Whitman-Walker Health

The Basics

Whitman-Walker Health was founded in 1978 in Washington, DC. It’s a non-profit community health center that offers outpatient substance abuse counseling to adults in the area.

Treatment and Staff

Individuals interested in Whitman initially undergo a phone assessment with one of the organization’s intake coordinators to determine if the client is a good fit for the program. Clients then meet with a counselor to determine their level of need and chart out a potential treatment plan. Clients who are unstable or going through withdrawal, are referred to outside residential or detox treatment centers.

The outpatient program at Whitman consists of a mixture of individual and group therapy. Although the exact length and intensity of the program is based on the needs of the client, most people generally attend at least one to three group sessions per week for 12 weeks. The group meetings are usually led by one counselor and on average consist of ten to 15 clients. Counselors use a variety of treatment techniques including CBT, harm reduction, education, sharing and relapse prevention. Individual meetings are also available based on the needs of the clients. Whitman also offers groups specifically designed to address the needs of the LGBTQ community as well as clients living with HIV.

Although Whitman is not 12-step oriented, clients are encouraged to attend outside AA and NA meetings while in the program.

Whitman is dual diagnosis and refers clients with potential co-occurring disorders to the organization’s on-staff mental health counselors for a psychiatric assessment. Whitman also offers a co-occurring group specifically designed to meet the needs of clients with dual diagnosis status.

The staff includes a psychiatrist, LPCs, and LICSWs.

Extras

Although Whitman does not have an official family program, clients can request individual meetings with their counselor and their family members. Family members are also recommended to attend outside Alanon meetings while in the program.

The organization doesn’t have aftercare but clients are allowed to step down gradually from the program. When leaving Whitman, most clients initially step down to attending group meetings once a week and then to once every other week.

In Summary

Whitman-Walker Health offers really affordable outpatient treatment for adults seeking formal treatment that allows them to still maintain personal and professional obligations. The co-occurring group offers a high degree of care for clients with both mental health and substance abuse issues. The specialized LGBTQ and HIV groups are an additional resource not all facilities can claim. Also, the gradual discharge process allows clients to transition out of the program at a pace that works with their needs.

Whitman-Walker Health
1701 14^th St NW
Washington, DC 20009

Whitman-Walker Health Cost: Dependent on insurance. Reach Whitman-Walker Health by phone at (585) 723-7736 or by email. Find Whitman-Walker Health on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Instagram

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