Sanford Behavioral Health

08/27/2026

The Sanford Alumni Program is free, ongoing, and built for every path to recovery. Whether you participated in residential, PHP, IOP, or a short-term tuneup, you have a home here.

Weekly meetings are held both virtually and in person, facilitated by Alumni Coordinator Julia Mace, who brings not just professional expertise but lived experience in recovery. Meetings are loosely structured and open to both current clients and alumni, covering real topics like family reintegration, relationships, accountability, holidays, and how to handle the everyday moments that recovery throws your way. And unlike a one-size-fits-all approach, Sanford offers customized alumni programs for substance use, eating disorders, and mental health because your recovery is unique and your support should be too.

This is not just an afterthought. It is one of the many reasons people choose Sanford for treatment.

Ready to learn more or take that first step? Our EZ Admissions team is available 24/7. Call 844.776.9651 ext. 1 anytime. Walk-ins are always welcome.

08/27/2026

JOHN Executive Director Matt VanLiere says, “Speaking from my personal experience, when I went into treatment, I didn’t do it because I wanted to. I did it because I was told to. They said, ‘You do what you need to do, and if you don’t, we’ll do what we need to do.’ Reading between the lines, I knew that if I didn’t step up to the plate, my career was going to come to a grinding halt.” Click the link for our "favorite" excuses Veterans and first responders give to avoid mental health treatment.

At JOHN (Just One Hero Needed), we are used to getting the excuses Veterans and first responders give to avoid treatment.

08/26/2026

World-class, expert eating disorder treatment is right here in our own backyard.

There is something powerful about healing alongside people who share your experience, your community, and your home state. Sanford Behavioral Health is Michigan’s first and only standalone residential eating disorder treatment program, and we built it so that no one in Michigan ever has to travel out of state for the care they deserve again.

Sanford’s Comprehensive Treatment for Eating Disorders (Sanford CTED) program offers a full continuum of specialized care in the Grand Rapids metro area, keeping you close to your support system during every phase of recovery.

We also accept most commercial insurance plans, including Priority Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, and our admissions team can help verify your benefits and understand your coverage, so accessing specialized care closer to home feels a little easier.

Call 844-448-7700 to speak with an admissions specialist. Support is available 24/7.

08/26/2026

The safest and most effective way to manage Vyvanse withdrawal is through a medically supervised detox program. At Sanford Behavioral Health, we help patients detox in a controlled, supportive environment where symptoms can be monitored and managed.

Vyvanse withdrawal symptoms like fatigue, mood swings, and depression can be overwhelming without support. Learn what to expect during Vyvanse withdrawal. Call 616.557.7753 for compassionate help starting your recovery today.

08/25/2026

ASK THE EXPERTS: Have a question about mental health, addiction, eating disorders, or recovery? Ask the experts.

Sanford’s experts are here to help make sense of the questions that can be difficult to ask, and all you have to do is email them in.

Our Ask the Experts series features:

• Dr. Bibhas Singla MD, MBA, CPE, FACHE, FAPA — Medical Director
• Tessa Sterling, LMSW — Clinical Director
• Matthew VanLiere — Executive Director of Operations, J.O.H.N.
• Tracy Rogers, LPC, LMHC, NCC — CEO
• Rebecca Wolfslau, LPC — Senior Director of Strategic Growth & Development
• Rae Green, JD, MA, LPC, CAADC — Founder

Catch up on the latest Ask the Experts: Rae explores why eating disorder symptoms can resurface during addiction recovery—and what that can tell us about the importance of integrated care.

Have a question for one of our experts? Send it our way! Email [email protected] with the subject line ASK THE EXPERTS.

08/22/2026

Side-eye? Maybe. But judgment? Never.
Do not let the look fool you. This one has seen it all and still shows up every single day with zero judgment and maximum comfort.

Therapy dogs at Sanford Behavioral Health are not just cute faces. They lower anxiety, ease stress, and have a way of making even the hardest days feel a little more manageable. Science backs it up. Our clients feel it every time one of them walks into the room.

If you or someone you love is ready to take that next step toward healing, we are here 24/7 at 844.776.9651 ext. 1.