Addiction Psychiatry

In 2021, 16% of people in Los Angeles County had a substance use disorder. Only about 2% of them would go on to receive treatment.

Addiction treatment isn’t all about 12-step programs and support groups. Effective treatment for substance use disorders involves evidence-based therapies, and addressing the true cause of addiction: emotional distress.

You didn’t try heroin for the first time just for fun. The person you love who is taking more of their opioid medication than prescribed isn’t doing it because they had poor impulse control. It was because of deep pain and the desire for relief. Some people turn to substances to ease that pain, and this is how addiction develops.

What’s the cure, then? Unfortunately, there’s no quick fix. Recovery takes hard work and dedication, but through avenues like addiction psychiatry at BNI Clinics, it’s possible.

What We Treat: Substance Use Disorders in Adults and Adolescents

Substance use disorders affect people from all walks of life, and aren’t just limited to adults – so our treatment isn’t either. We bring addiction treatment services to adults and adolescents in the Los Angeles area. 

If you keep finding alcohol in your teen’s room, we want to talk to them about it. If you know your friend is using cocaine, we want to see them, too. Our focus on psychiatry makes us uniquely qualified to address every aspect of substance use disorders, including mental health conditions. We can bring you the expert-level addiction treatment your family deserves.

How We Treat: What to Expect From Psychiatric Treatment for Addiction at BNI Clinics

When you choose psychiatric treatment with BNI Clinics, all of our expertise is at your disposal.

This process begins with our diagnostic evaluations. We’ll perform assessments to officially diagnose any mental or behavioral health conditions that might accompany your substance use disorder. This is key to comprehensively conquering your addiction.

Once you put a name to the conditions you’re living with, it’s easier to develop a plan of attack to overcome them. We’ll work together to take the power away from any substances you engage with, and put it back in your hands. You can regain control of your life, and we have the treatment to help you get there.

Our Treatment Methods: Finding the Right Fit for You

At BNI Clinics, we focus on the psychiatric component of addiction. This means our treatment closely addresses mental health concerns through a variety of evidence-based therapies. These sessions can take place between an individual and a therapist, or in a group setting.

Some of our therapy modalities include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT addresses unproductive thought patterns, and teaches individuals how to identify and change them to promote recovery.
• Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). DBT offers insight on managing strong emotions in healthy ways. It is especially helpful for people with conditions involving emotional dysregulation, such as borderline personality disorder.
• Family therapy. The family unit is the biggest source of support for individuals with substance use disorders. Family therapy offers the building blocks necessary to create a home environment conducive to recovery.
• Psychodynamic therapy. This modality explores subconscious thoughts and processes that influence behavior, including past experiences.

We also offer transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). TMS is a non-invasive procedure that involves sending harmless electrical pulses to parts of the brain to promote healing. TMS is FDA-approved to treat major depressive disorder, and is also proven effective for treatment-resistant depression.

If you have a teenager with a substance use disorder and therapy sessions aren’t enough, we work closely with BNI Treatment Centers, which provides more intensive treatment for adolescents. Some of those services include residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient programs.

Medication Prescription and Management for Your Recovery

The skilled physicians at BNI Clinics can prescribe any medications as needed. This includes psychiatric medication for any mental health conditions when agreed upon between you and your psychiatrist. Sometimes finding medication that works for you can be difficult, and our psychiatrists will walk alongside you in this process as long as it takes to find your ideal treatment protocol. We’re serious about providing you with all the tools you need to conquer your substance use disorder.

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is also an option BNI Clinics offers alongside therapy for individuals with certain substance use disorders – primarily opioid use disorders. MAT involves medications that help manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms, making it easier for those with opioid use disorders to focus on their recovery.

The Winning Formula: Combining Medicine and Therapy

Each patient’s needs are unique. Some can conquer their substance use disorders with therapy alone, and for others, medication can be an enormous asset on their road to recovery. No effective treatment path at BNI Clinics is superior to any other.

Most frequently, we start with therapy, and then add medication as a supplement to treatment if our psychiatrists believe it could be beneficial. Sometimes, individuals may have severe mental health conditions alongside their substance use disorders, which can be treated most effectively by beginning medication and therapy simultaneously. In other cases, someone may come to us in a mental health crisis, and require medication right away to manage symptoms quickly and ensure their safety.

Either way, anyone in our care will attend therapy sessions. These will also be individualized to suit the patient’s needs, from the therapy modalities involved to the psychiatrist they work with, and the strategies they learn and eventually implement on their journey to recovery.