Admissions
Admissions Process at Healing Sands in Palm Springs, CA
The admissions process is built to remove uncertainty about what happens next. Our team walks you through intake screening, clinical assessment, and treatment planning so the path from your first conversation to actual care is clear from the start.
You don't need to know which level of care is right before you call. We'll help determine the appropriate next step based on your needs.
The process
From the first call to the first day.
Getting started follows four steps. Each one helps make sure you enter the right level of care from day one rather than being placed somewhere that doesn't fit your needs.
01
Initial Call & Intake Screening
The process starts with a private phone call about substance use, current withdrawal symptoms, and general health. This initial screening helps determine whether Healing Sands may be the right fit before you travel or commit to treatment.
If a higher level of medical care appears necessary, we'll help point you toward an appropriate resource.
02
Health & Substance Use Assessment
A more detailed assessment reviews substance use patterns, withdrawal risk, health history, and co-occurring concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, or grief.
This information helps determine whether detox, residential treatment, or another level of care should come first.
03
Insurance & Financial Guidance
Our team reviews your insurance benefits and discusses potential out-of-pocket costs before you commit.
Insurance verification is not a guarantee of payment. Deductibles, copays, and non-covered services are explained as clearly as possible before admission.
04
Individualized Treatment Planning & Admission
Using everything gathered during screening and assessment, the team develops an individualized plan covering the appropriate level of care and therapeutic focus.
Once the plan and admission paperwork are complete, care begins with stabilization and treatment.
You'll speak with a real person before making any decisions.
ADMISSION CRITERIA
Finding the right level of care starts here.
Eligibility depends on the level of support a person needs. That decision is made during intake screening and the clinical assessment rather than before we've understood the full situation.
Detox & Withdrawal Support
For adults experiencing alcohol or substance use who may face withdrawal symptoms and need a structured, medically supervised setting to stabilize before continuing treatment.
Residential Treatment
For adults who need a structured, 24-hour recovery environment because of substance use, repeated relapse, emotional instability, or difficulty functioning in daily life.
This can include clients experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, or emotional dysregulation alongside substance use.
Outpatient & Step-Down Care
For adults transitioning from detox or residential treatment who still need structured support, or those stable enough to live at home while participating in therapy and recovery services.
This level can also provide renewed structure following a recent relapse.
MAT-Friendly
Being on Medication-Assisted Treatment does not automatically prevent admission. If a client is otherwise a clinical fit and can be safely supported within our scope of care, MAT is not a barrier to treatment.
When Higher Care Is Needed
Some people need more medical or psychiatric support than our residential setting can safely provide.
When that happens, we'll recommend an appropriate hospital, emergency department, crisis service, or medical provider instead of admitting someone whose needs require a higher level of care.
FOR FAMILY & FRIENDS
If you're calling for someone you care about.
By the time someone calls on behalf of a spouse, adult child, sibling, or friend, the family may already have been through repeated relapses, difficult conversations, or the financial and legal consequences of substance use.
That's expected. You don't need to have everything figured out before you call.
What We Can Help With
On the first call, our team can help you:
- Understand which level of care may fit what you’re seeing
- Talk through how to approach the conversation about treatment
- Understand options if your loved one isn’t ready yet
- Ask questions about admission, insurance, and next steps
- Prepare for what the treatment process may involve
Why Families Choose Healing Sands
Healing Sands maintains a small **six-bed residential setting**, allowing staff to develop greater familiarity with each client rather than managing dozens of cases at once.
That closer level of contact is one reason families in Palm Springs and beyond may choose a smaller treatment environment.
- Important to Know
We cannot arrange treatment for an adult without their consent. That conversation still needs to happen, but our admissions team can help you understand the options and prepare for it.
BEFORE YOU ARRIVE
Practical details, handled before admission.
Before treatment begins, our admissions team helps clarify the practical details from insurance coverage and availability to transportation and privacy so you know what to expect before making a decision.
01
Understand your benefits before you commit.
Healing Sands works with a variety of insurance plans. Our admissions team can review your specific benefits, explain what portion of treatment may be covered, and discuss potential out-of-pocket costs before you commit.
02
We'll help coordinate the next step.
Same-day admission may be available depending on current bed availability and clinical fit.
Transportation assistance options can also be discussed during your intake call. Because availability and individual needs can change, admissions will give you the most accurate information when you call.
03
What you share stays confidential.
Client information is handled in accordance with HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2, which provides specific federal protections for substance use treatment records.
Testimonials, case details, and client photographs are never shared publicly without written authorization.
- Admissions FAQ
A few common questions.
How long does the admissions process take?
It varies by person. Some clients complete intake screening, assessment, and admission within the same day, depending on bed availability and clinical fit. Others take longer if additional coordination with a medical provider is needed first.
What happens if this program isn't the right fit for me?
If intake screening shows that someone needs a higher level of medical or psychiatric care than our residential program can safely provide, our team will refer them to an appropriate hospital, emergency department, crisis service, or medical provider instead.
Is this program appropriate for someone with both a mental health condition and substance use issues?
Yes. We work with dual diagnosis cases involving substance use alongside conditions such as anxiety, depression, trauma, or grief.
Can I be admitted if I'm on medication-assisted treatment?
Being on Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) does not automatically disqualify someone from admission, as long as the individual is otherwise clinically appropriate for the program.
Is what I share during intake kept confidential?
Yes. Client information is protected under HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2, and nothing is shared publicly without written consent.
- Licensed & Certified
DHCS License & Certification: 330252AP· Expires 06/30/2028
Licensed by the California Department of Health Care Services. Clinician-led admissions, confidential from the first call.
If you're in immediate danger, call 911. For mental-health crisis support, call or text 988.
Every conversation is confidential — protected by HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2.
- request a callback
Tell us a little, and we'll take it from there.