- Ready to get help? Our Treatment Consultants are available 24/7.
You’ve been trying to fight two battles at once — addiction on one side, a mental health condition like depression, anxiety, or PTSD on the other. And you’re exhausted. Maybe you’ve already been through treatment that only touched the substance use piece while your mental health went completely ignored. Or maybe it was the reverse. Either way, you felt some relief for a while. Then everything came crashing back.
Here’s what makes this so frustrating: without treatment that tackles both conditions at the same time, the symptoms just keep getting worse. Relationships fall apart. You pull away from people. Sequential treatment — where someone tries to fix one problem first, then the other — flat out doesn’t work. These conditions feed off each other in a loop that single-focus treatment was never designed to break.
That’s exactly why we built our program the way we did. At GPS Counseling, we provide integrated dual diagnosis treatment right here in Modesto. Your addiction and your mental health condition get treated together — not as separate problems on separate timelines. We understand how these conditions interact because we see it every day, and we have the clinical expertise to help you break free from both.
Ready to start your recovery? Call GPS Counseling now at (209) 758-7477 to speak with a co-occurring disorders specialist. We accept most insurance plans and can verify your coverage immediately.
Co-occurring disorders — also called dual diagnosis — means you’re dealing with both a substance use disorder and a mental health condition at the same time. Research shows that approximately 50% of people who experience a substance use disorder will also experience a mental health disorder at some point, and vice versa (NIH).
These conditions feed each other. Your anxiety drives you to drink, the drinking deepens your depression, the depression makes the cravings harder to resist. It’s a loop. And trying to treat just one side of it while ignoring the other is exactly why so many people cycle through treatment without lasting results.
We most commonly treat depression with substance use disorders, anxiety disorders with addiction, PTSD with substance abuse, and bipolar disorder with co-occurring addiction. These combinations show up frequently in our Modesto community, and we’ve developed deep expertise in treating each one.
Depression and addiction feed each other in ways that can feel impossible to untangle. People living with depression often reach for alcohol, opioids, or other substances to escape that crushing hopelessness — even temporarily. The cruel irony? Most of those substances are depressants themselves, or they produce depressive symptoms during withdrawal. So the depression gets deeper. We treat both conditions together using evidence-based therapies and, when it makes sense, medication management to help restore balance.
Generalized anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety — all of these commonly show up alongside substance use. Alcohol and benzodiazepines offer quick relief from anxiety symptoms, which is exactly what makes them so dangerous for self-medication. Regular use actually ramps up anxiety over time and can create serious physical dependence. We teach healthier coping strategies while working on both the addiction and the underlying anxiety simultaneously.
The link between post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse is strong. Research shows that up to 50% of people seeking substance abuse treatment also have PTSD (NIH). Substances become a way to numb flashbacks, quiet hypervigilance, and escape the weight of traumatic memories. We treat both together through trauma-focused therapies.
Bipolar disorder carries one of the highest rates of co-occurring substance use disorders among all mental health conditions (NIH). During manic episodes, impulsivity drives increased substance use. During depressive episodes, self-medication kicks in. And substance use destabilizes mood even further, making bipolar disorder harder to manage. It’s a brutal cycle. We coordinate closely with psychiatric providers to stabilize mood while addressing the addiction piece head-on.
We use a thorough integrated assessment process that screens for both mental health conditions and substance use disorders from day one. Our clinicians conduct detailed clinical interviews, apply standardized assessment tools, and review your complete history to identify every condition affecting your wellbeing — not just the obvious ones.
Our assessment covers detailed substance use history, mental health symptom screening, trauma history, medical evaluation, and social factors. We rely on validated screening tools specifically designed to catch co-occurring disorders, even when symptoms overlap or one condition hides behind another.
Here’s something we see all the time: people walk in with no idea they have an underlying mental health condition because they’ve been self-medicating for years. We’re trained to spot these hidden conditions. As substances leave your system, we monitor symptoms carefully so we can provide the right mental health treatment from the start. That matters more than most people realize — because when those symptoms hit full force without support, relapse follows fast.
We use integrated, evidence-based treatment modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, and medication management. Every therapy we offer is adapted specifically for co-occurring disorders, so each intervention supports your complete recovery — not just half of it.
CBT works exceptionally well for co-occurring disorders because it targets the thought patterns and behaviors driving both conditions. We help you identify triggers for substance use and mental health symptoms, challenge distorted thinking, and build healthier coping strategies that actually stick. Research shows that CBT adapted for dual diagnosis produces better outcomes than standard CBT for either condition alone (NIH). That distinction matters.
Sometimes medication isn’t optional — it’s necessary. We coordinate medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid and alcohol use disorders while simultaneously managing psychiatric medications for mental health conditions. Our team monitors medication interactions closely and adjusts as your treatment progresses. Medication is one piece of a larger picture that includes therapy, skill-building, and ongoing support.
Trauma sits at the root of many co-occurring disorders, so we weave trauma-informed care into everything we do. That means creating a safe environment, recognizing trauma symptoms when they surface, and using approaches like EMDR or trauma-focused CBT when appropriate. One thing we won’t do? Push you to talk about experiences before you’re ready. We address trauma at a pace that feels manageable — always.
We offer multiple levels of care including outpatient treatment, intensive outpatient programs (IOP), and coordination with higher levels of care when needed. This flexibility lets us match treatment intensity to where you actually are — and adjust as things change.
Our outpatient program typically involves 1-2 sessions per week. It works well if you have stable housing, a solid support system, and less severe symptoms. You’ll get individual therapy, medication management if needed, and care coordination — all while keeping up with your daily life.
Our IOP provides 9-12 hours of treatment per week, usually meeting 3-4 days for several hours each session. For most people with co-occurring disorders, this is the sweet spot. Enough structure and support to make real progress, but you’re still living at home. Group therapy, individual counseling, psychiatric services, and skill-building sessions are all part of it.
Recovery doesn’t follow a straight line. We know that. So we move clients between levels of care based on how things are going — both the wins and the setbacks. That kind of flexibility gives you the best shot at lasting recovery from both conditions.
Schedule your consultation today and take the first step toward better health.
Yes — we offer women-specific programming designed around the unique challenges women face with co-occurring disorders. Research shows that women experience co-occurring disorders differently than men, with higher rates of trauma, different substance use patterns, and barriers to treatment that don’t always get acknowledged (NIH).
Women are disproportionately affected by trauma, particularly sexual and domestic violence, which dramatically raises the risk of co-occurring disorders. Our women’s program incorporates trauma-informed care, addresses concerns like pregnancy and parenting, and creates space to talk about gender-specific issues openly. No shame. No judgment. Just a place where you can actually heal.
Most clients need a minimum of 90 days of active treatment for co-occurring disorders, though plenty of people benefit from staying engaged longer. How long you’ll need depends on the severity of both conditions, your progress, any previous treatment history, and how strong your support system is.
The first 2-4 weeks are about stabilization. Safely managing withdrawal if that’s part of your situation, starting psychiatric medication if appropriate, and establishing safety. During this phase, we’re getting a clear picture of your conditions, building trust, and teaching you foundational coping skills.
Then comes the active treatment phase — typically 8-12 weeks, sometimes longer. This is where the heavy lifting happens. Intensive therapy, learning and practicing coping skills, working through underlying trauma, tackling both addiction recovery and mental health management at the same time. Most people start seeing real, measurable progress during this stretch as both conditions begin to stabilize.
But finishing our program doesn’t mean treatment is over. We build a full aftercare plan that includes ongoing therapy, support groups, medication management if needed, and connections to community resources. Co-occurring disorders require long-term management — that’s just the reality. And we give you the support and tools to maintain recovery from both conditions well beyond your time with us.
We provide thorough aftercare planning and continuing care services to support your long-term recovery from both conditions. That includes step-down care as you transition from intensive treatment, ongoing individual or group therapy, and coordination with community resources across Modesto and Stanislaus County.
We teach relapse prevention skills specifically adapted for co-occurring disorders — because the warning signs look different when you’re managing two conditions instead of one. You’ll learn to recognize triggers, cope with stress without reaching for substances, maintain psychiatric stability, and build a recovery support network that actually holds up. We also connect you with local resources including support groups and Stanislaus County behavioral health services.
Yes, we accept most major insurance plans, and many policies provide solid coverage for co-occurring disorders treatment. We accept private insurance, Medi-Cal, and participate in the Stanislaus County Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS), which provides enhanced services for substance use disorders.
We verify your insurance benefits before treatment starts. No surprises. We’ll explain exactly what’s covered and flag any out-of-pocket costs upfront. Our billing specialists deal directly with insurance companies to maximize your benefits, and we’re committed to making treatment accessible regardless of your financial situation. If cost is a concern, we’ll work with you to find a payment solution that fits.
You should choose us because we specialize in integrated dual diagnosis treatment — and we have a proven track record of helping Central Valley residents recover from co-occurring disorders. A lot of treatment centers bolt on mental health services as an afterthought. That’s not us. Integrated care is what we do. It’s our core expertise.
We don’t treat your addiction and mental health as separate problems living under the same roof. We address them as the interconnected conditions they are. Every member of your treatment team communicates regularly. Your therapist and psychiatrist coordinate closely. Every single intervention supports both your recovery and your mental health. This level of integration isn’t just better care — research shows it’s the only approach that produces lasting outcomes for co-occurring disorders.
And we’re not some out-of-town operation parachuting into the Central Valley. We’re part of the Modesto community. We understand the unique challenges people here face — from access to resources to the realities of daily life in Stanislaus County. We maintain strong relationships with local providers, accept DMC-ODS and local insurance plans, and deliver treatment that fits the way you actually live.
You don’t have to keep white-knuckling your way through both addiction and mental health issues. Integrated dual diagnosis treatment works — and we have the expertise to walk with you through recovery from both conditions.
Call GPS Counseling now at (209) 758-7477 to schedule a confidential assessment. We’ll verify your insurance, answer your questions, and help you take the first real step toward lasting recovery from co-occurring disorders. You can also schedule your assessment online at your convenience. Your recovery starts now.
Restart Your Life at GPS Counseling Center for Addiction Treatment
Give us a call or come by our facility to learn more.
GPS Counseling Center for Addiction Treatment, we extend our commitment to our graduates and alumni by offering 42 additional weeks of aftercare.
This program permits weekly drop-in sessions, fostering long-term recovery and stability for our graduates.
Simultaneously, these sessions provide essential guidance and encouragement to new participants embarking on their journey to recovery.
Family therapy provides education and support so family members of loved ones can better understand the role and impact of substance abuse.
Learning how to support a loved one in treatment and after treatment. Addressing issues such as communication, co-dependency, and recognizing how to set boundaries.
Individual Therapy provides an opportunity to develop and modify relapse prevention plans, identify triggers and develop coping skills.
Sessions are designed to support clients as they work on the identification and resolution of alcohol and or substance-related problems.
Exploring personal barriers, behaviors, and or challenges in the way of recovery. Uncovering the underlying roots of substance abuse addiction.
At GPS Counseling Center for Addiction Treatment Intensive Outpatient Program group therapy is the primary mode of treatment. Group therapy allows participants to step out of the shadows of shame, secrecy, and isolation and develop a level of community among fellow participants.
Participants who take part in group therapy sessions can improve their communication skills and build connections with other people who are also working to recover from addictions.
Group therapy reinforces mindfulness and healthy ways of interacting and relapse prevention. Allowing participants to learn from the experiences and perspectives of other people. Those that are newer to recovery noticeably benefit from those who have been sober longer.
