Depression Treatment
in Orange County, California
Contrary to popular belief, depression is not one simple condition. It is a cluster of related mood disorders that may look similar in symptoms but require distinct treatment plans. This is due to the differences in symptom patterns, severity, and individual life circumstances.
At A Better Life Recovery, located in San Juan Capistrano, we offer comprehensive depression treatment under the expert supervision of on-site board-certified psychiatrists (MDs/DOs). Our facility offers medication management in addition to evidence-based therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
If you suffer from a co-occurring substance use disorder, we also have a dedicated dual diagnosis treatment plan for you. Contact us today for a free depression assessment.
This page explores how our depression treatment services work, by exploring:
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- The types of depression we treat
- How we approach depression treatment
- What dual diagnosis treatment involves
- Who our treatment team consists of
- What to expect in treatment, including the insurance and admissions process
- Answers to frequently asked questions about depression treatment
Types of Depression We Treat
The DSM-5 organizes depressive disorders into the following categories based on the symptoms and their duration, each of which is treated differently.3
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Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
This has five or more of the following symptoms: loss of interest or pleasure, changes in sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, feelings of worthlessness, or recurrent thoughts of death. These must be present for over a two-week period.
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Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)
This causes a chronically depressed mood lasting at least two years in adults. Its symptoms include low energy, poor self-esteem, hopelessness, and difficulty making decisions.
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Bipolar Depression
This is present in both bipolar I and bipolar II disorders. The depressive phase of bipolar disorders is very similar to MDD. In addition, there is a history of manic episodes in bipolar I and hypomanic episodes in bipolar II. If the bipolar pattern is not promptly identified and the depressive phase is treated as MDD, it may worsen the symptoms of mania.
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Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
This is classified as a major depressive episode with seasonal patterns. The episodes get worse during specific times of the year, most commonly in fall and winter, and they remit when the season changes.
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Postpartum Depression
This begins during pregnancy or within six weeks after childbirth. Its symptoms are also similar to MDD, with an additional risk of harm to the newborn baby.
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Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
This is a severe mood disorder related to the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Symptoms resolve shortly after menstruation begins, and the cycle repeats every month.
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Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
This is a diagnosis of childhood with severe temper outbursts and an angry mood between outbursts for at least 12 months.
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Cyclothymic Disorder
This is a chronic mood condition with numerous periods of hypomanic symptoms and depressive symptoms that don’t meet the full criteria for major depressive episodes. They last for at least two years in adults.
In addition to these types, depression may also occur with a concurrent substance use disorder, which is called dual diagnosis.
Our Depression Treatment Approach
Research shows that depression responds well to both medications and structured psychotherapy. Both reduce depressive symptoms, and when combined, often produce much better results.4
On the flip side, depression that’s left untreated tends to deepen over time. It can affect your work, relationships, physical health, and quality of life, and even increase your risk of self-harm.5
Therefore, it must be treated as early as possible.
Here’s what you need to know about our approach to depression treatment.
Psychiatric Care and Medication Management
Every client at our facility gets a comprehensive psychiatric assessment at intake. It is essentially a clinical conversation about:
- Your symptoms
- Mood
- Your sleep patterns
- Any medications you have taken for depression in the past
- Any co-occurring medical conditions you may have
- Concurrent substance use
- Any specific life stressors you may be going through
You will also be evaluated by a board-certified psychiatrist on-site who is experienced in differentiating between similar-looking diagnoses.
There are many pharmacological treatments for depression alongside psychotherapeutic approaches. Therefore, your clinical team will include a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) who will look after your response to medications. If you experience significant side effects, your medication will either be adjusted or changed.
Evidence-Based Therapies for Depression
The types of therapy we offer are validated by decades of clinical research with successful results.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to reduce depressive symptoms and reduce the rate of relapse compared to untreated controls in over a hundred studies.6
Further, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is particularly useful for regulating your emotions in depressive episodes. It increases your threshold to tolerate the distress associated with MDD.
We also offer several mindfulness-based interventions. Examples include mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Research claims that these are as effective as CBT for treating anxiety and depression.7
Additionally, interpersonal therapy may be used to improve the quality of your relationships and communication patterns. We also engage you in meaningful activities through behavioral activation. It reduces anhedonic symptoms among patients with deep depressive states. Anhedonia refers to an inability to feel pleasure.
Therapy Formats
Emerging evidence, however, finds a significant difference in outcomes between individual and group formats. Both are complementary to each other in reducing depressive symptoms.8
A Better Life Recovery integrates both individual and group therapy sessions in our depression treatment programs. You will sit with a therapist privately in individual therapy to talk about your fears and symptoms in a judgment-free zone. You’ll also experience peer support in a group setting that is impossible to get in a one-on-one setting.
There are skills-based recovery groups that give all participants real chances to practice all the coping, emotional regulation, communication, and relapse prevention skills they learn in therapy.
Plus, the family life of some people is heavily compromised during depressive episodes. For these people, we include family therapy sessions so that they can get the support of their loved ones.
Depression and Addiction: Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Why do these conditions overlap so often? It’s because many people use alcohol or drugs in an attempt to ease their depressive symptoms.
Sadly, the short-term relief that these substances provide quickly turns into a cycle of worse depression and a much higher need to return to substance abuse. In fact, untreated depression is one of the strongest predictors of relapse in substance use disorder.11
At A Better Life Recovery, our dual diagnosis program treats both depression and addiction together as a single entity. Dual diagnosis treatment gives you a better chance of long-term stability and improved quality of life than treating one and leaving the other behind.
Our Depression Treatment Team
The strength of our depression program at A Better Life Recovery comes from the people delivering the care.
Our team addresses your depression from every angle: emotional, medical, relational, and behavioral, instead of passing off any experience to a referral down the line.
You will be under a board-certified psychiatrist, either an MD or DO, who will oversee your diagnosis to form your treatment plan. Working alongside them will be a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner for follow-up care.
Psychiatric therapy will be led by licensed clinicians specializing in specific domains, such as licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) who focus on your emotional processing. There are also licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) for family therapy.
We also have certified alcohol and drug counselors (CADCs) on board as part of the dual diagnosis treatment plan. They can help you understand the triggers that lead you towards substances so you can build relapse prevention skills.
Our clinical support, including all of the team members discussed above, is available on-ground 24/7. In addition, the treatment program offers individualized attention with a 1:2.5 staff-to-client ratio.
What to Expect in Depression Treatment
When you walk into our facility for the first time, you go through a comprehensive psychiatric and clinical assessment. Using your clinical interview, we form an individualized treatment plan around your diagnosis and clinical needs.
If appropriate, your current medications will be evaluated by psychiatric providers who review your past responses to therapy or any side effects you may have had.
Your days at our facility will be structured. We’ll blend individual therapy with group sessions to work on your thought patterns and emotional responses.
You will also get to participate in skills-based groups that will provide you with recovery tools to be practiced in real-time. Family involvement options are available for those who want them.
Outside of therapy, the environment consists of comfortable accommodations that feel more like a place to rest than a hospital setting. You’ll get chef-prepared meals and access to an on-site gym and recreational activities that reintroduce movement into your life.
Most clients at our facility stay in residential care for an average of 30 to 60 days. As treatment progresses, we prioritize relapse prevention planning so that when you go home, you are stable enough to continue on your own.
Insurance and Admissions
A Better Life Recovery works with most major insurance plans. Our admissions team takes the time to explain your insurance benefits in plain language without pressuring you to make any rushed decisions. We work with:
- Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, First Choice, Humana, HMC Healthworks, Coventry Healthcare of Delaware, ComPsych, Health Net, MHN (A Health Net Company)
We also provide a free, completely confidential insurance verification service handled by knowledgeable staff. Our staff knows how to work around mental health and residential treatment benefits without bouncing people between departments.
Further, if you need immediate treatment support due to the severity of your symptoms, you will be offered same-day admission.
A Better Life Recovery proudly serves Orange County and surrounding communities. We welcome clients from Irvine, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, Anaheim, Santa Ana, San Juan Capistrano, and nearby areas for access to high-quality depression and mental health care.
Get Mental Health Help Today
Break free from mental health struggles today. Your journey to a healthier, more fulfilling life starts here. Contact us online or through our 24/7 admissions helpline at (866) 710-9128 to arrange a free, confidential consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Depression Treatment
What Therapies Are Used for Depression?
We use evidence-based therapies including CBT, DBT, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, interpersonal therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy.
Will I Need Medication for Depression?
Our board-certified psychiatrist will evaluate if you need medical treatment for your depressive symptoms or if psychotherapy will be adequate for you. Many people benefit from a combination of therapy and medication, but treatment is individualized to your needs.
Can You Treat Depression and Addiction Together?
Yes, our dual diagnosis program specializes in treating depression and substance use disorders simultaneously. Addressing both leads to better outcomes than treating either alone.
How Long Is Treatment for Depression?
The treatment for depression at our facility in San Juan Capistrano lasts for 30–60 days. The actual duration of stay will be determined by your individual needs. Our clinical team will work with you and your insurance to determine the appropriate length of stay.
Is Depression Treatment Covered by Insurance?
Yes, most insurance plans cover depression treatment under the Mental Health Parity Act.12 Call us for a free, confidential insurance verification.
References
- National Institute of Mental Health. (2021). Major Depression. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression
- Brody, D., & Hughes, J. (2025). Prevalence of depression in adolescents and adults: United states, August 2021–August 2023. National Center for Health Statistics, 527(527). https://doi.org/10.15620/cdc/174579
- Coryell, W. (2023). Depressive Disorders – Psychiatric Disorders. MSD Manual Professional Edition. https://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/psychiatric-disorders/mood-disorders/depressive-disorders
- Dunlop, B. W. (2016). Evidence-Based Applications of Combination Psychotherapy and Pharmacotherapy for Depression. Focus, 14(2), 156–173. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.20150042
- Fiedorowicz, J. G., Persons, J. E., Assari, S., Ostacher, M. J., Zandi, P., Wang, P. W., Thase, M. E., Frye, M. A., & Coryell, W. (2019). Depressive symptoms carry an increased risk for suicidal ideation and behavior in bipolar disorder without any additional contribution of mixed symptoms. Journal of Affective Disorders, 246, 775–782. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.12.057
- Gautam, M., Tripathi, A., Deshmukh, D., & Gaur, M. (2020). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 62(8), 223–229. https://doi.org/10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_772_19
- Hofmann, S. G., & Gómez, A. F. (2018). Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Anxiety and Depression. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 40(4), 739–749. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psc.2017.08.008
- Hodgkinson, B., Evans, D., A O’Donnell, & Walsh, K. (2026). Comparing the effectiveness of individual therapy and group therapy in the treatment of depression: systematic review. Nih.gov; Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (UK). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK67811/
- Davis, L., Uezato, A., Newell, J. M., & Frazier, E. (2008). Major depression and comorbid substance use disorders. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 21(1), 14–18. https://doi.org/10.1097/yco.0b013e3282f32408
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2024). Co-Occurring Disorders and Other Health Conditions. Samhsa.gov. https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/treatment/co-occurring-disorders
- Samet, S., Fenton, M. C., Nunes, E., Greenstein, E., Aharonovich, E., & Hasin, D. (2012). Effects of independent and substance-induced major depressive disorder on remission and relapse of alcohol, cocaine and heroin dependence. Addiction, 108(1), 115–123. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.04010.x
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2024). The mental health parity and addiction equity act (MHPAEA). Www.cms.gov. https://www.cms.gov/marketplace/private-health-insurance/mental-health-parity-addiction-equity
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