Frequently Asked Questions

Getting started is simple. You can call us anytime at (424) 208-3120 or fill out our online contact form. Our admissions team will guide you through a brief confidential assessment, verify your insurance benefits, and help you choose the right level of care. We can typically begin the intake process within 24 hours of your first call.

Our admissions process includes a confidential phone screening, insurance verification, and a clinical assessment conducted by our clinical team. This helps us understand your history, current challenges, and treatment goals so we can build the most effective plan for you. The entire process is judgment-free and designed with your comfort in mind.

Treatment length varies based on your individual needs, diagnosis, and progress. Our PHP program typically runs 4–6 weeks, while our IOP program can last 8–12 weeks. Many clients transition through levels of care as they progress — starting with PHP and stepping down to IOP and then outpatient. Your clinical team will work with you to set realistic goals and timelines.

Golden State Rehab is an outpatient treatment center and does not offer medical detox on-site. If you require detoxification before beginning treatment, we will refer you to a trusted partner detox facility and coordinate a seamless transition into our PHP or IOP program once you are medically stable.

Many of our clients maintain work or school responsibilities during treatment, particularly in our IOP program. Our Intensive Outpatient Program is designed with flexible scheduling — including morning and evening options — to accommodate professional and academic commitments. We also offer telehealth sessions for added flexibility. We work with you to build a schedule that supports your recovery without requiring you to put your life on hold.

We work with most major insurance providers including Anthem Blue Cross, Aetna, Cigna, Blue Shield of California, United Healthcare, and many more. Under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, many insurance plans are required to cover substance use and mental health treatment at the same level as other medical conditions. Verify your specific benefits or contact us for more information.

You can verify your insurance in minutes on our insurance verification page or by calling us directly. Our admissions team will contact your insurance provider on your behalf, confirm your benefits, and explain any out-of-pocket costs before you commit to anything. The process is free and confidential.

We understand that cost can be a significant concern. Our admissions team will work with you to explore all available options, including sliding-scale fees, private pay arrangements, and financing options. We believe that financial barriers should never stand between someone and the care they need. Please call us to discuss what options are available to you.

No. Your initial phone assessment and insurance verification are completely free of charge. We want to make sure you have all the information you need to make an informed decision about your care before any costs are discussed.

PHP (Partial Hospitalization Program) is our most intensive outpatient level of care, involving treatment 5 days per week for approximately 6 hours per day. IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program) is a step down from PHP, typically meeting 3–5 days per week for 3 hours per session. Both programs include individual therapy, group therapy, psychiatric services, and family support, but IOP allows for greater independence and is suited for those with stable home environments.

Yes. Dual diagnosis — the co-occurrence of substance use disorder and a mental health condition such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, or bipolar disorder — is incredibly common. Our integrated treatment model addresses both conditions simultaneously. Our clinical team includes a board-certified psychiatrist, a licensed therapist, and a registered addiction counselor who collaborate on each client's individualized treatment plan.

We use a wide range of evidence-based therapeutic modalities tailored to each client's needs. These include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Motivational Interviewing, trauma-focused care, family systems therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and somatic approaches. Our holistic programming also includes yoga, breathwork, journaling, and movement therapy.

Yes. Our board-certified psychiatrist provides medication management services including medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for clients with opioid use disorder (using buprenorphine/Suboxone) and alcohol use disorder (using naltrexone/Vivitrol). MAT is evidence-based and highly effective when combined with behavioral therapy and support. All medication decisions are made collaboratively with the client and clinical team.

Every client begins with a comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment conducted by our clinical team. Based on your diagnosis, history, trauma, goals, and strengths, we build a personalized treatment plan that is reviewed and updated regularly. You are an active participant in your own care — your input matters, and your plan evolves as you do.

CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) targets the thoughts and behaviors that fuel anxiety, depression, OCD, and addiction — teaching you to catch cognitive distortions, restructure them, and replace avoidance with action. It's structured, time-limited (12–20 sessions for most conditions), and homework-driven.

DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) targets the emotions and relationships that cause chaos when feelings are too big, too fast, or too long-lasting. It teaches concrete skills in mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Comprehensive DBT typically runs 6–12 months and includes both individual therapy and a weekly skills group.

Short version: CBT changes how you think. DBT teaches you how to survive — and ride out — what you feel.

For most anxiety disorders — generalized anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety, OCD, phobias — CBT is the gold-standard first-line treatment. Exposure therapy (a CBT technique) is the single most-effective intervention for phobias and panic. That said, if your anxiety comes with severe emotion dysregulation, self-harm, or intense relationship volatility, DBT may be added or substituted.

CBT and behavioral activation are first-line for depression. They're well-studied, fast-acting, and lasting. However, if your depression includes chronic suicidality, self-harm, or treatment-resistance — particularly if it's tied to borderline personality features — DBT often succeeds where standard CBT plateaus. Many of our Los Angeles clients use both.

Both are evidence-based. CBT for addiction (CBT-SUD) targets the thoughts and triggers behind use — relapse prevention, refusal skills, and high-risk situation planning. DBT-SUD targets the emotion dysregulation that drives use — distress tolerance, riding out cravings, and building a life worth staying sober for. At Golden State Rehab we blend both: CBT for the cognitive piece, DBT skills when emotions are the engine of relapse.

For PTSD, trauma-focused CBT (TF-CBT) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) are first-line. DBT is especially valuable for complex PTSD (C-PTSD) — where stabilization, emotion regulation, and self-harm reduction need to come before trauma processing. We use a phase-based model: DBT skills first, then trauma-focused CBT or EMDR.

Yes — and most of our clients do. The skills are complementary, not competing. We routinely use CBT to address specific anxious or depressive thought patterns while running DBT skills group in parallel for emotion regulation and crisis-survival capacity. Your individualized treatment plan blends both based on your diagnosis and goals.

Start with our free clinical assessment. Our intake team will review your symptoms, history, and goals — then recommend CBT, DBT, or a combination based on what's most likely to help. A rough guide: if your primary struggle is thoughts (worry, rumination, distorted thinking), start with CBT. If your primary struggle is emotions (intensity, dysregulation, self-harm urges, relationship chaos), start with DBT. Most people need elements of both.

Yes — we're one of the few outpatient programs in West Los Angeles to deliver comprehensive DBT (individual therapy + skills group + phone coaching + therapist consultation team) alongside full-spectrum CBT, EMDR, trauma-focused therapy, and medication management. Whether you need CBT, DBT, or both, we'll build the plan around your diagnosis and goals.

A typical PHP day at Golden State Rehab runs Monday through Friday from approximately 9am to 3pm. Your day might include a morning check-in group, individual therapy session, a clinical skills group (CBT or DBT-based), a process group, lunch, a psychoeducation session, and a closing mindfulness exercise. Schedules are structured but flexible, and no two days are identical. Our goal is to make treatment engaging, healing, and empowering.

Absolutely. Your privacy is protected under HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and 42 CFR Part 2, the federal law governing confidentiality of substance use disorder records. We will not share any information about your participation in treatment without your written consent, with limited exceptions required by law (such as imminent danger to self or others). Our team takes your confidentiality very seriously.

Yes — family involvement is a key component of our program. We offer family therapy sessions, family education groups, and regular communication with loved ones (with your consent). Addiction affects the whole family system, and healing together creates stronger, more sustainable recovery outcomes. We welcome family participation and provide guidance for loved ones navigating this process.

Our facility is located in Los Angeles, California. We serve clients from throughout the greater Los Angeles area including the San Fernando Valley, West LA, South Bay, the Eastside, and surrounding counties. Our telehealth program also serves clients throughout California who prefer or require remote care. Contact us for our specific address and directions.

Recovery doesn't end when treatment does. Our clinical team will work with you to build a comprehensive aftercare plan that includes referrals to outpatient therapists, psychiatrists, 12-step or SMART Recovery meetings, sober living resources, and community support groups. Many clients also continue with our alumni program for ongoing connection and support.

Yes. Our alumni program provides ongoing support, community events, check-in groups, and connection to the Golden State Rehab family long after you complete treatment. Alumni can attend monthly events, access peer support, and participate in volunteer opportunities that help others in early recovery. Staying connected to a recovery community is one of the strongest predictors of long-term sobriety.

Relapse does not mean failure — it is often part of the recovery journey. If you experience a relapse after completing our program, we encourage you to reach out immediately. Our team can assess whether a return to a higher level of care is appropriate and help you get back on track without judgment. Recovery is a process, not a single event, and we are here to support you through every phase of it.