Addiction and mental health programs provide structured care for people whose symptoms, substance use, or behavioral patterns are interfering with health, relationships, work, and daily stability. These concerns frequently overlap, which means treating only substance use or only emotional symptoms may leave important parts of the problem unaddressed. Rainbow Hill Recovery provides outpatient programs for adults who need support for substance use disorders, mental health conditions, or a combination of both. Our available levels of care include a Partial Hospitalization Program, Intensive Outpatient Programs, an Outpatient Program, and a Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program.
A substance use disorder is a medical condition in which continued alcohol or drug use causes clinically significant impairment, distress, or harm. The condition may affect physical health, emotional well-being, relationships, finances, judgment, and the ability to meet everyday responsibilities. Mental health conditions can similarly influence mood, thinking, sleep, behavior, motivation, concentration, and relationships. Treatment programs help clients understand these patterns while providing therapy, education, psychiatric support, and practical skills appropriate to their clinical needs.
Mental health and addiction services exist along a continuum rather than within one standard program. Someone experiencing frequent cravings and significant depression may need several hours of structured care during the week, while another person may be ready for fewer appointments and greater independence. The appropriate level depends on current symptoms, medical and psychiatric stability, treatment history, living conditions, responsibilities, and available support. A clinical assessment helps determine which program offers enough structure without placing the client in care that is either unnecessarily restrictive or unable to meet current needs.
Behavioral health concerns affect millions of people across the United States. The 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimated that 61.5 million adults experienced a mental illness during the previous year. The same survey found that 48.4 million people aged 12 or older had a substance use disorder, representing 16.8% of that population. Among adults, approximately 86.6 million had either a mental illness or substance use disorder during 2024.
Treatment gaps remain substantial despite the number of people affected. Among people classified as needing substance use treatment in 2024, only 19.3%, or approximately 10.2 million people, received treatment during the year. Among adults with a mental illness, 52.1%, or approximately 32 million people, received mental health treatment. These figures show that many people continue living with significant symptoms without receiving appropriate clinical support.
There is no single cause of addiction or mental illness. Genetics, brain development, life experiences, trauma, chronic stress, family relationships, social conditions, physical health, and environmental factors may all influence risk. Depression and anxiety, for example, are believed to result from combinations of biological, psychological, environmental, and genetic factors rather than one isolated cause. Substance use disorders may similarly develop through interactions among biological vulnerability, access to substances, learned behavior, emotional distress, and repeated exposure.
Some people begin using alcohol or drugs to manage anxiety, depression, traumatic memories, physical pain, loneliness, or sleep problems. The substance may provide temporary relief, but repeated use can create tolerance, physical dependence, cravings, and additional emotional or behavioral difficulties. In other cases, substance use may begin before a recognizable mental health condition and contribute to changes in mood, thinking, or behavior. A comprehensive assessment is important because the order in which symptoms appeared is not always obvious, and several factors may be reinforcing one another.
Environmental pressures may also affect the course of both conditions. Housing instability, financial stress, unsafe relationships, isolation, job loss, grief, and limited access to healthcare can make symptoms harder to manage. Poor sleep, inconsistent nutrition, chronic pain, and disrupted daily routines may increase emotional vulnerability and reduce the ability to use healthy coping skills. Treatment helps clients identify which factors are relevant to their situation rather than assuming that every person developed symptoms for the same reasons.
Mental health symptoms and substance use problems can develop gradually. Someone may continue working or caring for family while privately experiencing cravings, panic, depression, unstable moods, withdrawal symptoms, or repeated difficulty controlling behavior. Friends or relatives may notice changes in reliability, appearance, sleep, communication, judgment, or participation in meaningful activities. A professional assessment is necessary because one symptom by itself does not establish a diagnosis or determine the correct level of care.
Possible signs that someone may benefit from an addiction or mental health program include:
These signs may be associated with several different conditions, including depression, anxiety, trauma-related disorders, bipolar disorder, substance use disorders, or co-occurring concerns. Physical illness, medications, withdrawal, sleep disorders, and other medical issues may produce similar symptoms. Assessment helps clarify what is happening and whether medical stabilization, psychiatric care, psychotherapy, substance use treatment, or a combination is needed. Treatment recommendations should reflect the complete clinical picture rather than the most visible symptom alone.
A co-occurring disorder is present when someone experiences both a mental illness and a substance use disorder. Approximately 21.2 million adults had co-occurring conditions during 2024, according to SAMHSA. People with mental health conditions have an increased risk of developing substance use problems, while those with substance use disorders may be more vulnerable to additional mental and physical health concerns. The relationship is complex, and one condition should not automatically be treated as the sole cause of the other.
Integrated treatment addresses mental health and substance use within a coordinated plan. This approach can include behavioral therapies, psychiatric services, medication, case management, addiction education, and practical recovery support. Treating both conditions can reduce the risk that unresolved depression, anxiety, trauma, or mood instability will continue contributing to substance-related decisions. It can also help clinicians distinguish psychiatric symptoms from intoxication, withdrawal, medication effects, and the consequences of chronic substance use.
A Partial Hospitalization Program, or PHP, provides a high degree of structured outpatient care without requiring an overnight stay. Rainbow Hill Recovery’s PHP includes five hours of participation each day, five days per week. The program may include individual and group therapy, addiction education, relapse-prevention strategies, psychiatric support, medication evaluations, and case management when needed. Clients return home or to an appropriate living environment after completing the day’s programming.
PHP may be appropriate for people who need substantial support but are medically and psychiatrically stable enough to live outside a hospital or residential setting. The frequency of programming creates repeated opportunities to learn coping skills, address emotional symptoms, and receive feedback about progress. Clients can work on cravings, relationships, routines, trauma responses, decision-making, and other concerns within a coordinated schedule. Placement depends on assessment rather than diagnosis alone.
Rainbow Hill Recovery provides care for several categories of substance use disorders. The website identifies alcohol, cannabis, hallucinogen, inhalant, opioid, sedative or hypnotic, and stimulant-related disorders among the conditions treated. Clients may experience concerns involving cravings, impaired control, tolerance, physical dependence, unsafe behavior, or continued use despite harm. The specific treatment plan depends on the substance, severity, withdrawal risk, mental health symptoms, and previous treatment experience.
Mental health programming addresses depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, bipolar I and II disorders, trauma and stressor-related conditions, grief-related concerns, borderline personality disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Services may include individual and group therapy, psychiatric care, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, medication management, and trauma-informed therapy. Not every therapy is appropriate for every diagnosis, and clients may receive different combinations of services. Ongoing assessment allows the plan to change as symptoms, stability, and treatment goals evolve.
An Intensive Outpatient Program, or IOP, offers regular therapy and recovery services with fewer daily hours than PHP. Rainbow Hill Recovery offers a five-day IOP with three hours of participation per day and a three-day IOP with three hours of group programming per day. These programs include individual therapy according to the client’s plan and insurance requirements, while the five-day option also includes periodic psychiatric or medication evaluation and case management when needed. The structure allows clients to receive frequent support while continuing to live outside the treatment facility.
IOP may support people transitioning from PHP or another intensive level of care. It may also be considered when ordinary weekly appointments do not provide enough structure to manage symptoms, cravings, or recurring behavioral patterns. Clients can practice coping and communication skills in daily life, then discuss successes and difficulties during subsequent treatment sessions. This connection between structured programming and everyday experience can make recovery planning more practical.
Rainbow Hill Recovery’s Outpatient Program provides a more flexible schedule for people who need continued care with greater independence. The current program includes one hour of programming three times per week and may include individual therapy sessions. Psychiatric or medication evaluations through Rainbow Hill Recovery are not included within this level, so clients may need to establish appropriate outside providers. OP can be used as a step down from IOP or as continuing treatment when fewer scheduled hours are clinically appropriate.
Virtual IOP provides live treatment through a secure telehealth platform for eligible clients who can participate safely from home. Program features include interactive group therapy, individual sessions, psychoeducation, emotional-regulation and relapse-prevention skills, peer support, and flexible morning, afternoon, or evening scheduling. Virtual care requires reliable internet access, privacy, and a living environment that supports focused participation. It may help reduce transportation and scheduling barriers, but convenience cannot replace clinical suitability or safety.
Rainbow Hill Recovery provides care for several categories of substance use disorders. The website identifies alcohol, cannabis, hallucinogen, inhalant, opioid, sedative or hypnotic, and stimulant-related disorders among the conditions treated. Clients may experience concerns involving cravings, impaired control, tolerance, physical dependence, unsafe behavior, or continued use despite harm. The specific treatment plan depends on the substance, severity, withdrawal risk, mental health symptoms, and previous treatment experience.
Mental health programming addresses depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, bipolar I and II disorders, trauma and stressor-related conditions, grief-related concerns, borderline personality disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Services may include individual and group therapy, psychiatric care, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, medication management, and trauma-informed therapy. Not every therapy is appropriate for every diagnosis, and clients may receive different combinations of services. Ongoing assessment allows the plan to change as symptoms, stability, and treatment goals evolve.
Rainbow Hill Recovery combines conventional behavioral therapies with specialized and complementary approaches. Available services include DBT, EMDR and trauma-informed care, experiential therapy, integrative practices, brain chemistry and relapse-prevention education, sound baths, and chiropractic services. Group topics may address mindfulness, life skills, positive psychology, writing, distress tolerance, interpersonal skills, grief, shame and resilience, neurobiology, and relapse prevention. These approaches are integrated with individual therapy, group services, psychiatry, and case management according to the clinical plan.
Treatment is intended to help clients understand their symptoms while building practical responses. A person may work on identifying triggers, managing cravings, regulating intense emotions, communicating needs, setting boundaries, or creating a healthier daily routine. Therapy can also address trauma, grief, negative beliefs, avoidance, and relationship patterns that affect recovery. Repeated practice helps move skills from the therapy room into work, home, and community settings.
Outpatient programs are not designed to manage every behavioral health emergency. Rainbow Hill Recovery states that its substance use services do not treat active withdrawal symptoms or active untreated psychosis. Its mental health program also excludes active suicidality and active untreated psychosis. Anyone experiencing a medical emergency, severe withdrawal, overdose, immediate suicidal intent, or severe psychiatric instability requires prompt evaluation and may need emergency, medical, inpatient, or another higher level of care before outpatient participation.
Recommending a higher level of care is not a punishment or treatment failure. It reflects the need to match services to the person’s current safety and clinical condition. After stabilization, the individual may be reassessed for PHP, IOP, OP, or Virtual IOP. Careful placement helps prevent delays in receiving services that outpatient programming cannot safely provide.
Recovery continues as clients transition from structured programs into more independent routines. Rainbow Hill Recovery’s aftercare services may include ongoing therapy, support groups, counselor check-ins, relapse-prevention education, job assistance, housing resources, and life-skills support. Aftercare gives clients a place to discuss new stressors, warning signs, relationship changes, and practical challenges before they become larger problems. Plans are personalized according to progress, risks, responsibilities, and available support.
Federal recovery data provide reason for hope. In 2024, 74.3% of adults who believed they had ever experienced an alcohol or drug problem considered themselves to be in recovery or recovered. Among adults who believed they had experienced a mental health issue, 66.9% considered themselves to be in recovery or recovered. These figures do not suggest that recovery is simple, but they show that meaningful improvement is possible with treatment, support, and continued effort.
Rainbow Hill Recovery provides several levels of outpatient care within one coordinated Los Angeles program. Our team can address substance use, mental health symptoms, co-occurring conditions, trauma, emotional regulation, relapse risk, and practical barriers to stability. The availability of PHP, IOP, OP, Virtual IOP, multiple therapy approaches, psychiatry, case management, and aftercare allows treatment to be adjusted as client needs change. This continuum can reduce the disruption of moving between unrelated providers whenever a different degree of support becomes appropriate.
Someone does not need to wait for substance use, depression, anxiety, trauma symptoms, or relationship problems to create a major crisis before seeking help. An assessment can clarify which concerns need attention, whether outpatient treatment is safe, and which program offers an appropriate amount of structure. At Rainbow Hill Recovery, we combine personalized clinical planning with therapy, psychiatric support, skill development, relapse prevention, and continuing care. Call (310) 341-4887 to speak with our team about addiction and mental health programs in Los Angeles and the next appropriate step.
Joie Gyondla serves as Rainbow Hill Recovery’s Clinical Support Coordinator, bringing compassion, empathy, and a genuine commitment to supporting every client who walks through our doors. With a background in recovery support, Joie understands the importance of creating a welcoming, organized, and affirming environment where individuals feel seen, valued, and supported throughout their treatment journey.
Working closely with both clients and the clinical team, Joie helps ensure that each person’s experience is as seamless as possible, providing encouragement, guidance, and practical support every step of the way. Her calm presence and dedication to helping others foster a sense of safety and connection that allows clients to focus on what matters most: their recovery.
Joie believes that healing begins with compassion and that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a lasting difference. She is proud to be part of the Rainbow Hill Recovery team, helping create a community where every individual is empowered to build a healthier, more authentic future.
Co-Founder of the LGBTQ+ Association for Addiction and Mental Health Professionals Clinical Outreach Specialist for Rainbow Hill Recovery LGBTQ Sensitivity Training Consultant
Steven Buffin-Stewart is the Case Manager at Rainbow Hill Recovery, with over five years of experience in substance use and mental health treatment. A CADC ll professional in recovery themselves, Steven combines clinical knowledge with lived experience to provide compassionate, coordinated care and foster inclusive, affirming spaces where clients feel supported, empowered, and hopeful in their healing journey.
Steven Buffin-Stewart is the Program and Case Manager at Rainbow Hill Recovery, with over five years of experience in substance use and mental health treatment. A CADC ll professional in recovery themselves, Steven combines clinical knowledge with lived experience to provide compassionate, coordinated care and foster inclusive, affirming spaces where clients feel supported, empowered, and hopeful in their healing journey.
Janae Borrego serves as Rainbow Hill Recovery’s Cross-Cultural Relations Officer and Outpatient Therapist, where she combines her clinical expertise with a deep commitment to fostering an inclusive, culturally responsive environment for every client. Her ability to understand, appreciate, and navigate diverse cultural perspectives has made her an invaluable leader as Rainbow Hill continues to grow and evolve.
In her role, Janae works to strengthen cultural understanding throughout the organization, ensuring that clients, families, and staff feel respected, heard, and represented. She provides ongoing guidance on cultural sensitivity and inclusive practices while helping shape programs that honor the unique identities, backgrounds, and lived experiences of those we serve.
As an Outpatient Therapist, Janae is dedicated to helping clients navigate recovery, mental health, and life’s challenges with compassion, authenticity, and evidence-based care. She believes that meaningful healing begins when individuals feel safe to show up as their authentic selves and receive support that acknowledges the whole person.
Janae is passionate about creating spaces where diversity is celebrated, connection is strengthened, and every individual has the opportunity to heal and thrive. Her leadership continues to advance Rainbow Hill Recovery’s mission of providing affirming, trauma-informed care that meets the evolving needs of the communities we serve.
With over a decade of experience in addiction recovery, Andrew is passionate about helping individuals reclaim their lives and find lasting healing. As Co-founder and Director of Rainbow Hill Recovery, he is dedicated to creating a supportive environment that fosters hope, resilience, and transformation.
Joey Bachrach is the Co-Founder and CEO of Rainbow Hill Recovery, an LGBTQ-affirming mental health and substance use treatment center in Los Angeles. Drawing from both professional leadership and lived recovery experience, Joey is dedicated to creating safe, inclusive spaces where individuals are fully seen, affirmed, and supported on their healing journey.