Co-occurring Disorders Treatment
Co-occurring treatment is provided at Fairfax Hospital for adults experiencing a psychiatric crisis along with drug/alcohol abuse or addiction. Both inpatient treatment and partial hospitalization (day treatment) are available. Staff includes Master’s Level Registered Counselors, Registered Nurses, and Certified Chemical Dependency Counselors. A multi-disciplinary team under the direction of a psychiatrist provides all treatment.
The main goal of the Co-occurring Disorders Treatment Program at Fairfax is to stabilize the individual in terms of his or her mental health while providing evaluation, education, and treatment for chemical dependency issues. Fairfax Hospital works closely with each individual patient to develop an appropriate follow-up care plan. As part of this plan, patients are invited to attend monthly alumni meetings to assist them with their recovery.
The Co-Occurring Disorders Treatment Program is designed to meet the needs of individuals with a wide range of severity and problems. Therapeutic groups are conducted daily, including weekends, and offer education about co-occurring disorders, teach coping and interpersonal skills, and address emotional issues. Family is included in treatment whenever possible. There is a weekly family group, and in addition, individual family sessions are encouraged. Patients and family members may attend 12-step meetings that are held in the hospital on some evenings.
Topics Include:
- Biological/Psychological/Social aspects of psychiatric illness and addiction
- The genesis of psychiatric illnesses
- The interactions between psychiatric illness and addiction
- Addiction from a holistic perspective
- Identification of symptoms
- Symptom management
- Co-dependency
- The effects of Co-occurring disorder on the family
- Development of coping skills
- Relationship Issues
- Education on 12-step groups and other support and treatment options after discharge