Drug & Alcohol Addiction Treatment
At Healthy Life Recovery, our San Diego addiction treatment emphasizes whole-body wellness, offering integrated dual-diagnosis care and evidence-based therapies for a sustainable recovery journey.
Recovering Addicts and Alcoholics often require medication to regulate mood and manage withdrawals early in the treatment process. Our addiction treatment includes MAT which can be an important tool to control cravings and help prevent relapse. MAT has been shown to decrease relapse rates and help people in recovery to focus on addiction education and move forward with their lives.
Clients who choose outpatient aftercare maintain accountability and receive the support they need to maintain their professional and personal commitments. Outpatient rehab helps clients manage stressors as they return to daily life. Most clients in aftercare reside in sober living homes and attend outpatient rehab around their personal, work or school schedule. Our addiction plan tailors to each patient’s plan to their specific needs, concerns and goals.
Our San Diego addiction treatment center teaches our patients that regular exercise is a natural way to reduce stress levels that promotes mental stability through the release of tension and anxiety. A daily exercise regime can also help clients learn accountability and shows them the benefits of sticking to a long term plan. Nutrition is also a key element of a balanced recovery plan. These practices promote self-esteem and positive self-image.
A sober living home is a place where people in early recovery can live together in an alcohol and drug free zone. Our Sober living in San Diego offers structure and supervision to clients transitioning out of an inpatient rehab or detox program. In our sober living homes, recovering addicts and alcoholics attend 12-step meetings together. They build lasting relationships and learn accountability from their peers. Our Recovery Homes also help clients find work and develop healthy hobbies to replace addictive behaviors.
Every client at Healthy Life Recovery is assigned a personal therapist with whom they meet with weekly. Individual sessions are useful to further explore concepts and topics from group therapy sessions on a more personal level. In these sessions patients have the opportunity to receive feedback and guidance to increase their mental wellness and deal with issues that have contributed to their addiction.
The LGBTQ+ community is at a higher risk for drug and alcohol abuse than their heterosexual counterparts. The societal discrimination that they face can further exacerbate mental health and substance abuse issues. Other factors, like rejection from family, violence and loss of child custody can also lead to addiction. Our addiction treatment program gives LGBTQ+ people an experience that offers support and understanding for the unique challenges that they face.
At Healthy Life Recovery, we help those suffering from substance use disorders (SUD) and mental health issues. When these two conditions happen simultaneously, it is referred to as Dual Diagnosis. In many instances, one condition triggers the other. Dealing with addiction is already hard enough, especially when your addictive disorder coincides with mental health issues.
At Healthy Life Recovery, we understand the importance of effective mental health treatment. We believe that individuals who struggle with mental health conditions should have access to the highest quality care in a safe and supportive environment. That’s why we offer a wide range of outpatient mental health services in San Diego, designed to meet the unique needs of each individual.
Starting treatment shouldn’t feel overwhelming. Here at Healthy Life Recovery, we’ve designed a four-step admissions process that moves at your pace, with our team beside you from the first call through your first day in treatment.
Call our San Diego admissions team for a confidential, no-pressure conversation. We’ll listen to what’s going on, answer your questions, and outline what next steps might look like.
We verify your benefits with major carriers like UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Cigna, and Blue Cross, confirm coverage and copays, and walk through any financial planning options before you commit.
Our clinical team completes a thorough biopsychosocial assessment, screening for substance use, co-occurring mental health conditions, medical history, and personal goals to shape a treatment plan built for you.
Once your plan is finalized, you begin treatment right away. You’re paired with your therapist and care team, then step straight into evidence-based therapy, MAT if needed, and group support.
Most people don’t decide after one bad night. Trying to cut back and failing, hiding use, missed work, and feeling like the substance is in control are all signs worth taking seriously. We offer a free, confidential assessment that clarifies what level of outpatient rehab in San Diego or detox support fits, with no obligation to commit.
We offer a full continuum so clients can step up or down based on clinical need. Services include medically supervised detox, IOP and standard outpatient, Evening IOP for working adults, MAT, sober living, and advanced mental health care such as TMS, ketamine therapy, GeneSight testing, and qEEG brain mapping, all coordinated under one clinical team.
It depends on the substance, severity, co-occurring conditions, and prior history. As a general framework, medically supervised detox runs 5 to 10 days, IOP commonly lasts 8 to 12 weeks, and outpatient therapy or MAT often continues for several months afterward. We build aftercare and sober living support into the plan rather than treating discharge as the finish line.
Yes. Around half of people with a substance use disorder also live with a co-occurring condition like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or PTSD. Our integrated dual diagnosis treatment addresses both at once, with the same team coordinating psychiatry, therapy, and medication. Advanced options like TMS, ketamine therapy, and EMDR are available for treatment-resistant symptoms.
We’re in-network with UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Ambetter, Oscar, and Medica, and we work with many out-of-network plans as well. Specific benefits depend on the plan, so the fastest answer is to verify coverage through our insurance page or by phone. Our team will confirm copays and any out-of-pocket estimate before you commit.
The first call is a conversation, not an intake interview. We ask about substances, withdrawal concerns, mental health history, and what life you’re trying to get back to. From there we recommend a starting level of care, discuss insurance, and either schedule an assessment or begin admissions the same day if appropriate. Calls are confidential, with no obligation.
Our program is built on evidence-based therapies, with modality selection guided by what each client needs. Components include CBT, DBT, EMDR, brainspotting, group therapy, family therapy, and motivational interviewing. For clients with treatment-resistant depression or persistent trauma, we layer in advanced options like TMS therapy, ketamine therapy, GeneSight testing, and qEEG brain mapping.
Yes. MAT is one of the most well-studied tools for opioid and alcohol use disorders, and we offer it as part of an integrated plan. Our medical team can prescribe buprenorphine (Suboxone), naltrexone (Vivitrol), and other appropriate medications, paired with therapy and peer support. Decisions are made collaboratively with our medical director.
For many clients, yes. Our Evening IOP runs after standard business hours, letting working adults, parents, and students continue daily responsibilities while completing structured treatment three to five evenings a week. Detox and the earliest weeks usually require time away from work, but most clients phase back into normal life as they step down.
We combine a full continuum of care with advanced mental health treatment under one clinical team, something few San Diego programs do. Our multidisciplinary staff includes a medical director, psychiatric nurse practitioner, clinical director, and licensed therapists, and our Active Recovery Tracks (gym, surfing, skateboarding, yoga, music, nutrition) give clients a sustainable lifestyle to build recovery around.
Yes. We follow HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2, the federal regulations that specifically protect the confidentiality of substance use treatment records. Nothing about an inquiry, assessment, or course of treatment is shared with employers, family members, or other parties without written consent, except in the narrow situations required by law.
Dr. John Allen, MD is a psychiatrist in El Cajon, CA and has over 45 years of experience in the medical field. Dr. Allen has extensive experience in Addiction & Substance Abuse and Psychotic Disorders. He graduated from Baylor University in 1976.
