Dual Diagnosis Treatments and Co-Occurring Disorders Extended Care

Morningside Recovery – Drug Addiction Rehab Newport Beach, California

Dramatherapy is a rapidly growing therapeutic addiction treatment technique that uses role-play, theater games, and other improvisational tools that can be effective in working through a variety of alcoholism and drug addiction issues. It explores new approaches to old problems, integrating the methods of drama and theatre to assist residents in attaining goals which may include personal and emotional growth thus improving the quality of life. Dramatherapy allows for the exploration of real life relationship and social situations in a safe environment, enabling a person to develop positive communication, cooperative sharing, social skills, increased self-esteem and confidence and a changed way of functioning in daily life.

Mental Health Addiction – Care Newport Beach, CA

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that emphasizes the important role of thinking in how we feel and what we do.  Cognitive behavior therapists teach that when our brains are healthy, it is our thinking that causes us to feel and act the way we do.  Therefore, if we are experiencing unwanted feelings and behaviors, it is important to identify the thinking that is causing the feelings / behaviors and to learn how to replace this thinking with thoughts that lead to more desirable reactions.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy is used for the treatment of such conditions as alcoholism and drug addiction, depression, mood swings, social anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, obsessions and compulsions, eating disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders, insomnia and other sleep problems, insufficient self-esteem, and relationship issues.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy is effective because it combines two very effective kinds of psychotherapy — cognitive therapy and behavior therapy.  Behavior therapy helps you weaken the connections between troublesome situations and your habitual reactions to them, such as fear, depression, and rage.  It also teaches you how to relax your mind and body, so you can feel better, think more clearly, and make better decisions.  Cognitive therapy teaches you how certain thinking patterns are causing your symptoms — by giving you a distorted picture of what’s going on in your life, and making you feel anxious, depressed or angry for no good reason, or provoking you into ill-chosen actions.  When combined into Cognitive Behavior Therapy, behavior therapy and cognitive therapy provide you with very powerful tools for stopping your symptoms and getting your life on a more satisfying track.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing | Anxiety Treatment

Motivational Enhancement Therapy

Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) is a client-centered counseling approach based on principles of cognitive and social psychology, in which the counselor seeks to develop a discrepancy in the client’s perceptions between current behavior and significant personal goals.

The working assumption on which MET is based on is that intrinsic motivation is a necessary and often sufficient factor in instigating internal changes, representing a suitable prelude to other treatment approaches designed to enhance treatment response.

Numerous research studies have proven MET to be a successful approach in the treatment of people with alcohol problems and marijuana-dependent individuals. Motivational Enhancement Therapy’s therapeutic style remains the same regardless of the target drug. Motivational interviewing principles are used to strengthen motivation and build a plan for change. At Morningside we utilize unique methods for helping residents develop personal goals The development of personal goals helps to motivate residents to change their destructive lifestyles in an effort to accomplish their goals. Coping strategies for high-risk situations are suggested and discussed with the client. In subsequent sessions, the therapist monitors change, reviews cessation strategies being used and continues to encourage commitment to change or sustained abstinence. A respectful, reflective approach is used throughout MET. The goal is to help the client confront their life in the sense of bringing the client face to face with a difficult reality.

24-Hour Fitness — At Morningside, we believe physical fitness and healthy living are key parts of the recovery process.  All of our programs include four visits per week to a local 24-Hour Fitness facility. Residents are welcome to attend the gym more frequently on their own. 24-Hour Fitness is recognized as one of the finest sports and fitness complexes in the world.

Activities – Every Wednesday, all residents participate in an activity. These activities help to build peer relationships and encourage sober fellowship. Additionally, Newport Beach is one of the most entertainment rich places in the country.  The Newport Beach peninsula, where our facilities are located, has nine miles of sandy beaches and endless opportunities for those looking to surf, sun, body-board, sail, snorkel or just enjoy the terrific year-round weather on the shores of one of California’s most picturesque playgrounds. Newport Beach and the surrounding areas boast museums, world-class shopping malls, restaurants, golf courses, theme parks (including Disneyland, and California Adventure), and the famous Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Morningside staff enjoying Knott’s Berry Farm’s Halloween Haunt, October 2007.

Yoga /Meditation – The practice of Yoga can have extremely positive effects on the body, mind, and spirit, so each week, Morningside residents take part in yoga classes and meditation exercises. These group sessions include the basic elements of yoga: flexibility and strength, quieting the breath, and stilling the mind, which improves health, emotional well-being, and mental clarity. More importantly, yoga and meditation helps our residents cope with anxiety and stress, and generally leads to more joy in living the sober life.

Morningside team having Mountains of Fun at Magic Mountain, October 2008.

Virtual Reality Game Helps Drug Addicts Recover
The idea of virtual reality often is associated with acne-faced tweens and teens tackling video games. But it also is used for more serious purposes, like treating phobias and drug abuse.

Some believe a breakthrough virtual reality game may help addicts better control their cravings, which is a huge obstacle for the millions battling addiction and trying to recover.
The game, which is the brainchild of Duke University professor Zach Rosenthal, aims to offer something traditional therapy cannot by allowing a therapist to guide a patient through a virtual world that presents various temptations. It actually brings cravings present in the outside world into the therapy session.
“What we’re trying to do is take people into a virtual crack-related neighborhood or crack-related setting and have them experience cravings, just like they would in the real world,” Rosenthal said.
Rosenthal said cravings are mental and a learned behavior. So, the theory behind the game is just as a person learns to crave, he or she can learn not to crave.