McLean's Comprehensive Psychiatric Treatment for Adults at Appleton

Our approach to treatment

Psychosis and bipolar disorder can often derail individuals from being able to accomplish their life goals. Our core philosophical approach is to help individuals develop the skills necessary to gain back control over their lives.

Comprehensive treatment

Appleton specializes in comprehensive treatment for adults ages 18 and over who have a primary diagnosis of psychosis and/or bipolar disorder and may also have coexisting conditions such as addiction, anxiety, or depression.

Individuals who come our program may be entering residential treatment for the first time or may be transferring from another program in order to receive the tailored, robust services that we offer.

Patients may also come to Appleton from an inpatient program at McLean or elsewhere and are interested in continued intensive care while navigating a path to recovery.

Group therapy

Group therapy is a central part of the program, with more than 20 groups per week covering a range of specialized topics such as mindfulness, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), interpersonal skills, spirituality, and much more.

Additional services available

Clinical services such as:

• Psychiatric assessment
• Intensive group therapy, medication evaluation and management
• Nutritional consultation, ongoing dietary support, and a weekly nutrition group
• Family meetings via telehealth or in person
• Patient education services
• Case management services, including aftercare planning
• Occupational therapy assessment with weekly ongoing support
• Nursing support

Non-clinical services including:

• Double rooms
• All onsite meals, snacks, beverages
• Access to McLean fitness center and certified trainer
• Community trips to museums, malls, bookstores, Harvard Square, etc.
• Laundry services onsite

Ancillary services include:

• Specialized individual therapy outside Appleton, in cases of diagnostic complexity
• Neurological services
• Neuropsychological testing
• Specialty imaging, MRI
• Specialty psychiatric consultations, forensic consultations
• Other medical services:
• Ambulance services, emergency room visits
• Dental services
• Laboratory testing
• Physical therapy
• Sleep study

These optional ancillary clinical and medical services may or may not be covered by insurance.

Work, educational and volunteer opportunities

Many of our patients participate in a wide variety of work, educational, and volunteer opportunities in the community. Boston and Cambridge are easily accessible from Appleton via public transit. Patients often leave the program during the day to work or attend courses as well as to go on outings to work on social skills.

Patients who benefit most from our program and family involvement

Our residential program focuses on treating individuals with a diagnosis of a psychotic disorder or bipolar disorder who would benefit from personalized and intensive treatment and are interested in gaining skills on their path to recovery.

With permission of the patient, upon admission, our clinical social workers meet with the family—in person or by phone—to gather patient history and general information related to the patient. Weekly communication, phone calls, and/or scheduled meetings is a standard part of treatment. Family therapy is recommended, if clinically appropriate.

With permission of the patient, our clinical social workers meet frequently with the patient’s support system. Our clinical team is available to answer questions, coordinate care, and provide support to the patient’s family members and support network. Depending on the needs of the patient and their support network, Appleton offers family therapy.

Support, resources, and aftercare planning

Support and educational resources

• From helpful online resources to self-help groups and more, McLean Hospital is committed to providing support and mental health education to aid patients and families on the path to recovery.
• To complement our programs’ services and encourage individuals’ initiatives in their own recovery, many self-help groups are hosted by McLean and we encourage individuals’ initiatives in their own treatment course.

Aftercare planning

• The treatment team works closely with the individual as well as with family, significant friends, and outside providers to develop a personalized aftercare plan. Recommendations by staff are made based upon clinical needs, progress made during treatment, and long-term treatment goals.

Patient feedback

• McLean is dedicated to maintaining high-quality and effective patient care. To ensure that those standards remain at the highest level, we utilize a number of feedback instruments and quality indicators.

What to expect during your stay

Admission

Appleton specializes in comprehensive treatment for adults ages 18 and over who have a primary diagnosis of psychosis and bipolar disorder, with or without co-occurring conditions such as substance use, mood, or anxiety disorders.

Our individualized care helps set patients on the path to independence and recovery.

Our self-pay program is best suited for those who may benefit from the structure of residential care.

Though some may be seeking this level of care for the first time, individuals often come to Appleton from other residential or inpatient programs at McLean or elsewhere. The average length of stay varies to accommodate the needs of our patients.

People come to Appleton from across the United States and around the world. We can help arrange admission from most domestic or international locations.

For more information or to make a referral, please contact 617-855-2274.

Accommodations

Located on McLean’s Belmont campus only eight miles from downtown Boston, Appleton is a renovated historic mansion that accommodates up to 24 patients.

We provide a home-like environment, with spacious common living areas, including a solarium, atrium, kitchen, and dining room. Appleton is designed to help individuals feel comfortable as they focus on treatment and recovery.

Breakfast is continental style, lunch is prepared or provided, and dinners are prepared by staff. Meal planning is overseen by our registered dietician.

Our comfortable bedrooms offer a retreat during leisure time. We offer wireless internet access and have computers available for patient use. Appleton’s comfortable sitting and gathering areas are full of natural light and picturesque views of the surrounding area.

Appleton is only a few miles away from many recreational, educational, and vocational opportunities in the Greater Boston area. There are numerous colleges, adult education programs, and volunteer opportunities that patients can integrate into their treatment plans. Cambridge and Boston are easily accessible by public transportation.

Cost

The fee for the Appleton residence is $900 per day.

Please note: As a self-pay program, Appleton does not accept insurance or directly assist with insurance reimbursement. You may be able to recover some ancillary treatment expenses through insurance.

For more information on what is included in the Appleton day rate, please see below.

What is included in the day rate?

Fernside’s private addiction treatment program provides clinical services, such as:

• Professional evaluation, diagnostic assessment, and treatment for substance use disorders and co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses
• Physical examination and treatment planning to address the related medical conditions
• Intensive individual and group therapy
• Symptom education services
• Medication evaluation and management
• On-site medical director and psychiatrist providing treatment for all patients
• 24/7 direct care staffing including day/evening nursing care
• Case management services (ongoing consultation with referring clinician and aftercare planning)
• Family and couples meetings
• Basic laboratory testing
• Nutritional consultations for an additional fee
• Smoking cessation treatment and support
• Yoga, personal fitness training, recreational cooking classes

Additionally, the following are non-clinical services provided to each patient:

• Private room/private bath (single occupancy)
• Chef-prepared meals as well as snacks and beverages
• Arrival and departure transportation services available
• Transportation services for scheduled clinical appointments
• Housekeeping services
• On-site fitness studio
• Art studio with professional easels and supplies

Visiting hours, cell phone and smoking policy, and patient privacy

• Visitors are permitted, following program policies. Visiting hours are 2-8pm, seven days a week.
• Except during treatment commitment times or when curfew is observed from 11pm to 6am, smoking is allowed, in designated outdoor areas only. No smoking is allowed inside any of our buildings.
• Individuals are allowed to hold and use their cell phones and computers, except during treatment, with some guidelines to prevent disruption of the program and other patients.

Patient Privacy

• Privacy is of the utmost importance to Appleton and we ensure confidentiality through our highly trained, professional, and discreet staff.
  No third party, whether known to the individual or not, has access to medical records, health information, or any information about a patient’s stay without prior, written authorization from the patient.
• Patients may request their medical records by following the steps in this page.