Wellington Retreat, Inc. Wellington Retreat Ripoff, bad medicine, fraud, abusive West Palm Beach, Florida
Before leaving for Wellington Retreat my loved one was desperate and willing to try anything to help their Mental Health situation. They went to two places before but was searching to address Mental Health and not drug rehab. The staff at Wellington explained that they do not focus on drug rehab and focus primarily on Mental Health. They were told they would have access to telephone, Internet, and that it was a luxurious retreat that they would love. They were also promised couples and family counseling. The initial stay was set for 30 days. After not hearing from our loved one for a few days after they arrived we began to get worried. All of our family being involved in the medical and nursing field we began to be worried and could immediately tell that something was not as it should be. We called pretending we were looking for a place to send a loved one away who was nothing but trouble and the staff explained to us that their main goal is to cut off all communication to family and friends from back home and explained to us that their main goal is to have them move to Florida and stay there forever, as part of their "recovery". We were shocked and appalled at the manner of which we could just "throw away" a person and when asked exactly how they get everyone to stay down there forever the response was "well we have everyone from the doctors, nurses, counselors, trainers, even the people that prepare their food tell them that the only way to recover is to stay down here". After our loved one came home we could immediately see a complete change in every aspect of our loved one. They changed the medicines they were on after the first doctor visit, and the medicine was changed again, and again. They had them on many off-label medications that have not shown any benifit over placebo. Our loved one also explained that upon arrival every patient, even voluntary patients, are strip searched, asked to turn around, and spread their buttocks. We were appalled and outraged! We were also informed that this was also used as some sort of punishment. We found out that there are not "men only, women only" houses but that women are allowed to stay at the men's house, and men allowed at the women's houses, it's all about money and how many people they can fit into a house. These houses also have never been inspected although Florida law requires it. Our loved one can not even order a meal at the drive through, pick out an outfit to wear, or make any basic decisions. Every single person that has known our loved one before going to Wellington Retreat has asked what happened to them there because they show every sign of extreme mental abuse. I wish I had a time machine to make sure they never went to this unprofessional, and UNLICENSED facility. We found out that they make you stay there and move into one of their half way houses where you in turn pay them to live there. It is a complete sham and anyone considering going or sending someone there would be better off sending them to a pre-1980s state school for the mentally ill. All the "help" my loved one received was over medication, constant switching and off-label prescribing of medication, drug counseling (which they were told they were not going to receive considering they originally went for mental health) mental abuse and torment. Someone Said that they wouldn't treat a pet like people are treated at this facility and I completely agree. We took our loved one for PROFESIONAL counseling (regular counseling, no fancy specialist) and after a 45 min session they told us that they got more out of that one session than they did over 40 days & nights living at Wellington Retreat. DO NOT SEND YOURSELF OR ANYONE YOU CARE ABOUT THERE!
2 Updates & Rebuttals
A Satisfied and Greatful Mother of an Adolescent
Lake Clarke Shores,Florida,
Wellington Retreat An outstanding place for those in need of help
#3Consumer Comment
Wed, May 29, 2013
I am writing this report for all those people out there that either have a loved one with mental illness or who have addiction problems, as well as for anyone who is personally going through something similar. Wellington Retreat has been a Blessing from God for our family and all those families who are there with our daughter.
I've seen it first-hand. Our daughter was diagnosed with Bi Polar Disorder when she was just 12 years old. Both my husband and i are very committed to helping her become healthy and lead a productive life. Within the last year she has been struggling with her decease which had become so unbearable that she begged us to "let her die in peace" she wanted to be free of this horrible decease that was affecting her mind.
As her parents we were devastated. It was no longer good enough to take her to the therapist, the psychiatrist, family sessions, baker act her when she would try to kill herself, etc. it was a sad and dark circle we couldn't get out of. This little angel that we had been so blessed with, and promised to love and keep her safe for the rest of our lives, was slipping away from us a little more each day.
Dec 2012, with all our Christmas decorations, lights, family, friends and anxious for Christmas morning to give our little angel her gifts, her illness took over again and shortly after Christmas morning she was baker acted and spent New Year's Eve at the hospital, as her dad and i stayed home wondering what we were going to do, how could we get the help she needed while keeping her safe during the treatment. After being released from the hospital my insurance company recommended an outpatient center. Approx. 4 weeks after being there and seeing very little, if any, improvement, she ran away from the center, which no staff followed, they simply called the police to go get her. When they brought her back she punched a concrete wall so hard that they thought her knuckles might have been broken, so back being baker acted again. Now my husband and I were desperate, we had no idea what our next steps could be. The outpatient treatment was not an option again, not only did she not improve there, the place was very uncaring and more worried about the drop off and pick up times.
We began our search and came across "Wellington Retreat". While researching Wellington Retreat, we read these very negative comments, of course it worried us but we are intelligent enough to realize that it sounded like it was coming from 2 ... maybe 3 people, how many more did they treat that perhaps didn't bother to write a review? I decided to call them and that same day they invited me to come see the place. No special time or appointment, why should they? There is nothing to hide there!!! We met the staff even some of the kids there, and were pleased, so we took our daughter there. BEST DECISION WE MADE!
I cannot begin to tell everyone who reads this, what a miracle I've seen this place do, not only for our child but also for all those other children who came there with many issues, from mental illness to anger issues to addiction. They have ALL made incredible turnarounds, every single parent is absolutely delighted with the progress being made. We are not blinded by the miracle, we know that there is much work ahead of us. However, for the first time since my daughters' diagnosis have we began to know, its going to be OK. She is improving every day, and we are all learning every day.
Now about Dr. Moran, he is a mild mannered gentleman, very quiet, who thinks before making any sound. He is observant and very deliberate in his actions and words. He does not go for the latest fad in mental illness, he only follows the proven path. He DOES NOT over medicate, on the contrary, he finds out what is the smallest amount of medicine necessary, if any, to help the patient. Its more about learning how to cope and much, much less about over medicating. I hope that if there are any parents out there that are where we were, you find this useful. No matter what you decide, always do your research but give this place a chance, and please don't believe everything you read, even mine, always check, especially look at places like Wellington that have nothing to hide. No special preparations necessary for you to come take a tour. Dr Moran and every staff at the Wellington Retreat will always be in our prayers so that they may continue to make a difference in this tough field, that often times is so horribly misunderstood. A very grateful mother.
Timothy P. O''Neill
North Palm Beach,Florida,
United States of America
Notice of Lawsuit and Subpoena
#3UPDATE Employee
Thu, October 18, 2012
Please take notice that Wellington Retreat ("WR") and Dr. Robert Moran (MORAN) have initiated an action in the Florida Circuit Court, in and for Palm Beach County entitled WELLINGTON RETREAT V WOLLARD and John Does 1-3; Case No.
502012CA007951XXXXMB due to allegedly false statements made by you (the "Action"). In the Action, WR and MORAN seeks to subpoena the records of Xcentric Ventures LLC for your contact information and any other messages that you have posted on the website Rip Off Report, www.ripoffreport.com, under the pseudonym "Anonymous" or any other pseudonym or name, about WR or MORAN , to the North Palm Beach Office of Cohen Norris at:
Cohen,Norris, Wolmer, Ray,
Telepman & Cohen
712 U.S. Highway 1, Suite 400
North Palm Beach, FL 33408
(561) 844-3600
(561) 842-4104 (Fax)
Email: tpo@fcohenlaw.com
If you do not respond within 3 business days with your true and correct contact information to the address,fax, or email above, we will subpoena the records as outlined above.
You may have a right to file and serve a response to the subpoena anonymously. If you intend to file and serve a response, please do so, or notify us of your intent to do so, on or before October 23, 2012