Co-Occurring Disorders Counselling
Co-Occurring Disorders
A co-occurring disorder means living with both a mental health condition and a substance use disorder at the same time. While the term often refers to this specific combination, it can also apply to other overlapping diagnoses, such as a mental illness alongside an intellectual or developmental disability.
When these disorders occur together, they may vary in severity, and symptoms can change over time. People with co-occurring conditions often face more complex emotional and physical challenges and may require long-term, coordinated care.
Which Comes First: Mental Illness or Addiction?
There’s no single path to developing a co-occurring disorder. In most cases:
People use alcohol or drugs to cope with anxiety, depression, trauma, and other mental health symptoms, which can lead to addiction over time.
Ongoing substance abuse can lead to the development of mental health problems like depression or mood disorders.
Both disorders may also develop independently, influenced by genetics, environment, or life experiences.
Whatever the starting point, both conditions require equal attention and support.
Our Approach to Treatment
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recommends an integrated treatment approach for co-occurring disorders. Instead of treating each issue separately, we focus on coordinated, whole-person care that may include:
Behavioral therapies
Such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which support healthy coping skills and help reduce harmful patterns.
Medication support
As needed, to help stabilize mood or manage symptoms.
Collaborative care
Working with other professionals and services to address needs related to housing, healthcare, employment, and more.