top of page
Search

How to Choose a Trustworthy Treatment Program in California

A step-by-step guide to verifying a program’s legitimacy using real California and federal resources.



Why Trust Matters


Finding treatment should feel safe, not stressful, but the truth is that fraudulent and misleading programs do exist in the treatment field. This can make it hard to know which programs are trustworthy or how to begin the search with confidence.


Fortunately, California offers clear public tools, licensing systems, and consumer protections that make it easier to verify whether a program is legitimate. This guide outlines simple steps, backed by state and federal resources, to help you make informed, empowered decisions.



Understand How Licensed Programs Are Regulated in California


California regulates substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health treatment programs through the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). Any program offering core treatment services MUST be licensed or certified by the state.


According to DHCS:

“Licensure is required when one or more of the following services is provided: detoxification, individual sessions, group sessions, educational sessions, or alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment planning…” 

DHCS alone is responsible for monitoring outpatient SUD programs:

“The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has the sole authority to certify and monitor all outpatient alcohol or other drug programs…” 

Licensed vs. Certified: What’s the Difference?

  • Licensed programs are legally approved to operate and provide treatment services.

  • Certified programs voluntarily meet additional state quality standards beyond the basic legal requirements.

Both can be verified publicly.


How to Verify Recovery Is A Beach

To confirm our program’s licensure, use the State of California’s DHCS directory.



  1. Enter “Recovery Is A Beach, LLC” into the Legal_Entity_Name field.

  2. You will see our listing with the matching address: 1317 Del Norte Road, Suite #200, Camarillo, CA 93010

  3. Confirming our active status with the state.


Verify Clinician Credentials


Outpatient treatment should always be delivered by licensed mental health professionals. In California, common licenses include LMFT, LCSW, LPCC, and their associate-level equivalents. These licenses are regulated by the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS).


To verify the licenses of our mental health professionals, you can use the California Board of Behavioral Sciences’ public lookup system.



  1. Enter a clinician’s first and last name or License Number into the DCA License Search

  2. View their official license status, credential type, and any public disciplinary history. This ensures full transparency and allows you to confirm that our clinicians are qualified, licensed, and in good standing with the state.


Red Flags on Treatment Websites

  • Staff listed without last names

  • Vague titles like “coach,” “mentor,” or “specialist” used in place of clinical roles

  • No BBS-licensed clinicians listed at all


Watch for Ethical Practices in Marketing and Admissions


Ethical marketing is one of the clearest indicators of a trustworthy program. Misleading advertising, pressure tactics, and financial incentives are strong signs of unethical behavior.


Good Signs

  • Clear, accurate descriptions of services

  • Staff listed by name with verifiable credentials

  • A real local address and direct contact information

  • Calm, honest communication

  • No pressure to enroll quickly

  • No “guaranteed results” or miracle claims


These behaviors align with NAATP’s ethics standards:

“Members must not engage in false, deceptive, or misleading statements, advertising, or marketing practices.” 

Red Flags

  • Free gifts, travel, or incentives to enroll

  • Ads that mimic another facility

  • Admissions lines that refuse to say the program’s name

  • Being redirected to a different center than the one you called

  • High-pressure language (“Act now, spots are limited!”)

  • Claims that recovery is quick or guaranteed


The Federal Trade Commission documented one such deceptive tactic:

Mercury Marketing “impersonated substance use disorder treatment clinics in Google search ads to deceptively route consumers trying to call those clinics to defendant clinics.” 


Verify Insurance Participation and Billing Transparency


Insurance behavior is one of the clearest indicators of a treatment program’s integrity. Ethical programs explain benefits clearly, support you in verifying your coverage, and only bill for services that were actually provided.


According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), fraudulent billing includes:

“Billing for services or supplies that were not provided.” 

CMS also emphasizes the importance of reviewing coverage information directly with your plan. While the booklet does not include a verbatim “check with your health plan to verify whether a provider is in-network,” CMS consistently instructs beneficiaries to review their coverage information and confirm billing details through their plan.


Good Signs

Trustworthy programs communicate openly about your insurance and what costs you may be responsible for.

You should see:

  • Clear explanations of what your insurance may or may not cover

  • Written information about expected costs, copays, deductibles

  • Encouragement to review your benefits directly with your insurer

  • Billing that matches the actual services you received

  • Transparency if a program is out-of-network

  • No promises of “full coverage” or “guaranteed approval”


Red Flags

Billing fraud is one of the most commonly reported issues in the treatment field.

Warning signs include:

  • Refusing to tell you whether they are in-network

  • Statements like “don’t worry, you’re covered” without details

  • Discouraging you from calling your insurance company

  • Billing your insurance for services you didn’t receive

  • Excessive or clinically unnecessary drug testing

  • Surprise bills after admission


Why This Matters

A legitimate program will always:

  • Help you understand financial expectations

  • Put costs in writing

  • Support you in reviewing your benefits

  • Match billing to the care they actually provided


If a program cannot explain insurance clearly, avoids financial questions, or pressures you to enroll before verifying benefits, that’s a strong signal to pause and reassess.



Moving Forward with Confidence


California agencies routinely investigate programs for misleading advertising, improper billing, or unlicensed care, which is why these verification steps matter so much.


You deserve clear, safe, and trustworthy care while seeking treatment. With the tools and resources available, you can evaluate any program confidently and protect yourself or your loved one from unethical practices.


Reliable programs offer:

  • Transparent communication

  • Licensed clinicians

  • Accurate marketing

  • Honest billing

  • Pressure-free admissions


With the right information, you can make a choice grounded in clarity and confidence.


 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page