Visitor Information & Guidelines

Visits are a valued component of a patient’s journey when deemed clinically appropriate by their treatment team. The ability to receive visitors, and the setting for such visits, is often linked to a patient’s engagement and progress through the facility’s structured therapeutic levels.

Visits typically occur during weekday afternoons (2 PM – 4 PM) and weekends (12 PM – 3 PM), subject to availability and the patient’s daily therapeutic schedule.

To maintain a focused therapeutic environment, visits are generally intended for immediate family members and explicitly pre-approved close relations. Decisions regarding visitations are made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the clinical team to ensure appropriateness.

To ensure a calm and comfortable atmosphere conducive to meaningful interaction, we typically permit a maximum of two approved visitors per patient during any single visitation period. Exceptions may be considered under special circumstances with prior arrangement.

Dorchester House Psychiatric Facility is located at 48 Norwood Street, Boston, MA 02122. Upon arrival, you will approach our main entrance via the gatehouse. This entrance is staffed by security personnel who will confirm your approved visit. Once cleared, you may proceed to park in the designated visitor area near the main building entrance. Inside, you will check in at the front desk, where you’ll be asked to sign our visitor log. As part of our commitment to safety in this specialized secure facility, you may be required to temporarily secure certain personal items.

Dorchester House is a specialized psychiatric facility requiring a respectful atmosphere. Visitors are expected to conduct themselves with decorum, speak in considerate tones, and fully cooperate with all staff instructions. Any behavior deemed disruptive to the facility order may result in the termination of the visit. Please be aware that common areas are monitored to ensure the ongoing safety and harmonious functioning of our community.

To maintain the security and privacy integral to our work, visitors are requested not to bring large bags, outside food or drink, or any recording or photographic equipment into the facility. Weapons, illicit substances, and non-prescribed medications are strictly prohibited on facility grounds.

All items are subject to thorough inspection by staff upon arrival and require clinical team approval before being given to a patient.

To maintain a safe, secure, and therapeutically focused environment, certain items are strictly restricted for all patients at Dorchester House. This list includes, but is not limited to:

• Any items that could be construed as a weapon or pose a risk of self-injury or harm to others.
• All personal electronic devices with communication or recording capabilities (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, tablets, smartwatches).
• Outside food, beverages, illicit substances, and any non-prescribed medications or supplements (all patient medications are managed and administered by our nursing staff).
• Valuable personal items or excessive amounts of cash.
• Any unapproved written materials,  journals (unless specifically integrated into their therapeutic plan), symbolic objects, or texts deemed counterproductive to the facility’s specific therapeutic objectives or the patient’s individual treatment goals.
• Items that could be used to create unauthorized records or detailed representations of facility operations, other patients, or staff. Stricter controls on possessions and attire are in place on our higher-security floors to meet the specific needs of that environment. A comprehensive list of permitted and prohibited items is provided and discussed in detail during the formal admissions process. Our primary aim is to ensure an environment wholly conducive to recovery and safety.