Key Takeaways
- Nearly 50 percent of people with substance use disorders also have a co-occurring mental health condition
- Treating addiction without addressing underlying mental health issues leads to high relapse rates
- Integrated dual diagnosis treatment coordinates psychiatric and addiction care simultaneously
- Trust SoCal provides comprehensive psychiatric evaluation during intake for all clients
- Evidence-based therapies like CBT, DBT, and EMDR address both addiction and mental health
The Connection Between Addiction and Mental Health in Simi Valley
Simi Valley residents seeking addiction treatment often discover that their substance use is intertwined with an underlying mental health condition. This is not unusual. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that approximately half of individuals who experience a substance use disorder also meet criteria for at least one mental health disorder during their lifetime. This co-occurrence is so common that integrated treatment has become the clinical standard of care.
The relationship between mental health and addiction is bidirectional. Some individuals develop substance use problems as a way of self-medicating undiagnosed depression, anxiety, or PTSD. Others develop mental health symptoms as a consequence of prolonged substance abuse. In many cases, both conditions feed each other in a destructive cycle that cannot be broken by addressing only one side of the equation.
For Simi Valley residents, accessing quality dual diagnosis treatment means finding a program that employs both addiction specialists and mental health professionals working as a coordinated team. Trust SoCal's JCAHO-accredited facility in Fountain Valley provides exactly this integrated approach.
Common Co-Occurring Conditions We Treat
Trust SoCal's clinical team has extensive experience treating a wide range of co-occurring mental health conditions alongside substance use disorders. Our integrated approach ensures that both conditions receive simultaneous, evidence-based treatment.
Depression and Substance Abuse
Major depressive disorder is one of the most common co-occurring conditions with addiction. Individuals may use alcohol or drugs to numb emotional pain, only to find that substance use worsens depressive symptoms over time. Our treatment combines antidepressant medication management with CBT and behavioral activation to address both conditions.
Anxiety Disorders and Addiction
Generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, and panic disorder frequently co-occur with substance abuse, particularly alcohol and benzodiazepine misuse. Treatment at Trust SoCal includes exposure-based therapies, DBT skills training, and anxiolytic medication management when appropriate.
PTSD and Substance Use
Post-traumatic stress disorder drives many individuals to self-medicate with substances to manage intrusive memories, hyperarousal, and emotional numbness. Trust SoCal uses EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and trauma-focused CBT to process traumatic experiences while simultaneously addressing addictive behaviors.
Bipolar Disorder and Addiction
Bipolar disorder presents unique treatment challenges because manic episodes can trigger impulsive substance use, while depressive episodes may lead to self-medication. Mood stabilizer management combined with addiction-specific therapy helps clients achieve stability in both conditions.
How Integrated Treatment Works at Trust SoCal
From the moment a client arrives at Trust SoCal, our approach is fully integrated. During intake, every client undergoes a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation in addition to a substance use assessment. This dual evaluation identifies all conditions requiring treatment and informs the development of a unified, individualized treatment plan.
Our clinical team includes board-certified psychiatrists, licensed clinical psychologists, licensed marriage and family therapists, and certified addiction counselors who collaborate daily on client care. Treatment team meetings ensure that psychiatric and addiction treatment goals are aligned and that any medication changes are coordinated across disciplines.
- Comprehensive psychiatric evaluation during intake
- Unified treatment plan addressing both addiction and mental health
- Board-certified psychiatrist oversight of all medication management
- Individual therapy sessions addressing the intersection of both conditions
- Group therapy focused on dual diagnosis-specific topics
- Regular treatment team meetings to coordinate care across disciplines
- Aftercare planning that includes both psychiatric follow-up and addiction support
Evidence-Based Therapies for Dual Diagnosis
Trust SoCal employs a range of evidence-based therapies specifically chosen for their effectiveness with dual diagnosis clients. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps clients identify and change thought patterns that drive both substance use and mental health symptoms. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) teaches emotional regulation and distress tolerance skills. EMDR processes traumatic memories that may underlie both conditions.
Our therapists adapt these modalities to each client's specific combination of conditions, ensuring that treatment is both clinically rigorous and deeply personalized. This tailored approach is what distinguishes effective dual diagnosis treatment from programs that simply treat addiction and mental health in parallel without true integration.
Getting Dual Diagnosis Treatment from Simi Valley
Trust SoCal's Fountain Valley facility is approximately 80 minutes from Simi Valley, providing the geographic separation that benefits recovery while remaining accessible for family involvement. Our admissions team handles all logistics including insurance verification, transportation coordination, and intake scheduling.
If you or a loved one in Simi Valley is struggling with both addiction and mental health challenges, integrated dual diagnosis treatment may be the key to lasting recovery. Call Trust SoCal at (949) 280-8360 for a free, confidential assessment.
Rachel Handa, Clinical Director
Clinical Director & Therapist
