Kern County Drug Rehab and Alcohol Rehab Options

Addiction and Mental Health Care Options in Kern County, California

If you are a local, you likely already know that Kern County, from the southern edge of California’s Central Valley to the Mojave Desert, is a place of contrasts.

Home to almost a million residents, Kern County has the urban hub of Bakersfield and dozens of small agricultural and desert communities like Delano, Ridgecrest, and Tehachapi.

While Kern’s economic base: oil, agriculture, and logistics, has created opportunity, it has also created chronic stress, rural isolation, and a higher-than-average rate of substance use and mental health challenges.

The increasing use of drugs and the development of addiction have made addiction and withdrawal symptoms more common in the region, complicating the lives of many of its residents. And treatment is not always close at hand in Kern County.

That is why Shanti Recovery & Wellness offers virtual addiction treatment options that are convenient for residents across Kern.

We invite you to keep reading to learn more our vitural Kern County Drug rehab and find out more about getting effective treatment in Kern County and the proven support offered with our online programs.

Kern County Ranks As One of The State’s Highest Need Areas

According to California Health and Human Services data, Kern County is one of the state’s highest need regions for behavioral health services.

Alcohol use, methamphetamine dependence, and co-occurring anxiety and depression are prevalent in the area, while access to care varies greatly by geography.

Many people in Kern County suffer from dual diagnosis disorder, meaning they have both substance use and mental health disorders at the same time, which further complicates their treatment needs.

Telehealth and Virtual IOP Are Much Needed in Kern County

In a county where a drive from Frazier Park to Ridgecrest can take over 3 hours, distance itself becomes a barrier to treatment. The ongoing struggle with addictions and mental health in Kern County makes it even harder for people to get help.

Shanti Recovery & Wellness wants to bridge that gap by offering a flexible, clinically sound alternative: Virtual Intensive Outpatient Programs (Virtual IOP) and online therapy for Californians who need care, no matter where they live.

These services help individuals regain control of their lives and overcome addiction, rebuild and improve their overall well-being.

What are the Behavioral Health Challenges and Care Gaps in Kern County?

Kern County’s behavioral health landscape is a mixed bag. The Kern Behavioral Health & Recovery Services (KBHRS) department offers important programs, including outpatient counseling, crisis stabilization, and recovery support.

But like many California counties, it has high demand and limited provider availability.

In the more rural parts of the county, Lamont, Mojave, Rosamond, and Taft, residents often have to travel long distances to see a licensed clinician or outpatient facility. Public transportation is limited, and for those who work full-time or care for family members, frequent in-person sessions are unrealistic.

Medi-Cal Telehealth Coverage in Kern County

The CalAIM initiative and expanded Medi-Cal telehealth coverage have helped, but awareness is low.

Many Kern residents don’t know they can get structured, evidence-based outpatient care, equal in quality to in-person programs, entirely online through providers like Shanti Recovery & Wellness.

These comprehensive treatment programs offer a range of therapies, including evidence-based, group, family, and mental health therapies to address addiction and mental health needs in Kern County.

Start feeling better today with Shanti Recovery & Wellness.

Kern County Drug Rehab Addiction Treatment Options

While Kern County does have a wide range of treatment options for those struggling with substance use disorders in densely populated areas like Bakersfield, the path to recovery is more remote for residents in outlying areas like Mojave and Rosamond.

Bakersfield treatment centers offer a full spectrum of services from medically supervised detox to comprehensive residential treatment programs.

Yet even for Bakersfield residents, Shanti Recovery & Wellness presents a viable support option for continuing care, and is a flexible outpatient model unmatched by many local rehabs.

What are the Benefits of Telehealth Addiction Treatment for Kern County Locals?

Telehealth has changed how Californians access mental health and addiction treatment, and Kern County benefits greatly from that shift.

A Shanti, our Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) offers many of the same features as in-person intensive outpatient care: multiple therapy sessions per week, group support, family counseling, relapse prevention, and holistic modules, but delivered via secure videoconferencing platforms that meet federal privacy standards.

For Kern County residents, this means:

No commute barriers: Whether you live in Bakersfield or Boron, sessions are accessible by phone, tablet, or computer.
Flexible scheduling: Shanti offers morning, evening, and weekend sessions that accommodate shift workers, agricultural employees, or parents managing childcare.
Continuity of care: If you transition from residential treatment or medical detox, Virtual IOP can be a seamless next step without relocation.
Enhanced privacy: Especially in small rural towns, telehealth is a discreet way to access therapy from home.

Virtual IOP also provides access to recovery support resources so individuals can maintain progress between sessions and after program completion.

This is not a shortcut. It is a clinically validated method of treatment that has grown exponentially across California under state-supported telehealth reimbursement programs. Virtual IOP allows individuals to focus entirely on their recovery in a supportive and structured environment.

Shanti Recovery & Wellness: A California Focused Approach

Shanti Recovery & Wellness delivers statewide addiction and dual-diagnosis care through an integrated model that combines evidence-based therapy with holistic healing. While Shanti is a virtual treatment facility, it offers the same level of care and support as traditional in-person centers.

For Kern County residents, the program includes:

Individual Therapy – Customized sessions using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
Group Therapy – Interactive sessions with peers across California focused on skill-building, relapse prevention, and shared support.
Family and Relationship Work – Supporting a loved one through the recovery process by helping families understand addiction, rebuild communication, and actively participate in their loved one’s healing journey.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment – Addressing both mental health conditions and substance use together for lasting healing.
Holistic and Mindfulness Practices – Including guided meditation, yoga, breathwork, and psychoeducation to build resilience and emotional regulation.

This combination of structure and flexibility allows clients to maintain employment or caregiving roles while receiving the consistent therapeutic engagement needed to support long-term recovery.

Local Realities: Barriers and Breakthroughs in Kern County

Despite progress, many Kern residents still face complex barriers to care. According to KBHRS data, over 25% of residents live in rural or remote communities where there are fewer than five licensed behavioral health professionals per 10,000 people.

Access to licensed professionals is key to effective treatment and recovery outcomes. The stigma surrounding addiction and mental illness is significant, particularly in agricultural and faith-based communities.

Virtual programs like ours help overcome both geography and stigma by providing confidential, home-based access to clinical care. Clients often feel safer and more open when participating from familiar surroundings rather than walking into a public clinic.

Virtual IOP Offers Recovery Support from Ridgecrest to Bakersfield

Luis, A Composite of Kern County Client Experiences

Living in Ridgecrest and working long hours at a logistics center near Bakersfield, Luis struggled with alcohol use and untreated depression. Traditional outpatient care meant a longer round trip to and from Bakersfield, a barrier that kept him from consistent therapy.

Through Virtual IOP, Luis joined group sessions 3 times a week and individual therapy on Saturdays. His treatment plan was tailored to his work schedule and recovery goals. Over 3 months, he built relapse prevention skills, reconnected with his family, and learned to manage anxiety through mindfulness and CBT exercises, all from home.

Virtual care didn’t replace human connection; it restored it by meeting Luis where he was and adapting to his schedule and environment.

Local Resources for Kern County Residents

While Shanti provides virtual care, Kern County has local resources that support ongoing recovery:

Kern Behavioral Health & Recovery Services (KBHRS) – The county’s primary behavioral health agency, offering crisis intervention, youth and family services, and community recovery programs.
Clinica Sierra Vista – Federally Qualified Health Center with behavioral health and primary care integration throughout Kern County.
Greater Bakersfield Recovery Services – Residential and outpatient programs in the Bakersfield metro area.
NAMI Kern County – Peer-led education and support for individuals and families affected by mental illness. NAMI also offers peer support groups, connecting individuals with others who have a lived experience of recovery.*
Faith and Community Coalitions – Local organizations such as the Kern County Network for Children and regional church-based outreach groups that provide practical support and stigma reduction.

Shanti encourages clients to build these local connections as part of a long-term recovery network that combines professional treatment with community accountability and support.

Using Insurance for Virtual IOP at Shanti

Getting rehab services in Kern County is easier than you think, with various insurance and payment options. Our treatment programs accept private insurance and MediCal.

The process starts with insurance verification to ensure coverage is in place and you can move forward with treatment without delay.

Get Started with Shanti Recovery

Contact Us – Call or fill out our online form.
Assessment – Our licensed clinicians will conduct a virtual evaluation to determine the right level of care.
Insurance Verification – We accept most commercial plans and Medi-Cal statewide.
Orientation and Scheduling – Clients will get help setting up secure access, understanding the virtual platform, and customizing schedules.
Ongoing Support – Clients will have clinical oversight, accountability, progress, and relapse prevention with the option to step down to less intensive outpatient support as they get stable. Case management services are also available to help clients coordinate care, access resources, and navigate challenges throughout their recovery journey.

Every interaction is based on compassion, clinical integrity, and the belief that healing shouldn’t be limited by location or income.

Up To 100% of Rehab Costs Covered By Insurance

Get Support in Kern County at Shanti Recovery

With our unique telehealth programs, healing can happen anywhere, a living room in Bakersfield, a farm outside Wasco, or an apartment near Ridgecrest.

Shanti Recovery & Wellness offers trusted, evidence-based care that goes beyond geography and circumstance. For Kern County residents, recovery doesn’t mean uprooting your life or waiting months for an appointment.

Please reach out confidentially to learn more about our services now!