Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Denver, CO
Integrated co-occurring disorder treatment for mental health and addiction in Denver and Lakewood, Colorado. Evidence-based care that addresses both conditions at the same time.
What Is Dual Diagnosis?
Dual diagnosis refers to the presence of both a substance use disorder and a co-occurring mental health condition in the same person at the same time. Research consistently shows that more than half of people who seek treatment for addiction are also living with at least one mental health condition, and many people in mental health treatment are also struggling with substance use.
The two conditions interact. Substance use can worsen mental health symptoms. Mental health symptoms can drive substance use. Each condition can mask the other, making both harder to recognize and treat in isolation. Understanding this relationship is at the heart of how Denver Recovery approaches integrated care.
At our Denver and Lakewood treatment centers, we provide integrated dual diagnosis treatment that addresses both conditions simultaneously, within a single coordinated clinical program, from the moment you enter care.
How Dual Diagnosis Treatment Works at Denver Recovery
Comprehensive Assessment at Intake
Every client who enters Denver Recovery completes a thorough biopsychosocial assessment that screens for co-occurring mental health conditions alongside the substance use evaluation. This happens at intake, not weeks into treatment. We want to know the full picture of what you are experiencing before we design your care plan.
Integrated Treatment Planning
Once the assessment is complete, your clinical team develops a treatment plan that reflects both your substance use disorder and any identified co-occurring conditions. Therapy, psychiatric care, medication management where appropriate, and recovery support are all coordinated by the same team toward shared goals.
Psychiatric Support as Part of the Program
For clients whose mental health conditions require psychiatric evaluation or medication management, Denver Recovery integrates psychiatric care directly into the treatment experience. Your psychiatric care happens alongside your addiction treatment, managed by professionals who are part of the same team.
Evidence-Based Therapies for Co-Occurring Disorders
Our therapy program draws on modalities with strong evidence for dual diagnosis presentations, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), trauma-focused therapies including EMDR, and family therapy. The specific combination is tailored to your individual clinical profile.
Learn moreAvailable Across All Levels of Care
Dual diagnosis treatment is available at every level of care at Denver Recovery, from residential inpatient through PHP, IOP, and outpatient treatment. You can move through the continuum while keeping your mental health treatment continuous.
Learn moreCommon Co-Occurring Disorders We Treat
- Depression and addiction
- Anxiety disorders and substance use
- PTSD and addiction
- Bipolar disorder and substance use
- Trauma and addiction
- OCD and substance use
- ADHD and addiction
- Panic disorder and substance use
- Chronic pain and opioid dependence
Serving Denver, Lakewood, and the Greater Colorado Region
Denver Recovery provides dual diagnosis treatment at our Denver and Lakewood locations, serving individuals from Denver, Lakewood, Aurora, Golden, Jefferson County, and across the Colorado region. Our admissions team is happy to help you find the right fit.
Frequently Asked Questions: Dual Diagnosis Treatment
What is dual diagnosis?
Dual diagnosis is the clinical term for the co-occurrence of a substance use disorder and a mental health condition in the same person. The conditions interact with each other in ways that make integrated treatment more effective than addressing each one separately.
How is dual diagnosis treated differently?
Dual diagnosis treatment is integrated, meaning mental health care and addiction treatment happen simultaneously within the same program and with the same clinical team. Standard addiction treatment that does not account for co-occurring mental health conditions often produces worse outcomes because the untreated mental health condition continues to fuel the substance use.
Do I need a diagnosis before starting treatment?
No. You do not need a prior mental health diagnosis to begin treatment at Denver Recovery. Our intake assessment includes a comprehensive screening for co-occurring mental health conditions. If a co-occurring disorder is identified, it becomes part of your treatment plan from the start.
Is dual diagnosis treatment covered by insurance?
In most cases, yes. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act requires most insurance plans to cover mental health and substance use disorder treatment at the same level as physical health conditions. Denver Recovery verifies your insurance benefits before treatment begins so you understand your coverage from the start.
Next step
Take the First Step
You do not have to figure out whether you have dual diagnosis before reaching out. That is exactly what our intake process is designed to help you understand. Reach out today.