Mental Illness & Substance Abuse Treatment Center in LaPlace, LA

Learn More About Substance Abuse Recovery at River Place Behavioral Health Hospital

The term substance abuse can refer to a wide range of behaviors involving the misuse of both legal and illicit substances. Depending upon the substance that a person is abusing and the nature and severity of that abuse, this behavior can expose a person to considerable harm, including immediate damage and long-term impairment.

Several mental health disorders put a person at increased risk for substance abuse. Many people who are struggling with mental illness engage in substance abuse as a means of self-medicating or in a misguided attempt to numb themselves to their psychological pain. Contrary to providing relief, though, substance abuse can exacerbate symptoms of mental illness and can complicate a person’s attempts to overcome his or her mental health struggles.

At River Place Behavioral Health in LaPlace, Louisiana, we have developed specialized programming to help individuals who have a primary diagnosis of a mental health disorder and who are also struggling with substance abuse. Our comprehensive services are designed to provide meaningful solutions for our patients’ mental health issues while also empowering them to resist the urge to abuse alcohol or other drugs.

Helping a Loved One or Family Member Get Treatment for Mental Illness and Substance Abuse

Trying to support a friend or family member who has been struggling with a mental health disorder can be a daunting experience. When that person’s mental illness is accompanied by a substance abuse problem, the effort can be overwhelming.

If someone that you care about has been dealing with the dual challenge of mental illness and substance abuse, you cannot solve this person’s problem on your own. You can, however, play an essential role in getting your loved one the help that can improve his or her life. Please consider the following:

As is often the case when faced with a challenge, education is an excellent first step. Learn as much as you can about the mental health disorder that your loved one is dealing with, as well as the effects of substance abuse and addiction. The better you understand what your friend or family member is going through, the better prepared you will be to provide meaningful support.

Reputable websites, mental health professionals, and community-based support organizations can be excellent sources of information. But don’t neglect the insights that you can gain from talking to your loved one and listening to how he or she responds to your questions and your statements of support.

Some people who are struggling with mental illness and a substance abuse problem are aware that they are in crisis and are open to the idea of receiving treatment. Others may be in denial or otherwise resistant to suggestions that they can benefit from professional help. Your loved one’s responses will give you important glimpses into his or her mindset, and can guide your efforts to get him or her into treatment.

Your personal knowledge of your loved one, combined with your newfound understanding of the challenges that he or she is experiencing, will prepare you to identify programs that may be capable of helping him or her. While you are researching treatment options, remember that there is no such thing as a perfect program. Instead, you should be working to identify the center or hospital that is the best fit for your friend or family member.

Of course, selecting the behavioral health program and getting treatment are just two steps on your loved one’s recovery journey. Depending upon several factors, including type of mental illness he or she is experiencing and the severity of his or her substance abuse problem, recovery may be an extended process, possible lasting years or decades.

Manage your expectations accordingly, get help for yourself, and plan to remain a source of love and support every step of the way.

Why Consider Treatment for Mental Illness and Substance abuse at River Place Behavioral Health

It is difficult to overstate the destructive impact that untreated mental illness and ongoing substance abuse can have on a person’s life. Depending upon the specific mental health disorder that a person has developed and the nature of his or her substance abuse problem, virtually all areas of his or her life may be impacted.

Untreated mental illness and substance abuse can undermine a person’s physical health, emotional wellbeing, and socioeconomic stability. He or she may be incapable of making academic progress, getting and keeping a job, maintaining healthy interpersonal relationships, meeting financial responsibilities, and otherwise fully participating in a satisfying independent lifestyle. Deteriorating health, family discord, withdrawal and isolation, and a pervasive sense hopelessness are well within the realm of possibility when a person fails to receive effective treatment for a metal health disorder and substance abuse problem.

The good news is that mental illness and substance abuse are treatable conditions. When a person receives care at a behavioral health center or hospital, he or she can experience significant improvements in quality of life.

At River Place Behavioral Health in LaPlace, LA, we can help individuals to heal from the ravages of untreated mental illness and substance abuse, and we can prepare them to pursue healthier and more hopeful futures.

Types of Treatment for Mental Illness and Substance Abuse at River Place Behavioral Health

When you or your loved one enters inpatient treatment for mental illness and substance abuse at River Place Behavioral Health, you can expect to receive comprehensive services that have been customized according to your or your loved one’s specific needs, and that are provided in an atmosphere of dignity and respect.

Our state-of-the-art treatment center in LaPlace, Louisiana features specialized treatment tracks for adolescents and adults whose lives have been impacted by mental and/or behavioral health concerns. Our age-appropriate services address the unique ways that members of these demographic groups are impacted by mental and behavioral health disorders, and are provided in a manner that is best suited to the developmental levels of our patients.

Age is just one of many factors that we consider when developing personalized treatment plans for each individual who heals with us. One of your first experiences at River Place will be to complete a thorough assessment. This will enable the members of your treatment team to identify the therapeutic elements that will best help you to achieve true and lasting healing from the effects of mental illness and substance abuse.

Based upon that assessment and an ongoing evaluation of your progress while in our care, your personalized treatment plan may include the following features:

Medical care: Internal medicine clinicians, including advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs) and other members of our nursing staff, are available to meet with you on a daily basis throughout your stay at River Place. These professionals are prepared to provide a variety of medical services, including symptom management, medication management, and stabilization.

Medication management:  As noted in the previous paragraph, our clinicians are available for medication management services as needed. During your initial assessment or at any other time while you are in treatment for mental illness and substance abuse, you may be prescribed certain medications to help ease symptoms and promote recovery.

If prescription medications are included in your personal treatment plan, we will closely monitor the effects of these medications throughout your time in our care, and make all necessary adjustments to ensure you are receiving maximum benefit.

Individual therapy: One-on-one sessions with an experienced professional such as a social worker or counselor can help you to process successes and setbacks that occur while you are in treatment for a mental health disorder and substance abuse problem. Individual therapy sessions are also perfect places to address issues that you may be hesitant to discuss in a group setting. At River Place, we can schedule individual therapy sessions for you on an as-needed basis throughout your time in our care.

Group therapy: While you are healing from mental illness and substance abuse at River Place, you will have the opportunity to participate in daily group therapy sessions. Featuring the guidance and supervision of nurses, counselors, social workers, and other professionals, group sessions are excellent forums in which to share your experiences, learn from the insights of others, and practice healthy interpersonal communication skills.

Our groups focus on a variety of topics that are relevant to your treatment and recovery, such as the following:

• Life management
• Daily living skills
• Coping skills
• Self-esteem building
• Goals
• Communities

Family therapy: Your loved ones may have also been impacted by your struggles with mental illness and substance abuse, and they can play a significant role in supporting your recovery during and after your time in treatment at River Place. Family therapy sessions provide a safe and supportive environment in which you and your loved ones can address how you all have been affected by your mental health and substance abuse challenges, can resolve any rifts or conflicts, and can learn to function as a healthier unit. Family therapy sessions at River Place may be led by social workers, counselors, or a psychiatrist.

Experiential therapies: In addition to traditional individual and group therapy sessions, River Place also offers a variety of experiential therapies to men and women who are being treated for mental health disorders and substance abuse concerns. Depending upon your needs and treatment goals, you may participate in art therapy, music therapy, movement/exercise therapy, or other types of experiential activities while in our care.

Benefits of experiential therapy include discovering new ways to express your emotions, learning to manage symptoms more effectively, addressing issues related to your mental health struggles in a more productive manner, and developing healthier coping skills.

Continuing Care After Inpatient Treatment for Mental Illness and Substance Abuse

At River Place Behavioral Health, we understand that your time in treatment with us will be just one part of your recovery journey. For this reason, from the day you arrive at our center we will work to prepare you for continued success after you have transitioned out of our care.

While you are in our inpatient program, you will achieve stabilization and will begin to develop skills for managing the symptoms of the mental health disorder and substance abuse problem that have impacted your life. One of the many essential benefits of inpatient care at River Place is that you can focus on your health without being exposed to the stresses, pressures, and distractions of daily life.

Our detailed discharge planning process ensures that when you are ready to once again face those challenges, you will have the support that you need to resist relapse and continue to progress in your healing. When you leave River Place, you will have recommendations and referrals for the outpatient programs, community-based support groups, and other resources that will be of greatest assistance to you as you continue to work toward your long-term goals.

To learn more about inpatient treatment for mental illness and substance abuse at River Place Behavioral Health, or for additional information about any aspect of our programming, please do not hesitate to contact us at your convenience. A knowledgeable and friendly member of our team is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We look forward to answering all of your questions and helping you determine if River Place has the solutions that you have been searching for.