Kern County Mental Health Department
Overview
Kern County Mental Health Department is a mental health treatment center for people seeking treatment near Kern County. As part of their treatment modalities for recovery, Kern County Mental Health Department provides 12-step facilitation during treatment. Kern County Mental Health Department is located in Wasco, California, accepting medicaid for treatment.
Kern County Mental Health Department at a Glance
Payment Options
- Medicaid
- Cash or self-payment
- State-financed health insurance plan other than Medicaid
- Payment assistance (check with facility for details)
- Sliding fee scale (fee is based on income and other factors)
Assessments
- Comprehensive mental health assessment
- Comprehensive substance use assessment
Age Groups
- Adults
- Children/adolescents
- Young adults
Operation
- State government
Accreditations
SAMHSA certification for opioid treatment program (OTP):
SAMHSA's Opioid Treatment Programs (OTP) Accreditation is a rigorous recognition process, signaling an OTP's commitment to high-quality care for those with opioid use disorders. It assures patients, families, and the community that the program adheres to evidence-based practices, maintains a safe environment, and employs qualified staff. This accreditation represents a commitment to addressing the opioid epidemic and promoting recovery, symbolizing quality and accountability in opioid addiction treatment.
State department of health:
Government agencies issue State Licenses, granting rehabilitation organizations permission to operate their businesses lawfully within specific geographic regions. The specific licenses needed for legal operation are typically determined by the type of rehabilitation program offered by the facility and its physical location.
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF):
Established in 1966, the non-profit organization known as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) has a dedicated focus on accrediting rehabilitation organizations. CARF's primary mission is to assist service providers, particularly rehabilitation facilities, in upholding and promoting the highest standards of care.
Treatment At Kern County Mental Health Department
Conditions Treated
Mental health treatment:
Mental health treatment involves a range of therapeutic approaches, provided by licensed professionals, to address mental health challenges. It includes psychotherapy, medication, and holistic practices to help individuals manage conditions, improve coping skills, and enhance overall well-being. The goal is to empower individuals to lead fulfilling lives and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.
Alcoholism:
Alcohol addiction is a disease that changes the way the brain works. It causes negative emotions, impulsive behavior, cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Treatment for alcohol addiction includes supervised detox, counseling and therapy, and support group participation. Rehabilitation does not cure alcoholism. Instead, it helps the individual manage their addiction, restore their functioning, and well-being.
Opioid Addiction:
Opioid rehabilitation centers focus on aiding individuals in overcoming opioid addiction, whether stemming from illegal substances like heroin or prescription medications like oxycodone. These facilities provide a comprehensive approach that combines medical detoxification and ongoing physical care with intensive therapy to address the root causes of addiction.
Substance use treatment:
Substance abuse treatment programs can help to address addiction and, if relevant, any co-occurring mental health conditions. Programs include outpatient, inpatient, dual-diagnosis, and partial hospitalization. The addict will receive therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy, or dialectical behavioral therapy, and sometimes complementary therapies like acupuncture and mindfulness-based therapy. By attending skills training and recovery groups you’ll build a strong foundation for your recovery and strengthen your support network, increasing your chances of long-term recovery success.
Co-occurring Disorders:
Dual-diagnosis rehabilitation centers focus on treating individuals with simultaneous mental health and substance use disorders. The intertwined nature of addiction and mental health issues can intensify each other's symptoms, complicating recovery. These centers provide a holistic treatment strategy addressing both conditions together, often encompassing thorough evaluations, a blend of therapeutic methods, family counseling, and post-treatment care.
Levels Of Care
Detoxification:
Detoxification, often called detox, is like a reset button for the body after someone has been using drugs or alcohol. Its main job is to help people who want to quit these substances by easing the discomfort they might feel when they stop. Think of it as a way to clean out the harmful stuff in the body when someone has been using drugs or alcohol too much. Detoxification aims to make the process of quitting safer and less painful for the person.
Aftercare:
Finishing a drug or alcohol rehab program is not the conclusion of substance abuse treatment but rather a pivotal step toward long-term recovery. Aftercare encompasses devising a sustainable recovery plan coupled with enduring support. It may include sober living environments such as halfway houses, career counseling, and connecting patients with community support programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA). This holistic approach ensures a smooth transition into a substance-free life while bolstering resilience against relapse.
Outpatient:
Outpatient treatment in a rehab center offers structured therapeutic services for individuals seeking recovery without full-time residential admission. Unlike intensive outpatient programs, which demand more frequent and longer sessions, standard outpatient care provides a more flexible approach, allowing participants to maintain daily activities and responsibilities while undergoing treatment.
Treatment Modalities
12-step facilitation:
Recovery approaches rooted in 12-step programs prioritize extensive peer mentorship and highlight personal development as a cornerstone for maintaining sobriety. Attending 12-step meetings, which are confidential, cost-free, and held daily, is a fundamental component. The 12 steps are grounded in spiritual tenets, guiding participants to confront the core issues of their addiction, assume accountability for their decisions, and recognize aspects out of their control. Chosen sponsors offer individualized guidance and support.
Group counseling:
Group counseling provides a supportive environment where individuals share personal experiences and insights, under the guidance of a professional counselor. It facilitates self-awareness, fosters interpersonal learning, and helps members work through personal and relational challenges. Through shared dialogue and reflection, individuals learn coping strategies, gain emotional support, and experience personal growth within a communal setting.
Individual psychotherapy:
Individual therapy, often referred to as psychotherapy or counseling, is a one-on-one therapeutic interaction between a trained therapist and a client. It provides a confidential space for individuals to explore their feelings, beliefs, and behaviors, working through challenging memories, experiences, or emotions. The therapist facilitates self-awareness, promotes personal growth and insight, and offers coping strategies to manage specific issues like stress, anxiety, depression, and other life challenges. The ultimate goal is to improve the individual's mental well-being and enhance their overall quality of life.
Family counseling:
Family counseling is a therapeutic approach that addresses the dynamics, interactions, and challenges within a family unit. Through guided discussions and interventions, a trained counselor helps family members understand one another, resolve conflicts, improve communication, and strengthen their bonds. This form of therapy can be beneficial for families facing transitions, stressors, or behavioral issues, promoting understanding and facilitating positive change in the familial environment.
Marital/couples counseling:
Whether a marriage or other committed relationship, an intimate partnership is one of the most important aspects of a person's life. Drug and alcohol addiction affects both members of a couple in deep and meaningful ways, as does rehab and recovery. Couples therapy and other couples-focused treatment programs are significant parts of exploring triggers of addiction, as well as learning how to build healthy patterns to support ongoing sobriety.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a evidence-based psychotherapeutic approach that aims to address dysfunctional emotions, behaviors, and cognitions through a goal-oriented, systematic process. It involves identifying and challenging negative thought patterns and beliefs and replacing them with more constructive ways of thinking and behaving. CBT is commonly used to treat a variety of mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, and phobias.
Motivational Interviewing:
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a client-centered counseling approach designed to enhance an individual's intrinsic motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence. Through empathetic engagement and evoking personal reasons for change, MI helps individuals recognize the negative consequences of their substance use and empowers them to take steps toward recovery.
Trauma-related counseling:
Trauma-related counseling is a specialized form of therapeutic intervention aimed at assisting individuals who have experienced distressing, life-altering events. This approach focuses on helping clients process their traumatic experiences, develop coping mechanisms, and rebuild a sense of safety and trust. Counselors trained in trauma therapy use evidence-based techniques to support healing and resilience, ensuring survivors can move forward and lead fulfilling lives despite their past adversities.
Ancillary Services
Languages
- Sign language services for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Spanish
Special Programs
- Children/adolescents with serious emotional disturbance (SED)
- Clients who have experienced trauma
- Persons 18 and older with serious mental illness (SMI)
Additional Locations
Contact Information
DISCLAIMER: The facility name, logo and brand are the property and registered trademarks of Kern County Mental Health Department, and are being used for identification and informational purposes only. Use of these names, logos and brands shall not imply endorsement. BetterAddictionCare.com is not affiliated with or sponsored by Kern County Mental Health Department.
