outside facilities. Therapists can also offer educational, vocational and financial resources when needed.
Staff members consist of LPCs and LADCs. There is also a house manager on-site 24 hours a day.
Extras
During treatment, clients can invite their family members to participate in family therapy sessions on the weekends. These sessions must be scheduled with the client’s therapist and use a traditional talk therapy approach to allow each client’s family to learn about their loved one’s progress and about addiction.
In Summary
At Valley Bridge House, men receive inpatient care with daily group meetings, individual therapy and education groups, all on-site. Though the program is affordable, it does require a longer-term commitment from residents. In all, Valley Bridge House is a good fit for those seeking structure in early recovery.
Valley Bridge House Location
28 & 30 S Broadway
Baltimore, MD 21231
Valley Bridge House Cost
$350 (per month). Reach Bridge Valley House by phone at (410) 675-7765. Find Bridge Valley House on Facebook
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Sponsored DISCLAIMER: This is a paid advertisement for California Behavioral Health, LLC, a CA licensed substance abuse treatment provider and not a service provided by The Fix. Calls to this number are answered by CBH, free and without obligation to the consumer. No one who answers the call receives a fee based upon the consumer’s choice to enter treatment. For additional info on other treatment providers and options visit www.samhsa.gov.
