First Step House - Central City Residential

Residential Setting in Central Salt Lake City

Located in the heart of Salt Lake City, First Step House – Central City Residential provides 24-hour care for adult men with substance use disorders. The facility offers dorm-style housing, shared common areas, and daily meals. New residents spend their first two weeks in an Orientation Unit, where clinicians assess needs while clients stabilize and adjust. Family and visitors are welcome during the stay.

Evidence-Based Therapies and Medications

Treatment incorporates individual and group counseling with approaches such as motivational interviewing, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), moral reconation therapy (MRT), relapse prevention, and trauma-focused counseling. Clients also participate in addiction education and life-skills classes. Medications for addiction treatment, including extended-release injectable naltrexone, are available alongside mental health medications, nicotine replacement, and medical care such as hepatitis treatment and vaccinations.

Services that Address Real-Life Barriers

Care extends beyond therapy to include case management, peer mentoring, and vocational training that help clients prepare for employment and education. Housing support, recovery residence connections, and assistance with social services provide stability. Transportation assistance further reduces barriers to care, while family and couples counseling strengthens support systems during recovery.

Long-Term Recovery and Community Support

Clients receive individualized discharge planning with links to aftercare, recovery housing, and employment opportunities. Education on naloxone use, outcome follow-ups, and ongoing peer support reinforce long-term recovery. As a research-based provider, First Step House combines treatment with housing and employment services to help men regain stability and independence.

Client Reviews

Clients share a mix of experiences here. Many describe caring staff and programs that supported meaningful recovery, while others point to concerns with communication.

• Treatment Quality & Outcomes (75% positive): Several reviewers say the program changed their lives, helping them learn about addiction and apply new tools for long-term sobriety. "This place literally saved my life."
• Staff & Care Experience (65% positive): Many highlight supportive and dedicated staff, especially therapists and program leaders, though some describe inconsistent interactions. "The staff is great here and the therapists are the best."
• Support & Community: Alumni and families note strong peer support and family reconnection, including positive outcomes for veterans. "This place has been great for me and for reconnecting with my family."
• Access & Process: A few clients reported challenges with communication, which at times affected access to resources.