Dual Diagnosis / Co-Occurring Disorders
Dual diagnosis is the combination of a substance abuse/dependence disorder and a mental health diagnosis, such as depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, etc.
Many afflicted with addiction are misdiagnosed as being dual diagnosis clients as a result of the symptoms of their substance abuse. Substance abuse can cause clients to slip into psychosis, depression, paranoid behaviors, etc,; and Reflections Recovery Program works closely with each client in dual diagnosis treatment to determine whether one truly has a dual diagnosis issue.
Due to abuse of medications for diagnosed mental health problems in combination with substance abuse, many clients believe their medication is not effective. Clients will often find (after a period of sobriety), that it is the opposite; either clients were initially misdiagnosed or their substance abuse disorder has rendered their medications ineffective.
When clients enter Reflections Treatment Program with dual diagnosis concerns, the medical team first provides a medically-managed withdrawal process to safely remove the substances being abused. As part of the dual diagnosis recovery program, each client is assigned to a Primary Therapist (doctoral level therapist) and will receive a minimum of three individual therapy sessions per week; which includes 1:1 drug and alcohol counseling. This allows the clinical team to closely monitor each client's progress on the substance abuse and mental health spectrums. Though clients afflicted with dual diagnosis can have a more challenging time in treatment, the clinical, medical, and counseling staff at Reflections are well equipped to address these significant needs.
Finally, if a client needs to rule-out whether or not he/she is suffering from Bipolar Disorder (for instance), Psychological Testing is available (at an additional fee) to determine a proper diagnosis, in order to receive the best possible treatment. Furthermore, if a client is struggling with significant memory problems and is experiencing slow processing, Neuropsychological Testing may be requested (at an additional fee) to determine an accurate diagnosis, in order to receive the most appropriate treatment. Often times, it is unresolved grief and loss or untreated childhood trauma that drives one's addiction or one's relapses'; and once properly treated, the client has a more significant chance of both maintaining and sustaining his or her sobriety/recovery.