Donley Associates

If you have both a substance abuse problem and a mental health disorder like depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety, it is known as a co-occurring disorder or a dual diagnosis. Dealing with substance abuse, alcoholism, or drug addiction is already difficult, but it becomes even more difficult when you combine addiction with mental health problems. That’s why it’s essential to treat both conditions at the same time.

In individual therapy, a patient meets one-on-one with a trained psychologist or counselor. Therapy is a pivotal part of effective substance abuse treatment, as it often covers root causes of addiction, including challenges faced by the patient in their social, family, and work/school life.