Alcohol Drug and Mental Health Services in Southern California

When someone is at a point of despair in their life due to the disease of addiction or a mental health disorder, they are in need of not only treatment and education, but of emotional support and compassion.  No one sets out in life to become an addict or to end up mentally ill.  In many instances, these maladies developed due to a predisposition to the illness, genetically mapped into the DNA.  In others, unresolved childhood trauma or abuse or intensely upsetting recent life events may have set the table for acquiring a mood disorder or addiction to a substance.

In fact, many who struggle with one of the disorders may also have a coexisting additional disorder.  This dual diagnosis only adds complexity to the individual’s difficulty in coping with, or ever overcoming, these co-occurring mental health disorders.  Often, substance abuse is a response to the anguish caused by the mood disorder, such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder.  Using alcohol or drugs to self-medicate the emotional pain can escalate into a substance use disorder.

When an individual is trapped in the cycle of addiction or the darkness of a mental health condition—or potentially both disorders simultaneously—they need both an effective treatment program and a caring, compassionate team of clinicians who respect them as human beings to guide them safely into recovery.  For these needs alcohol drug and mental health services in Southern California can provide the support and tools for a positive recovery outcome.

Persuading Someone to Get Treatment

If you happen to be the loved one of someone who is in active addiction with or without a co-occurring mental health condition, you may have tried in earnest to convince them to get help.  Depending at which point along the addiction path they are at greatly determines the loved one’s willingness to accept your pleas and to act on them.  If it is early in the addiction history, there is a much better chance that friends or family can persuade the addict to get treatment.  However, once the addiction is deeply entrenched this becomes nearly impossible.

If this is the case, a professional intervention may be the answer.  An intervention involves an addiction specialist, usually a clinician who has themself overcome addiction, that arranges a meeting that allows family members to implore the addict to get help.  Prior to the actual intervention, there will be discussions with the interventionist so he or she is well aware of any specific details regarding the loved one’s addiction and/or mental health history. These might include legal issues (such as DUI), relationship status, whether there are children, job status, and any other details that will allow the professional intervention counselor to be effective when they meet.  While interventions don’t work for everybody, they do work for many, resulting in the individual agreeing to go in to treatment.

The Treatment Process: Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Services in Southern California

Once the initial assessment and psych evaluation is complete, the customized treatment plan will be created accordingly.  Almost always, the first step will be detox and withdrawal.  Because the detox process can create unpredictable health or psychological risks, an inpatient residential detox is the safest option.  During the residential detox, trained detox health professionals will oversee the individual’s withdrawal symptoms and offer both and emotional support for the most comfortable detox possible.

The treatment portion of the rehab program will focus on therapy.  One-to-one talk therapy allows the clinician to help the client explore deep-seated pain or trauma that may be contributing to the addictive behaviors or mental health disorder.  Uncovering the underlying issues is imperative if recovery is to succeed long-term.  Discussing the issues can lead to resolution and pave the way for breaking free from addiction.

One of the most important aspects of treatment is learning new ways to cope with stress and triggers.  These techniques become tools in recovery, helping the individual make better choices and to respond in healthier ways when life difficulties present themselves.

Group therapy is an intrinsic element of both addiction and mental health treatment.  The group dynamic offers the support and honest feedback of peers, where they share their individual experiences and troubles.  Similarly, many programs offer 12-step or non 12 step recovery group meetings that follow a prescribed recovery format and allow for individuals to share openly.

Effective Therapeutic Approaches for Addiction, Mental Health, or Dual Diagnosis

There are certain types of psychotherapy that have been clinically proven to effectively treat addiction and mental health disorders.  These therapies are referred to as evidence-based, meaning they have been scientifically studied and results quantified.  Some of the most popular evidence-based therapies available for treating addiction are:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Contingency Management
• Motivation Enhancement Therapy

The major role of these therapies, whichever ones are used in treatment according to the specific needs of the client, is teaching new life skills that will help clients make fundamental changes in disordered thought and behavior patterns.

The Role of Experiential and Holistic Therapies

Augmenting the clinical effects of the psychotherapy are adjunct therapies offered by many addiction and dual diagnosis treatment programs.  These experiential and holistic activities benefit the client by encouraging self-examination and can lead to new insights about their emotional life and behaviors.

Holistic therapies also teach clients ways to reduce stress and increase relaxation as they move into recovery.  These holistic activities might include:

• Deep breathing techniques
• Mindfulness exercises
• Meditation
• Yoga
• Art therapy
• Massage therapy

Capo By the Sea Provides Alcohol Drug and Mental Health Services in Southern California

Capo By the Sea is an upscale, luxury addiction and dual diagnosis treatment program located on the coast of California.  Offering respectful, compassionate treatment for individuals who truly desire to overcome their drug or alcohol addiction and/or mental health disorder, Capo By the Sea helps make recovery dreams come true.  Providing the highest standard of alcohol, drug, and mental health services in Southern California, Capo By the Sea ensures an environment that is truly caring and serene—perfect for healing mind, body, and spirit in a dignified manner.  For more information about the program, please contact Capo By the Sea today at (888) 529-2114.