La Amistad Behavioral Health Services

Pros

• Desiree Fouse saved a life and helped turn around the person's life trajectory through her approach to therapy.
• La Amistad is described as a healing place that saves lives and profoundly impacts those it serves.
• The staff are compassionate, professional, and genuinely care about each person's healing journey.
• The programs are structured yet flexible, balancing therapy, support, and community.
• The facility offers a comforting environment with abundant resources and an active alumni group.
• The food is delicious and the lunch room staff are kind and welcoming.
• The Rise program and the overall staff are incredible, providing a sense of community and meaningful growth.

Cons

• It is the worst institution that exists.
• There are a few staff members who the reviewer didn't feel were suited to work in an adolescent mental health and behavioral center.
• The intake process was quite lengthy, requiring the patient and family to sit for several hours.
• One reviewer stated they were kicked out during a crisis and were not allowed to return.

Review

La Amistad has left a lasting imprint on people in very different ways, sometimes as a life-saving lifeline and other times as a challenging but ultimately transformative chapter. One person recalls arriving as a teenager after years of trauma and meeting a therapist who seemed to see a future for them when they could not see it themselves. Desiree Fouse is singled out for turning around a life trajectory, helping reveal the person who had always been inside but was almost hidden by pain. Ten years later, that patient describes being grateful beyond words for Desiree and for the entire facility that helped them reclaim their life. The sentiment echoes through others who describe La Amistad as a place of healing and hope, where compassionate care and thoughtful guidance can make a real difference.

Across reviews, the staff are repeatedly described as kind, patient, and genuinely invested in each person's healing journey. People feel welcomed from the first day, as if the environment is designed to help them feel safe enough to begin the hard work of recovery. The facility's approach blends structure with flexibility, offering a balanced mix of therapy, support, and community. For many, the following details stand out: attentive therapists, supportive peers, and an atmosphere that manages to be both professional and empathetic. The daily rhythm - managing treatment while staying connected to family and friends - helps many participants feel anchored rather than overwhelmed.

Programs at La Amistad cover a range of settings, including PHP and IOP for adults and a residential adolescent program. Several families describe using the adult PHP/IOP track at two different points (2021 and 2025), noting consistent quality and a sense of progress that helped bring light back during dark periods. In the adolescent residential setting, one writer emphasizes the entire team's dedication, including the nurses, counselors, and program directors, and highlights the opportunity to collaborate with the treatment team to stay informed about their loved one's care. The involvement of family, and the existence of an alumni group, are repeatedly celebrated as vital components that extend support beyond discharge.

The day-to-day reality of life in a residential unit is described with honest specifics. The female unit, nicknamed the Bellas, is described as a large space with a shared bathroom that requires keeping the door slightly cracked for safety. A "check" before entering the bathroom to prevent contraband is part of the routine, and a level system guides activity and accountability. Chores are framed as life skills rather than punishment, with a daily rhythm that includes cleaning duties and regular disinfection. Such routines are presented as pragmatic tools that help residents learn responsibility and self-regulation within a safe, supervised environment. The emphasis on routine, order, and accountability is presented as challenging but ultimately helpful for building resilience and independence.

The value of education and skilled staff inside the facility is repeatedly highlighted. Teachers in the residential program - Ms. Kristen (English), Ms. Theresa (History), Mr. Evan (Math), and Ms. Rachel (Science) - are described as warm, supportive, and effective at creating a comforting learning environment. When students follow classroom rules and stay engaged with their work, these teachers are praised for making an otherwise difficult period feel manageable and even nurturing. The staff's mix of firmness and warmth is a recurring thread, with some reviewers noting that a few individuals may not have seemed suited to adolescent mental health work, yet the overall atmosphere remains characterized by kindness and clear boundaries.

The experience of intake and admissions is a different kind of test for families. One reviewer recounts a lengthy intake process that stretched to four hours of paperwork and conversations with multiple staff members. This illustrates the reality that seeking help can be emotionally exhausting even before treatment begins. Conversely, for many, entering the unit quickly becomes part of a transformative process - the initial discomfort giving way to trust as the patient and their family begin to engage with the treatment team, therapy, and on-site schooling.

Communication and collaboration with families are highlighted as strengths by several reviewers. The presence of a program director (Kathleen Keane) and a knowledgeable physician (Dr. Weiss) as well as dedicated nurses and support staff (including Grace and Wolfgang) is repeatedly noted as a reassuring sign that families are included and informed throughout the care journey. The availability of an alumni network is also celebrated, offering ongoing community and resources after discharge, a sense of continuity that feels vital to long-term recovery.

Not every experience is uniformly positive, and some reviews remind readers that treatment environments are complex and not universally perfect. At least one reviewer describes the experience as the worst institution that exists, underscoring that personal fit with staff, program structure, and the intensity of the environment can vary dramatically from person to person. Another individual recounts a single incident where they were removed from the facility after a moment of crisis, highlighting how intense emotions and boundary enforcement can intersect with safety concerns in a residential setting. These points serve as a reminder that recovery journeys are deeply personal and that what helps one person may feel incompatible or overwhelming to another.

Overall, the collection of testimonials paints La Amistad as a facility capable of profoundly positive impact for many young people and adults dealing with mental health, substance use, and behavioral challenges. For some, the experience is life-saving and transformative, with staff who feel like mentors, teachers who inspire trust, and programs that offer real skills, meaningful community, and ongoing support through alumni networks. For others, it can be demanding and complex, requiring perseverance, tolerance for strict routines, and the right personal fit with staff. Yet the prevailing thread across most accounts is one of gratitude: for care that feels genuine, for opportunities to grow and heal, and for a sense of belonging to a community that walks beside you through some of the hardest days toward a healthier future.

Located in the heart of Maitland, Florida, this area offers convenient access to various amenities essential for senior living. With multiple pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens nearby, accessing medication and healthcare services is made easy. There are also a variety of dining options including The Cheesecake Factory and Hillstone Restaurant for enjoyable meals out. For entertainment, residents can visit Regal Winter Park Village & RPX theater or relax at cafes like The Glass Knife. Medical care is easily accessible with facilities like Central Florida Endocrine and Winter Park Memorial Hospital in close proximity. Additionally, transportation options such as Altamonte Springs SunRail Station provide easy access to explore the surrounding area. Places of worship like Orlando Filipino Seventh-Day Adventist Church offer spiritual support within the community. Overall, this part of Maitland provides a well-rounded and convenient living environment for seniors.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Walgreens (0.8 miles)
• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (2.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.6 miles)
• Walgreens (2.7 miles)
• Walgreens (2.8 miles)

Restaurants

• The Cheesecake Factory (0.7 miles)
• Hillstone Restaurant (1.1 miles)
• Sixty Vines (1.1 miles)
• Briarpatch Restaurant (1.3 miles)
• Kappy's (1.3 miles)
• Prato (1.3 miles)
• McDonald's (1.4 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Winter Park Village & RPX (0.8 miles)
• AMC Altamonte Mall 18 (3.8 miles)

Cafes

• The Glass Knife (1.2 miles)
• Starbucks (3.6 miles)
• Lineage Coffee Roasting (4.1 miles)
• Starbucks (6.1 miles)

Physicians

• Central Florida Endocrine (1.3 miles)
• Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute - Winter Park (2.6 miles)
• RDV Sportsplex Pediatrics (2.7 miles)
• Central Florida Breast Center, PA (2.7 miles)
• Florida Hospital Medical Plaza (2.7 miles)
• Orlando Immunology Center (3.2 miles)
• Altamonte Family Practice (3.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Winter Park Memorial Hospital (2.5 miles)
• FH Engineering Services (2.6 miles)
• Florida Hospital (2.6 miles)
• Florida Hospital- South Campus (2.6 miles)
• Florida Hospital Womens Center (2.7 miles)
• Florida Hospital Ginsburg Tower (2.7 miles)
• Orlando VA Medical Center (3.4 miles)

Parks

• Blue Jacket Park (3 miles)
• Cranes Roost Park (3.9 miles)
• Lake Eola Park (4.8 miles)

Transportation

• Altamonte Springs SunRail Station (3.6 miles)
• Lynx Central Station (4.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Orlando Filipino Seventh-Day Adventist Church (5.6 miles)
• ISCF Masjid Al Rahman (6.2 miles)