Referring a Client to Highlands in Bloom
Highlands in Bloom is a licensed residential treatment center in Agoura Hills, California providing individualized residential treatment for high-functioning adults navigating mental health disorders, autoimmune conditions, chronic stress, trauma, and burnout. Our clinical program is developed and overseen by Clinical Program Director Stacy McNeal, PhD, LMFT and Medical Director and Psychiatrist Dr. Todd Hill.
We are certified by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS Certification: MHBT250527), licensed by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS License: #195850591), and accredited by The Joint Commission (HCO ID 738662). We are in-network with Blue Shield of California and Aetna and accept most major PPO plans.
This page is designed to give referring clinicians, case managers, therapists, physicians, and discharge planners everything they need to make a confident referral and support their clients through the transition into residential care.
Who We Serve
Highlands in Bloom is designed for high-functioning adults whose mental health and physical health presentations have become impossible to separate and whose outpatient care has not produced lasting results. Our clients are most commonly professionals, executives, caregivers, and working adults managing one or more of the following:
Mental Health Disorders
Anxiety disorders and high-functioning anxiety, depression and major depressive disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and complex trauma, bipolar disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Autoimmune Conditions
Lupus, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Graves’ disease, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, Type 1 diabetes, psoriasis, celiac disease, vitiligo, and autoimmune hepatitis, particularly where autoimmune disease activity is entangled with psychological stress, unresolved trauma, nervous system dysregulation, or burnout.
Burnout and Chronic Stress
High-functioning adults whose sustained chronic stress, occupational burnout, or caregiver burden has produced physiological and psychological depletion that requires the clinical intensity and protected time of residential treatment.
When Residential Level of Care Is Appropriate
The residential level of care at Highlands in Bloom is appropriate when:
- A client has been in outpatient therapy for an extended period without achieving or sustaining meaningful clinical improvement
- A client’s psychiatric presentation is complicated by autoimmune disease, chronic illness, or significant physical health burden
- A client’s daily functioning and safety cannot be adequately supported at an outpatient level of care
- A client requires the structure, clinical intensity, and daily therapeutic contact that residential treatment provides
- A client has been discharged from a higher level of care including acute inpatient or partial hospitalization and requires a structured step-down with continued clinical support
When Highlands in Bloom Is Not Appropriate
Highlands in Bloom is not appropriate for clients requiring acute medical hospitalization, active suicidal crisis requiring inpatient psychiatric stabilization, or alcohol or substance detoxification. Our admissions team conducts a complimentary clinical assessment for every prospective referral and will advise on the appropriateness of our level of care for each individual presentation.
How to Refer a Client to Highlands in Bloom
- Contact Admissions. Call our admissions team directly at (805) 892-6313 or submit a referral inquiry through our contact page. Please provide a brief clinical overview of the client’s presenting concerns, current level of care, and any relevant medical or psychiatric history that will help us assess clinical fit. All referral communications are handled with strict confidentiality.
- Complimentary Clinical Assessment. Our admissions team conducts a complimentary, confidential clinical assessment with the prospective client, either by phone or video. This assessment evaluates clinical fit, determines whether the residential level of care is appropriate, and begins the individualized treatment planning process. We are happy to speak with the referring clinician directly as part of this process and welcome collateral clinical information where the client provides consent.
- Insurance Verification. Our admissions team conducts complimentary insurance verification and communicates directly with the client’s insurance provider to confirm benefits, clarify out-of-pocket costs, and obtain authorization where required. We keep the referring clinician informed throughout the insurance verification process if requested. Highlands in Bloom is in-network with Blue Shield of California and Aetna and accepts most major PPO plans.
- Admission and Clinical Coordination. Upon admission, we welcome coordination with the referring clinician to ensure continuity of care. Referring therapists and psychiatrists are encouraged to maintain contact with their client throughout the residential stay where clinically appropriate and where the client consents. We provide discharge summaries to referring clinicians upon request to support seamless transition back to outpatient care following discharge.
What to Tell Your Client About Highlands in Bloom
When preparing a client for a residential treatment referral, the following points are most helpful in addressing common concerns and building a clear and honest picture of what to expect.
What it is. Highlands in Bloom is a small, licensed residential treatment center in the hills of Agoura Hills, California. It is not a hospital, not a rehabilitation facility, and not a wellness retreat. It is a clinically structured residential program with a maximum of six clients at any time, providing a level of individualized clinical attention that is rarely available in larger residential programs.
What daily life looks like. Clients live on-site for a typical stay of 30 to 90 days depending on clinical need and insurance authorization. The daily schedule combines individual therapy, group clinical programming, evidence-based modalities including EMDR and DBT, integrative practices including trauma-informed yoga, sound healing, meditation, and cold plunge hydrotherapy, whole-food anti-inflammatory meals prepared by a full-time onsite chef, and dedicated daily time for reflection, movement, and restoration in a natural setting with hiking trails, a pool, and an onsite garden.
Who they will be working with. Every client works directly with Clinical Program Director Stacy McNeal, PhD, LMFT and Medical Director and Psychiatrist Dr. Todd Hill, who provide clinical and psychiatric oversight throughout the stay. Individual therapy is conducted by licensed therapists who work in close coordination with the senior clinical team.
What makes it different. Most residential programs treat mental health or physical health. Highlands in Bloom specifically treats their intersection. For clients managing autoimmune conditions alongside mental health disorders, our program addresses both the physiological and psychological dimensions simultaneously rather than treating them as separate concerns. The small six-client capacity, the whole-person clinical approach, and the natural Agoura Hills setting create a residential experience that is genuinely distinct from institutional or large-scale residential programs.
What to expect at discharge. Every client leaves with a comprehensive discharge and aftercare plan developed in collaboration with the clinical team, including recommended level of care, outpatient therapist and psychiatrist referrals, medication management guidance where applicable, and follow-up scheduling support. Clients return to outpatient care better equipped, more clinically informed, and with a clear plan for sustaining their recovery.
Insurance and Coverage Information for Referring Clinicians
Highlands in Bloom is in-network with Blue Shield of California and Aetna and accepts most major PPO insurance plans. We also work with many clients whose coverage includes Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Multiplan, and Uprise Health.
Most Useful Information to Share With Your Client Before the Referral Call
- Their insurance carrier and member ID number
- Their primary care physician information if applicable
- Any current psychiatric medications and prescribing information
- Any prior authorization history for behavioral health residential treatment
Our admissions team handles all insurance verification and pre-authorization communication directly with the insurance provider and will give both the client and referring clinician a clear picture of expected coverage and out-of-pocket costs before any admission decisions are made. Insurance verification is complimentary and carries no obligation.
Verify insurance now or call admissions directly at (805) 892-6313.
Clinical Overview for Referring Professionals
Licensure and Accreditation
- California Department of Social Services Residential Facility License: #195850591
- California Department of Health Care Services Mental Health Certification: MHBT250527
- The Joint Commission Healthcare Organization Accreditation: HCO ID 738662
Clinical Leadership
- Stacy McNeal, PhD, LMFT — Clinical Program Director, LMFT License #138320
- Dr. Todd Hill — Medical Director and Psychiatrist
Level of Care
Licensed Residential Treatment Center (RTC), California
Capacity
Maximum six residential clients
Typical Length of Stay
30 to 90 days, determined by clinical need and insurance authorization
Clinical Programming
Psychiatric Care, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Psychodynamic Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Family Therapy, Group Therapy, and Psychological Evaluation. [Full details — link to /how-we-treat/clinical-programming/]
Integrative Modalities
Dedicated daily one-hour modality block including far infrared sauna, BEMER PEMF therapy, red light therapy, cold plunge hydrotherapy, hot tub hydrotherapy, and vibration plate therapy. Program-integrated modalities including trauma-informed yoga, sound healing, somatic movement, meditation, EFT tapping, energy healing, aromatherapy, music therapy, life coaching, and educational sessions. Full details.
Nutritional Program
Full-time onsite chef, whole-food anti-inflammatory meals, daily therapeutic smoothie, fermented foods prepared in-house, medicinal herbal tea, nutritional counseling, and meal preparation education. Full details.
Insurance
In-network: Blue Shield of California, Aetna. Most major PPO plans accepted.
Populations Served
High-functioning adults managing mental health disorders, autoimmune conditions, chronic stress, trauma, and burnout. Not appropriate for active detoxification, acute inpatient psychiatric stabilization, or clients requiring 24-hour medical supervision.
Discharge Planning
Comprehensive discharge and aftercare plan provided at discharge. Discharge summaries available to referring clinicians with client consent.
Contact Admissions
Our admissions team is available seven days a week for clinician referral inquiries. We respond to all professional referral contacts within one business day and are happy to schedule a call to discuss a specific client’s clinical profile before initiating the formal referral process.
Phone: (805) 892-6313
Contact Form: highlandsinbloom.com/contact
Email: Available through the contact form
For clinicians interested in touring the facility, quarterly Healing Tour and Wellness Sessions take place in August, November, February, and May. In-person and virtual facility tours are also available by appointment through the admissions team.
We welcome ongoing professional relationships with referring clinicians and are committed to transparent clinical communication, timely discharge planning, and seamless coordination with outpatient treatment teams to support the best possible outcomes for every client.
Frequently Asked Questions from Referring Clinicians
How do I make a referral to Highlands in Bloom?
Call our admissions team directly at (805) 892-6313 or submit an inquiry through our contact page. A clinically trained admissions team member will respond within one business day to discuss the client’s clinical profile, determine fit, and guide the next steps. We welcome direct clinician-to-clinician conversations as part of the referral process.
Can I share clinical information about my client with the admissions team?
Does Highlands in Bloom accept clients from outside California?
What happens to my client's outpatient care during their residential stay?
Does Highlands in Bloom provide discharge summaries to referring clinicians?
How long is the typical stay at Highlands in Bloom?
The typical length of stay is 30 to 90 days, determined by individual clinical need and insurance authorization. Our clinical team conducts regular treatment plan reviews and communicates with insurance providers throughout the stay regarding medical necessity and authorization.
Is Highlands in Bloom appropriate for clients with both mental health and medical conditions?
What insurance does Highlands in Bloom accept?
Highlands in Bloom is in-network with Blue Shield of California and Aetna and accepts most major PPO plans. Our admissions team conducts complimentary insurance verification and communicates directly with the client’s insurance provider to confirm benefits and obtain authorization. Verify insurance or call (805) 892-6313.
Can I tour the Highlands in Bloom facility before referring clients?
Yes. In-person and virtual facility tours are available by appointment through the admissions team. Quarterly Healing Tour and Wellness Sessions also take place in August, November, February, and May and provide an immersive experience of the facility and clinical philosophy for prospective referring professionals and community members. Learn more about tours.
Ready to Make a Referral?
Our admissions team is available seven days a week to support referring clinicians through every step of the referral process. Call us at (805) 892-6313 or complete the referral inquiry form and we will respond within one business day.
We are in-network with Blue Shield of California and Aetna and accept most major PPO plans.
Request a Referral Consultation | Verify Insurance | Tour Our Facility | Meet Our Team