Mental Health Treatment in Santa Monica
Medically Reviewed By: Geoffrey A. Booth, M.D.
Author: Stephen Mohaupt, MD
Discover LifeSync
Mental Health Treatment in Santa Monica
Our mental health treatment in Santa Monica is here to help you figure out what kind of support you need so you can lead a healthier life.
LifeSync offers luxury mental health treatment in California. Contact us today to learn more.
San Diego Mental Health Care
When Weekly Therapy Isn't Enough
Traditional outpatient therapy can be an effective option for many.
You meet with a therapist once a week, work through what's going on, and carry those tools into your daily life. But sometimes, that level of support isn't enough, and patients may benefit from a higher level of care.
If you've been in therapy and still feel like you are struggling to manage your symptoms, it is important to consider other options. When symptoms are severe, when daily life has become unmanageable, or when you simply can't get traction in the middle of everything else pulling at you, a more intensive level of care can offer the focus and structure that weekly sessions can't.
Our Program
Signs It May Be Time for a Higher Level of Care
Unsure if a higher level of treatment is right for you? Below are certain signs that suggest it may be time to consider something more intensive:
- Symptoms that keep getting worse despite ongoing therapy or medication
- Struggling to handle work, relationships, or basic daily tasks
- Feeling unsafe, hopeless, or unable to cope on your own
- Using alcohol or drugs to manage what you're feeling
If several signs seem familiar and you think more intensive care may be right for you, it doesn't mean you've failed at getting better. It means the level of support hasn't matched the level of your unique recovery needs.
Inpatient Mental Health Treatment
What Residential Treatment Offers That Outpatient Can't
The biggest difference between residential care and weekly therapy is 24/7 support. In a residential program, you step away from the noise of everyday life and into an environment built entirely around healing so you can progress in your recovery- uninterrupted.
That shift matters more than people expect. Residential treatment removes distractions for a while, giving you space to focus fully on getting well. You're surrounded by professional support, structure, and a daily rhythm designed to help you stabilize and rebuild your health and quality of life for the better.
There's also the simple power of consistency. In weekly therapy, you do an hour of good work and then return to the same environment that's been wearing you down, and a week is a long time to hold onto progress on your own. In a residential setting, the support doesn't stop when the session ends. It's woven into the whole day, which helps new habits and healthier ways of thinking actually take root rather than slipping away between appointments.
Learn more
Letting Go of the Stigma Around Intensive Care
Part of what stops people from seeking a higher level of care is the story they tell themselves about what it means. There's a lingering idea that needing residential treatment or even seeking professional help at all is some kind of failure, or that it's only for people in crisis. It’s critical to understand this is untrue.
Choosing intensive treatment is no different than treating any serious health condition. Stepping up to the level of care your situation actually calls for isn't weakness. It's one of the most responsible and self-respecting things a person can do.
We Can Help
Santa Monica Residential Mental Health Program
Since LifeSync is a 100% residential treatment center (meaning that all clients live on-site), you don’t have to commute to treatment daily like you would if you were in an outpatient program. The length of your stay at LifeSync will differ based on your needs and factors like insurance coverage; many clients stay for around 30, 60, or 90 days. Group therapy and individual therapy are significant parts of our program for both addiction and mental health-specific clients.
As a physician-owned and operated mental health and addiction treatment center, LifeSync’s staff members have a broad range of unique specialties, including different types of therapy among our therapists and expertise in specific conditions. Therapies and treatments offered at LifeSync include but aren’t limited to the following:
- Medication management
- SMART Recovery
- Psychoeducation
- Life skills training
- Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
- Mindfulness and meditation
- Relapse prevention
- Discussion groups
- Psychodrama
- 12-step
- Yoga
LifeSync also offers on and off-site recreation to promote enjoyment in recovery. In addition to on and off-site fitness and other recreation activities, we take clients on supervised field trips, such as cycling, hiking, and beach trips. Extensive fitness opportunities and nutrition counseling are available.
Contact Admissions
Private Recovery & Alternative to Psychiatric Hospital
Santa Monica Mental Health Care
Other Treatments and Services at LifeSync
Drug and Alcohol Detox Near Santa Monica
Incoming addiction and dual diagnosis clients may require medical detox as a precursor to our residential drug rehab program, where they can address the underlying causes of substance abuse. We offer medical detox services that help you get through acute drug and alcohol withdrawals safely and successfully. Staff members may provide medications and other treatments to help relieve withdrawal symptoms. Usually, clients spend around 1-2 weeks in detox before starting standard residential treatment for addiction and dual diagnosis disorders.
Family Therapy and Treatment Involvement
Family involvement can assist clients in overcoming mental health or addiction-related concerns in more than one way. First, the stronger your support system is in recovery, the better. Second, family members often need support and education regarding substance abuse and mental health conditions themselves. Family therapy can help family members communicate with, support, and better understand each other. We offer family therapy sessions in addition to group and individual therapy.
Psychiatric Assessments
Psychiatric assessments help clients get accurate mental health and related diagnoses or ensure that their current diagnoses are accurate, which can optimize treatment efficacy. We offer comprehensive psychiatric testing in addition to other treatment services. All LifeSync clients have access to psychiatric assessments, including those here for mental health, dual diagnosis, or addiction services.
Luxury Treatment Center
Our Facilities and Amenities
Our top-rated treatment facility has two separate buildings: One for addiction-specific clients and the other for mental health-only clients. Each building is slightly different but equally as gorgeous and relaxing, with luxury interior and exterior. LifeSync offers a range of premium amenities, which include but aren’t limited to the following:
- The availability of spacious private rooms with queen-sized beds.
- An in-ground pool with lights for evening swimming.
- Nourishing meals prepared by executive chefs.
- On-site fitness and recreation opportunities.
- A spa-like environment
- Travel concierge.
Built in the heart of Malibu, LifeSync is a 5,200 square foot treatment center surrounded by panoramic ocean views. Our discreet and secure location gives clients an optimal sense of safety, security, and privacy.
Help Reduce Rehab Costs
Insurance Coverage and Private Pay Available
Santa Monica Mental Health Care
Care Tailored to Your Unique Recovery Needs
No two people arrive at treatment for the same reasons, so we don't treat everyone the same way. Whether you're dealing with depression, anxiety, PTSD, or a combination of conditions, we build a treatment plan around your specific needs.
Our care draws on proven, evidence-based approaches alongside holistic options that support the whole person. That might include individual therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and EMDR for those working through trauma. And for anyone facing both a mental health condition and substance use, our dual diagnosis care treats both at once, rather than addressing one and leaving the other to undermine your progress.
Contact Us
Help Is Available
We are Here to Help
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are there AA meetings in Santa Monica?
Yes. There are online and in-person Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings for residents of Santa Monica and surrounding areas. To find a frequently updated and accurate list of AA meeting times and locations, go to the official AA website (aa.org) and click on the “Find AA Near You” tab.
Are there NA meetings in Santa Monica?
Yes. Like with AA, there are regular Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings in Santa Monica and surrounding areas, as well as online meetings for Santa Monica residents. To find an accurate and frequently updated list of NA meeting times and locations near you, go to the official NA website (na.org) and use the meeting search tool.
How do I know if I need residential treatment instead of therapy?
It often comes down to severity and how much your symptoms are affecting your daily life. If you've been in therapy but still feel unable to cope, or if daily functioning has become a struggle, a more intensive level of care may help. Our team can talk through your situation and help you figure out what fits.
Will I have to stop working or step away from my life?
Residential treatment does involve staying on-site for a period of time, which means stepping back from daily routines to focus on healing. For many people, that temporary pause is exactly what allows them to recover in a way that constant juggling never could. We can talk through what that looks like for your situation.
What conditions do you treat?
We provide care for a range of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and co-occurring disorders involving both mental health and substance use. Every treatment plan is personalized to the individual to ensure they receive tailored support. Contact us today to learn more.