Dual Diagnosis and Co-Occurring Disorder Treatment in Malibu
Programs at Cliffside Malibu
What Is Dual Diagnosis Treatment?
When a person has at least one mental health disorder and is misusing at least one substance simultaneously, it is known as a co-occurring disorder. In many cases, substance use and mental illness go hand-in-hand, reinforcing or leading into one another. Treating one without treating the other is not only less effective, but it also leaves many individuals unable to make a full recovery from either condition. That’s why in circumstances like these, co-occurring disorder treatment from a professional institution who understands the nuances and complexities of treating both conditions simultaneously is necessary.
The process can be difficult to navigate and a challenge for patients, but it is absolutely possible to address a person’s mental illness and substance use in a way that enables them to make a full and lasting recovery. At Cliffside Malibu, we treat co-occurring disorders where SUD is the primary concern.
Our Approach to Treatment
Who Cliffside Malibu Can and Cannot Treat
Cliffside Malibu is a substance use disorder treatment program for adults. We treat people with significant co-occurring mental health and medical needs, as long as those needs can be managed safely at our level of care.
We are not a primary psychiatric program. People who need acute psychiatric stabilization, inpatient psychiatric care or hospital-level care, or whose behavior poses a risk that can’t be managed safely in our setting, may need to stabilize elsewhere first.
Every situation is different, so our admissions and medical teams review each case individually. If you’re not sure whether Cliffside is the right fit, call (424) 320-3061 and we’ll talk it through with you.
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Understanding Co-Occurring Disorders
Co-occurring disorder refers to any case where a psychiatric, psychological or behavioral disorder coexists with substance use disorder. It’s an umbrella term that covers a variety of disorders such as clinical depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and others. If a person has any of these disorders alongside a substance use disorder to drugs and alcohol, this is a co-occurring disorder. It may be that a person who has a psychological or behavioral disorder turns to addictive substances as a way of self-medicating. People with these types of disorders are known for having a higher risk of substance use disorder, whereas people with substance use disorder are also known to develop disorders such as depression or even psychosis.
Getting treatment for one disorder without the other still leaves a person with issues that can be difficult to cope with on their own. This can ultimately result in treatment failure, as the remaining disorder has a chance of causing the treated disorder to reoccur or for the treatment itself to be rendered ineffective. Co-occurring disorder treatment works by addressing the root causes of both disorders and providing people with the tools they need to manage their mental health without substance use disorder.
Our Approach to Treatment
How Co-Occurring Disorders Are Treated
Because the goal is to treat two disorders simultaneously, co-occurring disorder treatment will have aspects of both kinds of individual treatment for psychological and substance use disorders. Those who are familiar with either of these kinds of treatments will already have some kind of idea of what to expect. There are some changes made to the treatment to make it work within the larger context of co-occurring disorder treatment, but the overall process mostly follows the same general principles.
It begins the way nearly all substance use treatment programs do with detox followed by a period of psychotherapy and other treatments. Detoxing is essential for ridding the body of addictive substances and managing withdrawal symptoms in a safe and secure environment. Following this process, patients will meet one-on-one with a therapist who will take the time to get to know them in-depth, learn how their drug or alcohol use disorder developed, discover how it relates to their psychiatric disorder and help them uncover the underlying reasons for their substance use disorder. Because each person is unique, the strategies used to help a person recover and maintain their recovery must be based on that person’s unique circumstances. Using evidence-based therapies from a wide spectrum of healing practices, therapists and patients can create a treatment program tailor-suited to their specific needs, confronting the intertwining issues involving their psychological and substance-use disorder.
Depression and substance use often feed each other. Some people drink or use drugs to numb sadness, low energy or hopelessness, while heavy use can deepen depression, especially during withdrawal and early recovery. Treating only one condition often leaves the other to pull a person back.
At Cliffside Malibu, depression is treated alongside addiction from the start. Individual psychotherapy helps you understand how your mood and substance use are connected, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) teaches practical ways to challenge negative thinking. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) builds skills for handling painful emotions without turning to substances. Psychiatric nurse practitioners on our medical team provide evaluation and medication management when needed, and your plan is adjusted as your mood improves.
Cliffside Malibu treats depression as part of substance use disorder treatment. We do not accept admissions for depression or other mental health conditions alone.
Many people first reach for alcohol, marijuana or sedatives to calm racing thoughts, panic or social anxiety. Relief is short-lived. Over time, substance use and withdrawal can make anxiety worse, creating a cycle where using feels like the only way to cope.
At Cliffside Malibu, we treat anxiety and addiction together. In individual psychotherapy, you’ll explore what drives your anxiety and how it connects to your substance use. CBT helps you recognize anxious thought patterns and respond to them differently, while DBT teaches skills for tolerating distress and staying grounded. Psychiatric nurse practitioners on our medical team manage medication when it’s appropriate, with your recovery in mind, so you can build lasting ways to cope without substances.
Cliffside Malibu treats anxiety as part of substance use disorder treatment. We do not accept admissions for anxiety or other mental health conditions alone.
Trauma and substance use are closely linked. People living with PTSD may use drugs or alcohol to quiet intrusive memories, nightmares or the constant sense of being on guard. Substances can dull those symptoms for a while, but they also get in the way of healing and often make symptoms harder to manage over time.
At Cliffside Malibu, trauma care is part of addiction treatment. Therapy begins by helping you feel stable and safe, then moves at a pace that works for you. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) helps reduce the intensity of traumatic memories, and trauma-informed psychotherapy, CBT and DBT help you manage triggers and difficult emotions. Psychiatric nurse practitioners on our medical team provide medication management when it can help.
Cliffside Malibu treats trauma and PTSD as part of substance use disorder treatment. We do not accept admissions for trauma, PTSD or other mental health conditions alone.
ADHD and bipolar disorder can both raise the risk of substance use. People with ADHD may use substances to quiet restlessness or cope with impulsivity, and some misuse stimulant medications. People with bipolar disorder may use during manic episodes or to escape depressive ones, and substances can trigger or worsen mood swings.
At Cliffside Malibu, treatment starts with a careful psychiatric evaluation to separate symptoms of the condition from the effects of substance use. Psychiatric nurse practitioners on our medical team provide medication management, and individual psychotherapy, CBT and DBT help you build routines, manage impulses and recognize early signs of mood changes. Your plan addresses both conditions together, so progress in one supports progress in the other.
Cliffside Malibu treats ADHD and bipolar disorder as part of substance use disorder treatment. We do not accept admissions for these or other mental health conditions alone. People in acute mania may need psychiatric stabilization first.
Cliffside Malibu is Here For You
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Help is just around the corner. If you or a loved one is in need of immediate treatment for substance use disorders and other problems associated with a co-occurring disorder, please contact Cliffside Malibu today.
How We Treat
The Treatment Process at Cliffside Malibu
Cliffside Malibu is a licensed and Joint Commission-accredited treatment center where cutting-edge, evidence-based psychotherapy and analysis meet world-class drug and alcohol use disorder treatment, medically supervised detoxification and holistic medicine. The individualized and specialized approach each person who walks through our doors receives is what sets our facility apart. We have also built an exceptional team of medical and psychiatric doctors, psychologists, therapists, chemical dependency counselors and personal trainers to address the complex physical, emotional, mental and spiritual components of those with a co-occurring disorder. All this within a safe and secure facility staffed by compassionate professionals dedicated to providing the highest quality of care.
Upon admission for our co-occurring disorder program, there is an extensive intake process where information is gathered and patients are welcomed into the facility. They will then meet with their primary therapist who serves as a primary source of support and guidance throughout the treatment process. Together, the therapist and patient can formulate an extensive clinical assessment based on that person’s history and the clinician’s observation and expertise. The clinical team collaborates throughout the entire process, establishing the most effective and appropriate course of treatment. Once a patient has safely detoxed, they can move on to assessing their psychological condition in a thorough and more precise manner. A variety of therapeutic and holistic options are available to help our patients receive the most meaningful and effective treatment for their unique circumstances.
Our Vision
Co-Occurring Care in a Private Malibu Home
In addition to our evidence-based and tailored co-occurring disorder treatment programs, Cliffside Malibu prides itself on providing a safe and comfortable space for our patients to escape to during this challenging period in their lives. While you do the psychological and emotional work that recovery requires, our staff will make certain you have the privacy and security necessary to feel safe.
Our facility sits between the mountains and the ocean, providing a picturesque environment along with luxury accommodations. In addition to our wide range of treatment options, we provide a variety of recreational activities and amenities to keep our patients comfortable and engaged as they work on their recovery. These include gourmet meals, ocean access, hiking, yoga and much more.
If you or someone you love is affected by a substance use disorder, with or without a co-occurring disorder, don’t hesitate to give us a call. You can contact us to learn more and begin the process of creating a lasting recovery. It may very well be the best call that you’ve ever made.
At Cliffside Malibu, we base our individualized luxury treatment plans on the Stages of Change model. The Stages of Change model, created by James O. Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente at the University of Rhode Island, illustrated how those seeking to recover from substance use disorder go through a series of “stages” that allowed them ultimately to transcend their substance use and maintain sobriety. This means that we meet you where you are mentally, physically and spiritually, helping you to overcome the deep-rooted issues that have caused your substance use to flourish.
The staff of Cliffside Malibu was personally trained by Prochaska on this powerful treatment model. It is the hallmark of our treatment program. Learn more about the Stages of Change.
Stories of Success
What Our Patients Are Saying About Cliffside Malibu
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