Whether you’re transitioning out of residential addiction treatment or seeking help for a mood disorder, nearly everyone could benefit from outpatient mental health treatment. The extra support and insight provided by a trained therapist can be transformative. Lakeside-Milam offers outpatient mental health care services for individuals all over the state of Washington, whether or not they have previously been patients of one of our inpatient programs. Read on to learn more about who should take advantage of these programs and what to expect in these sessions.

Transitioning Out of Treatment

In recovery, it is vital to create a network of support and stability. One of the most accessible ways to do this is to continue speaking with addiction treatment and mental health professionals. Many patients may feel nervous about returning to the “real world.” Others may express concern about gaining employment, applying for higher education, or even accomplishing daily responsibilities. Attending regular appointments with trained mental health professionals provides guidance and accountability to those leaving primary addiction treatment.

Services offered by Lakeside-Milam’s outpatient mental health service providers include mental health evaluations, individual therapy, group therapy, relationship counseling, and case management services.

Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions

Outpatient mental health treatment is especially recommended for our dual diagnosis patients – individuals whose substance use is combined with a mood disorder or other condition. Because the symptoms of mental illness can spur substance use or relapse, it is vital that these conditions are managed after primary addiction treatment has concluded. For example, someone who is anxious may believe that drinking helps them to calm down. Through outpatient therapy sessions, this individual would learn alternative, healthy coping mechanisms to address general anxiety.

Common co-occurring conditions include…

• Depression (Major Depression, Dysthymia, Double Depression)
• Bipolar Disorder
• Anxiety
• Social Anxiety
• Panic Disorder
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Solution-Focused Therapy

Individuals who do not have a history of substance use may also benefit from mental health treatment. Some of our clients do not struggle with addiction themselves but have been profoundly affected by a loved one’s substance use. Others have no connection with addiction whatsoever – they only wish to begin the journey of emotional recovery and mental wellness. At Lakeside-Milam, our team of trained therapists are prepared to help individuals of all backgrounds, circumstances, and diagnoses.

What to Expect in Your Outpatient Session

Your therapist will begin by scheduling an intake session. This initial meeting will last a bit longer than a typical session and serves to lay the groundwork for your treatment plan. You will complete paperwork and explain your history, situation, and feelings to the counselor. Intake sessions tend to last around 90 minutes, while later meetings generally range between 45 and 60 minutes in total.

All treatment will be tailored to your needs, which means you may experience a wide variety of therapeutic approaches. Therapeutic modalities used at Lakeside-Milam include Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Rational Emotive Therapy (RET). Our outpatient mental health services are performed by therapists with master’s degrees, ensuring the highest likelihood of patient satisfaction and quality care.

Mental Health Care for All

Lakeside-Milam is proud to offer top tier mental health and addiction treatment services to the state of Washington. To learn more about our outpatient mental health services, please call (800) 231-4303 or email help@lakesidemilam.com. Our compassionate admissions team members are standing by 24/7 and would love to hear from you.