First Step Counseling and Medical

How we research treatment facilities

Across the site, our team has conducted over 1,000 pre-admissions calls to better understand the patient experience, interviewed facility clinical leaders, performed facility background checks, and compared our information against trusted public data sources.

Our research process begins with data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), accrediting bodies including The Joint Commission and CARF, government licensing agencies, and other trusted sources. From there, our team conducts significant original research, including:

- Pre-admissions calls: We speak with admissions staff to get a candid picture of patient experience.

- Background checks: We review complaints from past clients, media reports, actions taken by accrediting bodies, and positive recognition from notable organizations.

- Clinical interviews: We have in-depth conversations with clinical leadership, often lasting up to one hour, that give us a better understanding of clinical care.

- Data partnerships: We ingest and analyze exclusive data that provides information about in-network insurance status, cost, and more.

Research varies by facility. Each facility profile shows which research steps we completed and when each step was last performed. Learn more about our research process and background checks.

How we evaluate treatment facilities

These data help us develop a Trust Score for each facility—a simple letter grade that helps you assess how much confidence to place in a facility based on the information available to us. Trust Score considers accreditation, operating history, notable recognition, and concerns identified during our background check. Our Trust Score is an objective rating that is never influenced by advertiser payment. Learn more about our Trust Score methodology.

Important disclaimer

We cannot guarantee the quality of treatment at any facility. We cannot independently confirm the accuracy of every data point, and some information may become outdated or change over time. A Trust Score is a starting point, not a guarantee of treatment quality or outcomes. Please contact us if you would like to update or correct facility information.