Mental Health
Canyon Vista Recovery’s Mental Health Program provides a residential care setting for both primary mental health conditions and substance use disorder.
Our serene campus is conducive to helping individuals heal. While under our care, clients receive clinical treatment from credentialed clinicians, engage in a robust recovery program, heal from family dynamics associated with addiction and mental health issues, and learn how to reintegrate into society while living a healthy lifestyle.
Our primary mental health program is for clients with or without a substance use issues and we currently accept clients with mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, bipolar and borderline personality disorder. Clients must be stable before admitting to our mental health program.
What are Co-Occurring Disorders?
Co-occurring disorders, also known as dual diagnosis or comorbidity, refer to the presence of both a substance use disorder (SUD) and one or more mental health disorders occurring simultaneously in an individual.
This coexistence of conditions can complicate diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. By addressing both substance abuse and mental health issues concurrently, individuals with co-occurring disorders can achieve improved outcomes and enhance their quality of life in recovery.
Categories
Treatment modalities at Canyon Vista include:
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a person-centered, collaborative counseling approach designed to enhance an individual’s motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence. At its core, MI is built on the principles of empathy, autonomy, and respect for the client’s own ability to make decisions. The therapist takes a non-confrontational stance, guiding the client to express their own reasons for change rather than imposing external motivations. This makes MI especially effective for individuals who are ambivalent or resistant to change.
MI employs techniques like open-ended questions, reflective listening, and affirmations to help clients articulate their values and goals, highlighting discrepancies between current behaviors and desired outcomes. By facilitating this internal dialogue, MI aims to increase the client’s readiness to change in a way that feels self-directed and empowering.
In mental health contexts, MI has shown effectiveness in fostering behavioral changes such as improving medication adherence, reducing harmful behaviors, and increasing engagement in therapy. It is particularly useful when clients are not fully committed to the idea of change, as it gently fosters self-awareness and self-motivation, leading to sustainable changes in behavior and well-being. The non-judgmental, supportive atmosphere of MI encourages clients to find their own reasons to improve their mental health, making it a highly adaptable and widely utilized tool in therapy.
CBT
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a structured, goal-oriented form of psychotherapy that focuses on identifying and changing negative patterns of thought and behavior that contribute to mental health issues. Developed by Aaron Beck in the 1960s, CBT is one of the most widely used and evidence-based approaches for treating a variety of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
CBT operates on the principle that thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are interconnected. Negative or distorted thinking patterns can lead to emotional distress and maladaptive behaviors, perpetuating mental health problems. In therapy, individuals learn to recognize and challenge these unhelpful thoughts and beliefs, replacing them with more balanced, realistic perspectives. This cognitive restructuring helps reduce symptoms and fosters healthier emotional responses.
The behavioral aspect of CBT involves strategies such as exposure therapy, behavioral activation, and skills training to change unhelpful behaviors. For example, individuals may be encouraged to face their fears gradually (exposure) or engage in activities that improve mood (behavioral activation).
CBT is typically short-term and highly practical, often involving homework assignments that help clients practice new skills outside of sessions. Clients are active participants in their own treatment, learning tools that they can continue to use even after therapy ends.
By addressing both the cognitive and behavioral components of mental health issues, CBT helps individuals gain control over their thoughts and behaviors, leading to lasting improvements in emotional well-being and overall functioning. Its versatility makes it effective for a wide range of psychological conditions.
DBT
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan, originally designed to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD) but now widely used for a range of mental health conditions, including mood disorders, self-harm, and substance abuse. DBT focuses on helping individuals manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and develop healthier coping mechanisms.
A key component of DBT is its emphasis on balancing acceptance and change. Clients are taught to accept their emotions and circumstances while simultaneously working toward positive change. This dialectical process, where two seemingly opposing forces coexist, is central to DBT’s approach.
DBT is structured around four core skills:
- Mindfulness: Teaches individuals to stay present in the moment and observe their thoughts and emotions without judgment.
- Distress Tolerance: Focuses on coping strategies for managing crises and painful emotions without resorting to self-destructive behaviors.
- Emotion Regulation: Helps clients identify and regulate intense emotional experiences, reducing emotional vulnerability.
- Interpersonal Effectiveness: Teaches skills to communicate more effectively, assert needs, and maintain healthy relationships.
Psychiatric Care
A key element of psychiatric care is the use of medication management to treat mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Medications like antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and anxiolytics are commonly prescribed to manage symptoms and restore chemical imbalances in the brain. The psychiatrist works closely with the patient to monitor the effectiveness of medications and adjust dosages as needed, while also managing potential side effects.
In addition to pharmacotherapy, psychiatric care often incorporates psychotherapy or referrals to other mental health professionals such as psychologists or counselors for more comprehensive treatment. Psychiatrists also provide crisis intervention, addressing acute episodes of mental illness such as suicidal ideation or psychosis.
Psychiatric care typically involves a thorough evaluation, which may include mental status examinations, psychological testing, and collaboration with other healthcare providers. Treatment is highly individualized, focusing on both short-term symptom relief and long-term recovery. By combining medical and therapeutic interventions, psychiatric care helps individuals achieve better mental health, improve functioning, and enhance quality of life. It plays a crucial role in managing severe and chronic mental illnesses.
Trauma Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for trauma: This approach helps individuals identify and challenge negative thoughts and beliefs related to the traumatic event, replacing them with healthier, more balanced perspectives.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): EMDR involves using bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements, to help individuals reprocess and reduce the emotional charge of traumatic memories.
- Somatic Experiencing (SE): This body-centered therapy focuses on releasing physical tension and resolving the body’s physiological responses to trauma.
- Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT): Combines traditional CBT with trauma-sensitive techniques to address the emotional and cognitive impact of trauma.
Gender-specific process groups
- Shared Experiences: These groups allow participants to connect over gender-specific issues such as societal expectations, identity, relationships, trauma, and mental health struggles that may differ based on gender. For example, men may focus on topics like masculinity, vulnerability, and emotional expression, while women might explore issues like body image, empowerment, and coping with gender-based discrimination.
- Safe Space: By focusing on a specific gender, these groups aim to create an environment where individuals feel understood and supported, free from the pressures or judgments they may feel in mixed-gender settings. This can encourage more openness and vulnerability during discussions.
- Targeted Discussions: Gender-specific groups often address topics particularly relevant to the group’s gender, such as reproductive health, parenting, sexuality, trauma (e.g., sexual assault or domestic violence), or societal roles, which can impact mental health and recovery.
- Support and Healing: The group dynamic fosters mutual support and feedback among participants. Facilitators guide discussions to ensure that group members help one another process emotions, challenge unhelpful patterns, and develop healthier coping mechanisms.
Sunday Family Visitation
- Emotional Support: Family visits offer patients emotional comfort and connection during their treatment. The presence of loved ones can reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness, fostering a sense of belonging and stability.
- Involvement in Treatment: Family members may be invited to participate in therapy sessions, such as family therapy, where they work with the patient and a therapist to address relational dynamics, improve communication, and build a supportive home environment. This can be especially beneficial for patients dealing with conditions like depression, anxiety, or addiction, where family relationships may play a significant role in recovery.
- Education and Understanding: During visits, family members may receive education about the patient’s diagnosis, treatment plan, and strategies to support recovery at home. This helps families better understand the challenges the patient is facing and equips them to be effective sources of support.
- Boundaries and Structure: In some cases, mental health facilities may have specific guidelines or restrictions around visitation (e.g., visiting hours, supervision requirements) to ensure that the visits are therapeutic and don’t disrupt the treatment process.
Aftercare Coordination
- Continuing Therapy: Aftercare often includes regular outpatient therapy sessions, such as individual counseling, group therapy, or family therapy, to maintain the progress made during residential treatment. This helps individuals stay connected to therapeutic support while navigating the challenges of daily life.
- Medication Management: For individuals prescribed psychiatric medications, aftercare includes continued medication management by a psychiatrist or healthcare provider. Regular check-ins ensure that the medication is effective, and any side effects or adjustments are addressed promptly.
- Support Groups: Participation in peer support groups, such as 12-step programs (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous) or other mental health-focused groups, is often encouraged. These groups provide a sense of community and accountability, helping individuals remain motivated and connected.
- Relapse Prevention Planning: Aftercare often involves creating a personalized relapse prevention plan, which includes identifying triggers, developing coping strategies, and learning how to manage potential setbacks.
- Case Management and Community Resources: Case managers or social workers may assist individuals in accessing additional resources, such as vocational training, housing support, or legal services. This helps ensure that patients have a stable environment and the tools they need to thrive post-treatment.
- Check-ins and Follow-ups: Regular follow-up appointments with treatment providers are a common feature of aftercare. These check-ins monitor the individual’s progress and offer continued support as they reintegrate into everyday life.
Aftercare is vital for maintaining recovery, offering individuals the necessary structure, resources, and support as they transition out of residential care and work toward long-term mental health and stability.
