Dual Diagnosis

Dual Diagnosis for Adults with Co-Occurring Substance Misuse

We’re not a “one size fits all” program. Each adult client is assigned to one of four specialized recovery communities and a “core group” within that community. Each core group is a primary support system of 10 to 15 clients with similar diagnoses and is led by a specialized counselor. Each client also receives individualized, one-on-one support from a primary counselor and psychiatrist who focus specifically on clients in that recovery community. Clients may transition from one recovery community to another based on goals, clinical presentation, and achievement. Dual Diagnosis, or DD, is one of our recovery communities.

DD is an additional area of focus

Clients participate in the dual diagnosis program as an additional area of focus. Each client in the dual diagnosis recovery community also will participate in a CBT, DBT, CAFE, or SI recovery community as well, depending on your diagnosis, symptoms and goals.

In your other recovery community core group you will focus on your specific psychiatric diagnosis and symptoms – for example bipolar illness, depression or anxiety – and skills to manage those challenges. In the Dual Diagnosis core group, you primarily will focus on substance use as it relates to mental health. You will be introduced to the 12 Step recovery model and work on developing your own relapse prevention plan.

You will explore the relationship between substance use and your mental illness and learn about the complex interactions between substance use and mental health. The goal is to leave with an understanding of how one affects the other, as well as strategies for maintaining sobriety to support your mental health.

Day Treatment and Recovery Residence

Clients in our dual diagnosis program cannot be adequately supported in the Skyland Trail transitional living program and will be referred to a third party recovery residence when leaving residential treatment. Enrolling in a recovery residence or sober living program is a requirement for dual diagnosis clients to step down to the Skyland Trail day treatment program.

Dual Diagnosis Program Expectations

Here are some specific expectations that are unique to Dual Diagnosis (DD) clients:

  • Dual Diagnosis clients are required to attend 12 Step meetings throughout the week. The frequency of attendance will vary according to level of care.
  • Dual Diagnosis clients are all required to submit random UDS screens throughout the week. You will be assigned to a “UDS screen color.” Each morning, you must check the posted psychiatrist appointment schedule which will list a UDS screen color. If your color is selected and posted on the schedule that day, you must go to the Wellness Clinic to provide a urine sample before 3:00 p.m. that day.
  • Dual Diagnosis clients are expected to attend their DD core group 4 times per week, and complete their DD assignments as expected.
  • As you progress in your treatment at Skyland Trail, Dual Diagnosis clients are required to acquire a temporary 12 Step sponsor.
  • Dual Diagnosis clients begin their 12 Step work prior to graduation from Skyland Trail.

Goals of DD

Some of the goals of the dual diagnosis recovery community are to help clients:

  • Learn to identify, verbalize, and sit with difficult emotions
  • Introduce or continue their knowledge and use of the 12 Steps and AA/ NA
  • Take accountability for actions and behaviors prior to entering treatment
  • Be honest with themselves as well as others
  • Know and weigh the pros and cons of continued use
  • Identify and normalize the challenges of early sobriety
  • Identify addictive thinking
  • Gain awareness to the danger of people, places, and things in terms of sustaining recovery
  • Regain trust in others and learn how and why to ask for help
  • Improve interpersonal skills
  • Learn DBT and CBT skills
  • Develop community integration