Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Dual diagnosis is a term used to describe our clients who struggle with alcoholism, addiction, or an eating disorder while also having another mood or behavioral disorder.  Our twenty three years of experience treating addiction in Orange County has proven that a high percentage of alcohol and drug dependent individuals also suffer from a co-occurring disorder such as:

• Anxiety Disorders such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Depression or Bipolar Disorder
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

It is estimated that fifty-three percent of drug abusers also have at least one serious mental illness. These clients are known as having a "dual diagnosis" or "co-occurring disorder."

Simultaneous Treatment of Addiction and the Comorbid Disorder

The treatment that our dual diagnosed clients receive in the Sober Living by the Sea network of Individualized Treatment Centers is ideal because it addresses both the chemical dependency (or eating disorder) and the co-occurring disorder.

Our initial psychological assessment and pre-screening of our clients includes an analysis of their substance abuse history and medical records so that we can acknowledge the dual diagnosis and integrate it into their individual treatment program. During the intake process, our client will meet with one of our psychiatrists who will screen and make various adjustments to the treatment program depending on the type of dual diagnosis we identify. Our psychiatrists will also ensure appropriate medications are on hand to treat the individual. Our RN oversees the procurement and allocation of the medications throughout the week.

Some examples of the disorders we have experience identifying and treating are: 

• Depressive disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder
• Anxiety disorders, including post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and phobias.
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Other psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and personality disorders

A Variety of Clinical Treatment Methods for
Dual Diagnosis

Our Dual Diagnosis Program is well suited for clients who require help with an emotional or psychiatric problem. In addition to treatment for chemical dependency, Dr. Jerry Brown (MFT, Psychologist) facilitates specialized individual and group therapy for issues like PTSD, ADHD, anxiety, or depression.

Appropriate and individualized counseling is a critical part of caring for our dually diagnosed clients. Our clients receive individual and/or group therapy for dual diagnoses that may accompany chemical dependency.  We also have specialists on our staff who help clients in the areas of trauma resolution and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Our chemical dependency counselors are certified in many areas of counseling. These include the treatment of the various comorbid disorders, addiction education, and  relapse prevention. Our highly skilled and certified counselors act as our case managers, and they provide an important one-on-one link with each of our clients and their families.

Some of the treatment methods that will be integrated into our Dual Diagnosed Clients' Treatment Program include:

• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)
• Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT)
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
• Group Therapy
• Experiential Therapy
• Hypnotherapy
• Numerous Individualized 12-step support groups tailored to individual issues
• Our Family Program facilitated by Kevin McCauley and Dr. Jerry Brown

Our entire clinical staff meets weekly to review the progress of every client in our facility.  We have found that a client's progress is best determined when a multidisciplinary team approach is used. If it is determined that a client needs assistance with any other diagnosis or disorder, he or she is referred to the appropriate individual and group counselors for appropriate sessions.

At SLBTS, we treat a wide variety of clients and dependencies. However, once in awhile a client comes to us with a diagnosis beyond the scope of our care. In such instances, we can refer the client to an expert in their required specialty outside our treatment centers. We help these special-needs clients find qualified specialists and even provide the transportation and supervision that may be required to get the client to and from an outside therapist's office.