A complete continuum of addiction and mental health treatment, from detox coordination through aftercare, guided by your individual clinical needs.
Medically reviewed by Dr. An Nguyen, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Clinical Director, Desert Recovery Centers
Addiction and mental health treatment is not a single event. It is a process that unfolds over time, and the level of clinical support you need changes as you progress through recovery. That is why treatment is organized into a continuum of care: a graduated series of levels, each providing a different balance of structure, intensity, and independence.
Desert Recovery Centers coordinates the full continuum of care. We coordinate medically supervised detox through trusted partner facilities, then provide residential treatment, PHP, IOP, outpatient therapy, and aftercare at our Arizona locations. After detox, you move through your residential and outpatient stages within a single treatment system, with the same DRC clinical team guiding your care across every level beyond detox.
The right level of care for you depends on your specific clinical needs, and those needs are assessed both at the time of admission and continuously throughout your treatment. Our clinical team uses established criteria to determine when you are ready to step down to a less intensive level, ensuring that every transition is guided by your progress, not by arbitrary timelines.
Every client at Desert Recovery Centers enters at the level of care that matches their clinical presentation, and every transition between levels is based on documented progress and clinical readiness. This is not a one-size-fits-all pathway. Your treatment is personalized and guided by your clinical team.
When you call our admissions team at (623) 305-0496, the process begins with an initial clinical assessment. Based on the severity of your substance use, any co-occurring mental health conditions, your medical history, your living situation, and your support system, our team recommends a starting level of care. From there, your treatment plan is continuously reassessed and adjusted.
The typical progression moves from more intensive to less intensive levels of care: detox to residential treatment to PHP to IOP to outpatient therapy and aftercare. However, not every client starts at detox, and not every client moves through every level. Some may enter directly into residential or IOP based on their assessment. Others may need to step back up to a more intensive level temporarily if their condition changes.
The defining principle is flexibility grounded in clinical rigor. Your recovery is unique, and your treatment pathway should be too.
The first step for individuals with physical dependence on drugs or alcohol. Medical detox provides 24/7 physician oversight and nursing care to manage withdrawal symptoms safely and comfortably. DRC coordinates detox at trusted partner facilities. It is the entry point into a seamless continuum of care that continues at our DRC residential program. Our medical team designs individualized protocols for alcohol, opioid, benzodiazepine, stimulant, and polysubstance withdrawal, using FDA-approved medications and continuous monitoring to keep you safe throughout the process.
Who it's for: Individuals with physical dependence on alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, or other substances who need medically supervised withdrawal management before beginning therapeutic treatment.
Typical duration: 3 to 14 days depending on substance and severity
The most immersive level of therapeutic care. You live at the facility full-time, participating in a structured daily schedule of individual therapy, group counseling, psychiatric care, experiential therapies, and holistic wellness. DRC's residential facilities are each limited to 10 beds, ensuring deeply individualized attention from doctoral-level clinicians. Residential treatment removes you from the triggers of daily life and provides the focused, intensive environment that early recovery demands.
Who it's for: Individuals with moderate to severe substance use disorders, those with co-occurring mental health conditions, people who have not responded to outpatient treatment, or anyone who needs a complete break from their environment to begin recovery.
Typical duration: 30 to 90 days based on clinical assessment
PHP provides intensive, full-day clinical programming (typically 5 to 6 hours per day, five to six days per week) while allowing you to return home or to supportive housing each evening. The therapeutic content mirrors residential treatment: individual therapy, group work, psychiatric care, and experiential modalities. PHP bridges the gap between the total immersion of residential treatment and the greater independence of outpatient care.
Who it's for: Clients stepping down from residential treatment who are not yet ready for the reduced structure of IOP, or individuals who need intensive daily programming but have a stable living environment and do not require 24-hour supervision.
Typical duration: 2 to 4 weeks, adjusted based on clinical progress
IOP provides structured clinical treatment (3 to 4 hours per day, three to five days per week) designed to fit around your work, school, and family responsibilities. Programming includes individual therapy, group counseling, psychiatric care, relapse prevention, and life skills development. IOP at DRC uses the same evidence-based modalities as our residential and PHP programs, adapted for the outpatient setting.
Who it's for: Individuals stepping down from PHP, those with mild to moderate substance use disorders and a stable home environment, or people who need more support than weekly therapy but cannot commit to full-day programming.
Typical duration: 6 to 12 weeks, with step-down frequency as clinically appropriate
Standard outpatient therapy provides ongoing clinical support through weekly individual sessions and, where appropriate, group therapy. At this level, you are managing your daily life independently while maintaining a therapeutic relationship that supports long-term recovery. Outpatient sessions focus on relapse prevention, continued skill development, processing life challenges, and monitoring mental health and medication needs.
Who it's for: Individuals who have completed higher levels of care and are transitioning to independent recovery, or those whose clinical needs are appropriately addressed by weekly therapeutic engagement.
Typical duration: Ongoing, with frequency adjusted based on individual needs
Recovery does not end when formal treatment concludes. DRC provides aftercare planning, alumni programming, and ongoing connections to community recovery resources. Your aftercare plan is developed during treatment and includes therapy referrals, recovery community connections, relapse prevention strategies, and access to DRC alumni events and support networks. Aftercare is the long-term safety net that protects the progress you make in treatment.
Who it's for: All DRC alumni who have completed formal treatment and are transitioning to independent recovery. Aftercare support is available to every client who completes our program.
Typical duration: Ongoing aftercare support is always available
We coordinate your medically supervised detox at a trusted partner facility, then manage the warm handoff into our residential program. You arrive at Desert Recovery Centers with your detox already complete and your treatment plan already in motion, ready to start residential care without delays or duplicate intakes.
Your clinical team follows you across levels of care. The therapist who works with you in residential continues to guide your PHP and IOP programming. This continuity means your treatment builds cumulatively rather than restarting at each transition.
Our residential locations in Glendale and Scottsdale are capped at 10 beds. This ensures deeply personalized attention from doctoral-level clinicians at the most critical stages of your recovery.
DRC meets the highest national standard for quality and safety in behavioral healthcare. This accreditation reflects rigorous clinical protocols, continuous quality improvement, and a commitment to client safety at every level of care.
Addiction and mental health conditions are treated together by the same team at every level. We do not separate addiction treatment from psychiatric care. The two are interwoven throughout your recovery.
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction or a mental health condition, the most important step is reaching out. Our admissions team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to answer your questions, conduct an initial assessment, verify your insurance, and help you determine the most appropriate level of care.
You do not need to have all the answers before you call. You do not need to know which level of care is right. That is what our clinical team is here to help you figure out. All you need to do is make the call.
Call (623) 305-0496 to speak with our admissions team today. You can also begin the process by completing our online insurance verification form. Every conversation is confidential.
Desert Recovery Centers (a Joint Commission accredited luxury treatment center in Arizona) coordinates medically supervised detox through trusted partner facilities, then provides residential treatment (10-bed max per facility), partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), outpatient therapy, and aftercare/alumni support at our Arizona locations. Clients are guided through each level based on individual clinical progress.
DRC uses a clinical assessment process that evaluates the severity of substance use, co-occurring mental health conditions, medical history, living environment, and support system. The admissions team conducts an initial phone assessment and may recommend a formal evaluation upon arrival. Level-of-care decisions are based on established clinical criteria and continuously reassessed throughout treatment.
Most major insurance plans in Arizona cover medically necessary addiction treatment at all levels of care, including detox, residential, PHP, IOP, and outpatient services. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act requires equal coverage for behavioral health and medical conditions. Note: DRC works with commercial carriers on an out-of-network basis; we are in-network with TriCare and TriWest, and offer cash-pay options. DRC's admissions team verifies benefits across all levels before treatment begins. Call (623) 305-0496 for a free insurance check.
Our admissions team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether you're ready to start treatment or just have questions, we're here for you.
Most clients begin treatment within 48 hours of their first call.