Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Orange County, California
A Better Life Recovery provides effective dual diagnosis treatment in San Juan Capistrano from a board-certified psychiatrist and licensed, graduate-level clinical staff. We use evidence-based approaches like CBT, DBT, EMDR, and trauma therapy to provide the support you need for lasting recovery.
If you’re struggling with co-occurring mental health and addiction issues, call A Better Life Recovery today to learn more about our dual diagnosis rehab programs in Orange County.
On this page, we’ll guide you through our dual diagnosis treatment program, including the therapies we use, the insurance and admissions processes, and answers to FAQs on treatment.
Our Orange County Dual Diagnosis Treatment Program
Our integrated treatment approach recognizes that struggles with addiction and mental health disorders can influence one another in unique and complex ways.
For this reason, each client entering our comforting dual diagnosis treatment center receives a thorough psychiatric assessment. This evaluation identifies the co-occurring mental health conditions affecting your well-being, including:
- Depression and addiction
- Anxiety and addiction
- PTSD and addiction
- Bipolar disorder and addiction
Understanding the full scope of your challenges helps us to create a specialized treatment plan to address the underlying causes of your issues, not just their symptoms.
Further, A Better Life Recovery’s clinical staff includes licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) and licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs). These graduate-level professionals bring expertise and experience to your holistic, evidence-based care.
With a 1:25 staff-to-client ratio, our dual diagnosis rehab in Orange County makes sure you receive individualized attention throughout your treatment. You’ll work with an assigned therapist and case manager to coordinate your care across every level of care. No two people are alike – so your treatment plan will also reflect your unique combination of diagnoses, symptoms, life circumstances, and goals for recovery.
With 24/7 support in residential treatment to step-down outpatient care, the team is always available to help you manage difficult emotions or cope with cravings.
Medication Management For Dual Diagnosis Recovery
Many people with co-occurring disorders sometimes benefit from psychiatric medications as part of their treatment.2 Our psychiatrist will carefully evaluate whether medications could support your recovery.
Ongoing medication management involves regular monitoring and dose adjustments based on your response, along with education about how medications work alongside therapy.
Co-Occurring Disorders We Treat in Orange County
A Better Life Recovery’s dual diagnosis treatment center – serving all of Orange County, including Irvine, Santa Ana, Anaheim, and more – offers help for a variety of dual diagnosis issues. These include:
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Difficulties with attention and impulsivity can sometimes also lead to self-medication and substance abuse.
- Anxiety disorders: Generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety can all drive people toward substance use for temporary relief.
- Bipolar disorder: Both bipolar type I (with manic episodes) and bipolar type II (with hypomanic episodes) can make people vulnerable to substance use disorders.
- Depression: Major depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder are commonly known to co-occur with addiction.
- Eating disorders: Conditions like anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder can also frequently co-occur with substance use.
- Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders: Many people dealing with obsessions and compulsions may use drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism.
- Personality disorders: Coping with addiction and conditions like borderline, narcissistic, and other personality disorders often requires professional support for recovery.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related disorders: Trauma and addiction frequently co-occur as people may attempt to numb painful memories.
Why Treating Addiction and Mental Health Simultaneously is Important
Without the proper psychiatric treatment, the untreated depression can drive you back to substance use as a way to cope with emotional pain and unrelenting sadness. The same applies to anxiety and addiction, PTSD and addiction, and just about any other dual diagnosis combination.
Likewise, treating mental health disorders without addressing substance use is usually ineffective. Drug and alcohol abuse can interfere with psychotropic medications and disrupt your brain chemistry, along with getting in the way of your ability to engage in therapy.
Our dual diagnosis rehab provides holistic, integrated treatment where your team works together to address how your struggles interact. This coordinated, integrated approach has been shown to result in much better outcomes than treating either condition alone.4
Evidence-Based Therapies for Dual Diagnosis
Effective co-occurring treatment requires proven approaches for mental health and addiction issues. A Better Life Recovery offers multiple evidence-backed treatments for your specific needs. These include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy: CBT can help you become aware of the thought patterns that drive addiction and mental health symptoms, helping you change them by developing healthier responses to triggers and difficult emotions.
- Dialectical behavioral therapy: DBT teaches you skills for better managing your emotions and outlook, using new tools for distress tolerance and improving your relationships.
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR): EMDR can assist you in processing traumatic memories, reducing the emotional impact of past experiences that can contribute to addiction and dual diagnosis issues.
- Group therapy: Peer support can be an important part of the healing process, and group therapy offers the opportunity to learn from others and gain new perspectives on your challenges.
- Individual therapy: One-on-one sessions with your assigned therapist can give you the space to explore personal issues and process your emotions, along with developing new coping strategies that speak to you.
- Motivational Enhancement Therapy: This modality aims to strengthen your internal motivation for change, exploring aspects of your mental health and substance use to increase your resilience.
- Psychiatric medication management: The ongoing evaluation and adjustment of any medications by our board-certified psychiatrist to optimize symptom relief and support long-term recovery.
- Trauma-focused therapy: This gives you the opportunity to work through the connections between trauma and addiction, helping you process any difficult experiences that may be contributing to your struggle.
Insurance & Admissions
A Better Life Recovery accepts most major insurance plans, making dual diagnosis treatment in Orange County accessible when you need it most. We work in-network with Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, First Health, Humana, HMC HealthWorks, Coventry, ComPsych, MHN/HealthNet, and many more.
We also offer free and confidential insurance verification to help you better understand your benefits before beginning treatment. Simply call us, and our staff will contact your insurance provider to determine your coverage for psychiatric treatment, medication management, and therapy services.
Further, our team will explain what your plan covers and any potential out-of-pocket costs you might face, along with answering any questions about the financial aspects of your care.
Same-day admission is also available for those in need of immediate support for co-occurring treatment. We serve all of Orange County, including Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana, and Mission Viejo.
Begin Your Recovery Journey Today
Are you ready to reclaim your life? Taking the first step is often the hardest, but we make it simple. We offer multiple ways for you to begin your journey. You can:
- Schedule a free, confidential consultation
- Contact our Orange County rehab centre online or through our 24/7 helpline
- Arrange a private tour of the facility
- Verify your insurance coverage for free
Let us support you toward long-lasting recovery. Reach out to us today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dual Diagnosis Treatment at A Better Life Recovery
What Is a Dual Diagnosis?
Dual diagnosis, or co-occurring disorders, means that both a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder are present. The term recognizes that these conditions often develop together and can influence one another in ways that require integrated, professional help.5
For example, you might be using alcohol to cope with untreated anxiety, and the alcohol use may also be making your anxiety symptoms worse over time. You might also start to feel more anxious as a result of recognizing ongoing alcohol misuse.
Many traditional treatment programs only focus on mental health or addiction. But dual diagnosis rehab at A Better Life Recovery provides you with the services and support you need to start the recovery process and maintain it long-term.
How Long Is Dual Diagnosis Treatment?
The length of your dual diagnosis treatment program will depend on your unique and personalized needs. However, most people benefit from 30 to 90 days of residential treatment. This length of time allows them to stabilize their co-occurring issues and develop strong coping skills and a relapse prevention plan for the future.
Remember that co-occurring disorders treatment usually requires more time than addiction treatment alone. Our phased approach at A Better Life Recovery starts with detox and residential care, then transitions to specialized outpatient and aftercare programming. Many clients continue with ongoing treatment for several months after completing inpatient treatment.
Your treatment is always unique, but the goal remains the same – to make sure you get the care and support you need for lasting recovery.
What Medications Are Used in Dual Diagnosis Treatment?
Depending on your dual diagnosis needs, our team will determine what meds might best support your recovery.
For depression and addiction, antidepressants like SSRIs or SNRIs can help to better regulate your mood and reduce depressive symptoms that make it hard to overcome substance abuse. Anxiety and addiction might respond better to specific anxi-anxiety medications, with our prescribing psychiatrist assessing and tracking your response to avoid any concerns about dependency.
Mood stabilizers, meanwhile, can be effective for treating bipolar disorder and co-occurring addiction issues, helping to manage manic and depressive episodes that might be triggering your substance abuse.
We also offer several methods of medication-assisted treatment (MAT), which are FDA-approved medications to assist with alcohol and opioid use.6
Our psychiatrist works closely alongside you throughout your treatment, making adjustments as necessary. Medications always work best when paired with therapy, which is why our program provides comprehensive treatment at every level of care to support your efforts.
Can I Receive Co-Occuring Treatment if I’m Already Taking Medication?
Definitely. Some people entering our treatment center might already be taking psychiatric medications prescribed by a community-based professional. Our psychiatrist will review your current med regime during your initial assessment, ensuring your medications are appropriate for your diagnoses.
Bring a complete list of all medications you’re currently taking, including the dosages, to your intake appointment. This will help our team provide you with the best, safest treatment as you begin the recovery process.
References
- SAMHSA. (2024). Co-Occurring disorders and other health conditions. Samhsa.gov. https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/treatment/co-occurring-disorders
- Iqbal, M. N., Levin, C. J., & Levin, F. R. (2019). Treatment for Substance Use Disorder With Co-Occurring Mental Illness. FOCUS, 17(2), 88–97. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.20180042
- DiClemente, C. C., & Crisafulli, M. A. (2022). Relapse on the Road to Recovery: Learning the Lessons of Failure on the Way to Successful Behavior Change. Journal of Health Service Psychology, 48(2), 59–68. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42843-022-00058-5
- SAMHSA. (2009). Building Your Program Integrated Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders. https://library.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/ebp-kit-building-your-program-10112019.pdf
- Cleveland Clinic. (2023). Dual Diagnosis: Definition & Treatment. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24426-dual-diagnosis
- SAMHSA. (2024). Medications for Substance Use Disorders. Samhsa.gov. https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/treatment/options
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