Individuals who suffer from a mood disorder, a personality disorder, or trauma are at a much higher risk of also abusing drugs and alcohol. Many people with mental health conditions turn to mood-altering substances as a way to cope with their mental health symptoms. Left unchecked, repeated substance use can lead to psychological or physical dependence, and escalate into an addictive disorder. Individuals struggling with both a substance use disorder and a co-occurring mental health disorder are referred to as dual diagnosis. Dually diagnosed patients are difficult to treat, because treatment requires not only combatting the substance abuse component, but also the underlying mental health problems that contributed to addiction.
At the Delray Center for Healing, we recognize the complexities of both identifying and treating clients with multiple, co-occurring mental illnesses. In order to properly address our dual diagnosis clients, the multidisciplinary team at the Delray Center creates custom treatment plans, combining our substance use disorder and mental health services. Our intensive, one-on-one treatment approach also works for individuals with multiple, overlapping mental health diagnoses. Many of those who come to us for help have previously undergone treatment, but have been unsuccessful, because of misdiagnosis or because not all of their conditions having been treated simultaneously.
The dual diagnosis program at the Delray Center includes a number of specialized tracks for specific co-occurring disorder combinations. Each treatment track includes important foundational components, such as psychiatry, medication management, individual & group therapy, and holistic wellness services. Based upon that foundation, each client’s program is customized so they only receive the treatments and therapies suited for their unique mental health needs.
Conditions like clinical depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder can be painful illnesses to endure. Faced with chronic hopelessness and few options, many with depression and anxiety turn to mind-altering substances to regulate their mood and emotions. Efforts to self-medicate can quickly balloon into addiction, which in turn further degrades quality of life. The dual diagnosis treatment approach at the Delray Center is to provide support in drug and alcohol cessation, treat acute and post-acute withdrawal symptoms, and address the underlying mood disorder, using a number of therapies available at our mental health treatment center in Delray Beach.
It is not uncommon for someone diagnosed with a personality disorder, such as BPD (borderline personality disorder) to also have co-occurring mood issues, like depression or anxiety. Sometimes the mood issues are the direct result of the unhealthy belief systems typically found in personality disorders. Other times, it is a separate disorder with its own root cause. Our goal at the Delray Center is to properly diagnosis and identify all disorders and their root causes, and to develop an individualized approach that addresses both conditions in a caring environment.
Eating disorders and addiction have a high rate of co-morbidity, and are both used in unhealthy ways to exert control, for those who feel out of control in all other areas of their lives. The two conditions can feed off one another; individuals will often abuse certain drugs like stimulants to help control their appetite, or will restrict eating prior to binge drinking to heighten the effect. It is not uncommon for dual diagnosis patients in early addiction recovery to have an increase in eating disorder symptoms. A proper treatment plan for this type of dual diagnosis must address the behaviors and underlying causes of both conditions. It must also address the physical well-being of the client, given how physically damaging and dangerous both conditions can be to the body. The Delray Center incorporates intensive behavioral therapy to instill new, healthy coping mechanisms, as well as healing services like nutritional therapy, vitamin therapy, and exercise therapy.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that develops after experiencing a traumatic event or series of events, and can lead to intrusive thoughts, hyper-vigilance, feelings of guilt and low self-worth, and an increased fight-or-flight response. The stress caused by PTSD can result in chronic depression and anxiety, requiring psychiatric attention. The Delray Center offers psychiatric treatment for mood disorders, as well as trauma resolution treatment for PTSD. Our trauma resolution program includes different therapeutic modalities to address recent or long-term trauma, including EMDR therapy, prolonged exposure therapy, and our Trauma Bloc Treatment Track, which can be paired with mood disorder treatment for dual diagnosis clients.
Another common response to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is to medicate with illicit drugs and alcohol. The Delray Center for Healing offers our trauma resolution with additional services for co-occurring substance use disorders. Additional services include medication-assisted treatment (MAT), substance abuse counseling, relapse prevention group therapy, and outpatient detoxification and treatment of post-acute withdrawal syndrome.
Because of our intimate treatment setting, one-on-one clinical services, and customized treatment plans, the Delray Center for Healing is able to treat clients who have not succeeded in other programs. We specialize in the rehabilitation of complex clients with two, three, or even four dually diagnosed mental health disorders. All dual diagnosis program client begin their treatment journey by receiving a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, which is the foundation for building a truly individualized treatment plan.
Dr. Rodriguez founded the Delray Center in 2003 and built it on a foundation of core clinical, professional, and ethical principles that are adhered to still to this day. Dr. Rodriguez founded the Delray Center in 2003 and built it on a foundation of core clinical, professional, and ethical principles that are adhered to still to this day.
