In a time when queer folks are often made to decide between affirming care and accessible care, Rainbow Hill Recovery serves as both a lifeline and a lighthouse. Founded by partners Joey Bachrach and Andrew Fox, the LA-based treatment and recovery center is undoubtedly community-first, client-centered, and radically transparent. We took a moment with Joey to talk about the importance of representation, the myths surrounding addiction in our queer communities, and how we can better serve those in our queer family who are struggling.<\/p>\n
How do you define LGBTQ+ affirming care, and how does Rainbow Hill ensure it from start to finish?<\/strong><\/p>\n There\u2019s a huge difference between being friendly and being affirming. A lot of programs will say they \u201cwork well\u201d with the LGBTQ+ community, but in practice, that often falls short. To be truly affirming is to see clients exactly as they are, respecting their pronouns, their identity, and creating space where they can recover openly and without judgment.<\/p>\n At Rainbow Hill, our entire staff is part of the community. Gay, bi, trans, non-binary, you name it. Representation is critical, especially in recovery. Our leadership reflects that, and it shows in our culture. It starts at the top.<\/p>\n Was there a specific moment when you realized there was a gap in LGBTQ+ affirming recovery and treatment services?<\/strong><\/p>\n Absolutely. That became painfully clear when we opened Rainbow Hill Sober Living in 2021. We looked around and realized there were maybe three programs nationwide that exclusively catered to LGBTQ+ individuals. Just three. Sure, there are allies out there doing great work, and we consider many of them friends, but truly community-specific care is still incredibly rare. That was our \u201caha\u201d moment.<\/p>\n How has your personal experience shaped the culture and philosophy of Rainbow Hill?<\/strong><\/p>\n That\u2019s a tough one. I think it comes down to living authentically and being open about our own journeys. My husband Andrew and I are both in recovery, and we wear that proudly. While we\u2019re not 12-step focused, we respect all paths to recovery.<\/p>\n For us, recovery is about planting seeds, watering them, and never taking credit. We give our clients autonomy. They don\u2019t get to dictate their treatment, but they definitely get a say. If someone isn\u2019t connecting with a group, they\u2019re welcome to step out, regulate, and return when ready. We\u2019ve found that this freedom creates a community where people genuinely want to be here.<\/p>\n What are the different levels of care that Rainbow Hill offers?<\/strong><\/p>\n Rainbow Hill offers three distinct levels of care, each tailored to meet clients where they are in their recovery journey. The most intensive level is the Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), which runs five days a week from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM. Clients in PHP participate in five therapeutic groups each day and receive comprehensive support, including regular sessions with a psychiatrist or nurse practitioner, as well as weekly one-on-one therapy with a licensed clinician. This level of care typically lasts between six and twelve weeks, depending on the individual\u2019s needs and insurance authorization.<\/p>\n For those needing a step down in intensity, Rainbow Hill offers an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) with two flexible options: IOP 5, which involves three hours of group therapy five days a week, and IOP 3, which provides the same structure but condensed into three days of the client\u2019s choosing\u2014often Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Both IOP levels include individual therapy sessions with a licensed therapist. Finally, the outpatient program serves as a more flexible, a la carte option for those transitioning back into daily life. Clients can choose between one and three hours of group therapy per week, and by this point, they\u2019re typically paired with an external therapist for ongoing individual support.<\/p>\n How does Rainbow Hill address co-occurring mental health issues and trauma?<\/strong><\/p>\n We\u2019ve hired an incredible team of licensed clinicians who specialize in trauma and dual diagnosis. Our Clinical Director, Janae Borrego, leads trauma-focused groups, and we have separate tracks for mental health and substance use, depending on the client\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n We\u2019re licensed to treat both primary mental health and primary substance use, which isn\u2019t always the case at other facilities. We don\u2019t pretend to know everything, but we do make sure the right experts are in the room.<\/p>\n What does aftercare look like at Rainbow Hill?<\/strong><\/p>\n It starts on day one. Our case manager, Steven, who\u2019s also a counselor, begins discharge planning as soon as someone arrives. Are they going back home? Into sober living? Do they need a support network outside of treatment? We help them build that life.<\/p>\n We also have an Alumni Coordinator who keeps everyone connected post-treatment. They know they can call their clinical team anytime, even if it\u2019s just to say, \u201cI\u2019m struggling.\u201d We want this to be their last stop.<\/p>\n What are the biggest misconceptions about addiction and recovery, especially within the LGBTQ+ community?<\/strong><\/p>\n That it\u2019s a choice. Addiction is no more a choice than being gay or trans is. Nobody chooses to be bullied or cast aside, just like nobody chooses the chaos and harm that comes with addiction.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve hurt people I love. I was a different person. The idea that we\u2019re beyond help, or that we chose this, is a dangerous lie. A former therapist once told me: \u201cThat person you see on the street? They could be the one who saves your child\u2019s life one day.\u201d That really stuck with me. It\u2019s a philosophy we carry at Rainbow Hill.<\/p>\n How is the landscape of LGBTQ+ recovery evolving?<\/strong><\/p>\n There are definitely more options today than even a few years ago. Programs are getting better educated. Some are true allies. Others, well, a rainbow flag on your website doesn\u2019t make you affirming.<\/p>\n There\u2019s still a long way to go, but we\u2019re seeing progress, and that gives me hope.<\/p>\n What\u2019s the biggest challenge Rainbow Hill faces today?<\/strong><\/p>\n Clients come to us after being misled \u2013 promised one thing, delivered something entirely different. Some centers still ask invasive questions like, \u201cWhat surgeries have you had?\u201d That\u2019s unacceptable, especially for someone already in crisis.<\/p>\n Too many providers are in it for the wrong reasons, money over mission. If LGBTQ+ care isn\u2019t your specialty, don\u2019t fake it. Learn first. Then show up with integrity.<\/p>\n How does Rainbow Hill incorporate advocacy into its work?<\/strong><\/p>\n We try to make sobriety look like the joy it can be. That includes humor, community events, and yes, the occasional Smart & Final burrito. We\u2019ve raffled off free treatment at Pride events, and in October, we\u2019re launching a grant-funded program for West Hollywood residents, workers, and unhoused folks to receive two months of free care.<\/p>\n We\u2019re also sex-positive and body-positive. While clients can\u2019t actively engage in sex work during treatment, we prepare them for re-entry if that\u2019s their chosen work.<\/p>\n Transparency is everything. Our office is a literal fishbowl, no curtains, no secrets. Clients see us. We see them. It\u2019s all intentional.<\/p>\n With rising anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, how are you supporting clients who feel that pressure?<\/strong><\/p>\n We\u2019ve created a space where those hard conversations can happen. Many of our clients are trans, and we\u2019ve had people express suicidal ideation directly related to the threat of losing access to gender-affirming care.<\/p>\n We don\u2019t shy away from these topics. We meet people exactly where they are, no filter, no shame. Our job is to hold space, not judge. While we try to stay out of politics as a business, our clients live in that world every day, and we don\u2019t ignore it.<\/p>\n Do you think the current administration is doing enough? What policy changes are needed?<\/strong><\/p>\n Honestly? No. They\u2019re not. Members of our community need access to mental health and substance use services without fearing they\u2019ll lose that care tomorrow.<\/p>\n Technically, we\u2019re not classified as a gender-affirming care provider, but in reality, we absolutely are. We may not perform surgeries, but we affirm and support our clients\u2019 identities every day. We need more protections, period.<\/p>\n On a lighter note, what does <\/strong>joy<\/strong> look like to you, and how do you spread it?<\/strong><\/p>\n We literally have a group called \u201cJoy.\u201d One week it\u2019s dancing, the next it\u2019s screaming \u201cPink Pony Club\u201d at the top of their lungs. For me, joy is living authentically. I\u2019m a proud gay man in a loving marriage. I dyed my hair blue the other day. My mom said, \u201cWell, at least you don\u2019t live under my roof.\u201d And I said, \u201cExactly!\u201d<\/p>\n Joy is not caring what others think. It\u2019s different for everyone. But for me, it\u2019s being unapologetically myself.<\/p>\n What\u2019s one self-care practice you have now that younger you would\u2019ve laughed at?<\/strong><\/p>\n Breathing. Slowing down. Resting. My brain never stops, so I still struggle with it. But the basics are often the most powerful. 15 years ago, I was deep in addiction. I couldn\u2019t have imagined any of this. Younger me needed to buckle up.<\/p>\n What\u2019s next for Rainbow Hill? Any expansion or partnerships on the horizon?<\/strong><\/p>\n We just moved into a larger space in Miracle Mile, so we can now run three groups simultaneously instead of one. That means we can help more people.<\/p>\n We also launched the Rainbow Hill Foundation, our nonprofit arm, to provide financial assistance for treatment and sober living. Eventually, we\u2019d love to expand into smaller-minded cities and states where programs aren\u2019t available.<\/p>\n Check out Rainbow Hill Recovery<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t