Our co-occurring residential program treats substance use and mental health conditions simultaneously because addressing only one rarely leads to lasting recovery.
Understanding the Diagnosis
A co-occurring disorder, sometimes called a dual diagnosis, is when someone experiences both a substance use disorder and a mental health condition at the same time. These two conditions rarely exist in isolation. They develop together, reinforce each other, and typically need to be addressed together.
What makes co-occurring disorders particularly difficult is that each condition can mask the other. Someone managing depression may rely on alcohol to feel functional. Someone living with undiagnosed PTSD may use opioids to quiet the noise. Without treating both, recovery remains incomplete.
“Integrated treatment addressing both the substance use disorder and the mental health condition within the same program is associated with significantly better outcomes than sequential or parallel treatment approaches.”
— Kelly, T.M. & Daley, D.C., Social Work in Public Health, 2013
Who This Program Serves
These are some of the most frequently seen pairings in residential treatment though every person’s clinical picture is different.
Alcohol is often used to manage low mood, which deepens depressive cycles over time.
Physical dependence often develops from medically prescribed anxiety treatment.
Trauma responses are frequently self-managed through substances before proper diagnosis.
Stimulant use can intensify mood episodes; mood stabilization is essential.
Why Residential Care
For individuals navigating both a substance use disorder and a mental health condition, outpatient treatment may not provide the level of support needed in the early stages. Residential care removes the person from their environment entirely eliminating triggers, providing structure, and creating space where both conditions can be addressed without distraction.
Our Clinical Approach
The traditional model treated substance use first, mental health second. The research has moved away from this. At Maplewood, both conditions are addressed simultaneously within a single, coordinated treatment plan built around the individual, not a standard template. Learn more about our residential facility and the environment where treatment takes place.
CBT helps individuals identify and restructure thought patterns that drive both substance use and mental health symptoms. It builds practical coping tools that carry well beyond the residential setting.
DBT is particularly well-suited for co-occurring presentations involving emotional dysregulation or trauma history. It teaches distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness.
A significant portion of people with co-occurring disorders have unresolved trauma driving both conditions. Our approach is grounded in safety, trust, and the understanding that behavior always has context.
MI is used to support ambivalence about change a natural part of recovery. Rather than confrontational, it is collaborative and meets individuals where they are in their readiness to engage.
Treatment planning at Maplewood is individualized. No two co-occurring presentations are identical, and the clinical modalities selected are based on each person’s specific profile not a one-size-fits-all protocol.
What to Expect
Every admission is different, but the general arc of residential co-occurring treatment follows a predictable progression from initial stabilization through active treatment to discharge planning.
Length of stay varies based on clinical need, insurance authorization, and individual progress. Our clinical team works with each person and their family to determine what duration is appropriate.
Questions about what the admissions process looks like? Visit our admissions page or speak with someone directly at (856) 485-9814. You can also get to know the people leading treatment on our staff page.
A comprehensive clinical and psychiatric evaluation is completed at or shortly after admission. This determines the starting point for the individualized treatment plan.
The early phase focuses on medical stabilization, medication management, and beginning to establish trust with the clinical team in a structured environment.
Individual therapy, group programming, psychiatric appointments, and skill-building are the core of the residential experience. Both conditions are addressed within the same framework.
Discharge planning begins early. The team works together on a step-down plan, PHP, IOP, or outpatient, along with community supports, psychiatric follow-up, and ongoing care coordination.
Clinical Oversight
This page was written and reviewed by licensed clinical and medical professionals with direct expertise in co-occurring disorders and addiction medicine. Meet our full team →
Clinical Contributor & Reviewer
LAMFT, LCADC, CCS
Marcus Joseph is a licensed associate marriage and family therapist, licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor, and certified clinical supervisor. His clinical background spans integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders, trauma-informed care, and family systems therapy within residential and outpatient settings.
Medical Contributor & Reviewer
ABIHM
Dr. Pearson is board-certified in integrative and holistic medicine. His approach to co-occurring treatment incorporates evidence-based psychiatric care and whole-person wellness, with a focus on how physical health, nutrition, and biological factors intersect with mental health and addiction recovery.
Explore Maplewood
How the admissions process works and how to verify your coverage before arrival.
Start Here → 👥Get to know the licensed clinical and medical professionals who lead treatment at Maplewood.
Our Team → 🏠Take a look at the environment where residential treatment takes place in Merchantville, NJ.
View Facility → 🔄Explore our primary inpatient residential program for substance use disorders.
Learn More →Frequently Asked Questions
These are questions we hear often from individuals and families exploring co-occurring treatment for the first time. If something is not answered here, call us directly at (856) 485-9814.
A co-occurring disorder, also called a dual diagnosis, refers to the simultaneous presence of a substance use disorder and at least one mental health condition. Common mental health conditions that co-occur with addiction include depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and ADHD. Both conditions are considered primary meaning neither is simply a symptom of the other.
No. Many people arrive without a prior psychiatric diagnosis. Part of the admissions and intake process includes a comprehensive clinical and psychiatric evaluation that helps identify what conditions are present and how they interact. A prior diagnosis is not required for admission to our co-occurring residential program.
Standard residential programs focus primarily on substance use. Co-occurring residential treatment is designed to address both the substance use disorder and the mental health condition simultaneously, within the same program and treatment team. This typically includes psychiatric services, medication management, and modalities like DBT and trauma-informed therapy that are specifically suited for complex clinical presentations.
Many insurance plans, including Medicaid and most major commercial insurers, provide coverage for co-occurring residential treatment under mental health and substance use disorder parity laws. Although Maplewood does not accept Medicaid at this time, you can find help by going to samsha.gov you will find Medicaid facilities that will be able to accept you or a loved one. Coverage varies by plan. Our admissions team can help verify your benefits before admission.
Length of stay varies based on the individual’s clinical picture, insurance authorization, and progress in treatment. Co-occurring presentations often require longer residential stays than straightforward substance use cases, given the complexity of addressing two conditions simultaneously. Your treatment team will work with you throughout your stay to assess progress and plan an appropriate step-down to a lower level of care.
Family involvement is encouraged where clinically appropriate. Co-occurring disorders affect the whole family system, and education for loved ones about both the mental health and addiction components of care, can be an important part of the broader recovery process. Our clinical team will discuss family programming options during the admissions and treatment planning process.
Discharge planning begins well before the end of residential treatment. The clinical team works with each person to arrange an appropriate continuum of care which may include, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), outpatient therapy (OP), psychiatric follow-up, medication management, peer support, and housing resources. Residential care is designed to create a stable foundation for what comes next, not to be the entirety of someone’s recovery journey.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you or someone you love is managing both addiction and a mental health condition, our team is available to answer questions, walk through insurance options, and help determine whether our program may be the right fit.
