What to Expect at The Ranch Pennsylvania

Now that you’ve decided to begin treatment at The Ranch Pennsylvania, it’s time to prepare for your stay. Knowing what to bring, what to leave behind and what to expect at the facility can help you feel more comfortable and prepared as treatment begins.

What to Bring

Please bring no more than two suitcases due to limited storage. Pack comfortable, practical items that will support you throughout your stay.

Documentation

• Picture ID
• Insurance card
• Prescription or pharmacy benefits card

It is particularly important to bring your prescription insurance card so the facility can coordinate pharmacy needs during treatment.

Financial Items

Avoid bringing large amounts of cash. Prepaid debit cards, such as prepaid Visa or American Express cards, are preferred.

It may also be helpful to notify your financial institution that you will be away from home.

Medications and Medical Devices

Your care team will review your medications when you arrive. Bring:

• A complete list of all current medications, including supplements and over-the-counter medications
• All active prescription medications in their original, labeled prescription bottles
• Your prescription insurance card
• A CPAP machine, if applicable

Do not leave active prescriptions at home. Medications brought to the facility must remain in their original, labeled prescription bottles.

Your treatment providers will determine which medications are appropriate to continue during treatment. Medications that are not ordered during your stay will be securely stored and returned to you at discharge.

Clothing

Dress comfortably and pack approximately:

• Seven comfortable shirts, such as T-shirts
• Two sweatshirts, pullovers or sweaters
• Seven pairs of jeans, slacks or shorts
• Seven pairs of yoga pants or sweatpants
• Seven pairs of socks
• Seven to 10 pairs of underwear or undergarments
• Two sets of sleepwear or robes
• One or two pieces of season-appropriate outerwear
• Two pairs of comfortable shoes, including one pair of tennis shoes and one pair of slip-on shoes, sandals or slides
• One pair of shower shoes

Please leave sheer or revealing clothing, expensive jewelry and other valuable items at home.

Washers and dryers are available for patient use, and basic laundry supplies are provided. Contact the facility before admission if you require a specialized detergent.

Personal Care Items

Keep toiletries and cosmetics in one bag when possible. All products should be alcohol-free and arrive unopened or sealed.

Recommended items include:

• Shampoo and conditioner
• Body wash or soap
• Deodorant
• Body lotion
• Hairbrush or comb
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Alcohol-free mouthwash
• Shaving razors
• Hair dryer, if desired
• Sanitary napkins or tampons, if applicable
• Cosmetics and other items used in your regular personal care routine

Items with cords and sharp grooming items, including razors and tweezers, will be kept in locked storage and signed out by staff when needed.

Do not bring glass containers, personal mirrors, mirrored compacts or products that list alcohol among the first five ingredients. Hair dye and hair-cutting tools are also not permitted.

Tobacco and Nicotine Products

Patients who use nicotine may bring:

• Standard cigarettes in new, unopened original packaging
• Nicotine pouches in new, unopened original packaging
• New, unopened, single-use disposable vapes that do not require charging

Patients who smoke or vape should bring enough products for at least the first 10 days following admission.

A staff member conducts a store run for necessities and tobacco products once per week. Staff cannot purchase tobacco products for patients under age 21.

Other Recommended Items

• A written list of phone numbers for people you may want to call
• Postage stamps, envelopes and mailing addresses
• Photographs of loved ones

Laundry and Linens

Laundry machines are available in the residential cottages, and patients complete their own laundry. Basic laundry supplies are provided.

Personal linens and pillows are not permitted.

What Not to Bring

For safety reasons, do not bring the following items.

Clothing and Footwear

• Clothing or pictures containing references to drugs, alcohol, pornography, political content, discriminatory content or other inappropriate material
• Sheer or revealing clothing
• High-heeled shoes or wedge heels higher than two inches

Staff may require closed-toe, flat shoes for certain activities.

Toiletries and Personal Care Products

• Hair dye or hair-cutting tools
• Nail polish or nail polish remover
• Aerosol products
• Products that list alcohol among the first five ingredients, including alcohol-based mouthwash and hand sanitizer
• Glass bottles or containers
• Personal mirrors
• Mirrored compacts
• Picture frames containing glass

Weapons and Fire Hazards

• Weapons of any kind, including pocketknives
• Candles
• Incense

Tobacco and Related Items

• Refillable vapes
• Vape pods or cartridges
• Opened vaping devices
• Hand-rolled cigarettes
• Cigars
• Cigarette papers
• Refillable lighters

Electronics

Do not bring:

• Computers or laptops
• Kindles or other e-readers
• Music players
• Radios

Personal cell phones, smartwatches and other electronic devices brought for residential treatment will be securely stored for the duration of the stay. Personal computers are also not permitted during residential treatment.

Food and Beverages

Do not bring outside food or beverages of any kind.

Medications

Do not bring:

• Prescription medications that are not in their original, labeled prescription bottles
• Over-the-counter medications or substances that are not in sealed manufacturer packaging

Laundry and Bedding

• Laundry detergent, unless specialized arrangements have been made before admission
• Personal linens
• Personal pillows

Other Items

• Specialized workout equipment, including personal weights

Mail, Packages and Belongings

Friends and family may send patients letters, cards and approved care packages. Appropriate care package items may include:

• Coloring books
• Colored pencils
• Self-help books
• Positive messages
• Cards

Do not send food, candy, cookies or other edible items.

For patients receiving residential treatment, mail and packages should be addressed as follows:

The Ranch Pennsylvania
C/O Patient Name
1166 Hilt Road
Wrightsville, PA 17368

Patients may not place Amazon or other online orders during treatment. Necessary items can be obtained through the facility’s store run or sent by family in an approved care package.

Family members and friends may also drop off necessary belongings during designated times. Contact the facility in advance to confirm when drop-offs are accepted.

A staff member will receive the belongings upon arrival. Belongings drop-off does not include an opportunity to visit the patient.

Phone Use

Personal cell phones are not permitted for use during residential treatment. Residential patients may use facility landline phones during designated phone times between 4:00–5:00 p.m. and 8:00–10:30 p.m. Calls are limited to approximately 10 minutes.

Patients receiving services while staying in facility-associated boarding may have different phone-access policies and may be permitted to keep their phones outside programming hours.

The Facility

The Ranch Pennsylvania is located on a private campus in Wrightsville, Pennsylvania, overlooking the Susquehanna River. The main campus spans approximately 155 acres, providing a rural setting with residential cottages, treatment spaces and indoor and outdoor areas for recreation and experiential therapy.

Rather than housing all patients in one large residential building, The Ranch Pennsylvania uses six cottage-style residences. Housing is separated by gender, and much of the clinical programming is also gender-specific, although some groups and community activities bring patients together.

The Ranch Pennsylvania also uses a separate boarding residence, known as The Manor, for certain patients receiving services outside the traditional residential setting.

Amenities and Activities

Amenities and activities at The Ranch Pennsylvania may include:

• A small onsite fitness center with cardiovascular equipment, free weights and strength-training equipment
• Outdoor basketball
• Volleyball
• Tennis
• Walking and outdoor activities
• High and low ropes courses
• Yoga with a certified instructor
• Art therapy
• Music-based activities
• Sound healing and drumming
• Meditation
• Walking meditation
• Experiential therapy
• Adventure-based activities
• Weekend bonfires and firepit activities
• Karaoke
• Trivia
• Talent shows
• Movie nights

The wooded campus also provides opportunities for outdoor groups, and therapists may occasionally conduct appropriate individual sessions while walking outdoors.

Available amenities and activities depend on the patient’s program, clinical needs and facility schedule.

Food

Residential meals at The Ranch Pennsylvania are prepared by a chef and kitchen staff and served in the campus dining hall. An evening snack is also available in the residential cottages.

Outside food and beverages are not permitted, including food-delivery services such as DoorDash or Uber Eats. Patients with dietary needs should discuss them with the treatment team.

Sleeping Arrangements

Residential Cottages

Patients receiving residential treatment stay in comfortable cottage-style residences separated by gender.

Bedrooms are shared and include full-size beds. The cottages are intended to provide a more residential environment than a traditional hospital-style unit.

The Manor

The Ranch Pennsylvania also operates The Manor, a separate boarding residence.

The Manor contains eight bedrooms. Most rooms accommodate two patients, while some accommodate three and a limited number are single rooms. Single rooms are not guaranteed or reservable. The Manor also includes five bathrooms, two full-size kitchens, smart TVs, an onsite gym and laundry facilities.

A Day in the Life

Daily life at The Ranch Pennsylvania combines structured clinical programming with wellness, recovery and experiential activities.

A patient’s schedule may include process groups, psychoeducation, skills development, individual treatment, recovery meetings and other therapeutic programming. Depending on the program and schedule, patients may also participate in yoga, art therapy, experiential exercises, meditation, outdoor activities or adventure-based treatment.

Meals and scheduled recreation provide additional opportunities for patients to connect with their treatment community.

Types of Therapy

Treatment and recovery programming at The Ranch Pennsylvania may include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Dialectical behavior therapy
• Motivational interviewing
• Trauma-informed treatment
• Traumatic Recovery Empowerment Model programming
• Individual therapy
• Group therapy
• Expressive therapies
• Experiential therapy
• Adventure-based therapy
• Art therapy
• Yoga
• Meditation and walking meditation
• Sound healing and drumming
• High and low ropes activities
• 12-Step-based recovery programming
• SMART Recovery concepts incorporated into the broader curriculum

The Ranch Pennsylvania incorporates 12-Step recovery into its programming, including scheduled AA or NA meetings and other recovery meetings.

Specialized groups may also be available for specific patient populations, including an LGBTQIA+ Pride Group and NAMI-related programming for primary mental health patients.

Family and Support Visits

The Ranch Pennsylvania does not currently offer regular patient visitation.

Family involvement may occur through clinical family sessions rather than standard visitation.

Off-Site Visits

Patients may participate in staff-supervised offsite group activities, typically about once per week. Activities may include:

• Bowling
• Miniature golf
• Hiking
• Experiential visits to gardens, ponds or similar outdoor settings
• Offsite 12-Step meetings

Staff provide transportation for approved recovery meetings and group outings. Participation depends on the patient’s program, clinical appropriateness and facility schedule.

Smoking Policy

Smoking and other permitted nicotine use are limited to designated smoking areas and must occur outside scheduled treatment activities. Patients may bring:

• Standard cigarettes in new, unopened original packaging
• Nicotine pouches in new, unopened original packaging
• New, unopened, single-use disposable vapes

Vapes should not require charging. Patients may not share vaping devices or use them indoors.

Bring enough permitted tobacco or vaping products for at least the first 10 days following admission. A staff member conducts a store run for necessities and tobacco products once per week. Staff cannot purchase tobacco products for patients under age 21.

The Treatment Process

Treatment at The Ranch Pennsylvania is individualized based on each patient’s clinical needs, progress and insurance coverage.

Available services include:

• Medical detox
• Residential substance use treatment
• Residential mental health treatment
• Partial hospitalization
• Intensive outpatient treatment
• Aftercare

Residential treatment averages approximately 21 days, although individual stays may be shorter or longer depending on insurance coverage and clinical recommendations.

Partial hospitalization typically lasts approximately four to six weeks.

Intensive outpatient treatment typically lasts approximately six to eight weeks.

PHP and IOP services are provided through The Ranch Pennsylvania’s outpatient program rather than the traditional residential cottages. PHP may include facility-associated boarding, while IOP may be attended in person or virtually depending on the program.

Medically Assisted Treatment

Medication-assisted treatment, or MAT, combines medication with counseling and behavioral support as part of a comprehensive approach to recovery. For some patients, MAT can help manage withdrawal symptoms or cravings and support continued participation in treatment.

The Ranch Pennsylvania offers MAT when clinically appropriate. Each patient is evaluated individually, and the treatment team determines whether medication-assisted treatment should be included in the patient’s care plan.

Alumni Program

At The Ranch Pennsylvania, we have an alumni program that provides our clients with the support and resources they need to continue in their recovery journey. Our alumni programs are tailored to meet the individual needs of each client. It will provide them with a sense of community to help them stay motivated in their recovery.

Our Staff

The Ranch Pennsylvania’s leadership team includes:

• David Dorschu, Chief Executive Officer
• Dr. Robert Matylewicz, Medical Director
• Dr. Constance Ebong, Psychiatrist
• Amber Joines, MS, LPC, Clinical Director
• Amy Bare, BSN, RN, Director of Nursing

Insurance and Your Obligation During Treatment

Many health insurance plans require out-of-pocket costs in order to access your healthcare benefits. These expenses may include Deductibles, Co-Pays, Coinsurance and Maximum Out-of-Pocket Expenses (collectively, the “Patient Responsibility”).

Your individual Patient Responsibility may vary based on a number of factors including:

• Your individual benefits plan
• Length of stay at the facility
• Type of services received during treatment
• Other services offered at the facility, but not covered by your insurance provider (such as lab tests, non-covered prescriptions, etc.)
• Reasonable boarding fees should you decide to stay with the facility for treatment at outpatient levels of care.

A staff member will review your Patient Responsibility with you at the time of admission or as soon as possible once you are medically stable. They will explain that the deductible is due upon admittance to the facility and the co-insurance amount and out-of-pocket balance will be billed and paid for after treatment once services are complete. On-site financial counselors will again review your financial responsibility during treatment with case managers who can help you navigate FMLA.

It is your responsibility to check with your insurance provider prior to being admitted at The Ranch Pennsylvania to understand your individual benefits plan. Please note that your insurance plan may not be a “participating provider” with The Ranch Pennsylvania. You are responsible for all non-covered and out-of-pocket costs related to your treatment stay.