What Is The Gooden Center in Pasadena?
Updated
The Gooden Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit addiction and mental health treatment organization in Pasadena, California. It has provided residential substance abuse treatment since 1962 and added mental health treatment in 2017. It serves men and women through residential, outpatient, transitional, and sober living programs, and it is in-network with most insurance companies.
What The Gooden Center Treats
The organization runs two main service lines:
- Mental health treatment — comprehensive, client-centered care for men and women in residential settings, covering a range of diagnoses. Care is organized into tracks that step down from inpatient to outpatient to transitional care.
- Substance abuse treatment — residential addiction treatment for men, combined with outpatient and sober living programs. The center describes a recommended 90-day track of service for people with drug addiction.
The center is also licensed to provide sub-acute detox services.
Levels of Care
The Gooden Center structures treatment as a continuum rather than a single program. Based on the organization's own description, the tracks move through:
| Stage | Setting |
|---|---|
| Detox | Sub-acute detox services |
| Residential / inpatient | Home-like residential centers |
| Outpatient | Outpatient programs |
| Transitional | Transitional care and sober living |
Each program is described as distinct and tailored to the individual client. The stated goal is to help people gradually re-enter society through clinical, holistic, and experiential therapies.
Who It Serves
- Men and women, across both the mental health and substance abuse programs.
- People seeking a residential, home-like environment rather than a hospital-style setting.
- Clients who want to continue support after discharge — the center offers therapeutic aftercare at no cost, indefinitely, for both the client and their family.
Cost and Insurance
As a nonprofit, the Gooden Center states that it is committed to accessibility. According to the organization:
- It is an in-network provider and a preferred provider for most insurance companies.
- Self-pay rates average 65% less than for-profit facilities.
- Aftercare is offered at no cost, forever, to clients and their families.
The site provides a "Verify Now" option to check insurance coverage. Specific pricing, payment plans, and admission requirements are not listed on the page, so those details would need to be confirmed directly with the center.
History and Mission
The Gooden Center has been providing substance abuse treatment since 1962 and describes a 60-year history of treatment quality and relationships. Its mental health facilities were established in 2017 using the same residential model. As a nonprofit, it accepts donations to support its work.
When The Gooden Center May Be a Fit
The Gooden Center may be worth considering if you are:
- Looking for a nonprofit addiction or mental health treatment provider in the Pasadena area.
- Seeking a residential setting with a step-down path to outpatient and transitional care.
- Interested in a program that includes detox, sober living, and long-term aftercare.
- Wanting to use insurance rather than pay entirely out of pocket.
Because program details, availability, and coverage vary by situation, the practical next step is to contact the center directly or use its insurance verification option to confirm what applies to you.