About Southeast Alabama Medical Center – Behavioral Medicine Center
Southeast Health’s Behavioral Health Unit, part of Southeast Alabama Medical Center (SAMC) in Dothan, AL, provides licensed inpatient psychiatric care for adults ages 19 and older. The unit handles adult crisis intervention, stabilization, and ongoing psychiatric treatment, and is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of board-certified psychiatrists, certified psychiatric nurses, a mental health clinical specialist, licensed professional counselors, occupational therapists, and mental health associates.
Programs Offered
- Inpatient Psychiatric Services — individualized program plans addressing mood and anxiety disorders, severe behavioral problems, and intensive psychiatric treatment needs.
- Intensive Treatment Program (ITP) — described by the hospital as the region’s largest hospital-based inpatient program, offering crisis stabilization with medication management, individual and family therapy, insight-oriented group therapy, 24-hour staff presence, and discharge/aftercare planning.
- Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program (MAP) — for adults with depression, bipolar disorder, or severe anxiety disorders, including a dual-recovery track for patients with co-occurring substance use issues. Conditions treated include major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder.
The team follows strict patient confidentiality standards and coordinates closely with referring physicians, including scheduled progress updates and discharge planning, to ease the transition back to outpatient care.
Quick Facts
- County: Houston
- Insurance accepted: Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, TRICARE/military, VA funds, state-funded plans, self-pay
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Southeast Alabama Medical Center’s Behavioral Medicine Center treat adolescents or children?
No. The unit’s programs — Inpatient Psychiatric Services, the Intensive Treatment Program, and the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program — are designed for adults age 19 and older. It does not operate an adolescent or pediatric psychiatric program.
What’s the difference between the Intensive Treatment Program (ITP) and the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program (MAP)?
The ITP is built for patients in acute crisis who need immediate psychiatric care in a safe and secure environment, with care that includes crisis stabilization, medication management, and 24-hour staff presence. The MAP is geared toward adults managing depression, bipolar disorder, or extreme anxiety disorders, often alongside a co-occurring substance use issue, and includes a dual-recovery track. In short: ITP is for acute crisis stabilization, MAP is for ongoing mood and anxiety treatment, including dual diagnosis.
Do I need a doctor’s referral to be admitted?
Not necessarily. Patients and families can call the Behavioral Health intake line directly to schedule an assessment. Physicians can also refer patients through Southeast Health’s centralized scheduling team or the 24/7 Physician Link line for hospital admissions and transfers. Either way, admission depends on a clinical assessment confirming the person has an intensive psychiatric condition that requires inpatient-level care.
What conditions does the unit treat?
The program addresses major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder, as well as broader crisis-level psychiatric conditions and co-occurring substance use disorders.
Does the facility offer dual diagnosis (co-occurring disorder) treatment?
Yes. The Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program specifically includes a dual recovery program for patients managing a mental health condition alongside substance use.
What insurance does Southeast Alabama Medical Center’s Behavioral Medicine Center accept?
The unit accepts Medicaid, Medicare, TRICARE/military insurance, VA funds, state-financed insurance plans, and most major private health insurance. Pre-admission verification and rates are available upon request, and private-pay arrangements are also available for self-pay patients.
How do I contact the Behavioral Health unit directly?
Call 334-793-8858 or the toll-free referral and consult line at 1-855-846-8253. The unit is located at 1108 Ross Clark Circle, Dothan, AL 36301, on the SAMC/Southeast Health campus.
Does the program help with discharge and aftercare planning?
Yes. Discharge planning and aftercare are built into the treatment plan, and the team coordinates with referring physicians on progress updates so patients have continuity of care after leaving the unit.
Information above is sourced from Southeast Health’s official Behavioral Health program page and Southeast Health’s provider referral resources. Bed count, staffing ratios, and admission criteria can change — please call the facility directly at 334-793-8858 to confirm current details before making care decisions.
