Pasadena Villa Outpatient Treatment Center - Richmond - Glen Allen, Virginia

Jada C. (. W. G.

When I came here back in October, I wasn’t in a great place mentally. As soon as I walked in I felt welcomed and wanted and that’s when I knew I picked the right place. Everyone from staff to my group mates were very kind and welcoming. It felt good being in a place where I felt safe and listened to, validated and just heard. I liked the groups we did, and I would say art was my favorite one. I also liked how we had different groups teach us wellness in non medicinal ways like Yoga and the Somatic Experience. While I will miss it here, I’m happy I was able to come here, decompress, and learn new skills. I do feel a bit better coming out of this, and I hope for whoever needs more support for their mental health that they come here. I’m glad this place exists.

April P.

This place changed my life. I did the evening IOP program and all of the evening group members and staff were so kind and welcoming. Tameka is a wonderful therapist. I learned so much from her and she made me looking forward to coming in each night. This is a great program for people interested in a thorough, safe, and fun DBT group. Thank you, Pasadena Villa 🙂

Lyndsay C.

I greatly enjoyed my time at Pasadena Villa. I met amazing people, including other clients, therapists, and physicians. Every person was kind and caring and willing to meet my needs. I drove an hour there and back every day instead of going to another treatment center because it was highly recommended by my psychiatrist. I have no regrets coming here. I found the group therapy very helpful; it just took some getting used to. I loved the lunches and getting to socialize with other clients over break. I definitely dove headfirst into dealing with my trauma in both individual and group therapy. I also enjoyed music therapy, yoga, and art therapy. I felt like I could be vulnerable in my group, and I felt seen and cared for. I would recommend this place to loved ones and friends.

laura C.

I had the best experience here! I did a full 40-day program (25 days of 6-hour PHP and 15 days of 3-hour IOP). I can’t say enough about the wholistic approach Pasadena Villa offers that heals mind, body, and soul! Everyone was kind and professional. I was in the midst of a mental health crisis when I enrolled, and Pasadena Villa is the reason I’m now stronger and healthier than ever.

Olivia K.

I just finished my internship here, and can easily say this place is absolutely wonderful. Everyone here is so caring, and genuinely want to do everything they can to help those who come here for treatment. Lisa Castro is incredible, and it was a pleasure and a joy to work for her. I wish them all nothing but the best of luck! <3

T A.

Detailed review follows.

Bottom line: This is a trustworthy, caring, exceptionally supportive environment for recovery, healing, and growth.

When my therapist recommended an intensive (partial hospitalization/intensive out-patient program for my long-term depression, anxiety, and related disorders, I resisted. I wasn't sold on the idea of so much group therapy, didn't fully understand the benefits of modalities like yoga and meditation, and, frankly, wasn't sure that, even with recurring thoughts of ending my life, I actually needed a program of this intensity and duration. I wasn't sure what I could learn that I couldn't learn or do on my own. I'm glad I trusted her judgement and gave it an honest try.

What I found at Pasadena was a group of mental health professionals ready to meet each client where we were, and something akin to a guided menu of treatment options so that each person could sample, explore, and then practice the techniques most suited to her own unique set of needs--whether they be anxiety disorders and panic attacks; depression; eating disorders; body dysphoria; gender identity and expression; ptsd; generational trauma and more.

A key element at Pasadena is the degree of choice each client has. Daily programs include both "default" options comprised of DBT, group talk, art, and music therapy; and both individual and group optional modalities, including SE therapy, yoga, and meditation. In addition to choice *of* therapy options, however, there is also free choice *within* therapeutic sessions, meaning that should a client become uncomfortable with, or even just choose not to engage in a particular activity, their choice is respected without any need for explanation--so important for participants struggling with traumas. As with any treatment regimen, not all approaches will resonate with all people, but this personalized, multi-faceted, choice-based (and trauma informed) _ethos_, which underlies and informs the work at Pasadena, assures that every client has the best possible chance of finding the help that they need.

Is this an easy program? No, it is not. In the way that nearly everything worth doing requires effort and commitment, this program requires working in tandem *with* the therapists to do the work necessary for real growth. If you come in prepared to (or at least open to) explore practices, thought patterns, and habits for better mental health and a more joyous life, the people at Pasadena are committed to providing all of the necessary support and expertise to make doing that hard work possible. They are as caring and as committed a community of practice as I can imagine.

Recommended to all who are struggling, and looking for a supportive communty in which to begin healing.

Russ A.

Pasadena was wonderful! The entire staff was so caring and willing to help with anything! Both the PHP and IOP was incredible and I felt so comfortable there, especially since it is group therapy and everyone is going through the same thing. The staff wants to see you succeed and are so kind. All the therapists are there for you the entire time and are always checking up on you! I would absolute recommend Pasadena for improving Mental Health and so much more! - Caitlin

Meghan M.

If you’re like me and you struggle with timeliness, STAY AWAY from this place. I had the pleasure of learning about the attendance policy for the first time when staff told me I had been violating it and I could potentially be discharged or moved to IOP with the next violation.

I tried asking staff what “late” is considered in the policy, but I was constantly being told different answers. As a result, my sleep was ruined because I became so anxious that I started waking up every hour throughout the night, afraid of being late and potentially discharged. The stress and lack of sleep also led to my migraines coming back, something I haven’t experienced in years. I constantly brought these concerns to staff, but nothing was done to try and alleviate some of my stress.

Throughout the next few weeks, I saw multiple people in my group miss several days and consistently arrive 30+ minutes late and receive no attendance warning. When I brought up this unequal enforcement of the policy to the head therapist, she tried gaslighting me, saying I could be misunderstanding the situation. A week later, she apologized and said they’re working to get staff on the same page with the attendance policy. I hope that's true.

The cherry on top was that I had signed up over a week prior to do a one-on-one somatic therapy session with the executive director, Lisa Castro, on my last day. That never happened because she was on vacation, something that was not taken into account on her schedule.

One of my facilitators, Rachel, was excellent. She was probably the only staff there who I felt listened to and took my concerns seriously. The rest of the staff, most notably those in charge, need to get their act together because you can’t be treating people who are at their lowest like this. Do better.