Co-Occurring & Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center

Our co-occurring disorder treatment center, Empress House, is designed to help ease suffering from concurrent mental disorders and substance abuse. Ascend has developed a space where teens can explore personal experiences and shared developmental challenges, reinforce their sense of support, and practice their ability to self-regulate in a healthy manner. Ascend offers 24/7 support and provides therapeutic care tailored to each child’s specific conditions.

smiling teen girl gets treatment from her counselor co-occurring disorder treatment center

We do not subscribe to a one-size-fits-all treatment model because we know that every adolescent is a unique individual with a changing formative landscape. As your child grows and evolves, so do our treatment plans. Our team is meticulous about being attentive to the physical and emotional needs of our clients during such a sensitive time in their lives. Learn more about what dual diagnosis means for your loved ones and how a stay at our co-occuring disorder treatment center can help.

What Is Dual Diagnosis?

Dual diagnosis, also known as co-occurring disorders or dual pathology, is when a patient suffers from a mental illness as well as a substance abuse problem.

Teenagers use and/or abuse substances for different reasons. Many teens turn to drugs and alcohol to alleviate stress and emotional pain, others turn to substances due to other mental health conditions. At Ascend, we believe that it’s important for our clinical team to treat the whole person, including underlying mental health issues that could be contributing to increased use or desire to use drugs and alcohol.

Our hand-picked clinicians work diligently with teens at our dual diagnosis treatment in California to assist them in untangling what can be a very delicate situation. We help them gain insight and knowledge about their mental health conditions and guide them to make necessary behavioral changes that target their substance abuse. 

Ascend & Dual Diagnosis Treatment

As a small co-occurring disorder treatment center, Ascend’s therapists have the unique ability to evaluate which treatment approach will yield the best results based on your child’s preference and their presenting issues. We consider potential substance-use disorders through evidence-based practices such as motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and the harm-reduction model. 

It is important that your teen learn to accept how their substance use is impacting them and the entire family system. When teens are empowered to identify the ways in which their conditions are affecting them, we see their motivation and engagement in the treatment plan change.

In addition to a tailored plan for their substance abuse, Ascend simultaneously treats any other mental conditions that may be plaguing your child. It’s critical to deal with both the substance abuse and any mental illnesses together, as patients are more likely to experience relapses when only half of their concerns are addressed. Ignoring any aspect of your child’s condition can undo weeks or even months of progress they’ve made at our dual diagnosis treatment in California.

Dependencies We Treat

There are a number of different substance abuse issues we target at our co-occurring disorder treatment center including:

It is important to understand how substance abuse can contribute to your child’s mental and physical health, and a large part of our treatment programs focus on the side effects they can expect from continued substance abuse.

Evidence-Based Treatments

Our amazing team is trained to work with your teen and family using a variety of different practices. Each member of our clinical team brings their own specializations and expertise to our co-occurring disorder treatment center including:

  • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
  • Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)
  • Family Systems
  • Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Matrix Model 
  • Motivational Enhancement Therapy 
  • Harm Reduction
  • 12-Step Programming

Experiential Treatments

Our team incorporates experiential treatment modalities to aid in emotional expression, symptom relief and management, and to teach your child how to build healthy life practices. Ascend’s experiential modalities are varied to ensure every one of our clients can find something they’re interested in. Whether it’s art therapy and hiking or music therapy and somatic experiencing, we have a comprehensive selection of elective treatment options at our co-occurring disorder treatment center.

Ascend Healthcare Offers Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Ascend’s dual diagnosis treatment for teens provides a safe place for both inwardly-acting and outwardly-acting clients. With a limit of six simultaneous clients, we ensure the safety and comfort of our teens, minimize the social pressure of large groups, and ensure successful individual treatment. Some of the most common programs you’ll see in our treatment plans include:

The right time to get help is now. Call our co-occurring disorder treatment center at 310.388.3713 today to speak to an addiction professional about available options for dual diagnosis treatment for teens.

Dual Diagnosis FAQs

What is the best way to treat dual diagnosis?

The most effective way to treat dual diagnosis is through an integrated approach that addresses both the mental health condition and the substance use issue simultaneously. At our dual diagnosis treatment center in California, we offer evidence-based therapies, combined with holistic treatments, to help teens achieve lasting recovery.

What is the difference between dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders?

The terms dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders are often used interchangeably. Both refer to the presence of a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder occurring together. Our dual diagnosis treatment program focuses on treating both conditions concurrently for the best outcomes, giving teens the skills and tools they need to navigate life outside of treatment and build a foundation for a lifetime in recovery.

We have a co-occurring disorder treatment center in Encino, called Empress, to provide targeted treatment for teens and support for their families.

What are the most common conditions with a dual diagnosis?

The most common conditions with a dual diagnosis include depression, anxiety, and trauma-related disorders, often combined with substance use disorders like alcohol or drug abuse. These mental health conditions are frequently linked to substance use because teens may turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to self-medicate or cope with emotional pain. 

What therapies do you use in dual diagnosis treatment for teens?

Therapies commonly used in dual diagnosis treatment include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), motivational interviewing, and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). 

We also use experiential therapies such as art therapy, music therapy, and somatic experiencing to help teens process emotions and build healthier coping skills.

For more information, reach out to our co-occurring disorder treatment center in Encino today.