Virtual integrated treatment for adults living with both mental health and substance use concerns — delivered by dual-licensed clinicians across New Jersey.
Co-occurring disorders — the overlap of mental health and substance use — are the norm, not the exception, in behavioral health. Depression and alcohol. Anxiety and cannabis. Trauma and opioid use. These conditions feed each other, yet most care still treats them in separate silos — one therapist for the mental health, another for the substance use — leaving clients to fall through the gap between two fragmented treatment plans.
Integrated by Design
Therapy Aligned was built with this reality at its center. Our co-founders hold dual LCSW and LCADC licensure — clinically trained in both mental health and addiction treatment from the start, not as an afterthought. That means you do not need two separate providers to address what is, for you, one lived experience. Your therapist holds the full picture and treats both conditions concurrently, because that is how they actually operate in your life.
What Dual Licensure Means for You
LCSW licensure covers psychotherapy, diagnosis, and mental health treatment; LCADC licensure covers addiction assessment, relapse prevention, and substance use disorder treatment. Holding both means your therapist is qualified to treat both conditions together — no referral out for the other half of the equation — drawing on evidence-based modalities including IFS, CBT, DBT, ACT, psychodynamic therapy, and motivational interviewing, adapted to the specific interplay of your concerns.
Common Presentations We Treat
Depression alongside alcohol use or binge drinking
Anxiety with cannabis dependence or self-medication patterns
Trauma or PTSD with opioid use or other substance reliance
Grief or loss intertwined with increased drinking or drug use
Relationship difficulties compounded by substance use
Chronic stress or burnout with reliance on alcohol, benzodiazepines, or stimulants
Virtual Care, Statewide
All sessions are conducted via secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth, making therapy accessible to adults throughout New Jersey. Whether you are in North, Central, or South Jersey, virtual sessions remove the barrier of a commute. Whether you are early in recognizing the connection between your mental health and substance use or have been living with both for years without finding a provider who treats them together, this is the kind of care we were built to provide.
What the Research Shows
Co-occurring conditions are common, and the evidence favors treating both together rather than in separate silos.
Across national surveys, about half of adults who experience a mental illness in their lifetime also experience a substance use disorder — and vice versa. NIDA Research Report
In 2023, of the 58.7 million U.S. adults with any mental illness, about one-third — 20.4 million people — also had a co-occurring substance use disorder. SAMHSA, 2023 NSDUH
Yet only 18.6% of adults with both conditions received treatment for both in the past year, and more than a third received treatment for neither. SAMHSA, 2023 NSDUH
“Integrated treatment for comorbid drug use disorder and mental illness has been found to be consistently superior compared with separate treatment of each diagnosis.”— National Institute on Drug Abuse, Common Comorbidities with Substance Use Disorders Research Report (2020)
Frequently Asked Questions
What are co-occurring disorders?
Co-occurring disorders means having both a mental health condition — such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD — and a substance use disorder at the same time. These conditions often fuel each other and are most effectively treated together.
How is co-occurring treatment different from regular therapy?
Integrated treatment addresses both conditions simultaneously rather than referring you to separate providers. Our clinicians hold dual licenses (LCSW + LCADC) specifically for this purpose — you do not need two different therapists.
Do you treat dual diagnosis in New Jersey?
Yes. Dual diagnosis is another term for co-occurring disorders. Our clinicians specialize in treating mental health and substance use together through evidence-based, integrated outpatient therapy.
Can I transition to you after IOP or residential treatment?
Yes. We provide step-down outpatient care for clients leaving intensive programs. Continuity during this transition is one of our core strengths.
Ready to begin integrated care?
You do not need to have it all figured out. Reach out, and we will take it from there.
