evidence-based care for co-occurring mental health & substance use disorders
Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Los Angeles, CA
Treating mental health and addiction together
What Is Dual Diagnosis?
Dual diagnosis (also known as co-occurring disorders) refers to when someone is experiencing both a substance use disorder (alcohol addiction, benzo misuse…) and a mental health condition at the same time. This is extremely common, especially in Los Angeles, where high stress, trauma exposure, and fast-paced lifestyles often contribute to both emotional struggles and substance misuse.
What makes dual diagnosis different from standard addiction treatment is that both conditions must be treated at the same time. Mental health symptoms like anxiety, depression, trauma, or bipolar disorder can fuel addiction, and addiction can make those symptoms dramatically worse. When only one condition is treated, relapse becomes much more likely.
At Wellness Detox LA, our clinical and psychiatric team uses an integrated, evidence-based approach designed to stabilize the body, support the mind, and help you understand the root causes of addiction. This ensures that your treatment is not just about staying sober, it’s about actually healing.
Understanding who benefits most, and why integrated treatment works.
Is Dual Diagnosis Right for You? Here’s Why It Can Change Everything
Dual diagnosis treatment is specifically designed for individuals who experience both emotional or psychiatric symptoms and substance use challenges. These two conditions fuel each other, making long-term recovery almost impossible when only one is addressed. By treating mental health and addiction together, we stabilize both the mind and body, reduce relapse risk, and support lasting transformation.
Who Dual Diagnosis Treatment Is For
Dual diagnosis treatment is ideal for anyone who uses drugs or alcohol to manage emotional pain, stress, or untreated mental health symptoms. It’s especially recommended for people who experience:
- Persistent anxiety, depression, trauma, or mood instability alongside substance use
- Relapse after previous treatment because mental health symptoms weren’t fully addressed
- Difficulty functioning in daily life due to emotional overwhelming, panic, or intrusive thoughts
- Using substances to cope with PTSD, grief, racing thoughts, or emotional dysregulation
- Previous diagnoses like anxiety disorders, PTSD, bipolar disorder, ADHD, OCD, or personality disorders
- Feeling mentally unstable or out of control when attempting sobriety
If emotional symptoms and substance use are tangled together, dual diagnosis care provides the structure, stabilization, and therapeutic support needed to heal both.
The benefits of a dual diagnosis program, or why should you treat both at the same time
Addressing only addiction or only mental health leaves a major piece of the puzzle unresolved. By healing the mind and body simultaneously, clients build a true foundation for long-term sobriety, not just temporary stabilization. Dual diagnosis treatment provides powerful benefits, including:
Lower relapse risk
By treating the emotional triggers that drive substance use
More stable emotions
Better coping skills, and reduced symptoms of anxiety, depression, or trauma
Better long-term outcomes
Because both conditions are managed with an integrated plan
A whole-person recovery model
That supports physical, emotional, and psychological wellbeing
A Coordinated Approach That Supports Both Mind and Body
What to Expect in Dual Diagnois Treatment
Dual diagnosis treatment looks different from traditional addiction programs because it focuses on stabilizing mental health and addressing substance use at the same time. At Wellness Detox LA, clients receive integrated medical, psychiatric, and therapeutic support designed to uncover the root causes of addiction, reduce symptoms, and create long-term emotional stability. We can use (depending on clients) :
Comprehensive Mental Health & Addiction Assessment
During dual diagnosis treatment, every client begins with a thorough mental health and addiction assessment. This allows our clinical team to accurately identify co-occurring conditions, understand your symptoms, and design a treatment plan that addresses the full picture, not just the addiction.
Integrated Therapy Approach for Co-Occurring Disorders
Clients receive therapy that treats both disorders at the same time, using evidence-based methods like CBT, DBT, and trauma-informed counseling. This integrated approach helps you gain insight into how mental health symptoms and substance use influence one another.
Medication & Symptom Management
If appropriate, psychiatric providers may use medication to stabilize mood, ease anxiety or depression, and support early recovery. Ongoing monitoring ensures treatment remains safe, effective, and tailored to your changing needs.
Structured & Supportive Routine
Dual diagnosis care includes a balanced daily routine that promotes stability and reduces overwhelm. The structure helps calm the nervous system, making space for meaningful therapeutic work and emotional healing.
Coping & Life Skills Development
Throughout treatment, clients learn practical tools for managing triggers, overwhelming emotions, cravings, and stress. These skills empower long-term recovery and support healthier decision-making after treatment.
A Safe, Healing Environment
Dual diagnosis treatment takes place in a peaceful, supportive setting where clients feel understood and cared for. With a compassionate team and a calm environment, individuals can focus on healing without outside pressures.
See Why People Trust Wellness Detox LA
Your Journey to Wellness Begins Now
support that continues through every step of treatment
How Dual Diagnosis Blends Into Every Stage of Recovery
Dual diagnosis support is a continuous clinical thread woven through every level of addiction treatment. Because mental health and substance use are deeply interconnected, clients need consistent psychiatric oversight, emotional stabilization, and integrated therapy from the moment they enter detox through their final step-down program. At Wellness Detox LA, each level of care is designed to treat both conditions together, ensuring stable and effective progress.
Structured Care Tailored to Your Needs at Every Stage
Conditions We Treat in Our Dual Diagnosis Program
Our clinical team specializes in treating the mental health disorders and substance use issues that frequently occur together. By addressing both conditions at the same time, we help clients stabilize, understand their symptoms, and build long-term recovery skills. We help treat the following conditions (but not limited to):
Substance Abuse Disorders
Mental Health Disorders
- Anxiety Disorders
- Depression & Mood Disorders
- Bipolar Disorder
- PTSD & Trauma-Related Conditions
- Personality Disorders
- Psychotic Disorders
Most PPO plans accepted — and we’ll help verify your benefits quickly
Insurance Coverage for Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Dual diagnosis treatment is often covered by insurance. Our admissions team will verify your benefits for you, explain what your plan covers, and walk you through any remaining costs so you can start treatment with confidence and clarity. The process is fast, confidential, and obligation-free. Call us at 866-591-0888 for fast, confidential insurance verification.
Integrated care that treats the whole person
Why Choose Wellness Detox LA for Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Choosing the right dual diagnosis program is essential when you’re dealing with both mental health symptoms and substance use. At Wellness Detox LA, our clinical and psychiatric teams work together to deliver fully integrated care that addresses every layer of your experience. From detox to inpatient to outpatient, your treatment plan is personalized, consistent, and designed to heal both the mind and body.
Our program combines evidence-based therapies and a structured environment where clients feel safe opening up and doing the deeper emotional work. With a calm residential setting, small caseloads, and a compassionate team that truly listens, clients receive the attention they need to make real progress.
For us, dual diagnosis isn’t a service we offer, it’s the foundation of our entire clinical model. No matter which level of care you’re in, your mental health and addiction treatment remain connected, coordinated, and focused on long-term success.
Therapies we offer
Most Frequently Asked Questions
What is dual diagnosis treatment?
Dual diagnosis treatment is an integrated approach that addresses both mental health disorders and substance use disorders at the same time. Instead of treating addiction first and mental health later, our program combines psychiatric care and addiction treatment together, which significantly improves long-term recovery outcomes.
Why is it important to treat mental health and addiction together?
Mental health symptoms like anxiety, depression, trauma, or mood instability often fuel substance use, and substance use can make those symptoms worse. Treating only one condition leaves the other untreated, creating a cycle of relapse. Integrated dual diagnosis care stabilizes the mind and body simultaneously, leading to better emotional control and stronger long-term success.
How do I know if I need dual diagnosis treatment?
You may benefit from dual diagnosis care if you struggle with both emotional symptoms and substance use. Signs include using drugs or alcohol to cope with stress or mental health symptoms, repeated relapses, mood swings, panic or anxiety, trauma responses, difficulty functioning, or feeling “unstable” without substances. A clinical assessment can confirm exactly what level of care you need. Call us at 866-591-0888 for guidance.
What mental health disorders are treated in a dual diagnosis program?
Our dual diagnosis program treats a wide range of conditions including anxiety disorders, depression, PTSD, trauma-related disorders, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, OCD, ADHD, and mood instability. Treatment plans are personalized based on psychiatric evaluations and ongoing symptom monitoring.
What types of therapy are used in dual diagnosis treatment?
Clients receive evidence-based therapies such as CBT, DBT, trauma-focused therapy, relapse prevention, motivational interviewing, holistic practices, and family therapy. Each therapy is selected to treat both mental health symptoms and addiction patterns, helping clients build stability and healthy coping skills.
Will I receive psychiatric medication if needed?
Yes. If appropriate, clients may receive medication to stabilize mood, reduce anxiety, manage depression, or support recovery. All medication is prescribed and monitored by psychiatric providers who specialize in co-occurring disorders, ensuring safe and effective treatment throughout your stay.
Can dual diagnosis treatment be done in residential inpatient care?
Absolutely. Residential inpatient care is one of the most effective environments for dual diagnosis treatment. Clients receive 24/7 support, daily therapy and a structured routine that promotes emotional stability. This level of care is especially beneficial for individuals who experience intense symptoms, frequent relapse, or unsafe home environments.
How long does dual diagnosis treatment usually last?
Length of care varies based on symptom severity, psychiatric needs, substance use history, and progress. Many clients benefit from 30–45 days in residential care, followed by PHP or IOP for continued support. Our team continually evaluates each client to determine the ideal length of treatment for long-term stability.
What happens after dual diagnosis treatment?
After completing treatment, clients transition into step-down programs such as PHP, IOP, outpatient therapy, medication management, and ongoing psychiatric support. A personalized aftercare plan ensures clients continue strengthening skills, managing symptoms, and preventing relapse long after they leave the program.
Can dual diagnosis treatment help with trauma-related addiction?
Yes. Many clients with trauma experience heightened emotional distress, which often leads to self-medicating with substances. Dual diagnosis programs address trauma through specialized therapy, emotional regulation techniques, and psychiatric support to help clients process experiences safely and reduce the need for substances.
Is dual diagnosis treatment covered by insurance?
Many PPO plans cover dual diagnosis treatment, including residential, therapy, and psychiatric care. The best way to know your benefits is to have our team verify your insurance. We review your coverage, explain costs clearly, and help you understand your options, all confidential and obligation-free. Call us at 866-591-0888 for more information.
What makes Wellness Detox LA a strong choice for dual diagnosis care?
Our program offers fully integrated mental health and addiction treatment under one roof, with an experienced clinical and psychiatric team, small caseloads, personalized care plans, 24/7 support, and a calm residential setting. We address the root causes of addiction, not just the symptoms, helping clients achieve long-term sobriety.
Confidential support is available 24/7
Start Your Recovery With Expert Dual Diagnosis Care
Getting help for both mental health symptoms and substance use can feel overwhelming — but you don’t have to do it alone. Fill out the secure form below and our admissions team will reach out right away to answer your questions, verify your insurance, and guide you through your next steps. Your information is 100% confidential, and there is no obligation to begin treatment.
If you’d rather speak with someone immediately, call us anytime at 866-591-0888 for immediate assistance.