Leading Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center in Tennessee

Almost 40% of individuals with substance abuse also struggle with co-occurring mental illness. A dual-diagnosis treatment facility should simultaneously address both conditions to ensure the best possible recovery outcomes.

Drug addiction and mental health disorders on their own are challenging to overcome. Combined, they form a struggle that 9.2 million adults in the U.S. face. You don’t have to face addiction and mental health on your own. TRUE Addiction and Behavioral Health is a leading dual-diagnosis treatment center in Tennessee.

Due to our owner’s personal recovery journey, TRUE understands the need for increased support during treatment. By offering more sessions per week and a low client caseload for therapists, our patients receive greater benefits from our programs and progress more quickly. We help patients discover the best version of themselves.

We are your partner in addiction treatment and mental health treatment services. We have the expertise and resources to bring these two paths to wellness together. We provide customized care for lasting recovery.

What is Dual Diagnosis?

A dual-diagnosis disorder describes when a person struggles with two or more conditions simultaneously. They are often referred to as co-occurring or comorbid. Commonly, a person struggling with substance abuse will also struggle with mental illness. One or the other may occur first, but the two often worsen each other unless treated.

Some common co-occurring disorders with addiction are:

• Cocaine and Depression
• Alcohol and Panic Disorder
• Drug Obsession and Schizophrenia
• Benzodiazepines and Anxiety
• Stimulants and Eating Disorders
• Amphetamines and ADHD

How Common are Co-Occurring Disorders?

Mental health issues often occur alongside substance use disorders. A lack of treatment and care can result in adverse long-term outcomes, including relapse and overdose. More than half of individuals never receive any treatment. Only 9% will seek treatment through a dual-diagnosis center.

Over 60% of adolescents suffer from dual-diagnosis conditions. 23% of young adults struggle with dual diagnosis substance abuse and mental illness

Substance use often occurs alongside anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Drug and alcohol addiction are also seen at higher levels in those suffering from the following conditions:

• Depression
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar Disorder
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Antisocial Personality Disorder

Drugs and alcohol affect the same areas in the brain as many mental health conditions. The two can often interact and worsen one another’s negative symptoms.

What are the Risk Factors?

There is no specific reason someone may experience addiction alongside mental disorders and vice versa. There are, however, some factors that may increase the risk of these co-occurring. If there is a family history of both, this can likely explain someone’s tendency to develop both. Genetics may play a role. There is much to be said about environmental factors contributing to the development of co-occurring disorders.

If a child grows up around drugs or alcohol, they may have a higher risk of trying these substances at a younger age. This can increase the chances of developing an addiction. Childhood trauma or stress can also increase the risk, primarily if genetic predispositions exist.

People with mental illnesses are at a higher risk for self-medication, which can lead to an addiction. Conversely, individuals who use drugs can alter the way their brains work. This can trigger the development of mental illnesses such as anxiety or psychosis. Regardless of which comes first, it is critical to treat both simultaneously, as they can exacerbate one another.

Why is Dual-Diagnosis Treatment Important?

We understand identifying and diagnosing both conditions accurately can be challenging. It has to be done simultaneously to provide a more effective treatment plan. Most SUDs worsen the symptoms of mental illness and vice versa. If only one condition is treated at a time, the risk of relapse increases.

People who self-medicate to alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, or PTSD can worsen those disorders. As their mental health deteriorates, substance use may increase until the cycle becomes almost impossible to break with support from a recovery program.

We recognize how traumatic experiences can influence individuals and contribute to substance abuse and mental health conditions. Our approach focuses on trauma responses and helps patients get to the root of their negative feelings.

Effective Treatments

Our combination of evidence-based therapeutic techniques improves our clients’ chances of leaving our facilities sober, along with coping strategies for their mental illness. These techniques teach our clients positive, healthy habits that promote continued growth after the treatment program ends. The skills learned can be applied during aftercare.

Your time is spent participating in two one-on-one therapy sessions each week, intimate group therapy, case management, holistic services, and 12-step program immersion, so you have the tools you need for long-term sobriety. Our small group sizes of 6-8 patients offer more opportunities to form connections with peers and share your vulnerabilities.

Holistic therapy is an alternative treatment service that focuses on the whole person, not just specific addiction-related symptoms. Our therapists consider your physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being.

We use several holistic treatments, including the following:

• Guided meditation
• Mindfulness groups
• Yoga

Coming soon:

• Acupuncture
• Animal therapy
• Art therapy
• Movement therapy
• Music therapy

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is an effective therapy for treatment. It improves how you manage your emotions. DBT makes you more in tune with your emotional state while building coping skills, impulse control, emotional control, and getting along with others.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) also improves how individuals interact with others. Our clients identify and change inaccurate beliefs and negative behaviors affecting relationships. It can reduce mood swings, anxiety symptoms, self-harming behaviors, and suicidal tendencies.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy helps individuals overcome symptoms caused by trauma and distress through eye movement. It treats dual diagnosis because it can help resolve unpleasant memories and experiences. This psychotherapy technique is based on the idea that the mind can heal from psychological trauma, similar to how the body can recover from physical trauma.

Motivational interviewing (MI) is helpful for individuals struggling with substance use. MI involves a non-judgemental and empathetic conversation with a therapist to help increase our clients’ motivation to change their behaviors. By exploring each individual’s values, goals, and concerns, the approach identifies and reinforces self-determination to begin making more positive changes. With guidance from our clinicians, clients gain insights into their drug abuse patterns, develop coping strategies to reduce their use, and work toward recovery.

Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) helps individuals understand unhelpful thoughts that can lead to negative emotions or behaviors. REBT focuses on the moment and what a person is feeling. Our therapists help you form new ways of approaching challenges, thoughts, and circumstances. The root of the adverse emotions is addressed so that self-sabotaging behavior can taper off.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) combines mindfulness and acceptance strategies. The idea behind ACT is to focus on helping individuals develop mental and emotional flexibility and avoid making risky decisions.

Comprehensive Emotional Memory Assessment (CEMA) evaluates underlying shame-based belief systems that generate emotional pain, compulsion, maladaptive behaviors, and negative emotions that drive chemical and process addictions. The assessment is administered by a licensed therapist who holds an ancillary session to conduct a diagnostic interview.

Our Programs

To meet the needs of every person seeking help, we offer various treatment services that we can customize to each client’s specific needs. Our flexible programs allow us to reach all people in need, regardless of their home or work situation.

• Partial Hospitalization Program: Patients in our PHP attend treatment from 9:30 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. Monday through Saturday. With 6 days per week of intensive treatment, our program creates structure around the clock while allowing for a more affordable option than a residential treatment program.
• Intensive Outpatient Program: A step down from PHP, IOP allows clients to continue working, going to school, or taking care of their families while also receiving treatment. Patients in our IOP receive treatment from 9:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. Monday through Friday, with an option of additional treatment on Saturday.
• Sober Living: During treatment, patients can live in our sober living homes with other peers in recovery to help them stay accountable. They also receive access to amenities such as a home gym in the garage and complimentary transportation from the residence to our treatment facility.

What Makes TRUE Unique?

Connection and love set us apart in how we serve our clients. Our services are well-thought-out and strategized to facilitate every person’s need to support their path to recovery. We provide a clinical program highlighting comprehensive physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental assessments.

At our dual diagnosis treatment program, our providers follow a set of values that guide our service to each client we treat. Our core beliefs provide an extensive framework that focuses on personal growth and finding purpose.

Transformation: Challenging people to be willing to change into the person they have dreamed of becoming and change their beliefs into a life of TRUE purpose and value. 

Connection: Creating an environment for a person to find their TRUE authentic self, connecting to love, honesty, integrity, passion, and purpose while being in a conducive safe place of refuge. 

Community: Developing a TRUE meaning of belonging without judgment on their values, goals, and beliefs. 

Courage: A daily reprieve to find the strength to pursue your hopes and believe you can do it by being persistent without relenting to achieve the result you sought out to find. 

Consistency: Having faithfulness to be firmly grounded and rooted into your cause to locate purpose and the TRUE meaning in life. 

Love: Having no judgment, being kind, gentle, patient, not resentful, forgiving, understanding, compassionate, and sacrificing to serve others, all while being TRUE to self. 

The owner of TRUE’s personal recovery journey has guided him on a mission to improve treatment services for other struggling individuals. This led him to create TRUE with a clear goal, emphasizing what we stand for. T.R.U.E.: Transforming Roots Unto Eternity.

With his own experience in addiction and years of work in many treatment capacities, our founder is uniquely qualified to heal more than the symptoms of substance use or mental health disorders — our carefully crafted treatment provides healing for the whole person.

Exploring Treatment at TRUE: FAQs

What types of insurance does TRUE accept?

We accept most major insurance providers, including BCBS, Aetna, Anthem, and UMR. We are currently working on the ability to accept Medicare and Medicaid to make treatment more accessible.

What does TRUE treat?

As a dual diagnosis treatment facility, we treat both mental health conditions and substance use disorders, as well as co-occurring conditions. Common disorders we treat include alcohol addiction, opioid addiction, methamphetamine addiction, anxiety, bipolar disorder, BPD, depression, gambling disorder, OCD, and PTSD.

How long is treatment?

This depends on each individual’s needs and the progress they make during treatment. Typically, our programs can fall between 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days—though patients are allowed to extend their program length if they require more support and therapeutic services.

What is the staff to client ratio?

TRUE prides itself on the ability to offer personalized, high-quality care. Each of our therapists treats only 6-8 individuals at a time, which is how we make sure all of our patients are receiving the attention and care that they need to overcome their struggles.

How does TRUE stand out from other facilities?

Because of our owner’s personal experience in recovery, we have a unique insight into the challenges our patients face and recognize what treatment is currently lacking. We continuously strive for improvement, which is why we are constantly seeking out additions to our programs and services so we can provide the most effective treatment possible to facilitate recovery.

What accreditations does TRUE have?

In addition to being licensed by the state of Tennessee, TRUE Addiction & Behavioral Health is a LegitScript-certified treatment facility. This means that we have been recognized for our efforts in providing high-quality, effective care to our patients.

Contact Us Today for Help

We strive to make getting help easy and uncomplicated. Our relaxing atmosphere is paired with industry-leading treatments. This makes getting better an empowering experience. We’re here, 24/7, to answer any questions and help you get help now.

Our committed team will guide you through the admissions process, collaborating on each step to prepare for your arrival. Co-occurring disorders shouldn’t co-own your life. Contact us today to learn more about our dual diagnosis treatment center.