Dual Diagnosis treatment online means evidence-based care for people with dual diagnoses, both a mental health condition and a substance use disorder, at the same time, through secure telehealth.
At Shanti Recovery and Wellness, our online dual diagnosis treatment programs are designed for flexible care for people with co-occurring disorders.
The approach works so that clients can safely participate and receive support directly in their homes. All that is required is that those seeking help have a reliable internet connection and a private space, and do not need medical detox or 24-hour monitoring.
Is getting help for co-occurring disorders online effective? At Shanti, the answer is a resounding yes!
Our licensed clinicians use virtual tools to assess symptoms, teach coping strategies, and help clients build recovery routines in the same environment where triggers occur.
For residents across California, Shanti supports continuity with local providers and provides effective, evidence-based care that aligns with state licensing and telehealth laws.
Keep reading to learn more, and remember, our compassionate staff are here via confidential call at any time for immediate support!
A virtual intensive outpatient program, often called a virtual IOP, provides several sessions a week that combine group therapy, individual therapy, and skills practice.
Our programs meet multiple days with set start and end times. It is designed to fit around your work and family schedules. You’ll be able to keep your job while in treatment.
Many people want to know if therapy and recovery skills translate to video sessions. People with dual diagnoses often face unique challenges in accessing and maintaining effective treatment. The short answer is yes: when care is organized and clinically led (as it is at Shanti).
The program addresses multiple mental health and substance use issues, and it’s a comprehensive approach to recovery. Sessions focus on recovery planning, mood regulation, craving management, and problem-solving in real time.
Because it’s in your home environment, strategies are practiced where they will be used and then refined with therapist feedback.
Shanti Recovery and Wellness provides this care as a fully virtual IOP for California residents. The program is delivered by licensed clinicians on a HIPAA-compliant platform, with evidence-based therapies used across individual and group sessions.
Attendance, engagement, and safety are monitored closely, and care plans are reviewed and updated as symptoms or stressors change.
Online admission begins with a clinical assessment that screens for alcohol or substance use patterns, mental health symptoms, medical considerations, safety needs, and practical supports.
When you call Shanti, our caring clinicians will ask about history, current medications, withdrawal risk, and prior treatment.
From there, the treatment team works with the client to develop an individualized treatment plan with clear goals, therapy frequency, and recommendations for family involvement or coordination with primary care.
Our treatment team also works with the client to develop skills and strategies for recovery. Safety planning is part of this first phase and includes identifying early warning signs, personal coping strategies, people who can help, and emergency steps if risk escalates.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy works online because it focuses on the link between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that can be mapped on a shared screen or worksheet. Online therapy provides a way for individuals to access evidence-based care for dual diagnosis.
At Shanti, our clients practice skills like cognitive restructuring, scheduling healthy activities, and exposure to high-risk situations through role play that mirrors home and community life.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy brings concrete tools for distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
These modules translate naturally to telehealth, where real-time coaching helps a person ride out urges and name emotions. Motivational Interviewing supports intrinsic motivation for change through collaborative conversation. In online sessions, it helps patients explore ambivalence, set values-based goals, and build plans that feel realistic in daily routines.
A strong online program treats craving management as a daily practice. Therapists help patients map triggers such as time of day, stress, or social cues. Skills might include urge surfing, paced breathing, delaying and distracting, and replacing use with short, rewarding activities that match the same function.
These skills are essential for achieving and maintaining sobriety. Return to use prevention is framed as risk reduction and rapid response. Patients build a plan that covers early warning signs, support contacts, coping skills, and steps to regain stability if use occurs. Homework assignments bring skills into the real world, and session time is used to review what worked, what didn’t, and how to adjust.
Online care integrates treatment for conditions like anxiety disorders, depression, PTSD, and related concerns that commonly co-occur with alcohol or substance use. The team addresses both sets of symptoms in the same plan. Progress in one area does not create setbacks in the other.
This integrated care approach ensures comprehensive support for individuals with co-occurring disorders. For example, exposure to anxiety triggers might be coordinated with craving management, while sleep interventions are paired with mood tracking and substance use monitoring.
Trauma-informed care guides the pace and content of therapy, emphasizing safety, choice, and skills that reduce physiological arousal.
When appropriate and with consent, the program coordinates with a primary care provider or outside prescriber to align therapy with medication plans and medical needs.
Online dual diagnosis treatment is a good fit for adults who can participate regularly, have a quiet space for sessions, and are medically and psychiatrically stable enough for outpatient care.
It is not the right setting for someone at imminent risk of harming self or others, someone with uncontrolled psychosis, or someone with alcohol or benzodiazepine dependence who is at risk for dangerous withdrawal and needs medical detox.
If a clinical assessment finds that a person needs inpatient detox, residential care, or partial hospitalization, a referral to the appropriate level of care is indicated to ensure safety and appropriate care before stepping into or back into online services.
Privacy is a big concern for many adults considering online care. A HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform protects health information during video, audio, and chat. Patients are encouraged to use headphones, position the camera away from others, and signal to the group if privacy is disrupted.
Consent forms explain how information is used, stored, and shared. Clinicians verify location at the start of sessions, review emergency procedures, and confirm that patients understand how to reach crisis resources if needed. These measures create a confidential therapeutic space that respects patient choice and legal requirements.
Family education and communication can be built into online treatment with the patient’s consent. Be aware that this is always up to you and is a personal decision.
If you decided to move forward with family therapy work, sessions may focus on setting boundaries that support recovery, understanding relapse warning signs, addressing problems related to communication, and practicing supportive communication.
Coordination with primary care, psychiatry, or community supports helps align therapy goals with medical considerations and social determinants such as housing or transportation. A psychiatrist may be involved in medication management and clinical assessments as part of this coordination.
When the treatment plan calls for it, clinicians will provide updates to outside providers with written permission and ensure that safety plans are shared appropriately.
Recovery is a process that benefits from step-downs and ongoing support. After completing an online IOP, many people continue with weekly groups, individual therapy, or periodic check-ins that maintain progress.
This ongoing care supports the recovery journey as a continuous process, helping individuals build coping skills and achieve long-term emotional stability. Continuing care can also include alumni meetings, peer recovery support, and family sessions timed around anniversaries or known high-risk periods.
Plans often include routines for sleep, nutrition, activity, and stress management, along with a clear path for re-engaging in more intensive services if symptoms flare. These routines and support systems foster healing and promote long-term well-being.
Shanti Recovery and Wellness offers options for continuing care after IOP to maintain structure while a person advances in work, school, or family life.
Structure and accountability keep online treatment moving. Attendance is tracked, goals are visible, and sessions include direct practice of coping skills. It’s important to be present and actively participate in each session to make progress.
Clinicians assign brief exercises between meetings, such as thought records, mood logs, or behavior experiments that test new strategies in the person’s real environment. Progress is reviewed, obstacles are named, and plans are adjusted.
Because triggers often live at home or work, the telehealth format allows for immediate application of skills and a quicker feedback loop.
At Shanti Recovery and Wellness, individualization begins at assessment and continues through weekly reviews. Our therapists consider cultural background, family roles, trauma history, learning preferences, and personal values when shaping interventions. In fact, personalized care improves outcomes in dual diagnosis treatment.
Group therapy brings peer support and shared learning while still allowing for private one-to-one work. Patients help set the agenda by identifying stressors of the week, such as a conflict with a partner, a work deadline, or sleep disruption. This focus keeps therapy relevant and increases the chance that new habits will stick.
Shanti Recovery and Wellness offers a fully virtual IOP for adults in California and across the US. Care is delivered by licensed clinicians using a HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform.
The clinical team integrates evidence-based therapies, including CBT, DBT, and Motivational Interviewing, within a dual diagnosis framework that treats both mental health issues and substance abuse disorders in an integrated way.
The program includes options for continuing care after IOP to support ongoing stability. These elements reflect a focused, virtual approach that is structured, collaborative, and aligned with California practice requirements.
Consider if you can attend scheduled sessions consistently and protect your privacy during therapy. Think about your home environment, the devices you have, and whether you can use headphones or find a quiet room.
Reflect on safety, including any withdrawal risks or current crises that might require more intensive care. If the structure and flexibility of online care match your responsibilities and you meet outpatient criteria, then virtual treatment can be an effective way to build recovery skills in the same spaces where you live and work.
Take a moment to consider if you are ready to commit to the recovery process and make the most of online treatment.
If you have questions or want to schedule an assessment, contact Shanti Recovery and Wellness today.
The first weeks often include an assessment, safety planning, platform orientation, and the start of core modules. Many people notice early gains in routine and self-monitoring, such as tracking sleep, cravings, and mood.
Sessions introduce cognitive and behavioral tools, distress tolerance skills, and motivational work that clarifies why change matters and how to take the next step. Family involvement may start with education and boundary setting, while coordination with outside providers ensures medical considerations are addressed.
Clinicians use symptom scales, self-reports, and functional goals to measure change. Progress isn’t linear for everyone, so the plan includes checkpoints and opportunities to revise strategies. Success may look like fewer high-risk episodes, better sleep, reduced anxiety, or stronger communication at home and work. If setbacks occur, the team responds with rapid problem-solving and additional support. The goal is steady skill-building that carries forward into daily life.
State licensure ensures clinicians meet California standards for training and practice. It allows programs to coordinate with local medical providers and community resources and to respond to state-specific regulations. For patients, it means continuity, especially when arranging follow-up care, verifying insurance benefits, or accessing local services that complement virtual treatment.
Safety starts with an initial risk assessment and an individualized plan that names personal warning signs, coping steps, and emergency contacts. Clinicians verify the patient’s physical location at the start of sessions so help can be directed correctly if needed. Patients learn to prepare their space for sessions, secure substances or triggers, and identify supportive people who can be reached if risk rises. If risk exceeds outpatient thresholds at any point, the team coordinates a transition to the appropriate level of care.
Shanti Recovery and Wellness is here to ground the discussion in a real program model. We’re a fully virtual IOP for California residents, led by licensed clinicians who use CBT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing, and integrated dual diagnosis care on a HIPAA-compliant platform.
Our program includes options for continuing care after IOP. These features give you a structured way to engage in online dual diagnosis treatment while maintaining your responsibilities at home, at school, or at work.
It’s not a shortcut. It’s a structured, clinically guided way to bring therapy, skills practice, and support into your daily life. For many Californians, that’s what makes online dual diagnosis treatment practical and doable.
Reach out confidentially and get our compassionate support now!
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Shanti Recovery & Wellness integrates relational and behavioral therapies, along with holistic, medical and psychiatric interventions to help clients reach not only sobriety, but also emotional health and lasting well-being.